VTech V.Smile TV Learning System Review

I would like to give this system a good review...really I would.  My boys liked it and it seemed to be good fun and a little educational also.  However, we have had such bad experiences with the machine that I just can't give it high marks.  Our boys received our first one about two years ago for Christmas from a relative and the boys played with it for about 7 months on and off before it developed a "short" in the on/off button and would only turn on sometimes after you jiggled it a little.  Finally it refused to start all together.   After a few months without one, our boys talked us into buying another one.  This one literally lasted about 3 months and then it got some short where it wouldn't recognize the cartidges anymore so it was history too.   We didn't have the receipt so we chalked it up to a lesson learned and gave up on the V-smile.

Despite the fact that I have boys, they were not rough with these machines but they did accidently drop from the side of the coffee table onto the carpet on a couple occasions.   But I believe that is to be expected from these types of toys and they should be able to withstand a little bumping.   My boys now play games on an old PC I refurbished for them and it has survived much better and has a better selection of educational software.