LeapFrog LeapPad2 Explorer, Green

We gave the original leappad to my 4yo daughter last Christmas. She absolutely loved it. In fact she loved it a little too much, as it started to interfere with bedtime. Unfortunately I accidentally left her leappad on an airplane. She was crushed.Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I saw the announcement for the leappad2 and thought this might be a way to make up for my mistake. We preordered from Amazon, and it arrived today. If you have the original leappad, here are some differences that I noticed:* I couldn't open the box without tearing/cutting it. Leapfrog seems to have glued down every flap. I was hoping to open it, download the apps, configure it, and repackage it so i could wrap it up as a present. But that wasn't possible without damaging the box.* It is definitely faster/snappier. The upgraded CPU is a noticeable improvement.* The battery covers are significantly improved. With the old one, you could use the stylus to pop off the covers. The new ones snap firmly into place. There's no way my daughter will be able to remove these...* Just like the original, you get to pick one app. But I'm pretty sure the app selection has changed. The choices now are roly poly picnic, hamster music, a leapfrog video, or an ebook.* Unlike the original leappad, The package only comes with one stylus, which is already connected to the leappad with the included string.* Leapfrog appears to have added a new connector for the stylus string below the stylus slot. This should help children who are lefties. (like my daughter)That's all I can think of for now. I'll update this review as my daughter plays with it. I am certain she is going to love the front camera.PS - I am just an average person that actually paid for this. I'm not some professional mommy-blogger that got a free 'sample' in exchange for writing a glowing review. All of these reviews that predate 8/1/2012 seem a little contrived, don't you think?EDIT #1 (8/3/2012) - Within the leappad connect app, I could install all apps that I PURCHASED for our original leappad on to the new one. It would not allow me to install the free, selectable app that came with the purchase of the original leappad.EDIT #2 (8/5/2012) - If you search the internet you can find two codes for two free apps, "Alphabet Soup", and "The Book of Super Awesome Stuff." I had previously downloaded these apps to our first (lost) leappad. Leappad Connect would not allow me to install these on the new Leappad 2. Not sure why. I am going to open a support ticket with Leap Frog. I've already had an open ticket regarding the lost leappad, so this might be related to that. I guess what I'm saying is that this might not be a problem for others...EDIT #3 (8/8/2012) - One of my daughter's favorite apps is the Music app. There are 5 songs that are preloaded. She plays them all the time. She loves music, so I can't wait for the official MP3 upgrade thats supposed to come out this fall. I hope Leapfrog will not overcharge for it...Speaking of overcharging... I was in Target the other day and was surprised to see two "Recharger Packs" for the Leappad 2 on sale. They were $40 each. $40!!! Come on Leapfrog! $30 is at the high-end of what I will pay for a battery. Replacement laptop batteries are cheaper than this. They should be more like $20. It's antics like this that will drive loyal customers to the flood of cheap android devices that will be coming in the next several months...EDIT #4 (8/17/2012) - This is my last edit. My daughter LOVES the new creativity app. Basically it lets you create animated stories. You get to pick the background, props, and characters. From there you can add movement and action, and a dialog. You can use the camera to replace the face of the characters with a photo. I was impressed. I've also seen that many of the apps are lefty friendly, meaning it will allow you to turn the leappad over so the string isn't stretched when using the left hand. I'm happy with the purchase, and my daughter is happy too.I have little doubt these will be a hot item this Christmas. If you are thinking you want to get this for your child, don't wait. Otherwise the scalpers will be your only option. (That, or waiting until after Christmas.

I decided to get this for my 2 year old son despite the age recommendations on the box. My 2 year old son watches his 2 older brothers play their handheld games while on extended road trips, watches Mommy use her phone to look for sights to see along the way, and watches daddy use the gps. I was letting him use my ipad to watch movies along the way, but every time we would stop the car the ipad would go tumbling. So... after doing some research, we decided to go ahead and get him the Leappad 2. Overall, he loves it He is a bit young to fully grasp what the Leappad can do however that does not stop him at all. He happily sits and taps the screen with his stylus and Oooh,s and Ahhhs when thomas the Tank engine does his thing. unfortunately he seems a bit too young for most of the game, we sit and help him, but in the car on a road trip, this is not always possible. Maybe we just got him a game that is too old for him, maybe we jumped the gun buying him this when he is only two, but this is definetly a hit, even if he doesn't get the full use out if it, and it has saved my ipad from tumbling to the floor every time i hit the brakes. As far as durability, I purchased a skin with the Leappad, and he has never used it without the skin. Having said that, the Leappad has taken quite a few falls, tumbles, gotten covered in peanut-butter, milk spilled on it, everything a 2 year old can throw at it, and it has taken it all without any complaints. There are a few minor scratches on the screen that are not even visible when the pad is turned on, but thats all. I think the scratches are from the stylus, my son tends to use the stylus with great enthusiasm and pounds on the screen with it. As far as the educational benefits go, well that one is hard to say. I can see the educational aspects of the games, we do sit with him and do some of the games together, but we did not get this as an educational tool, we go it for long car rides, waiting in the Dr. office, etc...Overall, I definetly would recommend this to a friend, however, be warned, with a 2 year old, this will take a lot of hands-on from mommy and daddy in order for them to get full use out of it.