bit-tech Shopping: Nintendo Wii Fit (Wii)

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: everything

Weaknesses: Using BMI

Summary: I am a Physical Therapist in a skilled nursing facility. We decided to get the Wii for working with patient's on balance, hand-eye coordination, strength training, etc. When the Wii fit came out we immediately bought it. The Wii fit has helped many of our patients improve much faster than standard exercise routines. What people don't understand is that before the Wii fit came out, the only option for a therapist wanting to measure and improve a patient's balance was a machine that retails for anywhere from $12,000 - 20,000 and all it does is show a dot on a target, no fun. This is an amazing breakthrough, and even though it may not be extremely precise, it is accurate enough and the price difference makes it worth it. The only draw back is that it calculates BMI which doesn't take into account that muscle weighs more than fat, so if you're a very muscular person it will still tell you that you're obese, but as long as you realize that, it really doesn't matter. Let's face it, you know whether you're fat or fit, you really don't need the board to tell you that, just hop on and have fun.

Rating: 4

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: works finelooks good

Weaknesses: gets boring quicklyannoying voices

Summary: I used this only a few times before I gave up. Setting it up is ok (not easy, not hard); however, bending around trying to get balls in a whole is annoying. Plus the squeaky voice is really grating. Listening to it tell you about your BMI (a dubious metric) is also annoying. Basically, it's kind of fund the first time, but I never really wanted to go back for more. I wanted to like it, but couldn't. In the end, it will prove to have been just another fad. Save your money and join a gym, insetad.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3 Weeks

Strengths: I received my package quickly, and in great shape

Weaknesses: none

Summary: I enjoy my Wii Fit, I was glad that yu had one in stock!Thank you for the quick service, I would use your company again:

Rating: 6

Time with product: 2

Strengths: Interesting concept for a "game"

Weaknesses: Does not really take place of "real" exercise

Summary: This is a fun way to get up off the couch and get a bit active. Though there is no way this should be mistaken for proper exercise. I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy of the weight measures. Nice feature is that the game keeps track of your progress. Overall, it is a fun game.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: Using new technology, fun choice of games, keeps track of weight and time spent

Weaknesses: Requires you to weigh in every day, becomes repetitive,no calorie count

Summary: I absolutely love having Wii Fit. There are several different categories of exercise to choose from (my personal favorites are aerobics and balance). The variety allows me to play my favorites while my son can find things to play on his level. As you play, you start unlocking games from a variety of sections. When I pulled Wii Fit out at my last "party," every one was fighting to play it. It made for a hilarious night because there were people of all ages trying to hula hoop and trying to balance their weight on the balance games. This night convinced me that Wii Fit is more than a weight loss game; it's definitely a party game, too. I wish the game had a calorie counter (the games will tell you what level of calories you burnt - 1 through 4 stars, but will not tell you a number). I also wish they didn't require you to weigh in every day. I'd prefer if I weighed in once a week so I can get more accurate results. Weighing in once a day can be discouraging. Overall, I'm a fan of Wii Fit!!