I love my iPod. I love digital photography. I’m generally a fan of new technology. But sometimes old school is best.

What’s more old school than the ViewMaster? And it’s simple, too: you put in the viewing reel, you look through the glasses at the pictures, you pull down the handle. The ViewMaster hasn’t changed in, let’s say, x-number of years. It’s still the same, and still dependable. Of course you can buy a newer version that has sound. That would be the Discovery Learning model. (It seems the marketing departments of toy manufacturers recommend just these words — “discovery” and “learning” – for every new toy that hits the market. They are everywhere.)

But you don’t need the bells and whistles. You just need the ViewMaster and the picture reels. The reels themselves are a bit on the pricey side, especially considering the ViewMaster itself costs less than $15. I think it’s the printer-cartridge syndrome: the printer is cheap, the ink isn’t.

But no matter: there are a lot to choose from, including farm themes, space, sharks, animals, and of course the “licensed characters” if that’s your thing. I’m not sure how many kids would be interested in historic Italy – but it sounds good to me.

The only drawback to this toy is that your kids will have to pry it out of your nostalgic hands.

Recommended Age: Four and up (the reels must be handled carefully so younger kids may need supervision)