When BzzAgent offered me the opportunity to get a Fly Fusion PenTop Computer to test out and give my opinions about, I jumped at the chance because I knew that it would be a great product to review for this blog. Darling Daughter number two (DD2) was pretty happy about the review too. (The suggested age range for the product is fifth through tenth grade.)
The PenTop Computer is a really nifty tool to help your kids study. Your kid can take notes and save them to the computer. It also translates between Spanish and English and does basic math problems. You can download additional software modules for an additional cost (compatible with most text books, although not DD2’s texts) for more study tools.
Of course, DD2 was more interested in the fun aspects of the Fly PenTop Computer. Those aspects include the ability to play games, listen to MP3s, and make quizzes. In fact, I had a little trouble getting the PenTop Computer away from her to do this review.
I will say that the Fly Fusion PenTop Computer is not cheap – it runs just under $80.00 for a starter kid. It can be found just about anywhere that electronic items and toys are sold (Toys ‘R” Us, Wal-Mart, Target, etc.). In addition to the starter kit, accessories the accessories cost even more: software modules for it range from $1.99 to $29.99 each and the special FLY Paper notebooks are $7.99 each (and you know how fast kids can run through notebooks).
However, with the holidays just around the corner, then the Fly Fusion PenTop Computer just might be something to add to your shopping list (especially if you have a reluctant student who needs something to get them excited about studying).
Has anyone else already tried this product? I’d love to hear what you think about it.
(Disclosure: I purchased this product using a discount for BzzAgents.)
Contents (c) Copyright 2007, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Gen Aris // Dec 9, 2007 at 5:10 am
Hi!
I went to this from a link because it said “review”. This text doesn’t really yield much in way of review–it merely skips lightly through the purpose and general list of some features and tells pricing ranges. The website for the device yields this stuff.
Review implies a person will objectively USE the device and report on that experience of use, with (ideally) an eye to relating the manufacturer’s claims for the device, then gauging how in the reporter’s trial the device performed toward the mfr’s stated claims. Ideally, a brief concise list of features, how well they work, how useful the device is in real life scenarios, the performance of the software or hardware or both as applicable, and the ease of use (or lack thereof) would generally find a place in a “review”. I generally consider the big difference between just blithely plugging something like a corporate shill and REVIEWING IT is the reportage of the experience of actually using a product, testing it’s features, usefulness, value, applications or real-world uses for the thing and how well it actually performs relative to claims and specifications provided by the maker.
Such material then serves useful information to the reader, assuming that is your goal.
2 Laura // Dec 10, 2007 at 10:33 am
Hi Gen Aris,
I am sorry that you are unhappy with our review. By the way, we did use the product. However, this is a blog, not Consumer Reports.
This is my own opinion, based on my daughter’s usage of the product, if you have another opinion you are welcome to create your own blog and post it.
As far as real world uses — this is basically a toy. It’s a device to help kids learn. That’s about all there is to say. Again, there are many sources of information about this product that you can check out. If you found my blog post, I’m sure that you can find the others.
3 Ashley // Dec 25, 2007 at 11:46 am
I haven’t tried it, but I think it would actually be an amazing thing to have. I’m a college student, and my mom it going for her masters and between the both of us we take a lot of notes and write a lot of papers in pen, and then type them up. I’ve thought about getting one for us to share because it has handwriting recognition, and will upload it onto a word document in type form.
However, the pricing remains a big catch. I saw a grown up version of this thing due out sometime in 2008, but it’s about $200 so I think the $80 is more in my price range!
Thanks for the review, I’m really just checking around to see how many people found it useful before I shell out money from my college fund.
X/
4 Laura // Dec 26, 2007 at 10:58 am
Hi Ashley!
I didn’t realize that they were coming out with a grown-up version. That does sound interesting. I would definitely recommend checking several different reviews. That’s what I do myself.
5 Emma // Aug 5, 2009 at 6:31 pm
The Flytop Pen is now 19.99 so I bought one but now I have to get two 256 ram cards because it only works with computers that have 512 ram. I Think this product should come charged and ready to go for immediate use!