Fisher Price iXL Review
Ranked #3,883 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #44,435 overall | Donates to Invisible Children
A 6-in-1 Learning System for kids ages 3-7
This is a review of the Fisher Price iXL Learning System, a very interesting take on the electronic learning toy concept, and one of the more popular systems in the educational gaming system market.
The market for this type of educational toy is booming, and the Fisher-Price iXL has a lot to offer.
It is designed for kids 3~7 years old, and aims to provide a 6-in-1 learning / gaming / reading experience; the system functions as a Digital Book Reader, MP3 Music Player, Photo Viewer, Digital Art Book, Notepad and last but not least an Educational Gaming Console.
One of the strengths of the iXL Learning System is the 6-in-1 style software that Fisher-Price sells for it. Where other manufacturers such as VTech with the Mobigo and LeapFrog with the Leapster Explorer opt for a cartridge based system, Fisher-Price has chosen to do things a little differently; no cartridges are used with the iXL!
Let's take a look.
The market for this type of educational toy is booming, and the Fisher-Price iXL has a lot to offer.
It is designed for kids 3~7 years old, and aims to provide a 6-in-1 learning / gaming / reading experience; the system functions as a Digital Book Reader, MP3 Music Player, Photo Viewer, Digital Art Book, Notepad and last but not least an Educational Gaming Console.
One of the strengths of the iXL Learning System is the 6-in-1 style software that Fisher-Price sells for it. Where other manufacturers such as VTech with the Mobigo and LeapFrog with the Leapster Explorer opt for a cartridge based system, Fisher-Price has chosen to do things a little differently; no cartridges are used with the iXL!
Let's take a look.
Features and Specifications
The Fisher Price iXL Learning System is more or less shaped like a book. When you open it, the nicely sized 3.5" QVGA touch screen with a resolution of 320x240 smiles at you. The side facing the screen has a large speaker and control buttons. The iXL is available in the colors blue, pink and silver.
- Digital Game Player - Includes a 3-level arcade style game that teaches numbers, sequencing and counting
- eBook Reader - 1 animated story with 15 pages. There are two modes; the read to me mode as well as the interact with me mode
- Notepad - Trace upper and lower case letters as well as numbers
- Digital Art Book - The included Art Studio software allows kids to draw and manipulate art. It includes things such as colors, stampers, bucket fills, pen styles.
- MP3 Music Player - The unit comes preloaded with 1 song. Any type of songs in MP3 or WMA format from your own music library can be uploaded to the device. Note that the iXL is the only Learning Game System in its class that can do this - neither the VTech Mobigo or Leapster Explorer have this capability!
The music player can also play in the background when your child is playing with the Art Studio application. Tip: Fisher-Price also makes pretty decent matching 'Kid Tough' pink headphonesas well as blue headphones
.
- Photo Viewer - 3 generic sample images are available, but your kids can add any photo in the standard .jpg format to the iXL. Photos can also be manipulated in Art Studio with silly effects.
is also available.In e-book mode, the iXL flips one way (vertical):
And in game mode it flips another way (horizontal):
- a major plus for this system. You can use cards with a size of up to 16 GB which is more space than your kids will ever need for this system.Having this type of expansion capability is not only awesome because it allows you to copy a lot of MP3/WMA music and/or pictures onto the device but definitely so because it allows you to copy ALL games software onto the unit.
Fisher-Price iXL Games
No Cartridge Needed!
As opposed to other learning game systems in this category like the Vtech Mobigo Touch or the LeapFrog Leapster Explorer, the Fisher Price iXL does not rely on cartridges for games, interactive story books and other applications.
Rather, the game and e-book software is sold on CD and transferred to the iXL via an application for PC or Mac.
iXL disks are not just a game or an e-book or an art program - they are all in one. What this means is that when for example you get a Toy Story 3 disk for the iXL, it includes
As you can see it is a complete package.
The games, e-books and themes are installed onto the iXL via the software manager that comes with the device. You connect the Fisher Price iXL to your computer via USB and simply copy the software, as well as pictures and music, onto the device.
The SD memory card expansion supporting SD Memory Cards of up to 16 GB allows you to copy all of the available iXL titles on to the unit, plus tons of music and pictures. No worries about lost or broken cartridges, no need to carry cartridges around when you're on the road ... everything is on the iXL!
