pleo skin

[hardyfoster]

i noticed people talking about the different "skins"...
so i did a comparison myself....

i do prefer the "softer" skin of the earlier prototype videos than the current one. it makes pleo look more like a realistic animal.
i guess it's too late to change that???

[DinoFun]

It would be cool if the people that go in the first 2000 hatch could get their Pleo in the older skin......I agree, I think it looks more realistic too.

I am just happy to be in the first 2000. :D

[ajruth]

What happened to the software skin ? The new look makes is look like a cheep toy now. It did look like a quality robot but now looks like it should cost about 49.95 in the toy bin at toys r us. I hope that is not the final product but i bet it is. Ugobe, you screwed up on this one, go back to the fist look before its too late :(

[ActivityGrrrl]

It does look a little too bright now - more cheap neon green than natural. Hopefully production models won't be so bright. It does look fairly soft and pliable though.

[ajruth]

The eye does not look as good either, maybe they will fix this before they do the production run. I do not think they will be we can hope. the guys at work really liked it and when i showed it to them today they thought it changed to much and most of the guys dont like how it looks and sounds. i hope you can turn the sound down on it because the web site gets on your nerves after hearing it over and over. I still ike it but not as much that is why I might not buy it now. I hate it when a company has a cool product only to mess it up the last few months of development. Well maybe if they read these posts they will get the hint.

Andrew

[hardyfoster]

this looks more realistic ugobe....

it may not be the best picture, but it gives you something to work towards if it's not too late.

http://hardyfoster.googlepages.com/Pleo_side_view.jpg

[bubba]

have to agree -- this prototype is much more appealing than what they're showing on the site now.

they're probably figuring they need to appeal more to the kiddy set in the looks department, since we geeks are gonna buy one anyway. e.g. "don't sell to a market you don't have to sell to."

[amjoie]

Ummmm. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think.

Personally, I prefer the "new" look. I was unimpressed in the early stages with the appearance, but I love the blue eyes and "healthier" looking colors on the box art or today's website.

And I'm way, way, way too old (think "older than sin") to be considered a kiddy. LOL

[Evolution]

they're probably figuring they need to appeal more to the kiddy set in the looks department, since we geeks are gonna buy one anyway. e.g. "don't sell to a market you don't have to sell to."If I correctly recall a conversation (and I may not be) with one of the head of Ugobe, he said that the target market was the "Tweeners" and the 25 and over crowd
Tweeners being 8-12 year old market. Pleo is more than just a doll or flashy-light robot, so it will appeal to that age group.
The teens were ruled out because of their typically short attention span ("MTV mindset") among other reasons.
And the 25+ older crowd because we see it as a neat adult "toy" or pet. It works great for me (hopefully) because as much as I like pets ("dogs") I don't have the time to spend with a dog nor the money to support a dog. However, I do really want a pet and the idea of AI has always intrigued me, so Pleo will hopefully fit this bill nicely.

[ajruth]

The problem I see is that they stress how real life look and acting they are going for and now its just looks like a cheep toy. The eyes do not look as good as the other ones. It now looks like a toy you would find in a toy store or something a dog would chew on. I am sure it still moves like it should but the guys at work that are looking at it all thing it looks bad now. I have to agree with them. I went to order one and then changed my mind. I also wanted to wait to see if I got my coupon in the mail but they never sent out an email so I guess no special pleo for me. I think it might be better to wait and see what other toys they come out with later if they are still around as a company. The price has almost doubled since day 1 and now it looks cheep so I guess time will tell.

Its time to buy an IPHONE next week :)

[amjoie]

The problem I see is that they stress how real life look and acting they are going for and now its just looks like a cheep toy. The eyes do not look as good as the other ones. It now looks like a toy you would find in a toy store or something a dog would chew on. I am sure it still moves like it should but the guys at work that are looking at it all thing it looks bad now. I have to agree with them. I went to order one and then changed my mind. I also wanted to wait to see if I got my coupon in the mail but they never sent out an email so I guess no special pleo for me. I think it might be better to wait and see what other toys they come out with later if they are still around as a company. The price has almost doubled since day 1 and now it looks cheep so I guess time will tell.

Its time to buy an IPHONE next week :)

I'm in the wrong geographical area for iPhone, or I would be all over it. Enjoy! :D

I don't mean to appear argumentative or "beat a dead dino," so to speak -- but I just can't *not* respond to one thing you said. :)

I happen to believe that those extinct dinos we keep seeing depicted in drab reptilian brown or "croc/lizard" type colors were actually as diverse and brightly colored as the hot climate creatures in the rain forests and Africa today. Vibrantly bright colors in stunning patterns seem to go hand in hand with hot, steamy, or marshland climates.

Also, many of the dinos were actually feathered. We all know a vast majority of birds sport very bright colors/patterns.

Plus, most of the vegetation these little guys would have hidden under would have been a very deep green, with a hint of lighter spattering of color from light/shadow. The color Pleo is now would be a far better camo coloration than the extremely light color they first gave him (which would have painted him as a likely target amongst the darker leaves and ferns).

So I was very glad to see *my* little Pleo having some color and pattern, the way I always imagined the real dinos would look, and IMHO, was much more realistic.

I agree the eye color is simply to make Pleo more appealing and endearing. It is highly unlikely a dino had blue eyes. But, considering how Furby was put together to be nothing but appealing and endearing, it is easy to understand where the company was coming from. And I happen to be partial to blue eyes, so no argument here with that. LOL

[yensidparis]

Has anyone thought of adding fur? I have been thinking it could be really cool if one glued fur onto Pleo - it might of course make him look less like a Dino, but could make him more real looking... I'll definitely be ready to experiment once he arrives at my door! Granted the skin sensors may cause a problem...

[roschler]

I like the new skin and sounds. I saw Pleo in person in Idaho and thought the new skin and eyes were beautiful:

<a href="http://www.robotsrule.com/pleo/2007/04/i-met-pleo-part-i.html"><IMG SRC="http://gossamer.open-site.org/robodance/pleo-side.jpg" ALT="Pleo" /></a>
<br />
If you want to do side by side comparisons, I have several <a href="http://www.robotsrule.com/html/pleo-pictures.php">Pleo pictures</a> of both the old and new skins. The old skin did indeed have a charm of its own, but the new skin to me is more baby like.

[amjoie]

Has anyone thought of adding fur? I have been thinking it could be really cool if one glued fur onto Pleo - it might of course make him look less like a Dino, but could make him more real looking... I'll definitely be ready to experiment once he arrives at my door! Granted the skin sensors may cause a problem...

I'm afraid you'll find something similar to what people found "dressing" AIBO. They get really hot! Think of putting a fur coat on your laptop, and you'll get the idea.

Modifications to Pleo, in order to individualize (especially if you are getting two of them) should probably be "reversible" modifications where ever possible. So try to avoid glue, especially considering that some glues will react adversely to the skin itself and do permanent damage.

I'm sure that we will eventually have a section of the forum dedicated to discussing the "right" way to individualize Pleo, with some tried and true methods of attaching small items so they look permanent, but are not.

As a general rule, though, try to avoid anything that covers large areas of Pleo. Heat will be the enemy of outfitting Pleo with clothes/costumes, for example.

And if you are considering making permanent modifications, then please use a regular Pleo for the base critter, instead of a First Hatch Pleo. The First Hatch Pleos will always be at a premium, and someone would probably be very happy to purchase a First Hatch Pleo in good condition, even several years from now. So if you permanently modify it, you are forever removing one of the first 2000 Pleos from the hands of a future collector.

