A kid-friendly keyboard that takes a beating and keeps working!!!
Written: Apr 12 '05 (Updated Apr 12 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Colors, shape, graphics on the keys, wrist support, price, DURABILITY
Cons: load time, graphics wore off
The Bottom Line: If you can find it, a great idea for a kid-friendly keyboard. This is suitable for toddlers and preschoolers and a wonderful alternative to replacing your adult one annually.
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| thriftymommy's Full Review: KB Gear Little Tikes kidBoard (1721) Keyboard |
In my attempt to make our children’s computer kid-friendly (as the ages in our home are 3, 5, and 10), I have purchased many unnecessary items in the hopes that they master the computer rapidly and efficiently. This keyboard's purpose is to make it easy for kids to learn how to type and is not one of the myriad of useless products I have purchased!!
Manufacturer Statement
"The award-winning Little Tikes Kidboard is the world's most popular computer keyboard for kids! It comes with Kidboard Coach Software that together with the key-top icons teaches kids to recognize letters and locate keys while reinforcing phonics. Kidboard is built strong enough to withstand even the toughest use and is 100% compatible with all software."
It is designed for ages 3 and up.
Pc system requirements;
16 mb ram or higher,
Windows 95 or higher,
10 Mb free disk space,
and Pentium or Pentium compatible processor.
LIFETIME WARRANTY
My review
It's so nice to find a kid-friendly electronic items that I just have to buy them. This Kidboard features pictures on each letter (for example: the key for G has a small cluster of grapes and the G.) and is multicolored with the letters being purple (which makes it hard to see the pictures), the space bar and numbers are red, the enter key is a lighter purple than the letter keys and the ESC is orange with a blue dot. The rest of the keys are orange and there is a nice writ pad at the bottom. The top of the Kidboard has a fin design; kind of like waves but not quite sure what Little Tikes was aiming for there.
This Kidboard was very easy to install. Simply plug the adapter into the slot for your keyboard and you're ready to go! Well, not quite that easy. First, the software wizard on the provided disk took five minutes on a Pentium 4 Dell computer. When it finally loaded and I was able to select begin, I felt as if time had stopped:( The software led me through the installation process easy enough and then, of course, it sent me to the manufacturer website. You know, if I wanted to buy something else, I would have done that when I bought the Kidboard:) The kid's Dell recognized the Kidboard and after restarting the computer, the Kidboard was installed.
Did I mention that the cute letter graphics are simply painted on and wear off after several weeks of use? No? Well, it seems that Little Tikes did not take into account the fact that the oil from human fingers works well on paint; acting as a thinner and ultimately, a removal agent. I think, if I time it from when I bought the cute mouse I reviewed, this Kidboard keys kept their graphics for about two months. The colored keys are fine; the cutesy cluster of grapes is gone but the letter G remains.
The shape and size of this Kidboard is semi-annoying to my 10 year old. His fingers are no longer short and stubby and he routinely unplugs this Kidboard and uses the standard Dell keyboard. For the little ones, this Kidboard is just the right size. Its round shape makes it easy for them to type (and hunt and peck) and the Kidboard is completely comfortable for their little hands with the wrist support in perfect position. I'd say the cut-off age for use of the Little Tikes Kidboard would be around 6 or so; they really need to know how to use an adult sized keyboard by that age and their fingers are cramped by the shape of this Kidboard.
Like every other item in our home, this Kidboard has been dropped from a height of 5 feet (my home is past kid-friendly and more into the padded room variety), kicked around the bedroom, had its keys mashed, stepped on and pounded, had some sticky unknown substance coat its keys and yet, like all Little Tikes products, keeps on working. My destructive and electronic product unfriendly kids have done their worst in the past two months and the Kidboard still functions properly with no stuck, popped off, chipped or malfunctioning keys. That says a lot for a keyboard and this Little Tikes Kidboard receives this mother's seal of approval.
Overall, for the $6 I paid at KB Toys, if you can find this keyboard and want to make your child's computer experience as kid-friendly as possible, I recommend this Little Tikes Kidboard for all parents of toddlers and preschoolers; just remember that it is recommended that kids learn on adult keyboards as well.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 6.00
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Epinions.com ID:
thriftymommy
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Member: April
Location: Home of the Hindenburg Disaster, NJ
Reviews written: 90
Trusted by: 49 members
About Me:
The number of people below the official poverty thresholds numbered 36.1 million in 2005.
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