Rather, the game and e-book software is sold on CD and transferred to the iXL via an application for PC or Mac.
iXL disks are not just a game or an e-book or an art program - they are all in one. What this means is that when for example you get a Toy Story 3 disk for the iXL, it includes
- Several Toy Story 3 games
- Interactive story book
- Art Studio add-ons (characters, shapes, etc)
- Themed 'skins' for the music player and Notepad apps.
As you can see it is a complete package.
The games, e-books and themes are installed onto the iXL via the software manager that comes with the device. You connect the Fisher Price iXL to your computer via USB and simply copy the software, as well as pictures and music, onto the device.
The SD memory card expansion supporting SD Memory Cards of up to 16 GB allows you to copy all of the available iXL titles on to the unit, plus tons of music and pictures. No worries about lost or broken cartridges, no need to carry cartridges around when you're on the road ... everything is on the iXL!
List of available iXL Games
Currently there are 10 software titles available for the iXL. Each disk has an MSRP of about $24.95, BUT you can commonly find many titles for less than $15 on Amazon.
Because of the 6-in-1 approach, each disk addresses several educational elements at the same time, including reading skills, math skills, puzzles, art and music, which I think is really neat.
- Penguins of Madagascar
- Imaginext Dinosaurs
- Toy Story 3
- Disney Princesses
- Handy Manny
- Ni Hao Kai-lan
- Batman: the Brave and the Bold
- Scooby-Doo!
- Spongebob Squarepants
- Shrek
Because of the 6-in-1 approach, each disk addresses several educational elements at the same time, including reading skills, math skills, puzzles, art and music, which I think is really neat.
Quick Look at the iXL Software
The above screenshot shows you the basic software application that comes with the Fisher-Price iXL. This is the version for the Mac. With this application you can transfer music, pictures and the games / e-books you buy for your child.
Another thing you can do from this program is change some of the system settings (such as backlight saving mode, firmware check etc) and create up to 5 custom profiles. For each custom profile you can add a picture, name, and select the child's favorite color, snack, drink and animal.These custom profiles can then be transferred to the iXL where they will function as a 'login screen'.
The software is easy to use, and only has a couple of basic screens so getting the stuff to the handheld should not be a problem for anyone. From within the software there's also a couple of 'printables' like coloring pages, letter tracing etc. Nothing major, but it's an extra.
Note: The disk that comes with the Fisher-Price iXL only has the Microsoft Windows version of the application. If you have a Mac you'll need to download the application from the web site. That's pretty lame there, Mattel / Fisher-Price!
Fisher-Price iXL Review - Conclusion
None of the other systems in the Learning Game System segment (Leapster Explorer, VTech Mobigo) allow for MP3 upload / playback. The iXL does; you can copy MP3 / WMA audio files onto the unit and use it as an audio player (music, audio books, mommy singing a song, you name it!). Major plus!
When you spend $24.99 less than $15 on a software disk for the iXL you get a complete, themed package with 3 games, interactive story book and themes for the on-board applications - I like that.
The design, available in the colors silver, pink and blue, is nice with different orientations for gaming (horizontal) and e-book reading (vertical).
A folded case means the screen is protected when the unit is not in use. You can get a padded iXL Storage Case
for extra protection.
(up to 16GB) you can basically install all available titles on the system, and copy many many pictures and music onto it at the same time.This means no hassle with cartridges getting lost in the car or home, no mommy or daddy stepping on plasticky cartridges that easily break, etc.
There are only 10 disc titles available at this time, but I hope Fisher-Price will come out with a lot more themed disks. As competition in the market increases, who knows in the near future maybe they will provide a whole bunch of free games and applications for the iXL Learning System.
Comments
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cffutah
Jan 14, 2012 @ 2:26 pm | delete
- enjoyed reading about this, thank you.
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Rocks51
Jan 1, 2012 @ 8:28 pm | delete
- I bought my son a ixl for Christmas. He loves it,and so do I. I like the set up ,and works just fine. He is 29 months,and he can work the system. I was going to buy a explorer, but i am glad I chose the ixl.
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Mezmerized Mother
Dec 22, 2011 @ 9:40 pm | delete
- i've just started researching these products.. and I was running around malls wanting to buy a portable dvd player, an kids mp3 player and a gaming console. which one of these products is right for me? or my son i mean :p cant decide.. i purchased the leap explorer and an mp3..if anyone has any opionions.. please help!!
