My mom loves Scrabble!

October 10, 2006 11:18 AM

Scrabble help! I'm looking for a handheld Scrabble game that isn't this.

My mom has become a Scrabble fanatic. I'm looking for a handheld version that she can play with when none of her Scrabble buddies are around. I'm aware of the games for PC, but she doesn't really like "the computer" and would rather sit in an easy chair or cafe while she's playing. The only thing I've found is the Scrabble Express Handheld that seems to be a bit dated. Thanks for the help!

posted by GarageWine to sports, hobbies, & recreation (11 comments total)

While a bit low-fi, I own this product, and can recommend it.

It's a very manageable size, and the board has slots so the tiles don't slide around.
posted by jazzkat11 at 11:44 AM on October 10, 2006

You might consider some handheld video game options. Scrabble was released for the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color. It was also out for Playstation. If she didn't want to use the T.V., you could get a PS One with the attached monitor. (I have one and I love it). Looks like you should avoid "Scrabble Blast" for the GBA as it's not really Scrabble.
posted by Otis at 11:54 AM on October 10, 2006

Depending on how much you're willing to spend, you might consider a PalmOS device. There's a fairly nice Scrabble implemention for those.
posted by tkolar at 12:10 PM on October 10, 2006

That Scrabble Express Handheld is really not that bad.

My lo-fi solution would be those Scrabble Grams by Judd. I know they *used* to be collected in book form. I would find that as good or better than having to contend with sketchy AI.
posted by blueshammer at 12:28 PM on October 10, 2006

What if mom had a clunky old laptop with a big, backlit screen that she could use on the couch?
posted by enfa at 12:41 PM on October 10, 2006

If she's a true Scrabble fanatic and enjoys handheld gadgets, she might also be interested in one of these.

You can look up words based on a rack and letter patterns on the board, etc. Plus it contains the complete Official Scrabble Players Dictionary.
posted by trip and a half at 12:46 PM on October 10, 2006

Unfortunately, Trip, that latest edition of the Franklin OSPD only uses the 3rd Edition. The latest dead tree edition is the 4th. So if she's a true fanatic, it's only of moderate usefulness.

And, jazzkat, she's going to have a tough time playing the travel edition of Scrabble when her friends aren't around.

I actually wrote the top-rated Amazon customer review for Scrabble Express, coincidentally. I agree that it is not what she is looking for.

There is a really excellent Scrabble program for Pocket PC and Palm systems by Handmark. It is, in fact, the only reason I bother to recharge my iPaq anymore.
posted by solid-one-love at 3:05 PM on October 10, 2006

It looks like there is a real version of Scrabble for the GBA:

Link1
Link2

If her eyesight is good, she can get a GBA Micro, otherwise the folding GBA Light is the best bet.
posted by krisjohn at 6:15 PM on October 10, 2006

what jazzkat11 said. i use it all the time.
posted by brandz at 6:49 PM on October 10, 2006

The only answer is the Magnetic Travel Scrabble. The letters are like fridge magnets and the board is sheet metal.

Unfortunately you can't get the magnetic one in the US, and Amazon UK carries it but won't ship to the US. I ended buying the crappy all-plastic Travel Scrabble where the letters snap in on the board. At least it you can fold it up and zip it in mid-game and not lose the letters.

As the final outrage, the crappy all-plastic one is $35, but the magnetic one is £10. Bah!
posted by phliar at 2:47 PM on October 13, 2006

Crap! I missed the "when none of her Scrabble buddies are around" bit.
posted by phliar at 2:49 PM on October 13, 2006