@stoopkid Well shucks. For what it's worth, it was definitely heaps of fun; I thought it'd be dumb or, at best, fun for fifteen minutes, but I had a hard time putting it down
@stoopkid gonna second @Moose here, this thing was a blast to roll around and do tricks with. It goes surprisingly fast and it was fun to follow around people in the office and annoy them :D
@Moose Haha, ok now I feel bad. I gave it another watch withan open mind and yes, it does look pretty fun. I guess just not what I was expecting at first if that makes any sense.
@stoopkid actually, I'm with stoopkid (the closed minded version). I watched the video and kept waiting for it go beyond rolling fast and trying to go over a few homemade ramps (with no spectacular air). Still waiting. Maybe you need to terrorize some cats in the next video
@stoopkid I was partially discouraged by how difficult it looked to drive it with any accuracy. A doorway is large and Ollie struggled to make it through; however, that means it will require lots of time to practice and become a demi-god... so I mean, there is that.
@stoopkid with a product like this, I think the video needs to give us people's reactions -- sounds and images -- rather than what the thing does. hearing 'oohs' and 'ahhs' and seeing people having fun is a better sell than showing the capabilities (speed, ramp jumps). the best possible video would be this thing chasing around a cat, or messing with people like the 'mediocrebot is an asshole' videos.
Why did it fade to black with 13 seconds of blank video left? Was that Double Dragon era soundtrack so good that you couldn't stand to fade the sound out?
It's not as much of a discount as when you sold the limited edition Sphero plus nubby accessory. Something like an extra set of tires, lower price, and/or being the special "dark side" version would have been more tempting.
With the title of the video being "he was a sk8tr bot" I was expecting Ollie and Sphero to be rolling around each other to the tune of Avril "sk8tr boi" while another less capable bot tried to keep up before going in the corner to cry.
Similar to that of the Sphero, I also looked into the Ollie model for some programming applications. Unlike Sphero, the Ollie has IMHO more programming abilities as you can manipulate two different tracks. Again, for my Technology class, I'd be all over this if I wasn't a broke ass teacher.
For your regular everyday Mehrican, this might not seem overly enticing especially at the price point. However from an educational stand point, this thing has lots of potential. Meh, if you're looking to unload inventory I know a buncha kids that'd love that little tax right off in their classroom! :)
The size of a can of beans.. Typical. Isn't there a door number three to choose from though? Monte would have at least offered a curtain. Think I'll pass (no gas intended).
One note, Ollie has an exposed micro-USB charge port so he is not waterproof like Sphero is (they say he's water-resistant, but I still wouldn't take him out in the rain). One of the greatest things about Sphero IMHO is his ability to make tracks in the pool or at the beach if you get the nubby cover.
I had a dog named Ollie when I was a kid. He could do all the tricks this thing can do, plus give hugs and kisses and sleep with you and make you feel safe and loved. That Ollie was way more fun and entertaining then this stupid Ollie. I haven't thought of him in many, many years. It feels nice to remember him. Thanks Meh.
Yeah, I have to agree with others, this isn't much of a discount compared to either new at Amazon or the discount for the Sphero bundle. I'm looking for another 30-50% off this price to make me click.
My first thought was print up a skin to make it look like a beer can and use it to drive alcoholics insane, ala a human version of using a laser pointer to "entertain" cats.
@johmccu I would think no. If the middle part doesn't spin, it's probably not spinning due to it being heavier on the bottom. If you put a GoPro on it, it will probably be heavier on the top and no longer be in balance and attempt to spin the GoPro around.
Not sure if you care about comments like this, but for me, this is too expensive. For those without a pet, the most fun you can have with this is with a friend (as you wrote in your writeup, epic races can be planned, given its all-round, even outdoor ability). But at $68x2 that's too much for what could just turn out to be a gimmick. See what price you can rustle up for a 2-for-Tuesday.
@fruitpunchben comments like yours are valuable. they want us to complain when they sell crap, so they'll know what to buy more/less of in the future. I'm with you, I don't kno wwhy anyone would want this. if the point is racing them, a pair of RC cars would be cheaper and a lot more fun, or some of those toy helicopters meh is always selling.
