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[kisumi]

Here is an answer to our prayers for a new dog like Aibo and its BJ who runs on Linux but comes with a pretty hefty price tag

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/notag/bj-linux+based-robo+mutt-is-smarter-than-aibo-276121.php

although doesnt look as cute as an aibo lets hope that it improves on the features of it

[anomaly2]

Seems like Pleo has more sensors. It didn't look like (from the spec) that it had any touch sensors like Pleo has. The main processor is about 5 times faster than Pleo's but that processor also has to deal with image processing. Pleo has a separate processor for that. Still, I think Pleo is better value for money though. I just hope Ugobe will release the PDK soon.

[InmemoryofRomeo]

Is that thing sticking out of its... erm... behind... its tail or a misplaced Ipod

Woah!

Bj's whooping $4,900 price tag

    I could buy ten Pleo's for that with an extra battery each *dreams* Surely they could make them cheaper than that... Sadly I think with a price tag like that the poor little guys will follow Aibo eventually.

[Darkwolf]

This dog is more then twice the price of the latest Aibo when Sony still sold them brand new.
Also: what is a "meat sphere sensor" lol!
Perhaps something that went lost in translation me thinks.
I've heard about this robot quite some time ago.
Also... it's very bold to say that this dog is smarter then Aibo.
It has less sensors, less degrees of freedom (Aibo has 20 degrees of freedom) and CPU and camera wise it's on par with Aibo.
I also hope they will do some touch ups on the final look of him.

[kisumi]

lets hope so, but still wanting an aibo but cant find any being sold in my area 

[mh7ah]

What model Aibo are you looking to buy? Where abouts are you in the UK?

....... just read your in Devon Nice place!

[fancyfont]

I checked out ebay. How could anyone want to sell theirs?

[Darkwolf]

I checked out ebay. How could anyone want to sell theirs?

The owners were I got my Aibo from did it with pain in their hearts.
In their case, long work hours and other hobbies prevented them from devoting enough time to their Aibo.
But I did had to write an e-mail back with a proper motivation why I would be interested in their Aibo.
I passed with flying colours and 5 other people's responses got declined.
Then, I met up with them to have a look at Aibo and have a chat.
A few days later I finished thinking and deciding and mailed back I wanted to go for it.
I got a reply back and they did some thinking as well... they decided I would be a great owner for their Aibo and was allowed to buy him.
Just a few days later I picked him up by car with my girlfriend.
Only a 30 minute drive.
Was really lucky and he's been taken care of rather well.
His battery is in mint condition and there is not a scratch on him.
(Only very tiny ones on his nose that he did mention, but I had serious trouble even detecting those!)

I would never get one from Ebay.
A purchase like this I want to see in real life and meet the people behind it.
Especially when it already has been a dream for so many years.
And Aibo is not just another product or gadget that you normally would order or buy online.
If I ever would get another Aibo, I would want it to go like this and not any different.
Aibo's deserve that much! 

[kisumi]

I checked out ebay. How could anyone want to sell theirs?

The owners were I got my Aibo from did it with pain in their hearts.
In their case, long work hours and other hobbies prevented them from devoting enough time to their Aibo.
But I did had to write an e-mail back with a proper motivation why I would be interested in their Aibo.
I passed with flying colours and 5 other people's responses got declined.
Then, I met up with them to have a look at Aibo and have a chat.
A few days later I finished thinking and deciding and mailed back I wanted to go for it.
I got a reply back and they did some thinking as well... they decided I would be a great owner for their Aibo and was allowed to buy him.
Just a few days later I picked him up by car with my girlfriend.
Only a 30 minute drive.
Was really lucky and he's been taken care of rather well.
His battery is in mint condition and there is not a scratch on him.
(Only very tiny ones on his nose that he did mention, but I had serious trouble even detecting those!)

I would never get one from Ebay.
A purchase like this I want to see in real life and meet the people behind it.
Especially when it already has been a dream for so many years.
And Aibo is not just another product or gadget that you normally would order or buy online.
If I ever would get another Aibo, I would want it to go like this and not any different.
Aibo's deserve that much! 

aww thats such a nice way to get your hands on an aibo least his previous owners cared about him enough find him a proper new home

[fancyfont]

Thank yoiu for the information, Darkwolf. So glad that you were able to get yours by seeing it first and it all worked out. I feel for the person who had to sell their aibo. Who would ever have guessed that robots could break hearts.

[gucci_boi7782]

Great story! I soooooooooo badly want an aibo! Where is the best place to get a good quality one? They currently retail for more than $1000 USD on ebay. That is so far out of my budget, can they really be that much?

[kisumi]

i think they orginally sold for something like £1500 new but im  not sure, it is a huge sum to pay for what is at essentially a toy but hey what can i say other than i am a big kid and i want one though rolly fills the void a bit, keep hinting to my partner to get me one for xmas, hoping that will work lol

[Darkwolf]

Great story! I soooooooooo badly want an aibo! Where is the best place to get a good quality one? They currently retail for more than $1000 USD on ebay. That is so far out of my budget, can they really be that much?

Yes. If you can find them under 1500 you are really lucky.
I payed 1500 for mine.
But only the ERS-7 is that much usually, unless it's a limited edition of an earlier Aibo.
But all earlier Aibo's go pretty cheap.
I saw one on a local Dutch "ebay" site (ERS-210) that was only 400 euro's.
However, I personally melted for the ERS-7 for I find it the best looking and best full featured (including being the only one with speech) Aibo there is.
And I think it's worth 1500.
Especially because they are not being made anymore and still can be found in mint condition (like mine) as of today!

[gucci_boi7782]

Thank you for the review. I guess for the meantime I need to wait until I see a good deal on Ebay and then snab it.