Robotix Reviews

Related Subjects: Building_Set
Buyer reviews for "Robotix" sorted by average review score:
LEGO Mindstorms: Robotics Invention System 2.0
Made by LEGO Systems, Inc
    Amazon base price: $199.99
    Many high-tech toys start with a fun and fascinating idea only to make it frustratingly complicated in the execution. Leave it to LEGO to make a technologically advanced toy fun to play with. The enormous 718-piece LEGO Mindstorms Robotic Invention System lets you construct a variety of moving robot vehicles and then program them from your Windows 98- or Windows Me-compatible computer. The robots are all based around a bright yellow basic unit, which serves as the functional heart of whatever is being built. The brick receives commands from the computer via an infrared tower unit. The computer interface is incredibly user-friendly and intuitive. What's most impressive about the system, however, is the variety of robots that can be built. There are detailed instructions for each one, and since these are LEGOs, builders are free to come up with an endless variety. --John Moe
    Average review score:

    No reviews found for this product.
    Best think ever
    I have this toy for more then a yeat and it still is fun,i keep making stuff i even made a robotic hand, this is the best thing ever well what are you wating for buy it!!!

    No reviews found for this product.
    Beware of software incompatibilty
    Unless you have Windows 98 or Windows ME, it may not work (who knows -- you may get lucky). I refuse to use either of these operating systems, which I consider wretched. The Mindstorm official FAQ says it was tested only on those 2 operating systems. For those who can get it to work, apparently it's a great product.

    Learn while having Fun! Fun! Fun!
    Lego Mindstorms is a phenomenal toy. Your kids -- and probably you! -- will learn programming, logic, math, etc., while have hours and hours of fun. I cannot say enough about how impressed I am with this product!

    FOR YOUNG USERS This product will immediately engage young users in building and programming the layouts that come with the kit. This alone makes it worth twice the cost. The programming environment is easy, yet the possibilities it offers will draw your kids into thinking and problem-solving. Learning and having fun at the same time: What a great idea!

    FOR ADULTS Lego robots are used in graduate courses at MIT and Indiana University, among other schools. The programming environment is robust enough that it can support exercises in artificial intelligence. Check the NET: there are people out there posting advanced code for the Lego OS, writing new operating systems for the Mindstorms platform, and posting instructions for their own robotic creations. It is fun and educational for adults, too!

    PURCHASING RECOMMENDATION The Robotics Invention System is the best entry point to Mindstorms, in my opinion. The programming options are much greater because of the ability to program on a PC with this kit. The lower-priced Mindstorms kits, such as the Robotics Discovery set do not allow programming from the PC. The programs are limited to what is included in the on-board processing module. That means the Robotics Discovery robots cannot do nearly as much as you can program the Robotics Invention System robots to do.

    LEGO Spybotics Shadowstrike S70
    Made by LEGO Systems, Inc
      Amazon base price: $59.99
      List price: $64.99 (that's 8% off!)
      Leave it to LEGO to come up with another great toy that will keep kids occupied for hours, if not days. This 223-piece kit contains everything needed to build a spy robot. The first thing to do is plug the CD-ROM into your computer and download the special features, training exercises, instructions on how to build the purple Shadowstrike S70, and 10 global missions for it to complete once ready. A programmable controller allows you to customize the Shadowstrike with special features before starting on a mission, so you're as prepared as possible for what lies ahead. The Shadowstrike’s best attributes are speed and agility, having a tripodlike build, but it also offers some strength. Its signature feature is the grabbing arm protruding from the front of its body, allowing it to grasp at things in its way. Having two robots work against each other on a mission is possible if you have multiple LEGO Spybotics, or a friend with one. A computer and three each of both AA and AAA batteries are required, none of which are included. --Pam Lauer
      Average review score:

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      BOY THESE TOYS ARE COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      I THINK THAT THESE TOYS ARE INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY TEACH YOU HOW TO INSTALL A CD-ROM. THEY ARE ALSO VERY FUN TO PLAY WITH BECAUSE EACH ONE HAS DIFFERENT FEATURES THAT GIVES EACH SPYBOTIC AN ADVANTAGE IN BATTLE. THIS TOY IS ALSO PRETTY DURABLE.( BUT JUST TO TELL YOU, DON'T DRIVE YOUR SPYBOTIC DOWN THE STAIRS BECAUSE ONE OF US DID IT ONCE AND IT BROKE AND HE LOST SOME PIECES SO HE COULDN'T REBUILD IT.)

