A.W.
Okay, I don't really have an exact answer for you. But I will tell you that I posed this question last March when I was shopping for my daughter's 6th birthday. However, I was trying to decide between the Leapster and the Nintendo DS. Unfortunately, no one responded to my question and I ended up purchasing the DS. She played with it like 3 times before it broke, and I have been dealing with the warranty people to try to get it fixed since last summer.
Sooo, hindsight 20/20, I definitely wish would have gotten her the Leapster. She had the school bus shaped leap pad since she was about 3 and will STILL occasionally play with it.
I just think that Leap makes great products. When she was one we got her the play table thing and now my 3rd child who is one plays with it daily. You just can't go wrong with that brand. Hope that helps!