Pleo Review - A Toy Robot Triumph?

SkinnyGuy writes "PCMag has one of the first reviews of the new robotic dinosaur. Is it worth $350? I think this reviewer thinks so. 'What most people will have a hard time understanding is that Ugobe's Pleo is one of the most sophisticated personal home entertainment robotic devices on the market today. It easily outshines robot toys from Wow Wee and Hasbro, though both companies offer robots that cost less than half of what Pleo does. Its nearest competitor, the Wow Wee Robopanda, is a good gift for young children, but it's not nearly as adorable, animated, or intelligent as Pleo. (Yes, it can stand up and crawl, but it doesn't look very good doing it.)'"

Pleo abuse

[Sketch]

Be sure and check out this video review of how the Pleo responds to torture...

http://dvice.com/archives/2007/12/pleo_post.php?p=1&cat=undefined [dvice.com]

Can't wait for Zeno

[greg_barton]

Zeno [zenosworld.com] can't get here soon enough for me. :)

robopanda

[gad_zuki!]

I'm a little much amused by the fact that the robotpanda (what a great name) comes with the following:

No remote controller needed
Realistic actions and interactive personality
Direct touch sensor and sound control
Interactive stories and games
Advanced artificial intelligence and awareness
Recognizes and talks to his own little toy panda (included)

Yes, that's right. It comes with its own little stuffed panda. In the video it hugs it. Christ, is that creepy.

Dinosaur robot overlords...

[PHAEDRU5]

Not terribly impressive. But maybe evolution will take care of that.

Best $350 box ever

[davidwr]

When all is said and done, your kid will have more fun playing with the box than the actual toy.

Pleo Review - A Toy Robot Triumph?

[Fallingcow]

A robot trumph? So, what you're trying to say is...

This was a triumph.

I'm making a note here: huge success.

I really can't express my satisfaction.

Oblig.

[Ethanol-fueled]

...but can you chase it around with a vacuum cleaner?

Re:Best $350 box ever

[BobNET]

When all is said and done, your kid will have more fun playing with the box than the actual toy.

That's okay. The toy will also have more fun playing with the box than it will playing with your kid.

Re: Pleo Review - A Toy Robot Triumph?

[Anonymous Coward]

> A robot trumph? So, what you're trying to say is...
>
> This was a triumph.
> I'm making a note here: huge success.
> I really can't express my satisfaction.

THE TRAINING LEAF IS A LIE!

Re:That is the problem with robotics in general...

[zappepcs]

No, silly woman, I was fishing for a "you insensitive clod" comment... you must be new here

And that is why

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

There is RealDoll [realdoll.com].

Re:That is the problem with robotics in general...

[ahoehn]

But compared to the cost of owning a real pet, a $350 one time fee isn't bad at all.

We just bought a rabbit, and in the first year of ownership I'm sure we'll spend more than $350. We got out of the pet store for ~$100 with a cage and a starter kit, then spent about another ~$100 on a couple months worth of bedding, food and treats. When you add on the the ~$150 we'll have to spend to neuter the thing, we're already at the price of the Pleo for less than a year of about the easiest-to-care for cuddleable pet you can get.

Even the Pleo won't be quite the same as a rabbit, but the Pleo won't pee under the piano. At least, the Pleo 1.0 won't pee under the piano.

Re:$350 toy?

[SpinyNorman]

$350 would sustain a family in sub-Saharan Africa for 3 years...

Not if they chose to blow it all at once on a Pleo.