Of course, it is *your* Pleo, so are the only one who can make the difficult decisions. :D

[junkroxy]

I like the new skin and sounds. I saw Pleo in person in Idaho and thought the new skin and eyes were beautiful:

<a href="http://www.robotsrule.com/pleo/2007/04/i-met-pleo-part-i.html"><IMG SRC="http://gossamer.open-site.org/robodance/pleo-side.jpg" ALT="Pleo" /></a>
<br />
If you want to do side by side comparisons, I have several <a href="http://www.robotsrule.com/html/pleo-pictures.php">Pleo pictures</a> of both the old and new skins. The old skin did indeed have a charm of its own, but the new skin to me is more baby like.


i agree! i was impressed by the new skin and feel the first disappointment, but after looking more photos i love the new style... maybe Ugobe will change different ice colours (like Furby?). I think shuld be cute to see a brown Pleo!

[ajruth]

the issue with the new skin is it look a lot more fake than the old one did. Maybe more color would be nice if it did not look so much like a rubber toy. The old one might have been a little dull but at least it had a more real look to it. I think its a mistake.

[alibaba]

Does anyone have any good-quality pictures of the old skin? All the ones I can find are really low-res so its hard to see what it loks like compared to all the really good shots and footage of the new skin.
Did anyone see and touch the old skin in real life? Maybe it felt different. I want Pleo to be strokeable, and I know the new skin feels nice.

AB

[tmadar]

Here are a couple of Pics of the original (and much more "real", imho) look.

[abesmith]

I'd have to agree I like the prototype better. The new skin just doesnt flow as well and has noticeable breaks in the skin where the color changes....I guess they had to cut back on the coloring technology because they were getting over the target price per unit.

[abesmith]

Here are a couple of Pics of the original (and much more "real", imho) look.

those arent pictures those are graphics

[dvd1970]

They could have changed the skin type because the rubber of the old type didn't hold up as well as the new type.

On a slightly different note, I've noticed a few different eye colors on the new skin type Pleo's... Will there be more than just blue eyed Pleos?

Dave

[fowskur]

The eyes don't look so realistic, I agree. However, (and I don't fit into the seller's age group marketing at 23) I kind of like the neato colors. Besides, if the eyes were too realistic then Pleo might be creepy! haha. Will Pleo respond (or does he in any regard) to a name other than Pleo. I think Pleo is a super cute name but I would kind of like to give mine (I pre-ordered 2 this morning) different names. They can't both have the same name!! That might be a silly question, I don't really know. Everything else is way more lifelike than I had pessimistically imagined at first. I'm so very excited. I have such extreme allergies that sometimes I can't even go outside. Needless to say, pets haven't really been an option because cats make my face swell and dogs give me large white blistery looking welts. Nice huh?

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

Personally I think naming your Pleo is a great idea! I mean heck people give names to cars and Pleo is a lot more intelligent and cuter than a car. Plus who's car ever nuzzled their hand?

[chudified]

I have to defend the blue eyes and the new skin colors. I really like how vibrant they are. The blue stands out nicely against the green skin. I must admit that from what I saw in some internet videos, the old skin seemed to keep the fullness and musculature as the legs, neck and tail moved. The newer skin seems to pleat and fold a bit more than I would like. It's all going to be about texture though. Once I have a chance to hold Pleo in my hands, we'll see how the 'illusion' of skin holds up.

[amjoie]

Here's my best guess:

The first skin was just a convenient covering, never intended to stand up to the wear and tear of daily life in someone's home. It wasn't thick and durable, because it didn't need to be.

It looked to me like it was something they could pull on and off quickly, while they tested the mechanism underneath.

The real Pleo, on the other hand, needs to be permanently in his skin, and it has to stand up to myriads of different kinds of abuse, both from its environment and from the wear and tear of its own moving parts.

Only time will tell whether we will eventually have to get Pleo "new skins" to keep him working well, or if the original skin will hold up to its initial promise of a long durable life for little Pleo.

I am trusting that the Ugobe people did their homework and had good advisors, making the best possible skin choice.

Remember, most robots have no skin, so this is all uncharted territory. But to me, that is part of the excitement. I love groundbreaking technologies.

[hardyfoster]

i guess a solution would be to make the skin removeable.

then they can sell different skins and everyone can be happy.

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

i guess a solution would be to make the skin removeable.

then they can sell different skins and everyone can be happy.


Oh my goodness! I wouldn't remove his skin, he might catch cold!!! :eek: hehee

[Pleofan89]

I've seen a picture of a pleo with yellow eyes. What's up with that? here it is.

http://www.robotsrule.com/assets/images/pleo-hero-shot.jpg

fokskur; wow, you're getting 2? I wonder how many others in this forum are getting 2. I feel left out. I could barely afford one. I really want 2 Pleos though. My plan is to wait for Ugobe's next "lifeform" (whatever it'll be) and I'll get that instead. If they make another dinosaur, I'd want a yellow triceratops like Sara from The Land Before Time. ;D

[junkroxy]

I've seen a picture of a pleo with yellow eyes. What's up with that? here it is.

http://www.robotsrule.com/assets/images/pleo-hero-shot.jpg

fokskur; wow, you're getting 2? I wonder how many others in this forum are getting 2. I feel left out. I could barely afford one. I really want 2 Pleos though. My plan is to wait for Ugobe's next "lifeform" (whatever it'll be) and I'll get that instead. If they make another dinosaur, I'd want a yellow triceratops like Sara from The Land Before Time. ;D


lol! i love it with yellow eyes:o

[abesmith]

I got 2 also....one possibly for resale when they sell out near christmas and one for myself...who knows I may end up liking them enough though and keep them both! =p

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

I don't think I could auction off a Pleo even if I had two. I mean what would Leo and Cleo do with out their sibling ?;)

[fortgeorge]

The new skin looks like a cheap rubber Halloween mask to me. :mad:

Please change it back to the previous one.

[EDIT] By cheap Halloween mask, I mean the way it looks when it bends, looks just like when you bend a mask.

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

I think I would reserve judgement until seeing Pleo in person. Computer monitors all display colors differently and you really can't get an idea from a picture on the actual texture of the skin. One of the members here said they had the opprotunity to stroke Pleo and that he was soft which doesn't really sound like a rubbery Halloween mask.

[fortgeorge]

Hmm, where might one be able to see one in person? Will be starting on a 2 month wandering road trip July 2nd, maybe I can work in a Pleo pit stop. :D

[Pleofan89]

I must be one of the few who actually like the new Pleo skin.

Still, no one knows anything about that picture with a yellow eyed Pleo?

[amjoie]

Not official or anything, but what I have understood from watching Pleo develop:

Pleo has been through many incarnations. Eyes have been different colors at different stages of development. The blue eye is the one they finally decided to use, I'm guessing because it is more "friendly."

The early skin was just a mock-up, and didn't look a thing like the conceptual graphics. But people fell in love with the early mock-up skin, because that is what they saw in the videos of the "coming Pleo." They were comfortable with it. They didn't expect a change, even though the conceptual graphic differed greatly from the mock-up skin. And people don't like change.

I think the vast majority of people are going to prefer the First Hatch Pleo skin, once they see Pleo "in the flesh." And for many, the First Hatch Pleo color/skin will be the only Pleo they have seen and the one they first fell in love with.

