Vtech InnoTab (Pink)

The InnoTab is an advanced tablet like toy for 4-8 Year Olds.

The blue version is available everywhere with the pink version being an Argos Exclusive.

It offers the ability to play movies, mp3s, download Apps - in the form of E-books and games, view photos and play cartridge based games. It uses an SD card on which is stores Apps, Movies and mp3s. You CAN NOT downlaod apps to the device without an SD Card plugged in so budget for that expence, hunt around because they aren't expensive.

One thing to note is that is does not have a built in Camera unlike the rival device on the market but in most otherways appears to be better.

The machine comes with an E-book and 2 Games installed. It also has a callender, movie viewer, music player, friends list, A painting program, notes and Colour & Pop (which features pictures you colour in and then they have an animation.

At the time of writing this there is, I think, a need for more apps and more diverse ones as well. When you get the device you'll need to log on to the Vtech website and download the app client called the Learning Lodge Navigator from here you can purchase Apps, they cost £2.99 each but you get 3 free choices to start you off, transfer them to the InnoTab, transfer other files to the InnoTab - and I found it important to transfer MP3s this way and not straight onto the SDcard as it wouldn't detect them. I've tried 5 movies and so far they all play great. You can also change the theme of the device ours is currently running a princess theme that changes the icons and generally makes it much more pink.

The apps I've downloaded are a mixed bunch, on the whole fairly simple but playable. The penguine game that comes with the device still appears to be the best of the bunch to me.

It runs on 4 AA batteries, makes sure they are high capacity rechargables or really good quality non-standard ones or it'll drain them very quickly.

You can buy an option power adapter for it and a car adapter as well. If you know what your doing you can get multi adapters from third parties yourself though.

Games cartridges currently retail around £25 each we have so far bought one but I haven't tested it yet. At the time of writing they are very hard to get hold of. You can also get a case direct from VTech as well.

Build quality appears to be good, the screen is ok but not as reactive as you maybe used to if you've got a modern smart phone. It is large enough and you can set the brightness (which should help with the batteries I guess). There is a stylus which I found useful for the painting app and it also has a stand built in when watching movies

One major gripe I have is that there's no blank for the cartridge slot and it's a large slot. I'm an adult and I put my fingers in it by accident often enough I dread to think what a sticky 4 year olds fingers will do!!

Over-all so far it appears to be a great device for the price but needs more apps to give it lasting appeal for the 4 years I hope it will last.

I was very divided about getting the Innotab because I was concerned that it wouldn't be used enough or durable. I read as many reviews as possible and compared it to the Leapad. I eventually went for the Innotab because my daughter (5) already has the Kidizoom camera (compatibility) and we had a wall adaptor so the battery life wasn't an issue. I also liked the fact that the memory was expandable upto 16MB and that I could shop around for a cheap SD card rather than HAVING to buy the approved memory card for the Leapfrog Tablet. The other plus was that the downloads are £2.99 each which is a saving when compared to the Leapfrog. You get 3 free downloads. My daughter is 5 so I chose age appropriate downloads which were simple but good. It took me a while to set the tablet up but, I found it to be very easy to use. There are certain applications that I doubt a 5 year old would be into eg. calculator, notes but overall very well thought out. I was able to download music easily but, movies are trickier and I still have to practice this one. The battery life is very short. Since getting it for her birthday three days ago my daughter has played it a fair amount but, not exhaustively. She has had no difficulty navigating around it and loves some of the simple learning games. The colouring programme is probably her favourite. The only real negative point I feel is the battery life but apart from that I think it is great and worth the money.

i bought this for my daughter for a late christmas present and she loves it ..we found it tricky to download new games on to it and i would recommend buying an adapter as it costs a fortune in batteries it uses them up in no time.. as a whole it is very good for learning little ones letters and numbers and lots of useful things they will have hours of fun on it ..i would recommend this product without doubt but would have been better if an adapter was supplied at the cost i think it could have been.