Specs
Condition: Refurbished
Warranty: 1 Year Sphero
Estimated Delivery: 7/6 - 7/8
Shipping: $5 or free with VMP
What's in the Box?
1x Sphero Ollie
1x Micro USB to USB charging cable
2x Hubcaps (1 set)
2x Tires (1 set)
Pictures
Ollie!
Retail box
Controls
Inside the box
Everything included
Charging
Can for scale
Mouse wheel
Rollin'
Price Comparison
$99.99 List, $94.99 at Amazon
Find a relevant price comparison? Please share it in a comment in this thread :)
Cute!
I'm gonna be honest, the video makes it look less fun.
@stoopkid Well shucks. For what it's worth, it was definitely heaps of fun; I thought it'd be dumb or, at best, fun for fifteen minutes, but I had a hard time putting it down
@stoopkid gonna second @Moose here, this thing was a blast to roll around and do tricks with. It goes surprisingly fast and it was fun to follow around people in the office and annoy them :D
@Moose Haha, ok now I feel bad. I gave it another watch withan open mind and yes, it does look pretty fun. I guess just not what I was expecting at first if that makes any sense.
@stoopkid actually, I'm with stoopkid (the closed minded version). I watched the video and kept waiting for it go beyond rolling fast and trying to go over a few homemade ramps (with no spectacular air). Still waiting. Maybe you need to terrorize some cats in the next video
@stoopkid @DaveKnowsAll Closing my mind like DaveKnowsAll. Looks like a lot of nothing.
@stoopkid I was partially discouraged by how difficult it looked to drive it with any accuracy. A doorway is large and Ollie struggled to make it through; however, that means it will require lots of time to practice and become a demi-god... so I mean, there is that.
@stoopkid with a product like this, I think the video needs to give us people's reactions -- sounds and images -- rather than what the thing does. hearing 'oohs' and 'ahhs' and seeing people having fun is a better sell than showing the capabilities (speed, ramp jumps). the best possible video would be this thing chasing around a cat, or messing with people like the 'mediocrebot is an asshole' videos.
If i didnt have spero then id get this but i do so i wont case closed
If it's Sphero's cousin, shouldn't it be called Cylindro?
@PocketBrain I mean.. it could be inbred, or cousins a few times removed? Genetics is a funny thing.
@PocketBrain Life just does not make that much sense, so, no.
ground drone? groan
@Lotsofgoats I see what you did there.
best
cat
torment
device
ever
@alacrity Maybe I should get one of these for when my cats finally destroy the CX-10 micro-quadcopter.
$68 for a refurbished unit or $94.99 for a new one on Amazon. Not that big of a discount, meh.
why
Why did it fade to black with 13 seconds of blank video left? Was that Double Dragon era soundtrack so good that you couldn't stand to fade the sound out?
Shucks it's too late to buy a Mr. Coffee, isn't it?
What is the music in the video?
@bruceoite Sounds like Anamanaguchi, but I don't know what song.
@bruceoite @ChadP can say who the artist was but I thought I heard him say it was called something like "My Skateboard Will Go On".
@JonT that's correct
@JonT @DannoHung Thanks!
how many people did you run into with this? more or less then sphero?
It's not as much of a discount as when you sold the limited edition Sphero plus nubby accessory. Something like an extra set of tires, lower price, and/or being the special "dark side" version would have been more tempting.
@xEBRONx you beat me to it...WHY??? Even with this video:
I will save my money for Phantom drone upgrades.
Sorry Meh. I may have been harsh, but I prefer mine in the air.
@mfladd I prefer mine on the ground; however, I am just currently lacking discretionary funds.
@mfladd epic vid. especially the cathedral esq part.
Ollie Ollie Achbar?
That's it...best I can do.
With the title of the video being "he was a sk8tr bot" I was expecting Ollie and Sphero to be rolling around each other to the tune of Avril "sk8tr boi" while another less capable bot tried to keep up before going in the corner to cry.
