Back in the old days, microscopes to keep the kids entertained were a messy business. Collecting the samples to view on the various slides was a challenge, as was keeping all the bits in one place. Not forgetting, of course, the need to squint through the viewing lens to find out what was going on.

Technology has solved some, but not all of those problems with the QX5 Computer Microscope. Clearly aimed towards the younger user, it's a product that marries up the microscope of old to the modern day PC, with generally positive results.

The unit itself comes in two parts which clip together easily, and following a simple software installation, you hook it up to a spare USB port on your machine. Then, by launching the included software application, you're taken to a bright and accessible program that any user could easily find their way around.

Clearly you need to start by putting something into the eye of the microscope itself, and to help with this, the package includes a couple of specimen jars, two containment dishes and a slide for your samples. There's also a slide clip, tweezers and an eye dropper - pretty much everything you need to collect and store a couple of samples.

Assuming you've already done that, once the sample goes into the glare of the microscope, here's where the computer bit comes in. For instead of having to squint through a viewer, what the microscope sees is displayed on your PC monitor. And this opens up some welcome and entertaining options that complement the features you'd already expect of such a unit.

For instance, you can take video footage and save it to hard disk, and there's also a simple option to take still photographs. If you pick the latter option, the program also has basic tools for adding effects, along with a useful palette of painting tools and the option to create a slideshow (with music) of as many or as few of the stored snaps as you wish. It's nothing that's getting the likes of Photoshop or Powerpoint in a sweat, as you'd expect, but there are entertaining and accessible tools that will more than likely keep the younger user heavily occupied.

There are a couple of flies in the ointment, albeit not major ones. The image quality is passable rather than strong, which is pretty much expected seeing as the product is ultimately a souped-up and cleverly deployed Web-cam. Also, the specs claim that the microscope can magnify objects up to 200x, which it can to a point, but it magnifies not only the objects but also the imperfections of the product. Still, the zooming and focusing tools are easy to get to grips with, and all things considered, not without merits. The colour balance could do with a bit of work, though.

All that shouldn't detract from what is ultimately an excellent educational tool, which encourages youngsters to go out and about collecting samples before they come to the computer-based goodies. It's a thoughtfully put together package, save for the brief instructions, and should certainly keep curious young minds happily entertained.

In spite of some technological limitations, this is nonetheless a wise educational choice, albeit at a price which may put it out the reach of some of its target audience.