But those who disagree will always be more vocal, so it may *seem* like most people want the skin changed. Those who like the status quo have nothing to gain by saying they like it. But those who disagree are hoping to change something, so they feel they *need* to speak out.

If you preferred the old skin, you know you are not alone. But if you prefer the new skin, you are probably in the majority. Why do I say that? Because companies do studies on product acceptance before they make final decisions and go into production. Nothing is done on a whim. They settled on the final skin for many reasons, and they are convinced the new skin is more accepted by the demographic who will buy the most Pleos.

I'm sure Ugobe cares about everyone's opinions. But, really, I think we have to all realize that the production plans are well under way, the final art work is completed on the packaging, the product has been announced online and in several other stores with the current packaging art and the current photos and videos. People have pre-ordered, based on what they see on the official site. It is *too late* to make cosmetic changes!

IMHO, those who would like to see Pleo in a different skin should probably concentrate on asking for a Pleo 2 in the skin of their choice, rather than begging Ugobe to make a change they really cannot make, at this late date.

[And if you want a Pleo 2, then do everything possible to make Pleo as popular as it can get. Because without a good sales base for Pleo, your chances of getting a Pleo 2 will be less than nothing.]

Personally, if I were of the opinion that the old skin was far better, I think I would buy a Pleo and do a paint job, being careful to get the right paint before I started. I wouldn't lose my chance to have the best little robot ever made. Remember, surface beauty is only skin deep. But real beauty comes from within. :D

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

Wow amjoie were you in marketing or something? LOL Good post!

[ryane]

personally i like what they have done with the final skin and eyes.

[amjoie]

Wow amjoie were you in marketing or something? LOL Good post!

No, but you gave me a good idea. Check out the Pleo Cafe for my new thread about Cottage Industries. :D

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

LOL you're fast amjoie.

[joelster777]

I like the new skin and eyes personally. Anyways, beautiful post amjoie, LOVED reading it.

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

I agree joelster, I think Pleo looks great.

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

Hmm, where might one be able to see one in person? Will be starting on a 2 month wandering road trip July 2nd, maybe I can work in a Pleo pit stop. :D


fortgeorge I will try to find an answer for you on seeing Pleo's in person. Thank you for asking.

I must be one of the few who actually like the new Pleo skin.

Still, no one knows anything about that picture with a yellow eyed Pleo?

Pleofan89 I will ask about the eyes as well. :)

[parazythum]

I prefer the proto skin too ! I agree, Pleo looks more like a toy now than before. And I'd like to FORGET it is a toy.

[PleoWorldHostCami]

I prefer the proto skin too ! I agree, Pleo looks more like a toy now than before. And I'd like to FORGET it is a toy.

I think we'll forget it's a toy once we have our own and get to see it in action. :D

[jtforums]

I like both skins

[cmadmacs]

I wonder how rugged the skin is?

[Pirka]

I personally like the old and new skins equally, the thing that really gets to me is the eyes. I'd rather have yellow than blue. Blue isn't dinosaur-y. (That's a word, I swear! :D )

However...I really think that I'll fall in love with Pleo when I see him, no matter what. I know that he will be born right before my eyes and will wake up and I won't care about his eyes and skin anymore. I'll just love him.
I think the same will go for all of you. ;)

- Pirka

[Gobi]

I also don't find the blue eyes "dinosaury" either. Actually they distracted me at first as I thought they should be the yellow or green.
However, over time I have come to really like them. I think they give a winsome aspect and add a lot of appeal to Pleo's face. How could you resist those baby blues?

[Pirka]

I also don't find the blue eyes "dinosaury" either. Actually they distracted me at first as I thought they should be the yellow or green.
However, over time I have come to really like them. I think they give a winsome aspect and add a lot of appeal to Pleo's face. How could you resist those baby blues?

I guess...but I'm still a fan of the yellow eye that was originally the 'O' in the logo. x3

Speaking of that...any idea where the name 'Pleo' came from? You'd think it'd be 'Camara' or 'Cami' or something...not 'Pleo'.
:p
- Pirka

[mweed]

I would think based on Ugobe's reasoning of pleos skin color being greens to blend in with the underbrush, blue eyes would have really stood out and made the baby camarasurus easy to spot, so I believe yellow or green eyes would have been more "real".

But what the name pleo reminds me of is the Pliocene epoch in the cenozoic era 5 million to 2.5 million years ago.

[pleoguy101]

this looks more realistic ugobe....

it may not be the best picture, but it gives you something to work towards if it's not too late.

http://hardyfoster.googlepages.com/Pleo_side_view.jpg

well COME ON! you may want pleo to look jurrasic but not like he was just dug up from the dirt!! thats what this picture sorta looks like. Pleo is WAY better now!

[pleoguy101]

I personally like the old and new skins equally, the thing that really gets to me is the eyes. I'd rather have yellow than blue. Blue isn't dinosaur-y. (That's a word, I swear! :D )

However...I really think that I'll fall in love with Pleo when I see him, no matter what. I know that he will be born right before my eyes and will wake up and I won't care about his eyes and skin anymore. I'll just love him.
I think the same will go for all of you. ;)

- Pirka

well ugobe did say they sorta wanted pleo to have some cute puppy features, and the big blue eyes may just do that!!!!:D

[amjoie]

well ugobe did say they sorta wanted pleo to have some cute puppy features, and the big blue eyes may just do that!!!!:D

Well, it really isn't Ugobe's fault. You see, according to the will of some greater cosmic design, I was granted exactly my heart's desire concerning the appearance of the First Hatch Pleo, including those beautiful baby blues.

So, you all can just blame me ... ;) :rolleyes:

[pleoguy101]

i like the new skin, and the skin he had not to long ago.

[pleoguy101]

Well, it really isn't Ugobe's fault. You see, according to the will of some greater cosmic design, I was granted exactly my heart's desire concerning the appearance of the First Hatch Pleo, including those beautiful baby blues.

So, you all can just blame me ... ;) :rolleyes:

no, i'm not complaining about the blue eyes, i LOVE THEM!!!!:D :)

[pleoguy101]

i like the recent protos skin a little better but that proto mixed with this pleo will make it better but i will love pleo either way:)

[dbtnat]

this looks more realistic ugobe....

it may not be the best picture, but it gives you something to work towards if it's not too late.

http://hardyfoster.googlepages.com/Pleo_side_view.jpg

Many people have commented on the skin color and feel and the eye color, but I think the biggest problem is the skin went from this good representation to looking like Pleo is wearing baggy pants. I know that you need some room for movement but animal skin is relatively taut, not like the recent videos. This baggy skin makes Pleo look too much like a toy, as others have mentioned. That should be the big discussion.

[pleoguy101]

Many people have commented on the skin color and feel and the eye color, but I think the biggest problem is the skin went from this good representation to looking like Pleo is wearing baggy pants. I know that you need some room for movement but animal skin is relatively taut, not like the recent videos. This baggy skin makes Pleo look too much like a toy, as others have mentioned. That should be the big discussion.

I do sorta agree on the baggy pants, ugobe, it may be to late for those people who want you to change the skin, but its not to late to make pleo look more muscular, pleos skin is a little to bendy in the legs.

[cmadmacs]

I agree about the skin being to baggy in the legs.

[pleoguy101]

I have to defend the blue eyes and the new skin colors. I really like how vibrant they are. The blue stands out nicely against the green skin. I must admit that from what I saw in some internet videos, the old skin seemed to keep the fullness and musculature as the legs, neck and tail moved. The newer skin seems to pleat and fold a bit more than I would like. It's all going to be about texture though. Once I have a chance to hold Pleo in my hands, we'll see how the 'illusion' of skin holds up.

