This year Fisher Price is taking the lead in regulating what kids access on the internet with their new product called Easy Link Internet Launch Pad. Kids will easily be able to automatically access their favorite websites and games by inserting an Easy Link character (ex. Elmo) smart key into the gamepad. By inserting this smart key, kids will be taken to that character’s website and won’t be able to navigate to any other site on the internet. Parents need not worry about their children having access to the computer’s desktop or hard drive because Easy Link blocks access to these as well. The main drawback we can see is that this product is currently only available for PCs and not the Mac. We think the Easy Link Launch Pad will be a hot seller this Christmas because it seems to do a good job regulating young people’s access to the internet, it only costs around $30 and the smart key characters are the ever popular Elmo, Bob the Builder and the Wiggles. On our recent trip to the local discount retailer over Labor Day weekend we noticed the shelves a little empty with an apparent demand for this product. Other Smart Keys sell for around $7 and contain two popular characters.

Fisher-Price Easy Link Launch Pad

Rating

Availability – Out Now. Check it out at your local store.

Price - Still at retail. Around $30.

Demand – We noticed they were moving off shelves in our local retail store, but nothing alarming. Anytime you associate the name Elmo with a product you never know what to expect. In a time of Internet paranoia this product might be a parents or grandparents dream. We predict a special segment on the Today Show or Good Morning America. Just watch and see.

You can read all of our blog posts about upcoming toys for Christmas 2007 at www.xomba.com/xombyte/toygenius.
Have a question or a tip? Feel free to let us know.