Which Leapster to Get

The leapser 2 has been out for a long time. My 5yr old got the Explorer last year and loves it. The game for it are also able to be used on the Leap Pad as well. But the Leap pad is very new, hard to find and some reviews I've read it's kinda buggy too so we might wait till his 6th b-day to buy him that one. My vote is the Explorer!!
Also, if you do get the Explorer, get the charging base so you don't have to go through AA batteries all the time :)

The LeapPad is on Amazon for more than $100 over what they were in stores. Sold out everywhere! BUT, if someone wants one pad enough, they will pay extra I guess.

The Leapster2 is the version below a Leapster Explorer. My daughter (almost 5) had the Explorer and loves it! The reason I say had is we decided to get her a DS because of the amount of batteries we were going thru with the Explorer. The difference between the two is that you can do more personalized stuff with the Explorer, download games from the Leapster store.
I got an email this morning from www.leapfrog.com giving 15% off of marked down bundles that include some with the Explorer. The code is LFCYBERDEAL it doesnt include any of the products for the LeapPad though.

I wanted a Laepster 2 but they sold out at TRU. They were such a DEAL. I made the "mistake" about saying something to my mom and then SHE wanted to get the Leap Pad but they are sold out and there's no reason to buy an over priced one on Ebay.

My son is 4.5 too and has no idea what it is but I KNOW he'll love it.

From what I understand the games work from one system to the next so if and when you upgrade you don't have to buy more.

My mom got up at 2 am Cyber Monday a snagged a Leasper Explorer bundle from the Leap Frog website. She was pretty proud because it was a "Cars 2" edition. Those are sold out around here so that was a BIG DEAL to her. :)

I did mention to one of my son's speech therapists that we were getting this and she said she has nothing but GOOD THINGS to say about them. I think it's just a matter of price and how many "extras" you want to go with. The Leap Pad would have been REALLY cool but not the end of the world.

All games can be used on LeapPad and Explorer. I HIGHLY recommend the LeapPad. However it's sold out almost everywhere for the retail price of $99.99. You'll find it on Amazon & eBay but for about double the retail price. Good luck!

We got the Leapster Explorer but I did notice that not all of the games are interchangable between the Leapster Explorer and LeapPad. I thought they were all interchangable but noticed when we were in Meijers and saw that some were only for the Explorer which surprised me. I am thinking the LeapPad will grow more with the child.

well hopefully it wasn't the LeapPad cause they are sold out everywhere :(