I fell the same way! the new skin is nice but seems too baggy.. ugobe, you can fix that, RIGHT???

[amjoie]

I fell the same way! the new skin is nice but seems too baggy.. ugobe, you can fix that, RIGHT???

Reality check time, here.

You all are soooo funny. You haven't actually seen Pleo in motion, and you have no idea what kind of things he does with his legs, or how far that skin has to stretch in order to accommodate the extremes of his movements. All you have are a few tiny segments of video, and some still shots, to make your judgment calls. But you are willing to stick your neck out on the line, and tell Ugobe it has made a mistake. That just cracks me up. LOL

Consider this, please: Form follows function and function follows form. A creator must consider all things, not just surface beauty. The creature must be able to function properly. And even within those functional parameters, beauty is still in the eye of the beholder. The creator reserves the right to define beauty.

(Have you seriously looked at an elephant's skin, especially the upper back legs? Or a bloodhound? Or a Sharpei dog? Talk about baggy!)

Pleo's skin is tough, because it has to be. It is thick, so it can take the wear and tear of constant motion. It has to give, so there is no pressure on joints during smooth movement. It can't be any tighter, or Pleo will be "in pain" because of joint pressure. Remember he has sensors all over his body, to judge joint constriction. All these things have been considered, by the brilliant people at Ugobe. They know what they are doing. Trust them.

Ugobe is only tweaking software, right about now. All other decisions are set in concrete. They have to be. Production is either already underway, or will begin shortly. Thousands and thousands of Pleos have to make their way through the assembly line, and that takes weeks, not days.

(We are very close to the deadline. People are sweating, trying to work out last minute details, without any snags. Minutes count. The *last* thing they are thinking about is making any cosmetic changes.)

Besides, once the creator is satisfied with the creature, that defines what is good and right about him. Pleo is what he is. Your part is simple. Either love him, or don't.

Personally, I am prepared to love everything about him; dimples, bumps and all. :)

[Gobi]

BRAVO! Well said, Amjoie.

[going86]

i have seen pleo. that photo with the baggy legs is not a very good representation. They are not that baggy and the skin is much brighter. and when he moves you do not really notice the skin baggy. it needs to be baggy because it stretches when he/she walks

[cmadmacs]

Amjoie good point. I didn't think of it that way.

[pleoguy101]

me neither:)

[cmadmacs]

I guess what we think of as being non-perfection in reality is perfection. Do I make sense?

[amjoie]

I guess what we think of as being non-perfection in reality is perfection. Do I make sense?

Yup.

Think for a minute of assembly line robots. You've probably seen one or two in pictures. They are odd looking things. Usually a clunky and heavy machine "body" with one or two long "arms" and "hands" shaped to pick up a particular item and move it from one location to the next, repeatedly; or perhaps a spot welder attached to the arm instead of a "hand." Very specialized and strange to the eye -- but ultimately, the exact shape and configuration to get the job done efficiently and safely.

Now imagine if we were "gods" and had the ability to make that same functional creature as a biological unit who, in addition to performing its job, was also able to refuel itself, reproduce, sleep to re-energize itself, etc. It would not be a thing of beauty, by any stretch of the imagination, but it would be "perfect."

Nature is replete with creatures designed to eat, rest, do one job for a set amount of time, reproduce, and die. Almost all insects fall into this category. And they are a verrrry strange looking group of critters, with very odd capabilities. But they perform a wealth of *extremely* necessary functions, including cleaning and recycling, plant fertilization, bottom of the food chain providers, etc. Our world could not exist without them.

Birds all have wings, but vary so much in other ways that it is amazing. Pelicans have very little in common with hummingbirds, which have very little in common with penguins. But each performs a defined set of tasks, and is perfect for the job. And they definitely cannot do each other's job. Nature if full of "specialists," all looking like they do because they *must* look like that or they couldn't fill their particular niche.

So, when judging the characteristics of any living form, one must be careful to consider *why* they look or act the way they do, before judging that they were improperly designed. Moles are admittedly some of the least attractive creatures alive; however, when you see how they have to live, it all makes perfect sense. So they are wonderfully wrought. (But they sure are uuuugly, to our eyes. LOL)

The same care is needed for judging any critters made by man: in this case, a small robotic "life form" named Pleo. Ugobe is a company who has put thousands of hours into perfecting the form and function of this little creature, designed for our enjoyment and "education." They have, through trial and error, designed it as close to perfection as they can get (on a budget). I find it nothing short of amazing.

I think it requires a lot of courage to take on the job of the "gods" and become a "creator." And even more courage to present the resulting little creature to us, for public scrutiny.

Our hats off to them! Well done, Ugobe!

edit: Of course, I still reserve the right to set forth a bit of constructive criticism, now and then, concerning what I, as a "god" might do differently, to improve the little critter. LOL ;) :p

[pleoguy101]

ya I think I get it too, we want pleo to be all different and change and we think hes a screw up "well, I dont think that" but really pleo is actually an awsome robot with AI.!!..ugobe also worked very hard on pleo and like Amjoie said a little a few posts up, all were doing is complaining about him!!!!!:eek: ok, I'm sure we have many things good to say about pleo but most are complaints on this thread.. pleo looks like somthing they would use in a professinail movie!!! he looks very realistic new skin,or older. I think the rest of this thread should be about WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT PLEOS SKIN!!!!!:D :) :

[pleoguy101]

GIVE A BIG WOOF WOOF TO ALL OF UGOBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D :D WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!:) :eek:

[amjoie]

ya I think I get it too, we want pleo to be all different and change and we think hes a screw up "well, I dont think that" but really pleo is actually an awsome robot with AI.!!..ugobe also worked very hard on pleo and like Amjoie said somewhere else, all were doing is complaining about him!!!!! ok, I'm sure we have many things good to say about pleo but most are complaints on this thread.. pleo looks like somthing they would use in a professinail movie!!! he looks very realistic new skin,or older. I think the rest of this thread should be about WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT PLEOS SKIN!!!!!:D

You got this posted while I was still writing my little edit. :)

Pleoguy101, there is nothing wrong with a well thought out opinion. And Ugobe is eager to hear from us. They value our opinions. Even our criticisms. It helps them improve their life form, and they want to please us.

We just need balance; and we need to be gentle when making our critiques, always bearing in mind that our lack of knowledge might predispose us to misunderstanding the issues involved.

But my post (and all my posts) were never intended to muzzle or embarrass anyone. We all need to be able to express ourselves, and this forum was designed to give us an opportunity to do just that. So please feel free to make constructive criticisms, if you really think something should be pointed out that Ugobe may have overlooked. :)

And then we will feel free to critique your critique. LOL ;)

[Gobi]

There is a thread in the Pleo Cafe where you can put in what you celebrate about Pleo . . . no complaints allowed. :-o)

[pleoguy101]

You got this posted while I was still writing my little edit. :)

Pleoguy101, there is nothing wrong with a well thought out opinion. And Ugobe is eager to hear from us. They value our opinions. Even our criticisms. It helps them improve their life form, and they want to please us.

We just need balance; and we need to be gentle when making our critiques, always bearing in mind that our lack of knowledge might predispose us to misunderstanding the issues involved.

