Review: Playskool Magic Screen Palm Size Learner

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=2030">http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=2030</a><br /><br />"If you thought palmOne owned the entry-level PDA market with their Zire line watch out for this latest effort from Playskool. While not the most functional PDA on the market, it’s hard to argue with price. Playskool is working for volume with their Magic Screen PDA. At a price of only $12, they could quickly surpass the 3 million Zires sold by palmOne."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2004/20040502-latestzire.jpg" /><br /><br />Hmmm... I wonder if this multitasks? :wink: :lol:

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

VERY funny review!! My favorite part of this PDA has got to be the 12x12 / 1-bit screen. Absolutely priceless!

Thanks for sharing!!

[Zack Mahdavi]

I think the Magic Screen will flop. Try putting that thing in your pocket! Oh, and what's up with the curvy screen? It's like they put a CRT inside the PDA!

There is one thing that I do like... the stylus that's attached to the PDA! Oh, and the 12 by 12 pixel screen is amazing! :lol:

Hahahaha.. it's funny seeing this on a Pocket PC web site. :)

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I think the Magic Screen will flop. Try putting that thing in your pocket!
Yeah... but at $12 combined with its intuitively simple interface, who can complain?? Companies wouldn't even have to provide IT support for this (well... at least they shouldn't HAVE to).

[Felix Torres]

http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=2030

"If you thought palmOne owned the entry-level PDA market with their Zire line watch out for this latest effort from Playskool. While not the most functional PDA on the market, it’s hard to argue with price. Playskool is working for volume with their Magic Screen PDA. At a price of only $12, they could quickly surpass the 3 million Zires sold by palmOne."

Hmmm... I wonder if this multitasks? :wink: :lol:

Unfortunately no, but the word on the street (just don't quote me) is that Microsoft is in discussions with Fisher-Price, Bandai, V-Tech, and APEX to produce a competing product that will.

It will feature a higher-res 24by32 pixel 2-bit display, full Outlook integration, and four bundled apps called MS Words, MS Numbers, MS Colors, and MS Sounds. In a nod towards Apple design sense, the still-unnamed product line will feature a highly simplified backlighted keyboard with twelve keys.

Pricing is undetermined but is expected to be competitively-priced.
The first units are expected in time for christmas.

At least one source thinks the finished product will be called the MS SmartTOT, for tech-oriented-toy, but the no final decision has been made yet.
The inhouse code-name for this top secret project is Merlyn.

[hoffm11]

With a baby due in June, this would be a nice way to say, " You are going to be just like your daddy!"

:lol:

[dh]

That is indeed a funny review, impossible to read without laughing. When my daughter was small and I still used my Psion (or was it Casio BOSS back then?) I would have bought her one for sure.

Now she's ten, I could have saved some money getting her one of these instead of her Toshiba PPC. Oh well :lol:

[arnage2]

im dumping my zodiac1 for this. lol. :D :lol:

[Janak Parekh]

It will feature a higher-res 24by32 pixel 2-bit display, full Outlook integration, and four bundled apps called MS Words, MS Numbers, MS Colors, and MS Sounds. In a nod towards Apple design sense, the still-unnamed product line will feature a highly simplified backlighted keyboard with twelve keys.
:rotfl: No mention of the X button??? ;)

--janak

[Shadowcat]

This review read like an April fool's joke! :lol: I loved the remark about Documents To Go! :wink:

[Foo Fighter]

That looks like the new Zire 72. :lol:

[David Prahl]

VERY well written! :way to go:

Makes you wonder what the production costs of other devices are...

[Jonathon Watkins]

:ppclove: I've found my new device! :rotfl:

[Blue Zero]

Wow!! I want one!

And does it support Landscape mode? :lol:

[T-Will]

Ha ha! :D

Just a couple questions, how often does this thing need to be soft/hard reset? Is there a way to backup data or is it all stored in flashrom?

[Zack Mahdavi]

That looks like the new Zire 72. :lol:

ouch.. that's gotta hurt! :)

[Jonathan1]

Well at least this Palm Sized PC probably doesn't crash nearly as often as Microsoft's CE 2 and 2.11 attempt. :roll: Thank god for the Pocket PC. :werenotworthy:

[jizmo]

I loved the bit about not being able to use the device quietly in the meetings because there was no volume adjustment.

High-class meeting, long oak table, smart suits and one guy playing with this device. You gotta love that image :lol:

/jizmo

[AndrewLubinus89]

Do you think ziosoft will port age of empires for it? If so this could be my next gaming pda..... Not to mention quake on it........

[ale_ers]

With a baby due in June, this would be a nice way to say, " You are going to be just like your daddy!"

:lol:

I got one of these for my daughter about a year ago in an effort to get her to stop trying to grab mine. While that didn't work, she enjoyed playing with it a lot. As a matter of fact she is now almost 2 and she still enjoys it

[rugerx]

A stylus that is attached to the handheld... SWEET!!

I AM IN! :lol:

[Jonathan1]

Hmmmm I wonder what magic pocketpctechs.com is going to pull off for this device. Upgrade it to 1MB of RAM? 8O

[Zack Mahdavi]

Hmmmm I wonder what magic pocketpctechs.com is going to pull off for this device. Upgrade it to 1MB of RAM? 8O

No, don't be silly. That will be too expensive. However, I'm sure they'll offer a display upgrade to 24 x 24 pixels!

[Pat Logsdon]

Sweet! Now I just need one of those nifty Ping Me Elmo Cell Phones (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/toys/B00006HBTD/qid=1083605127/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-5821531-8130335), and I can read PPCT......one....letter....at....a...time....

:mrgreen:

[snayar]

Grandma gave this as a present to my then 1 year old daugher a year ago.

What amazes me is the fact that since then I have not changed the included batteries!!! and my daugther still uses it!!! wow!!! 8O :D

I only regret that I've never installed a screen protector and now the screen is badly scratched, but with those huge pixels the screen is still readable!!! :lol:

Another cool thing about this "PDA" is the clarity of the computer voice, much better than Microsoft's Voice Command!!! :lol: :roll: no kidding!!!

[Jonathon Watkins]

Another cool thing about this "PDA" is the clarity of the computer voice, much better than Microsoft's Voice Command!!! :lol: :roll: no kidding!!!

:lol: Sad but true. :?