Tekno the Robotic Puppy - Black

Great Toy!
This is a wonderful TOY for kids. My six year old loves it. If you're looking for an AI dog, then I suggest you look elsewhere. This is a toy not an AI robot. If you are planing to give this toy as a gift, then open the package first and place it in a different box. It took me 20 minutes and I had to destroy the packaging doing it.

An Remote Control Toy Only
Please don't be fooled by this toy and it's description. There is nothing ( not a thing ) about this toy that is AI. It is simply a RC device, nothing more.

What with the recent attention, and popularity, of AI ( artificial intelligence ) robots, this toy tries to cash in on the craze.

Don't be misled. Unlike the truly AI dinosaur by Ugobe, Pleo, this puppy is simply a remote controlled toy. Yes, he barks and walks, etc - but not unless you press a button directing it to do so. That is NOT what AI is about.

The undisputed leader in AI robots for the consumer is Sony, with it's outstanding AIBO. Coming in at approximately two grand, when it was available, it truly represented what AI and good programming can bring... a robot which ages and has it's own personality based on your interaction with it. This Tekno pet, is a poor, poor substitute.

Second in the AI robotic market, is the Ugobe Pleo, and that also has some very good AI, and at approximately 300 dollars ( as of 2008 ), it's a big investment, but more than worth the price.

Do not waste your money on this toy, which is simply a remote controlled item. I own both an AIBO and a Pleo, and was looking for a lower end addition to my robot family of pets - what I got was a RC toy, NOT an AI robot.

Additionally, as a side note - the packaging of the Tekno is especially difficult to open. I understand the need for theft-proof packaging, but this went above and beyond what is necessary and quickly turned into a mess of plastic shards, cut wraps, screwdriver removed screws and cardboard.

A big dissapointment
My daughter had great expectations for this when she received it as a gift but she had received disappointment after disappointment. It is not "the robotic puppy that acts just like a real puppy."

It is nothing like a real puppy, in fact. I won't respond to any name but Tekno, its expressions are very hard to interpret (does a real puppy have eyes that change from red to blue?), the touch sensors are hard and "petting" the robot is not satisfying, it doesn't come or fetch (you have to give it the ball). It can't sit, roll over, or do any tricks of merit. And it is ugly and hard.

It is in my daughter's closet waiting for the appropriate amount of time before we give it away.

9 year old girl loves it.
Once removed from it's packaging this toy dog was a joy for my 9 year old daughter. My daughter would give it 5 stars, but I took away 1 star for the packaging, which requires you to totally destroy the package to access the dog and of course void any attempt for returning it. Lucky for Techno my daughter loved it, I honestly don't think it does much, but my daughter loves it and that's all that matters.

Daughter loves it!
This was a gift for my 3 year old daughter. I thought it would be annoying but it is not. As an adult I find it fun to play with. It is fascinating that it understands the commands. So much better than getting a real dog. The packaging is a nightmare.