But my post (and all my posts) were never intended to muzzle or embarrass anyone. We all need to be able to express ourselves, and this forum was designed to give us an opportunity to do just that. So please feel free to make constructive criticisms, if you really think something should be pointed out that Ugobe may have overlooked. :)

And then we will feel free to critique your critique. LOL ;)

hmmm, Amjoie, you gave me a new thread idea!! be sure to look for a new thread by me:D

[cmadmacs]

One of the venders selling pleo claims the skin is made of kraton rubber. Went to website.
www.kraton.com

[roschler]

Hello Pleo World,

Another reader question for you. One of my blog readers asks if Pleo's skin will be warm to the touch? If this is true, they would also like to know how so?

Thanks,
Robert

[PleoWorldHostCami]

Hello Pleo World,

Another reader question for you. One of my blog readers asks if Pleo's skin will be warm to the touch? If this is true, they would also like to know how so?

Thanks,
Robert

I'll do my best to see what I can find out! :)

[PleoWorldHostCami]

Hello Pleo World,

Another reader question for you. One of my blog readers asks if Pleo's skin will be warm to the touch? If this is true, they would also like to know how so?

Thanks,
Robert

After some time charging or playing, Pleo’s belly will become warm to the touch – as if he’s been doing some sunbathing on the sly.

[pleoWhisperer]

Well, if it's the belly only that gets warm, then I assume it's the battery pack that's generating heat, not the motors/gears/or other moving parts.

[going86]

i have touched it before and the skin is not really warm, it is more cold. i cannot remember if the belly got warm or not but it makes sence

[junkroxy]

i have touched it before and the skin is not really warm, it is more cold. i cannot remember if the belly got warm or not but it makes sence

No, the skin is very soft but not warm, i've touched the belly but it wasn't warm:D i love the details of the skin and his colours! But the i love so much is pleo's tail that looks and moves like a real pet! :p

[mweed]

You say it felt soft. Did it feel rubbery? HWne you pick him up, could you feel the gears and mechanisms on the inside?

[daffney]

I liked the yellow eyes better than the blue. The yellow emphasized the pupals and so when Pleo looked at you, it really felt like an actuel dinosaur has some out from the past and was gazing upon you. *le sigh* Maybe they'll make Pleos with differant colored eyes, for those who buy two, it would be easier to recognize each one. :P

[cmadmacs]

you never know what ugobe have up their sleeves.

[mweed]

I wonder if they could make contact lenses for pleos so that you could change the eye color . . . ;)

[pleoguy101]

LOL, that'd be cool:D

[Siren]

Since the skin will eventually wear down, I wish/hope Ugobe has a Pleo hospital. Like a doll hospital. Wouldn't it by nice to be able to send your Pleo to get re-skinned? That way if a hole or tear does happen, it could be fixed for a price.
Maybe if they did, they could also offer custom colors then too. For those who may want a brown, or a blue, or even a purple Pleo :)

[grmf]

Since the skin will eventually wear down, I wish/hope Ugobe has a Pleo hospital. Like a doll hospital. Wouldn't it by nice to be able to send your Pleo to get re-skinned? That way if a hole or tear does happen, it could be fixed for a price.
Maybe if they did, they could also offer custom colors then too. For those who may want a brown, or a blue, or even a purple Pleo :)

No reason they can't or won't. The first hatches are only arriving today.

[Nicoledm]

this looks more realistic ugobe....

it may not be the best picture, but it gives you something to work towards if it's not too late.

http://hardyfoster.googlepages.com/Pleo_side_view.jpg
I think the other skin is cuter, even if this is mroe realistic

[Lu Bu]

The older prototype looks more realistic. Bright colors on Pleo make Pleo less like an animal and more of a robotic toy. They could've atleast made Pleo's skin a little faded to give that NATURAL look.

[Limesunfire]

So my pleo seems to have a tiny little peice that seems to sort of be a tear yet its not deep. It looks like it might be a scratch into the rubber. But its not deep. They said that I could send it back and get it fixed or not. I really hate to lose it since I just got it and it will take forever to get it back . Does anyone else have little markings I really dont think its a big deal. Its not like im going to handle my pleo rough or throw it or pull the skin.

[ryane]

sounds like you're talking about a seam in pleo's rubber skin?

[Limesunfire]

yes i guess?

[kchamster]

it seemed like i had one too...then i thought someone was being cheap then glued it together instead of getting a whole new skin but then i realized it was a little seam.......LOL! :D

[pleohacker]

It looks like the skin is in three parts, Head, Body and Tail. There is a seam in the tail, and one around the collar area. Some parts of the seam are more visible than others. You could never get a one piece skin to fit over it, so the glued seam is just what is needed for manufacturing.

[pleoman]

So my pleo seems to have a tiny little peice that seems to sort of be a tear yet its not deep. It looks like it might be a scratch into the rubber. But its not deep. They said that I could send it back and get it fixed or not. I really hate to lose it since I just got it and it will take forever to get it back . Does anyone else have little markings I really dont think its a big deal. Its not like im going to handle my pleo rough or throw it or pull the skin.

Do you mean on his tail? It has a seam where two parts of the tail have been glued together.

[Pleona]

The seam around Pleo's neck reminds me of a V-Neck jumper, lol. :)

[Limesunfire]

No I think that its exactly the seam where some pieces just show more then others. Thank you everyone for your quick response. I dont know if its only me but I was freaking out that this would be a problem and Id have to send him back hahha!

[Limesunfire]

I like mine the way it is. I think they should maybe sell paint that can work on your pleo to customize it. I would change it maybe a tad bit.

[cmadmacs]

I thought the same thing about one of my pleos. It is nothing but a seam.

[arcticlotus]

I'm noticing more than just heavy wear on the seams,. It looks like the paint used was latex, which is basically a thin layer of colored rubber on top of the rubber skin, which not only flakes but slightly peals in high-petting areas. A part of me is worried that the skin itself will peal, but otherwise the wear give Penny a far more natural look than the original airbrushing...

[Pleocol]

I dont understand the word seam.... One word in this chat makes a lot of difference hahaha. i will look up in the dictionary!

[Limesunfire]

I dont understand the word seam.... One word in this chat makes a lot of difference hahaha. i will look up in the dictionary!

HUH? :confused:

[latinvixen]

I wanted to know what sort of rubber Pleo's skin is? I work with latex here at home and know it causes a lot of allergies (to some such as myself if I put it on my face ) but Pleo does not seem like your general latex per say used on mask making.

So question is, what sort of rubber is Pleos skin or is that secret (mostly wanted to know for the care aspect)? And how does ammonia react to the skin (just a question, not dunking it in it).

Thank you :)

[PleoWorldHostCami]

I dont understand the word seam.... One word in this chat makes a lot of difference hahaha. i will look up in the dictionary!

Hi Pleocol,

A seam is where two things are joined together. When you sew two pieces of material together it is a seam. Where you glue two pieces of a material together it is a seam.

[Limesunfire]

:confused::confused::confused:
I have discovered a small tear on the side of my pleos face its really tiny and all they say is send him back. Do you think they will ever come up with a fix you can like put on the skin incase of tears? I really dont want to lose him for a while. Its really tiny and near the chin and aslong as no one pulls at it i think it will be okay. I am so upset about it. :( please let me know what you think.

[cmadmacs]

Where exactly on the side of the face is it?

[Limesunfire]

Its on the side of the face towards the back not on the chin the cheek. But like when he opens his mouth and all and moves i watch it and it doesnt move or anything like stretch.

