VTech Nitro Web Notebook and Tote and Go Laptop Plus: A Computer for Every Age
 Nitro Web Notebook and Tote and Go Laptop Plus |
Working full-time from home, my boys — ages 5 and 2 ½ — are more than a little familiar with my laptop, and more than a little curious about what it does.
Since I’m not yet ready yet to surrender my computer to their sticky little fingers, I was in the market for something kid-friendly that they could bang away on as I worked.
I found exactly what I needed for my kindergarten-bound son in the VTech Nitro Web Notebook ($50), and for his little brother the VTech Tote and Go Laptop Plus ($22) is perfect.
Not only are both toys affordable, but buying them together makes a great gift for siblings of varying ages and abilities who — like mine — nonetheless need everything to be even, at all times.
The Nitro Web Notebook looks just like my laptop, only slightly smaller. It’s sleek, slim, fold-up design and plug-in mouse has our 5-year-old convinced that it is a real computer — and it’s all his. The LCD screen doesn’t look very modern compared to my own computer screen; It’s gray and somewhat pixelated, but because he has nothing to compare it to it suits him just fine.
There are 70 learning activities pre-programmed into the Nitro Web Notebook, offering him fun-filled lessons in foreign languages, social studies, fine arts, math and more. The QWERTY keyboard even has punctuation marks! What I like best, however, is the Nitro Web Notebook’s ability to adjust on the fly as a child masters a particular area. Our son is known to play with a toy exclusively for days (or weeks!) until he can win games by memory alone, but the Nitro Web Notebook features an artificial intelligence tool that tracks his progress, and increases the difficulty of each activity as his skills improve. If he ever finds a way to defeat the tool, then I can always use the included USB cable and connection software to download him more games and activities at Planet Vtech.
Just like mom, our toddler son carries his laptop everywhere. From room-to-room, out in the backyard…even on vacation. It’s easy, given the size of the Vtech Tote and Go Laptop Plus and its super convenient handle. This computer is colorful and fun, with big chunky keys and plenty of straightforward activities and games for the preschooler set. Like the Nitro Web Notebook, the screen takes some getting used to — for adults, at least. But once he was able to discern what he was looking at, he’s never looked back!
At 2 ½ he is probably a little too young to truly understand many of the lessons being taught (in core subjects like counting, lower and upper-case letters and numbers) but this toy holds his interest like no other in the house. Because we’re not totally sure yet whether he is a lefty or a righty, I especially appreciate that the detachable mouse for the Tote and Go Laptop Plus is changeable to suit either preference.
– Missy
CBB Deal: Save 20% at Vtechkids.com using coupon code CBBVtech909 (expires October 1, 2009).
It’s great fun for him even at 4 years old, he loves the games and he really enjoys having his own “puter”. 