14mph is pretty sweet, but it's still a top Meh product on my list.
Meh price is meh.
Similar to that of the Sphero, I also looked into the Ollie model for some programming applications. Unlike Sphero, the Ollie has IMHO more programming abilities as you can manipulate two different tracks. Again, for my Technology class, I'd be all over this if I wasn't a broke ass teacher.
For your regular everyday Mehrican, this might not seem overly enticing especially at the price point. However from an educational stand point, this thing has lots of potential. Meh, if you're looking to unload inventory I know a buncha kids that'd love that little tax right off in their classroom! :)
The size of a can of beans.. Typical. Isn't there a door number three to choose from though? Monte would have at least offered a curtain. Think I'll pass (no gas intended).
But, no, I don't think the sphero was fun for more than 5 minutes.
One note, Ollie has an exposed micro-USB charge port so he is not waterproof like Sphero is (they say he's water-resistant, but I still wouldn't take him out in the rain). One of the greatest things about Sphero IMHO is his ability to make tracks in the pool or at the beach if you get the nubby cover.
It's like an RC car missing the car. Meh.
@phatmass When you put it like this, it makes me want one.
I had a dog named Ollie when I was a kid. He could do all the tricks this thing can do, plus give hugs and kisses and sleep with you and make you feel safe and loved. That Ollie was way more fun and entertaining then this stupid Ollie. I haven't thought of him in many, many years. It feels nice to remember him. Thanks Meh.
@mick you got me thinking, I might buy this Ollie if it gave me hugs and kisses and slept with me.
@mehdaf robot technology is still a few years away from that, but when it's ready we'll sell old models at a discounted price.
@JonT as long as it's not refurbished or a used return to the store...
@mehdaf http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/18/technology/robotica-sony-aibo-robotic-dog-mortality.html
@njd so it dies? I should applaud Sony on the level of detail with which they mimicked pet ownership!
@mehdaf As a kid, everyone deserves a real Ollie.
Yeah, I have to agree with others, this isn't much of a discount compared to either new at Amazon or the discount for the Sphero bundle. I'm looking for another 30-50% off this price to make me click.
14mph with a 98ft range? So going straight it'll be out of range in less than 5 seconds, sounds super fun...
Oh well maybe tomorrow. (sigh)
My first thought was print up a skin to make it look like a beer can and use it to drive alcoholics insane, ala a human version of using a laser pointer to "entertain" cats.
“This is a fine mess that you've gotten us into Ollie”
For some reason I really want to see the Ollie run in the hamster wheel. I'm not sure what would happen.
Dat video though. My two favorite scenes:
How bored is @Hollboll when Ollie makes the lame landing in the basket?
And what's up with super-creeper?
@ACraigL pretty sure that's the 'hoff
@harrison are you sure about that? I'm fairly certain if that was actually the "Hoff" he would be under the desk eating a hamburger.
@mehdaf w.t.f. did I just watch
@connorbush something sad made funny due to the passage of time and clever video editing?http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/david-hasselhoff-drunk
Too soon?
@mehdaf not soon enough. (-:
Semi-serious question... Can you strap a GoPro to it?
@johmccu I would think no. If the middle part doesn't spin, it's probably not spinning due to it being heavier on the bottom. If you put a GoPro on it, it will probably be heavier on the top and no longer be in balance and attempt to spin the GoPro around.
Just stopping by to say that I very much enjoyed today's youtube product demonstration.
Not sure if you care about comments like this, but for me, this is too expensive. For those without a pet, the most fun you can have with this is with a friend (as you wrote in your writeup, epic races can be planned, given its all-round, even outdoor ability). But at $68x2 that's too much for what could just turn out to be a gimmick. See what price you can rustle up for a 2-for-Tuesday.
@fruitpunchben comments like yours are valuable. they want us to complain when they sell crap, so they'll know what to buy more/less of in the future. I'm with you, I don't kno wwhy anyone would want this. if the point is racing them, a pair of RC cars would be cheaper and a lot more fun, or some of those toy helicopters meh is always selling.