[averyiscool]

try putting some of that stuf far punchered tubes:confused:

[Starfire]

I'd send him back even if it means being without him for a few days. Someone else on the forum had to have theirs replaced and they said it was done very quickly. I'd hate for you not to send it back and have it get worse and then them not cover it since you didn't take care of it now.

[gretasmom]

Definately send him back. Even if there was a fix it would likely be temporary. Ugobe should provide you with a complete solution.

[asortofdream]

I want to cut a patch out of pleo's skin, perferably avoiding his "pressure" sensors. I was thinking of taking a razor to remove a square patch and expose some of pleo's electronics and to cover the square with a material like celophane (to prevent dust and debris from entering the unit).

Can anyone think of ideal materials for the "window" and how to bond them with the skin? I just got the idea and have no solid leads on how to pull it off.

It would rock if ugobe made changable skins for pleo. I'm sure such a product is in the works, a transparent skin would look incredible (to us robo-nerds).

[Falseprophet666]

Why would you want to that? You will not only void your warranty, you will damage your pleo for no reason. If you want to see what he looks like on the inside, just go online.

[Siren]

So you spent $350 just so you can cut him open to watch his insides? Once you cut him you are likely to severe SOMETHING.

[junkroxy]

i don't think it's a good idea... :(

[cmadmacs]

Yeah I agree. There are videos online showing what pleo looks like disected.

[PleoPet]

> I was thinking of taking a razor to remove a square patch and expose some of pleo's electronics
As suggested, take a look at some of the Pleo autopsy photos/videos.
Once you remove or cut through the skin (easy), you will hit the harder inner plastic shell. All the interesting electronics are protected by the plastic shell (some with metal foil sensors on top), eg: http://www.ifixit.com/Parts/stream/7/large/11-2.jpg
If you are willing to cut/drill into that plastic shell, then you could get access to internal electronics (including the internal "Bluetooth connector" extra serial port)
----
If you can't be dissuaded:
Any clear plastic sheet should work for the "window". I suggest gluing it (and any other electronic addins) to the inner plastic shell not the skin. Regular glue or tape or velcro works great on the inner plastic.
Gluing to the rubber skin is difficult. A rubber glue/contact cement works, but isn't very strong. Good enough to hold a 'flap' of skin or the excess skin around the access hole/window.
Good luck, if you attempt it, please post photos.

[kianajade]

Spike underwent surgery and I jsut covered up his patch with a "wrist band" that said "spike" on it!
Its adorable!!
Its on his neck, since his cable on his neck broke, but we couldnt send him back because we loved him so much, so we FIXED it!

[denodan]

Found an interesting News item about a new rubber, that if if rips, etc heals itself.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7254939.stm

Will be great news for future Pleos.

[pleoguy101]

COOL:D a self healing pleo:)!!:D sort like when a cut heals itself:)

[fancyfont]

What a great article!

[Siren]

Only problem, imagine the price Pleo would be with that stuff :(

[ryane]

Only problem, imagine the price Pleo would be with that stuff :(

one day it will be cheap enough for inclusion in products common people like us can afford. we will have to just be patient. that was a great article. it's amazing they've actually made something like that. one day our robots will heal the way we do, but much, much faster! :eek:i can't wait for the future to hurry up and get here!

[fancyfont]

Oh! The young!!:rolleyes:

[NinjaKid]

I have to call support this week, I have noticed the seem on his back is starting to come apart, it is very small right now but I am afraid it will get really bad.

[kchamster]

I'm sad now...many people are complaing....:( it makes me sad that after all this hard work of making one pleo the same pleo is returned making the work twice as hard....:( poor ugobe

ive noticed flaws but they have never made me THINK of sending Domino away after all my wait for him..Yes, the teeth chipped "once upon a time" and the eyelids, and the seams opening... which i can say my seam seemed to be ripped but it had not it was just the green color clashing with the light to play a trick on my eyes...but none of this measures up to the joy of the technology inside this masterpeice. I dont complain because
A. WE are the ones who rushed Ugobe to finnish the pleo for him to arrive before Christmas, and hollidays
B. Everything wears down sometime....im proud that some of this happens to Domino because it truley shows i love him and use him.
C. I know everyone has heard this before but its the inside that counts....the technology put into him...the technology that makes him loveable....(mostly...aside from the adorable face)


:D:D

[pleoguy101]

great point kchamster, totally agree:)!!!

[eric]

we may have had some part to play in rushing the product but i bet ugobes shareholder(s) had a big part to play

[Falseprophet666]

There are no share holders. Ugobe is a private company.

[Emtwo]

The teens were ruled out because of their typically short attention span ("MTV mindset") among other reasons..

This is off topic, I'm sure but, the 'short attention span' is one of the great myths of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Advertisers thougth that one up, because nobody would watch their stupid commercials. They decided that the consumers attention span was dropping, and we couldn't be expected to pay attention to anything longer than that.

They missed the entire point. Nobody wants to watch more than 15-30 second commercials because they get in the way of what we really wanted to do, which is watch our tv shows.

People don't have short attention spans, they have little or no tolerance for unrequested interruptions.

If you want my attention, make an appointment!

[degers]

Hello All.
The skin under Rex's front left 'armpit' tore through in the last couple of days, I have only just noticed it today.
I shall take a picture for you all to see but I was wondering if anybody knew of any solutions or glue that could help fix the tear.
I am in the UK, so UGOBE will not help me and I don't really wan't to send him back.
Please let me know if anyone has any ideas.

Andrew

[degers]

Update - Here is a picture for you guys (and gals)
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/9311/19032008165wo0.th.jpg (http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=19032008165wo0.jpg)

[pleoguy101]

Rocky has the same thing:eek::mad:!!!

[degers]

This may be a common place for a tear, the skin seems really thin under there.

[fancyfont]

It was mentioned that crazy glue might work. The tear is so tiny it just might work. Maybe our Pleo host might know.:)

[degers]

Crazy glue, is this availiable in the UK?

[fancyfont]

I just talked to support and it is not recommened to use crazy glue. I would not send Peeky back for a little tear. Somehow, there has to be a way of fixing it. :(

[pleoWhisperer]

Previous posters have suggested a small drop of super glue for small tears. But you want to make sure the glue is on the OUTSIDE of the skin, because you don't want the skin bonding to the inner works! :eek:

[kfuller724]

I just received my first Pleo. I charged him up and turned him on for the first time last night. I read lots of Plogs and posts on the forum as well as the user manual that came with my Pleo. So, as recommended, I pet him as he was "hatching". Well, after less than an hour of play (before his battery even died for the first time), some of his green skin down his neck and back started showing signs of wear!!! Is this normal? Has anyone else experienced this? I'm so sad! I'm afraid to touch him now. I wasn't "petting" hard and I wasn't wearing any jewelry. What can I do???

[eric]

Wear of the paint is normal Ugobe cant seem to get the paint to stick!

Search the forums for some suggestions including baby power !

[degers]

thanks pleowhisperer

[mickey]

Get infant cloths and put with the snaps down , I have done this and both my Pleo's are looking great, you can pet all you want. Jist keep the battery compartment open, it works great.

[Falseprophet666]

I answered a survey a while back, and I just got a little blue T shirt for Jenga in the mail. It fits around his front legs and says "Pleo on the back. It is so awesome. I'm afraid its a little too late for the paint on his back.

[Aussie_Pleo]

I want one of those t-shirts :D

I don't mind the little wear on Neon's back to be honest. It seems to reveal a speckled darker green which gives Neon a certain uniqueness and realty.

