I would reccommend getting one for your collection. It's not for everybody, but they really are nice little pets for the following reasons:
-They have many many characters, and all are rendered wonderfully (besides being very cute)
-They grow at a reasonable pace (not every day- that would mean they grow up too quickly). They give you time to get used to the three characters you have on screen, and recognise their personalities.
-The games are quick, but challenging. This means you can play a game quickly to earn a happy heart, but you'll have trouble beating it. I think it's more fun this way. Games are boring if they're too easy!
-Everything is set out more realisticly. For example, rather than just having a normal 'pause' feature, you can send your little family on an outing while you're busy. You see the cute Tama-bus driving them around while it's paused
And you buy items from the shopping channel, instead of just having a random shop keeper living with your pets XD
-The wider screen makes for nicer, more detailed graphics. Some of the food actually makes me feel hungry XD
-The beeps and general sounds are much nicer than those of other versions in my opinion. It has a nicer attention call and button tone
Negative points I'd say are these:
-If you want more than two types of food/snack, you must take the time to input the passwords (found on this forum), however when you do, there is a huge range of food (as well as items) at your disposal.
-You can't name each individual character, which may seem less personal.
Overall, I find them a lot of fun. The first time I played with one, I got a bit confused by all the features and left it paused for weeks. Then I decided to actually sit down and read the instructions and realised they're a lot of fun! I'm glad I didn't give up on it! Now I want another one XD