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LeapFrog Didj Custom Learning Gaming System | 
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| Brand: LeapFrog
Category: Toy
List Price: $89.99
Buy New: $79.97
You Save: $10.02 (11%)
New (26) Used (1) Collectible (1) from $69.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 437
Color: one color
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 6 - 10 years
Size: one size
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 2.5 x 10.5 x 13
MPN: 30672
Model: 30672
UPC: 708431306721
EAN: 0708431306721
Release Date: July 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | First-ever gaming handheld that connects to the computer so kids can customize both gaming and learning. | | • | Totally customized gaming: Kids customize their characters, backgrounds, animation, music and more! | | • | Truly customized learning: sync the games to skills your child is studying in school. | | • | Library of games featuring favorite characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Included and additional games teach skills in a range of subjects, such as language arts, spelling, math and math facts. | | • | Appropriate for ages 6 years to 10 years. |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Introducing Didj, the all-new gaming system featuring totally thrilling gaming and truly customized learning. It's the first-ever gaming handheld that lets you customize both learning and gaming. Just connect it to your computer to play action-packed games and sharpen your skills as you study what you need for school. Earn points as you play; then trade them for cool downloads to make each game your own. Expand your learning experience with a software library full of your favorite characters and themes. Software sold separately. Requires 4 "AA" batteries, not included.
Amazon.com Review
With games that reinforce skills like math and spelling, the LeapFrog DIDJ is a custom gaming system that parents won't mind seeing their children spending their afternoons with. Using your computer and the LEAPFROG Connect application, games can be customized to provide all kinds of learning opportunities for all kids between the ages of six to ten. 
View larger. |  |  | What We Think
Fun Factor: 
Durability:
(what this means)
The Good: Entertaining, interactive system with educational games.
The Bad: The computer interface takes a little getting used to.
In a Nutshell: Customizable digital characters and worlds make learning fun. | At a Glance
Ages: 6 to 10
Requires: Four AA batteries and a computer with an Internet connection for set up.
|  | | Making the DIDJ Your Own
Before kids start creating, an adult will want to install four AA batteries (not included) in the DIDJ and set up the system. A convenient product guide pamphlet walks you through the necessary set-up tasks. This process involves installing the LEAPFROG Connect application onto your computer and transferring the included game, JetPack Heroes, onto the handheld DIDJ with a USB cable (included). Before you close the software down, kids will want to create their own custom avatars using the Didjerator. With a huge color palette to utilize, and the ability to make your avatar a robot with vampire fangs or dress it in a tuxedo with sneakers, it may take awhile to get each character perfect. Once this is done, the avatars can be downloaded to the handset and are available to play in any game that uses Didji characters. Fun, Customizable Way to Learn
The included game, JetPack Heroes, stars your favorite character in a fight against the villain Gooracha. Players use math skills to free the energy buddies they have captured and provide light and life for the entire planet. Quick fingers control the hero's jet pack and gun that is used to navigate the erratic landscape and stop enemy goons in between answering addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. Additional games that develop skills like vocabulary and spelling are available. One enticing feature of the interactive software is that points that are earned while playing, called Bitz, can be uploaded to your computer and then traded in for micromods, game updates such as new spaceships, backgrounds, or music. Interactive Education
Overall, we had a great time creating our own characters and immersing ourselves in DIDJ worlds. The computer interface was clearly designed with young computer users in mind, which makes it easy to navigate. Several point and click menus put a wide variety of tools at your fingertips. One cool interactive feature is the learning path. After game information is uploaded from the handset, parents can follow a link in the connect software to see their children's progress, making it easy to track success. Kids are sure to enjoy studying for tests when they can set the DIDJ to use their own math facts and spelling words, making this unique system a great investment. What's in the Box
Didj, USB cable, and CD with LEAPFROG connect computer application, which includes one game.
PC Requirements:
Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system
Pentium III 500 MHz processor
Monitor resolution of at least 1024 X 768
Available USB port
256 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended)
300 MB free disk space
Internet connection
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 or higher
CD reader
Mac Requirements:
Mac OS X 10.4+
PPC G4 or any Intel-based Apple computer
Monitor resolution of at least 1024 X 768
Available USB port
256 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended)
300 MB free disk space
Internet connection
Safari application
CD reader
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 A great step up from the leapster July 12, 2008
67 out of 70 found this review helpful
I purchased this as a replacement for the pink Leapster my daughter has been using for the last 3 or so years.
The didj is roughly the size of a closed Nintendo DS (a tad bulkier) and the screen is a considerable improvement over the Leapster. The screen is slightly smaller than the Leapster screen, but with higher resolution and better colors and contrast. I do worry a tad about the screen getting scratched up - the Leapster used a stylus and its screen could take a beating, but this one has a glossy screen that will show fingerprints and scratches easier.
One thing to note for those of us who use Apple computers: The didj supports Macs (and Windows too) right out of the box.
So, after unpacking it and loading the batteries, it's ready to connect to the computer - almost. First you need to create a profile on the handheld. Run the included CDROM and the didj software and one free game (Jetpack Heroes) are downloaded to the computer. My unit also required a firmware update. This took about 10-15 minutes altogether to complete.
One of the big features is being able to track your child's progress and creating your own content by periodically syncing the didj with the computer, but I cannot review this now since this feature will not be available until August.
Gameplay looks a lot like flash-based games and remind one of the Leapster's offerings - although with much, much, better graphics. Your child can also create a Mii-like character to send to the games. Part of the reward system is earning credits (Bitz) - by answering questions correctly - these are used to unlock features and add-ons for the games via the LeapFrogConnect application.