[Confetti]

I want one of those t-shirts :D

I don't mind the little wear on Neon's back to be honest. It seems to reveal a speckled darker green which gives Neon a certain uniqueness and realty.

Actually, you know what, I have the speckled green here and there on Dougie's back and I love it. I was curious if after the dark green is the base coat brown? Because I don't know how people have gotten so much wear all the way down to the brown, I haven't come across it at all.

[Patrkc]

Actually, you know what, I have the speckled green here and there on Dougie's back and I love it. I was curious if after the dark green is the base coat brown? Because I don't know how people have gotten so much wear all the way down to the brown, I haven't come across it at all.

To answer your question, Pleo's natural color is the same as under his chin and lower half. That tan color is blended in the rubber and will not rub off. Unfortunately when you rub Pleos back, the light green rubs off first, down to the darker green, then down to the tan rubber.
I'm guessing some Pleo owners don't mind the paint wear patterns on Pleos back. They show how much Pleo has been loved.

Here's a pic of Pleo without makeup..

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/ne/p/2007/Unpainted-Pleo_550x367.jpg

[pleoguy101]

the tan pleo loos very cool!! the tan brings out his blue eyes:)!!:D

[fancyfont]

It would be so cool if Pleos came that way and we could use them as our own palette.We could really have a individual, one of a kind Pleo.:):cool:

[Confetti]

I'm more partial to them having different eye colors in the box, and you never know until you open it if you have yellow, blue, or green. =)

[Caaahl]

Anyone else thinking, that this pleo above looks naked!? :D

[Toyguy]

I'd like to be able to buy replacement skins, so I could experiment with airbrushing various types and colors of paint on it.

It's surprising to me that with all this trouble of paint flaking off, that they just don't mold the color in.

[Confetti]

I'd like to be able to buy replacement skins, so I could experiment with airbrushing various types and colors of paint on it.

It's surprising to me that with all this trouble of paint flaking off, that they just don't mold the color in.

The problem with replacement skins, is that we would have to send our Pleo in to get the work done. There's a site around that takes apart Pleo, and there's a significant amount of glue right around his eyes to keep the skin intact. And I don't think Ugobe would want us messing with that, or they will be getting a lot of very angry phone calls!

[andreivc]

does anyone have a pleo with eyes other than blue?

Confetti, do they really come with green, brown, etc? So far I have seen green and brown, but only on pre-production pleos. Sad...

[mweed]

Ugobe says they ship a few out with green and yellow. They have been reported here in the forums!

[Confetti]

Ugobe says they ship a few out with green and yellow. They have been reported here in the forums!

Wow, lucky butts. =) I -love- the yellow and green eyed ones! Of course my blue-eyed Dougie is just as special, but I wish I had of known better that they -could- ship out with any of those three. Would have been even more exciting. =)

[HenrysHouse]

Anyone else thinking, that this pleo above looks naked!? :D

I totally agree -- looking at the paintless pleo seemed somehow inappropriate. He looked nude. It was very strange. :o

[Patrkc]

I totally agree -- looking at the paintless pleo seemed somehow inappropriate. He looked nude. It was very strange. :o

I apologize.
Next time I promise to post a disclaimer before posting any more nekkid pleo pics. :eek:

[Falseprophet666]

I'm considering scraping off the rest of little Jengas white paint from his teeth. They just look terrible. From what I understand, the testors stuff just flakes off as well. I have a saying I like to use that goes: "Give up. Sometimes hanging in there just makes you look like a bigger loser."

[sandro]

From what I understand, the testors stuff just flakes off as well.

Actually, I haven't seen that problem. Where I've added testor's (1145 white enamel) I have not had a problem with more flaking. In fact it seems to have cut down on the nearby areas flaking. I did use testor's from a jar and fine brush.

[fancyfont]

Putting a second coat of testor paint after the first coat helps.

[Falseprophet666]

So its a permanent job? I mean, its strong? Or do you have to keep on applying it regularly?

[fancyfont]

The paint still wears, but it's not difficult to touch up. It's been about a month since I last retouched Peeky's teeth. He gets a little more work out with his teeth, due to the milk bones he gives to my poodle.:D
See my plog. www.pleoworld.com/connect/view/id/2824 (http://www.pleoworld.com/connect/view/id/2824):)

[andreivc]

So, if you get something other than blue eyes, you are like superlucky!? huh?

[pleoguy101]

So its a permanent job? I mean, its strong? Or do you have to keep on applying it regularly?

the testors worked on Rockys teeth wonderfully!! I touched him up in Febuary, and haven't needed to touch it up at all :eek::)!!

[Falseprophet666]

Well, maybe I'll give it a try. I know it isnt terribly expensive. Thanks guys!

[hobbesi]

Pleos seem to have diffrent skin patterns.
Which one of these 2 pictures does your Pleo most resemble?
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/monkeychacha/pleoskin.jpg

[degers]

They both look the same to me, it's just 1 has a little more skin wear.
I'd say havoc is 2 right now but give us a month or two and we'll be at 1. :)

[mweed]

No.2 has a lot more of the light green. Bob is more like #1.

[pirpintine]

my pleo has no skin wear so far. maybe because i pat him and not stroke him.... i feel patting to be a more normal thing to do.. :S i sometimes rub his chin though, patting his chin might be a bit odd XD

[junkroxy]

mine is 3 weeks old now, but it's not like the 2 pics. Glen has some skin's wear on the spine, but they're dark green, not brown. Usually i pat him too :) but skin's wear is not a big problem for me! I think we can get a good color to put on his skin with a brush (maybe after the 90 days of warranty!).

[junkroxy]

Some Pleo owners have experienced little holes or tears on Pleo skin, my pleo Glen is now 3 weeks old and sometimes i noticed little piece of the skin between Pleos gears legs, when is skin rubs itself up when he walks around. If you look closely to pleo legs you'll see little holes (very very little), the same are around pleo's feet when his feet rubs on the floor. Today i had an idea and i'll try to put some Baby Oil "when the skin rubs itself" to prevent tears on Pleo's skin. Have you experienced other cheap solutions?:p

[mscongeniality]

This may be a little too late given the date but I wouldn't put baby oil on your pleo til you know exactly what it's made of. Baby oil dissolves latex and some rubbers.

[pleoguy101]

This may be a little too late given the date but I wouldn't put baby oil on your pleo til you know exactly what it's made of. Baby oil dissolves latex and some rubbers.

baby powder works.. but not baby oil!:eek: well, I wouldn't think it would?:):confused:

[Rosy]

Limesunfire,

My Pleo--Darwin--has small bits on him that seem like what you're describing. On his belly where his legs meet the rest of his body, mainly--it's like the top rubber layer of his skin--not the paint!--is just kind of sluffing off. I'm not going to worry about it. If he's got a heath problem or two, I'm going to deal with it. :)

[Whazup]

Hello.
I experience the same skin problem as many here maybe.
As I am a reseller of Pleo, many many persons touch and caress him all the day long.
So, Pleo is dirty, almost black of dust and dirt, and more, Pleo is peeling! His back and his head are peeling and loosing a lot of color.
So, could you tell me if it's possible to wash him, and if it is normal that Pleo looses his green color and become grey/black on his legs and backtail?
Thx a lot

[mweed]

The grey/black sounds more like dirt and oil buildup from all the handling. The peeling/wearing paint should show the brown color underneath. You can use a damp cloth with warm soapy water to clean off the dirt and grime, but this may well wash off some more paint as well. As a "demo" pleo that gets lots of handling, I would suggest cleaning off as best as possible, then treating with a protectant like the Gibbs brand discussed in other threads.

