Tekno? How did this get such a high rating?
Written: Jun 13 '01
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Pros: Interesting idea. Could lead to improved versions.
Cons: This toy is all hype and no byte. Definitely a toy.
The Bottom Line: It costs too much money. It was made a success simply out of great ads and hype. Not worth your time or trouble. Save up for an Aibo.
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| Furbster's Full Review: Tekno the Electronic Robot Puppy |
Why... of course. It was a craze. Great advertising. That be the answer.
It could only be the answer.
That or this was only used by 3 year olds (which is also very possible).
I was drawn in by the hype. Let me tell you, it wasn't the news, it wasn't the rumors, it wasn't the TV, it was the website that ultimately caught my attention. The website looked oh so cool. Very nice graphics, very well done site. Looked expensive in fact. The product being build by a robotic lab. Man that's just cool. Of course there was the "secret" section of the site where you can only get in with a password. What can I say, it looked cool. And it drew me in.
Last year I begged one of my friends to get me this for my birthday. At age 23, dude I felt really drawn into this. All I could think of was something that looked this neat, made but a robotic lab can't be bad for 40 bucks. After all look at the brilliance that came in Furbys 30 bucks?
So right I patiently wait my birthday.
Of course I get it (hey I have to have a way to write this review right?). That evening with much excitement I start with the top of the box and dive in. It took a supplied screwdriver and 35 solid minutes to get this thing outta the box. The box even looked cool. The instructions stated I should keep the box for later use.
Yeah right.
I am very careful with stuff, I keep most of my boxes (I'm a pack rat, I admit this. I have 76 Furby boxes in my apartment. Seriously.). This box had no way of being refurbished after my careful 35 minute opening session. There was no way I could save it. Into the trash that big ol' lump went.
I was lucky I carefully explored the box, I found without the screwdriver, manual and card game board...oh, and don't forget my metal pal's bone. Well plastic.
But didn't he just look cool though, eh?
I'm sure (according to the greatly hyped list of highly rated opinions here) many others were drawn in like I was.
I found the appropriate batteries and put them in ASAP. I wasted no time flipping through the instruction booklet. I reached the back to the tabled quick instructions and used that as my guide.
I flicked him on and Tekno started up.
I was real excited about this moment and enjoyed it. All the while trying to 'interact' with this plastic pup. I was hoping for something far more impressive then Poo-chi (see my review of that pup). What I got was not what I expected. In fact, far less.
I tried the card game. At first game it seemed impressive. He could guess the card I chose. Ultimately I figured it out as soon as I finished the first game (20 seconds later). Tekno just tells me to move as far over to the right or left as possible, then counts the rest of the way back to my original card. It's all a simple bit of math and programming. Something someone young would fine very cool.. but they'd have to be real young not to pick up on this trick.
Again, I'd say for 5 year olds and not older. Yet this was directed at a bit older. However I think most 8-14 year olds would not enjoy this at all...
So I'll carry on.
The issue of programming. Yes. This is what I was waiting for! Programming. Sounds great too, right? Don't be fooled by that word though. This ain't C++, folks.
After trying to get the exact pattern of input right several times, while trying to keep Tekno from walking off on me, I managed to get him to speak. Yeah me. 2 words. Not impressive.
As I 'played'.. err tried to get this thing to stand still for me while I input the long list of commands to try and set the clock, I came to further description of the clock mode. I found that this could be used as an alarm clock. Cool eh? I also find that the only way to get it to go off like an alarm is by leaving Tekno turned on all night long. Yes using the batteries. At that rate I suspect I would have to change batteries once every 4 days or so. That's not real reliable.
So I decided fine, I won't use the alarm part. Don't need it anyways. But I need to set the clock. So I do and I read further and find that the only real use for the clock is the alarm function and ultimately you have to reset the clock each and every time you turn Tekno on, as he forgets the time each time he is turned off.
Eh. Screw that.
So instead I just play with the thing. What was cute about 5 minutes ago, seems annoying now. This thing likes to walk. And walk. And walk. And walk.
Dude.. what happened at that so-called robotics lab? They forgot one of the most basic ideas here for a walking robot. It should have A) sensors to know when it has walked into something (this idea is definitely not new and isn't hard to do) and B) it should be able to turn around or walk in a curve, or walk to the right or left or walk more directions then straight.
On the subject of A in last paragraph. Yes I know if you press the nose he will stop walking. But not everything is at nose level. And he doesn't always walk fast enough into things to get his nose to press in. And nextly he just starts walking in 10 seconds anyways in the same direction into the same walk he just was walking into.
In regards to subject B in the paragraph before last. All this thing does is walk. I'm so serious. If you kick it hard enough it might turn in circles or something more remotely entertaining though. Heh.
After that evening I only turned Tekno on one more time. About a week later when my sister asked to see it. She got bored with it in less then 15 minutes. I used Tekno 2 times. It still sits on my bookcase, gathering dust. Is 40 bucks really worth an hour and 15 minutes of entertainment and your time? I think not.
Anyways. I'm sure that everyone on this page wrote about his specific functions so I won't retouch them here. I only touched on some of the things that makes me give this 'dog' and big solid thumbs in the ground review.
In the span of about one hour (including unboxing time) I went from "Oh my goodness this is awesome" to "Uhh, this was 40 bucks? I'm so disappointed." And believe me, I am disappointed. I really had some high hopes for this product. I was truly excited to get this thing.
Overall this could have been made easier to 'program' and it could have been made with more variety of sounds and better ability to walk. Less annoying too (all that walkin' and barkin' is a bit much). I can't imagine parents enjoy their kids having this thing.
Congrats to the media, newspapers, TV, builders of the website and the folks who spread the hyped up word about this product. You guys made this product float.
The hype made it. The product sunk it.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): gift
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
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Epinions.com ID:
Furbster
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Location: La Habra, CA
Reviews written: 51
Trusted by: 19 members
About Me:
Web developer/programmer who lives in CA with two Aibo puppies, Spaz and Ziggy.
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