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Dionne F
Dec 1, 2011 @ 6:03 pm | delete
- Where is the unit for the child that is left handed?
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MmyDrst.
Jan 9, 2012 @ 7:34 pm | delete
- Left-handers are supposed to be geniuses. Why would he/she need one of these?
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Karen S
Oct 7, 2011 @ 9:06 pm | delete
- I also have the memory card issue. Every time my daughter drops her IXL the system doesnt reconize the memory card anymore. My daughters 3 and in the age guidelines. I think the IXL could have been made a little more durable being a 3 year old is still pretty clumsy. I spoke with fisher price and they offer me a full refund if I pay shipping and send it back.
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Theresa
Sep 12, 2011 @ 12:40 pm | delete
- Our unit is working superbly. My 4 yr old loves it. She has been sleeping with it since she got it a week ago and the apps that come standard are Fantastic. We didnt even have to show her how to use it. 5 stars from me!!!!!
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Theresa
Sep 12, 2011 @ 12:37 pm | delete
- Just bought it for my 4 year old daughter and she threw my Droid down!! She has been sleeping with her IXL under her pillow!! We didnt even have to show her how to use it. She immediately figured out that she could color while listening to Justin Bieber. On top of that the coloring game that came STANDARD on the unit is AWESOME! 5 stars from my daughter & I !!!
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rhiannon010
Aug 16, 2011 @ 6:21 pm | delete
- i posted earlier that i could not transfer mp3s - although i never figured out why it is something on my home computer that was not allowing me to transfer the mp3s, when i did it from my work computer it worked fine. in regards to your question, i only have an issue with the SD card if the player is dropped, then i have to pull it out and put it back in and everything is there. all sd cards are the same size unless it is a mini or micro. also someone mentioned purchasing at target for 90 day return policy, if you purchase at kmart you can buy a replacement plan for $7.99 that is valid for one year after the manufacturer's warranty expires and they issue refund of payment price for ANY reason that the player is unusable, even if your kid breaks it. so even if you decide you don't want another one you get a gift card for what you paid so you can buy something else.
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stacey blodgett
Jul 31, 2011 @ 7:48 am | delete
- I have bought two for our house Fisher Price had me send one back and it still does not work correctly with the SD card bumping out. Does anyone elts have this problem? FP wants us to resend them back again. Does anyone know if one SD card brand is slightly larger than another? I hate to keep returning the toys to have the same issue.
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Paul
Aug 16, 2011 @ 10:47 am | delete
- yes, and it is intermitent. We ar to the point now where one player does not play/recognize the music that is on the SD card, but does fine loading the pictures. I am going to try a software update and a new memory card.
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Russ
Jul 4, 2011 @ 7:25 pm | delete
- We purchase an iXL for our son at his 3rd birthday last December. Our now 2 year old daughter has one because they both love tem so much. We have had absolutely no problems with either one and the setup is so simple and not at all time consuming. I'm a stay at home dad and it only took about 15 minutes to set up the new unit. I highly recommend this to anyone who is frustrated with a Leapfrog unit or competitor that has cartridges. The iXL's no cartridge design is perfect... we will never lose a game!
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Brittany
Dec 5, 2011 @ 8:27 pm | delete
- Can you download he game to more than one IXL o is it a one time download.
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Stacey Blodgett
Dec 21, 2011 @ 11:58 am | delete
- You can download to multiple ixl but make sure you keep the cd roms as you may need to reload the sd cards several times if the chip bumps out. we have over 10 games on 3 ixls buying a a size 2GB or higher is good for a large library of games and music
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JMAN
Jun 15, 2011 @ 4:20 pm | delete
- This is a great learning tool...however..I have gone through 2. The first one lasted for a couple months and the battery picture appears as if it's dead and turned off. I put new ones in and it did the same thing. I bought the most expensive batteries out there and they lasted a week before they were dead. I now use rechargeable batteries and need to recharge them once a week. I also have a newer iXL, since the old models (ones that were released last year had so many issues) and now I have no issues.
So I would recommend buying rechargeable batteries if you buy this!!!
I also would recommend buying from Target since they have a 90 day return policy with receipt.
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TechDad lives in Dallas with his wife and 3 awesome kids. They're little, hence all the toy reviews and kid-related articles.
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