One word of warning: When the didj is hooked up to a computer, it will (on a Mac at least) show up as a removable drive. On that drive are various files stored on the didj. You will mess up the system if you mess with these files. Leapfrog needs to fix this issue in a future update.
In a nutshell - this is no Nintendo DS. It is cutting-edge and a considerable improvement over the Leapster. All this thing needs now is a bigger library of titles.
EDIT:
After letting the kid play with it for a while, here are some more insights:
1. The battery life is quite good, though not quite as long as the Leapster. I still plan on getting the rechargeable battery pack.
2. The screen does scratch. Sometime after getting the didj, my daughter picked up a Nintendo DS stylus to see if it would work on the screen. Now there are a couple of barely-noticeable small hairline scratches on the screen.
3. The didj one day said it needed to connect to the computer to fix something. What it turned out to be was the Foster's game cartridge messed up its savegame data on the didj. Deleting that game's data fixed the problem.
4. We still like the system, though aside from seeing the system for sale in one retail store, we still have yet to see anyplace selling cartridges. Online is the best bet for getting cartridges now.
Awesome New Gaming System!!! September 12, 2008
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I am thrilled with the newest gaming system by Leapfrog. This has finally competed and won over my child's game boy! I was recently surprised when my daughter chose her Didj as her game of choice on our recent camping trip -- I was so excited! At last.. A hand held game that keeps her attention and teaches her weekly spelling words at the same time. Since she has opened the box, she has begun sharing with her friends, who love it as much as she does. It was extremely easy to get set up online and load the spelling words and characters. I was surprised, because I am not that tech savvy. Within 10 minutes, we were off and playing. The online features make the experience engaging for both child and parent. I particularly find the status reports helpful and functional. It is nice to get feedback on your child's progress and know where they are struggling. I truly love this product.. Every grade-schooler should have one. Thank you Leapfrog!
Great next step from Leapster L-Max July 16, 2008
16 out of 23 found this review helpful
The reviewer before me did a great job and said pretty much what I would have said, including Mac compatibility. The unit fits nicely in the hands and has a good weight once the batteries are inserted (you're definitely going to need that screwdriver though!). I also bought it to replace the [blue] Leapster L-Max that my son has had for the last 2+ years (which no longer functions very well...just in time for the move to didj!).
Unfortunately, while my son and I are extremely happy with the didj itself, I have to say that LeapFrog's customer service gets a D- from me. I have not been able to get the CD to download the software to let us connect to the web site via the computer. I have loaded it about 7 times; once, it did connect me to the web site, but was not able to find the player profiles on the didj. Every other time, including *after* that one, I got the following error message: "Can not (sic) load LfConnectdriver." This happened on a Saturday, which is a really bad day to need help from LeapFrog. I sent an email (which still has not been answered). On Monday, I rang up the number buried deep within the web site (under returns, if you need it). When I finally got a tech support person, she was very little help; she merely read me a list of things I might have been too stupid to have checked (computer on, internet cxn OK, RAM, cable, most recent operating system blah blah blah). She had no ability to look at the problem and suggest any kind of solution, other than to repeat her litany. The only useful thing she suggested was that I might have a firewall, although its connection (if any) with Google Earth mystified me. In any case, one of the game chips arrived in the post from Amazon yesterday, so my son has been happily playing with that instead of the Jet Pack Heroes.
Sorry to go on and on about something rather boring; I'm hoping that if someone else runs into this problem, they might also discover a solution (the driver is a .kext if that helps anyone).
Other than my disappointment with the customer service/tech support, I think the didj is great. My son's comment on the Nickolodeon game: "Well, there's only a *little* bit of math, and I get to shoot things, so it's really cool." However we can get math into them.....
Mom's joy in a little toy!! November 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the best gaming system I ever invested in, not only does my son prefer to play on it rather than his DS, XBOX, PS2,3 and the computer he really enjoys playing it. He loves the fact that he's getting his homework done at the same time he's playing fun games. His teacher has no problem with him using the didj for homework assignments in fact she said that it's improved his grades in all subjects which is something the DS and other systems couldn't do. The start up with the didj on Leapfrog is a little confusing but once you figure it out (about 10mins) you will be so glad that you stuck with it. You do not need to purchase a game to use the didj your child can download jetpack heroes game to play. You can set the Didj up for the spelling words he needs or for math or both depending on the game. The more the child plays the more points that are earned and with those points (bitz) you can trade them for upgrades for the games. Plus you can monitor their progress and make it more challenging as they improve. This is the first time I've ever asked my child to go to his room and play his video game. In just a couple of weeks he's improved his math skills and reading from playing this system. Summer school is no longer needed nor is the tutor I thought we might need. The best part of this is that if your child has any type of neurological disorder (besides seizures) this system is a must for them. My child has ADD, Tourettes, Dyslexia, and OCD which usually impairs his ability to do school work well not anymore!! This system is a godsend for mothers like me that have to beg, plead and spend hours just trying to get their child to do homework. My son loves to do homework now. He can now understand the concepts he wasn't getting while being taught the traditional way. With the Didj it's one on one just him and his game. It's worth every dollar I paid to see him enjoying school and homework! What parent wouldn't love it?
RUN don't walk to get a Didj this holiday season November 12, 2008
I can't say enough about the Didj. I had been successfully avoiding any kind of gaming system for my kids, figuring it would just be one more thing to regulate. My 8 year old son sold me on the didg just before we were planning an international trip - i figured that even if it wasn't truly 'educational', it would at least keep him busy for some part of the journey. I grossly underestimated the power of the didg....my son was immediately hooked, but not in that glassy-eyed, mouth breathing gamer way. He was truly engaged and learning and interested. Even his 11 year old sister had to admit that it was pretty awesome. I couldn't be happier with it - and at the price point it is a ridiculous steal. A great holiday gift!
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