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Perfect gift for budding engineers! Jul 14, 2010
We purchased this circuit set for our 7 year old son because they had them at his after school program and he LOVED them. We were surprised with how reasonably priced they were; you really get a lot for your money. My son says, "It's awesome!". The packaging is well constructed so that you can keep the pieces and parts organized easily, if you wish. Great education and yet fun toy.
 Teach them young... Apr 09, 2010
What a fun product. I have been toying with getting this for almost a year. My eight year old step-son is a math an computer wizard and and is always looking for ways to challenge himself. The easy setup of this system is to be commended.
As an engineer who works with this stuff everyday I have a few issues. There really is no documentation on how it is made. Do these pieces have built in protection so that the magic smoke stays in? If there are short circuits (not that it ever happens :)...) what happens?
Overall, I see hours of fun and adventure for a very active mind. I also look forward to doing something with him which we can share.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Only toy I've purchased for my kid that has completely lived up to its hype. Apr 04, 2010
I can't sing enough praise about this toy for the parents of any scientifically minded youngster. While the toy is costly, for sheer "educational and fun" value, I can say we've gotten more bang for our buck out of this toy than any other we've ever bought for our children. It is well worth the price. My nine year old received this toy in February, and I can say while he has played with it almost every single day since, has barely made a dent in all of the possible projects, and still can't get enough of it.
For this review, I asked my childrens' (and their father's) favorite experiments. I got more than I could include, but here's a small sample:
The Light and Sounds experiments: We loved looking at electronic signal patterns using the included oscilloscope Windows "WINSCOPE" software. My child spent two weeks experimenting with different signal patterns in any any sound from talking, laughing, or screaming into the microphone; playing music and other audio samples etc.
Salt Water Light: Electricity conduction. By submersing wires into water, we completed a power circuit and lit a light bulb. We added salt to the water and found it to be an even stronger conductor, creating a brighter light.
This toy isn't limited to huge number of projects outlined in the experiment book. If your child is creative, the potential of this toy is a happy thing.
We created our own variation of the Salt Water Light by wetting our hands with salt water and clasping hands while holding the wires, thus using our bodies to create and complete the circuit. Since the power source was double A batteries, this was a safe variation, though clearly you wouldn't want to try any un-approved power sources for this toy for obvious safety reasons. (IE: Don't plug it into a wall socket if you'd like to keep your hair or brain.)
Another example was a modification of the simple "On/Off" project from the Snap Circuits. My nine year old likes Legos and K'nex building toys. He put together a motorized K'nex car. Using the Snap Circuits, he created a bypass of the K'nex motor's original on/off switch so that he could turn the motor on using the Snap Circuit mechanism. He wants to expand on this using the solar panel included in the Snap Circuits to see if he can then make the K'nex car solar powered.
On the downside, while this toy is remarkably sturdy for something with so many parts and delicate electronic components, it isn't indestructible, and can't handle a lot of hard play. We've broken one of the capacitors so far. You can order replacement parts from the company, though since we haven't done this yet I can't offer a review of the process.
My one complaint is storage. We have kept the original box with its form fitted plastic insert to hold the parts snugly in place, but the box is not designed for real storage and transport. My son keeps it out and open on his dresser. You can purchase a specially designed carry case for between $30-50 dollars. I might consider that for his next birthday present, but it's pricy enough that it isn't an afterthought purchase in the least. I'm sure other people could offer better and cheaper creative storage suggestions, but we haven't looked into it yet.
On the whole, this is a superior toy. We were and are still very satisfied with this purchase.
I wish I had this when I grew up ! Mar 15, 2010
Having learnt about Electronics the hard way, I often mused about creating a Lego like kit, that is until i came across this. It opens up amazing possibilities and I wish I had this when I grew up.
One improvement could be that they provide an equivalent circuit diagram along with the usual snap-circuit diagram, for the more serious at heart.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Good, fun learning Feb 21, 2010
Pros: Easy to use, snap-based connections a very simple to assemble, even for younger hands (my four-year-old had no trouble following the directions and handling the pieces). Grid-based platform with well-marked diagrams makes putting the circuits together straight-forward. Student guide available separately provides lots of additional factual "how" and "why" details missing from the set's own instruction manual.
Cons: Components do not appear to be easily replaced. Circuits rely on a large number of integrated circuits rather than having a wide variety of more basic components. Just 12 projects into the kit, there's already a duplicate circuit. The "750 experiments" is probably more like "675 experiments". Doesn't come with a wall adapter (but you can buy one separately).
Overall, the cons are relatively minor, and the pros very important. Probably my biggest serious complaint about the set is that it's not packaged for convenient storage. The box it comes in is serviceable, but barely. We'll probably have to go get a dedicated toolbox or something to store the pieces in, longer term.
But on the whole, this has been a great product, with lots of interesting projects to assemble, and plenty of learning opportunity for the parent who is willing to work with their child and expand on the basic info that's provided in the kit.
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