      P.S. THIS IS ALSO A VERY ENTERTAINING TOY

      No reviews found for this product.
      lots of fun
      When I got this toy I thought it would be awsome.As it turned out It was!You get to design and program your own robot!Plus you can send it on missions and if your freind has one then you can battle each other.There lots of fun for any one over 7.I highly reccomend it.

      No reviews found for this product.
      A Good Buy...In My Case
      I already own several Mindstorms Sets so I bought this Spybotics set more out of curiosity than anything else.
      ...BR>It was fairly easy to set up despite the fact that officially Lego doesn't support the software under Windows 2000, which I use. No serial port problems and no failures so far.
      Its good for teaching kids the basics of robotics if they're not ready for Mindstorms.
      My four year old son is intrigued by it and I imagine most 8 to 10 year olds would have no trouble building and using it.
      ...

      Gigmesh (3806)
      Made by LEGO Systems, Inc
        Amazon base price: $49.97
        List price: $64.99 (that's 23% off!)
        Leave it to LEGO to come up with another great toy that will keep kids occupied for hours, if not days. This 233-piece kit contains everything needed to build a spy robot. The first thing to do is plug the CD-ROM into your computer and download the special features, training exercises, instructions on how to build the blue Gigamesh G60, and 10 global missions for it to complete once ready. A programmable controller allows you to customize the Gigamesh with special features before starting on a mission, so you're as prepared as possible for what lies ahead. The Gigamesh’s best attribute is its strength, being low to the ground and a bit wide, but it also offers some speed and agility. Its signature features are the six cog wheels that allow it to move in a spiderlike fashion over difficult terrain, and the grinding attachment up front that clears a path. Having two robots work against each other on a mission is possible if you have multiple LEGO Spybotics, or a friend with one. A computer and three each of both AA and AAA batteries are required, none of which are included. --Pam Lauer
        Average review score:

        No reviews found for this product.
        The Best Toy Lego Has Come Up With!
        This is not one of those toys that ends up in the back of the closet two days after a kid gets it. I got this set for Christmas, and played with it for months. In fact, I still play with it, even though I have had it for a year. Why is this toy so fun? The secret is the included CD-ROM which contains ten missions to download to your Spybot. Parents, if you are looking for a way to drag your kid from the computer, this is it. The downloadable missions make this toy a computer game without the computer. There is only one fault. In trying to keep with a spy theme, Lego included the instructions for assembly on the CD-ROM. If your computer won't run the CD, or if you don't even have a computer, you are stuck with a mess of Lego pieces. Lego should have at least included printed instructions, so if you can't get the software to work, you can at least have a cool robotic vehicle to drive around. Nevertheless, this is an excellent product, and I strongly suggest it for all ages.

        No reviews found for this product.
        Great introduction to robotics
        The Lego Spybotics line is an easier and lower-priced introduction to robotics than the Lego Mindstorms series.

        ABOUT SPYBOTICS PRODUCTS
        Spybotics contains four robots (so far). Each is designed to be strong in only one or two of the categories of speed, strength, and agility. That means that the user will have to learn how to capitalize on the vehicles strengths in a competition with other Spybotics vehicles.
        * Shadowstrike is a vehicle that scores high on speed and agility
        * Gigamesh scores highest on strength, but low on other
        * Technojaw is probably the most balanced, scoring quite high on speed but well on strength and agility
        * Snaptrax scores high on agility and strength

        COMPARISON TO MINDSTORMS
        There are several key differences with Mindstorms:
        * Mindstorms is far more programmable; there are even artificial intelligence algorithms available for Mindstorms so that the Mindstorms robot can learn
        * Mindstorms has more components that can be controlled: The program doesn't just control wheels; it can control gears and infrared sensors, etc.
        * Spybotics is like a smart remote control car, but not really a robot; it is also geared toward playing competitive games when a friend has another Spybotics vehicle
        * Unlike Mindstorms, but like most other Lego kits, you can only bid 2-3 different vehicles with the Spybotics kit

        Because of its greater programmability (you could actually write your own operating system for it), Mindstorms costs a lot more.

        PURCHASING RECOMMENDATION
        I think this is a great product. If I was purchasing for an adult, though, I'd buy Mindstorms--which is used in college robotics classes. But, ANY OF THE SPYBOTICS PRODUCTS ARE A GREAT FIRST ROBOTICS EXPERIENCE FOR A CHILD.

        No reviews found for this product.
        Son loved the product
        Good product. Son put it together in one night and was fascinated by the electonics.

        Robotic Warriors: Night Force Eclipse
        Made by Mega Bloks
        Age Group: 8 - 12 years
          Amazon base price: $6.98
          List price: $9.99 (that's 30% off!)

          Related Subjects: Building_Set