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• The Good: Smaller then previous Fly Pentop. Uploads written notes and converts them to text on a PC. Comes in English and French. Expandable memory with SD card slot. Can play MP3 files. Music Studio should be popular with kids. Price point is good.
• The Bad: Not at all compatible with the previous FLY pen or its accessories. Also won't work with any Mac computers.
• The Verdict: Plenty of FLY reasons to use this pen.
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When LeapFrog first launched the FLY Pentop computer in 2005, it was a device that opened up a lot of possibilities. It's one thing for students to use a pen to write down the things they learn, but it's quite another when a pen can do some of the teaching as well.

This was always the premise of the FLY pen. Not really meant to replace a teacher and classroom, yet astute enough to keep kids on the right track when teachers and parents aren't necessarily around to supervise.

A pen by any other name

The first FLY pen was designed to be interactive and creative, yet simple enough for youngsters to grasp. Although you could argue it was also designed so that less tech-savvy parents could at least get a grip on what it was able to do. The FLY Fusion takes things further and increases the parameters so that the PC becomes part of the equation.

But before getting to that, you need time to get to know how the FLY Fusion works — even if you already own its predecessor. The general design of the pen is the same, except that it's smaller and handles four times the memory. The built-in MP3 player can also play one's favourite tunes while working on an assignment.

As before, the FLY Fusion works in conjunction with specialized paper that helps the pen's tiny camera read the information written on the paper. The tiny dots on the paper are the key to making this happen. With the previous FLY pen, it was simple to just draw a calculator and use it like you would any other. Now, you can just write the numbers down in any order and however you want to still get the same results.

But it goes much further than that. Using what are called "FlyCons," which can be as basic as two-letter combinations within a small box or circle, you can do an assortment of things. One that was particularly cool was drawing and playing music instruments. I could draw a pair of drums with a cymbal, along with a keyboard, and start to compose some kind of musical score.

Not just a pen

The key to the other functions of the Fusion is that it can be used extensively as a stylus as well. By retracting the ballpoint, you can then use it with any of the games or applications found within the different books that either come with the Fusion, or are available separately.

This includes a Music Studio where a multi-function keyboard allows you to compose music and record onto the memory card (it uses SD cards for expandable memory). The gist of it is that it's an electronic keyboard that emulates the sounds of many instruments, along with set rhythms and melodies. To go further, you can use an attached turntable to mix them up or add scratching sounds.

Whether you look at this as a distraction to a child (from a parental point of view) or not is really arbitrary. The creativity behind it is the real selling point; the sort of diversion that keeps the minds of kids thinking. That might be overstating it a bit, but it's just one diversion. There's plenty of games and activities to keep the Fusion working.

There are games based on popular franchises like Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean, and plenty of educational ones like a language translator and algebra tutor. At an average of $12 per game, they're certainly affordable. LeapFrog has said it plans to support the Fusion with more games after it launches to other markets. Time will tell.

The writing's on the screen

The true highlight and the cherry on top of the FLY Fusion's repertoire is the fact that it can upload written notes to a PC via an included USB cable. Best of all, the included software will translate the notes to text on a Word document.

The catch to all this — aside from the fact they must be written in a FLY notebook — is that the notes also have to be reasonably legible. This pretty much excludes calligraphic handwriting because there needs to be a tiny bit of space between letters for the software to do its job.

But the cool factor for kids comes in when their drawings and doodles can also be uploaded and shared with friends via e-mail. Adults might look at this particular function and realize how useful it could be in meetings and lectures. Heck, even as a reporter, I know I could make use of it.

Pretty FLY

The FLY Fusion is a great device, not just because of what it can already do, but also for what it can potentially do, should LeapFrog expand on it more rather than release a totally different pen a year or two from now.

At less than $100, it's also affordable and well worth the price for the help and interactivity it provides for kids who need a reassuring voice when tackling tough homework. It may be an automated voice, but it would likely be drowned out by the time the kids get into the Music Studio.