VTech Nitro
Looking eerily like a “real” laptop, the VTech Nitro Notebook is a toy that’s designed to give children the experience of working on a computer while learning things at the same time. The Nitro has the exact same type of case as an actual laptop computer, complete with a mouse, keyboard, and small screen, to simulate for the child the feeling of using a laptop, without the parent having to put their own computer in danger of the wrong delete command or a milk filled keyboard.

There are several working parts to the Nitro, including a real mouse and mouse pad, and a working keyboard so the child can enter data into the programs. In addition, on the front of the keyboard is a touch pad and enter button, just like on a normal laptop. There are times when using the mouse will not work, such as when the child is playing with the Nitro on the floor, so this pad can come in handy.

Because of the tendency of CDs and DVDs to become easily scratched, it is probably not a good idea to be putting them into the hands of four year olds, so that is one reason why the games and activities for the Nitro Notebook are on cartridges, just like a video game system. The two activity cartridges, “Sing-Along” and “Story Time”, are included free of charge with the Nitro.

The Nitro Notebook does not have a rechargeable battery, however, which must be one of the reasons that the price is so low. Instead, it runs on 3 double-A batteries, and according to the instructions, rechargeable AA batteries are not recommended for this device. A backup battery also resides in the Nitro to save the data that your child has entered into the notebook. If the backup battery is removed, the machine is reset, so be careful when replacing this battery. Nevertheless, VTech’s instructions recommend changing the backup battery out once a year to avoid any damage.

So what’s the verdict on the Nitro Notebook? The novelty of working on a “big person’s laptop” is sure to excite your child, especially if he or she has seen mommy or daddy working on one just like it. However, due to the small, dull, black and white screen, the Nitro is unlikely to hold your child’s attention for very long. But on the other hand, it’s hard to go wrong when you’re buying a laptop for fifty bucks, no matter how rudimentary it might be. At the very least, it could be a stepping stone to allow your child to get the feel of working on a laptop, so that one day when they use a real one for the first time, it won’t be so intimidating.