Easy Link Internet Launch Pad

The Internet can be difficult to manage for parents with small children. Fisher-Price Easy Link Internet Launch Pad is one way for parents to make the Internet a safe and fun place for pre-schoolers, ages three and up. Kids can easily connect to their favorite character websites to play online games, while parents can rest easy that they won't stumble upon something inappropriate.

Finding Friends
To play, kids simply plug one of the three included child-safe plastic figures of Elmo, Dragon Tales, and a cute Fisher-Price dog, into the launch pad. The figures act as a direct link to that character's website. For example, when Elmo is plugged into the launch pad, the kids are immediately taken to the games section of SesameStreet.com. The Dragon Tales' dinosaurs take you to PBSKids.org/dragontales, and the puppy dog goes to the games area of Fisher-Price.com. There are also eight other popular Easy Link character smart keys available for purchase separately.

Keeping Control
When an Easy Link character smart key is in the launch pad, it blocks access to any other Internet site, link or pop up. And once they are there, it keeps them there. The only way to visit a different website is to plug in a different Easy Link smart key. Kids can navigate and play the online games using the launch pad's arrow keys, or your computer's mouse and keyboard.

The launch pad also blocks access to your computer desktop and hard drive so you don't have to worry about your kids accidentally deleting or renaming a file on your computer. There are parental controls that let you limit the amount of time they are online, and even turn the print option on or off. Once they are done and you want to get back to normal computer use, just input your password and the Easy Link program turns off.

Easy to Use
You know your kids will need to learn how to use a computer, and if they see you using one regularly, chances are by the age of three they are going to be ready to get hands on. So, looking for technology in a kid-friendly device makes sense.

Setting up the Easy Link system is easy. Simply connect the launch pad to the computer's USB port and install the software from the included CD-ROM. It's not compatible with Mac computers, but if you are on a PC and have Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, or Vista; a 750 MHz processor; a USB 1.1 port, 128 MB of RAM, and an Internet connection, which are standard on most PCs today, you are good to go.

The Easy Link Internet Launch Pad was named a Toys 'R Us Hot Toy for 2007, and priced around $30. It should get a stamp of approval from parents everywhere.