[smile4wandini]

:D
What's Up?
I have had my Pleo for 4 days now and I see small wear marks already. I have had a dirty chin also so I did as mentioned in the care section I used a damp cloth to get the dirt off and then a little powder but the way I spread the powder was with a soft flat 1" paint brush! That worked and I am hoping if it is taken care of the peeling can be kept under control?
I do lots of work with Latex and wondered if anyone has tried repairing tiny spots with a Liquid Latex ?? Clear or colored?
Sheree ; )

[Falseprophet666]

I know Ugobe was very clear about the wear isues of Pleo's skin, but I would like to know what exactly they want to do about it. I understand they are working on something or other, but what?

[pleoguy101]

I know Ugobe was very clear about the wear isues of Pleo's skin, but I would like to know what exactly they want to do about it. I understand they are working on something or other, but what?

I'm not sure, but I think they are trying to make a spray on stuff or somthig like that that will totally prevent the wear, atleast for a while.

[McBlobby]

My Pleo's skin is wearing out slowly. How should I stop it from getting worse???

Thanks

[PleoWorldHostCami]

My Pleo's skin is wearing out slowly. How should I stop it from getting worse???

Thanks

UGOBE suggests dusting Pleo with baby powder. Several members have mentioned they try to "pat" rather than stroke Pleo. And many people are also using clothes to help protect Pleo.

[mawinter]

Speaking of the skin. I recently noticed that the skin on my Pleo's tail is cracking very badly. Almost all the joints are split so I can see inside the tail! Is this a common problem? What can be done about it?

[pleoWhisperer]

No. This is not common. I would contact customer support immediately. Hopefully, Ugobe has come up with a glue they recommend, but I haven't seen one listed yet.

[PleoWorldHostRaine]

Speaking of the skin. I recently noticed that the skin on my Pleo's tail is cracking very badly. Almost all the joints are split so I can see inside the tail! Is this a common problem? What can be done about it?

Hi mawinter,

I'm sorry you're having issues with your Pleo. Please contact <a target="_new" href="http://pleoworld.com/support"><b>Customer Support</b></a> I'm sure they can help you come up with a solution. :) And thank you pleoWhisperer for suggesting customer support. It's awesome that people can come to the forums with their problems and concerns and get a helping hand from fellow members. We appreciate you all so much!

[mawinter]

Ok, guys, I am not talking about color loss here. I am talking about the skin itself cracking. The rubber has cracked all the way through on almost all the joints on the tail.

[pleoWhisperer]

That's why I suggested calling customer support. Color loss or pealing paint I'd say we just have to live with for now. But actually separating skin is a major issue! :eek: I'm assuming by your join date that you got your pleo when they first shipped, and is probably out of warranty. If it is still under warranty, get on them to take care of it while you still can. If it's no longer under warranty, find out what they are willing do, or what they suggest for you to remedy the problem.

[mawinter]

Well folks I just thought I'd let you know that Ugobe is not going to do anything about my problem. Even though the skin is coming apart it isn't covered because they call it " cosmetic". I can't be the only one with this problem so be forwarned. Mine is first hatch so all you others out there will probably experience this same problem.



Thank you for contacting us regarding " Pleo skin " as reported in Case number [00009621] on 6/20/2008.



As you described in your message: "I recently noticed that the skin on my Pleo's tail is cracking very badly. Almost all the joints are split so I can see inside the tail! Is this a common problem? What can be done about it?"



Here is the answer to your inquiry:





This is actually normal. Some of our customers have found that a glue named "Loctite" seems to work fine and resolve your issue.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) "Warranty of skin"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The teeth and skin are cosmetic issues (flaking, fading and joint wear). Being that is a cosmetic issue it is not covered under the warranty of pleo.



We do understand your concern. At the present time we are attempting to prepare a repair kit for pleo. This will enable customers to do some of the simple touch-up and repairs as needed. The release of such kit is not yet been determined. I would advise you to keep your eye on the our website, www.pleoworld.com for any updates.



If this answer does not properly address your inquiry or if you need additional assistance, please feel free to contact us anytime!



Thank You and Warm Regards,



Customer Support Team

UGOBE, Inc.

[pleoWhisperer]

Bummer :(

But that does answer my one question. "Loctite" glue may bond the cracked skin together.

[cuartet]

I just got my Pleo, Marley, today. He hasn't had any problems yet, but I've been browsing the forums and noticed some people (at least one) has skin ripping issues with their Pleo.

Is this really common? Because, if it is, I'd like to take actions to prevent it if possible. If it isn't common, that's great, but I'd still love to know what to NOT do to make sure Marley's skin doesn't ever rip.

[degers]

Hi cuartet.
I have owned 2 pleos now. My first Pleo's tail broke and it was sent back on RMA.
The first pleo also had skin rip problems and actually a hole started to form. http://forums.pleoworld.com/showthread.php?t=1870
I have also noticed tears starting to form on my second Pleo on the skin between the legs which gets quite stretched when it's legs stretch out e.g. lie-down or sleeping positions.

I don't know how you prevent these other than try and not prompt your Pleo not to assume these positions.

degers

[June03]

Nobody has commented on this, I just have to.

What utter rubbish the reply is!!!! No way CRACKING, SPLITTING skin is cosmetic and to have the nerve to say it's normal!!!!

It's with great doubt I might accept the skin color coming off as 'cosmetic' - but no way skin coming apart and breaking being normal, cosmetic, something we should just live with - and fix ourselves! Please, some common sense...

Pleo is not a dollar-store toy. And even my kid's cheapo squeezy plastic/silicone toys manage to have their paint stick, the painted faces of the small 'smelly figures' are all still there despite being handled and carried in pockets for days/weeks. It's as if my car manufacturer told me to use duct-tape to stick on the hood if it came off on my brand new car...

Pleo's skin tearing and not holding up to normal use is most certainly a flaw that the manufacturer should fix, a recall and replace period. Or at least replace promptly regardless of warranty with apologies for the trouble. A product should last a 'normal expected period of time' and the manufacturer is responsible for any flaws showing up within that period of time. And a robot advertised as latest technology and with a decent price tag simply cannot have skin that will not last even a few months.

I sincerely hope the customer service rep has sent out the wrong canned reply, intending a reply for skin paint issues. I really really hope the reply for tearing skin is something else...??? Hosts, any comments????

Well folks I just thought I'd let you know ---- the skin on my Pleo's tail is cracking very badly. Almost all the joints are split so I can see inside the tail---

Here is the answer to your inquiry:

This is actually normal.---

The teeth and skin are cosmetic issues (flaking, fading and joint wear). Being that is a cosmetic issue it is not covered under the warranty of pleo.
---attempting to prepare a repair kit for pleo. This will enable customers to do some of the simple touch-up and repairs as needed. ----

[teamdax]

Ok lets get this straight....... the skin cracking is cosmetic, and totally normal. On an item that cost £250
If I was told that on a £5 toy I would go nuts..... on a considered purchase like pleo...... its indefencable. If this is the advice customer services is supposed to be giving..... Ugobie rightly deserve the lawsuites that will be landing in their laps shortly

As pointed out above, the skin cracking (in a A FEW MONTHS) is not in any stretch of the imagination normal.... Its a unit failure, and the unit should be replaced (with out question...and with a nice appology) If its happening to more than a very small number of pleo(which sounds probable if Ugobie are coming out with a repair kit) there is aserious design fault and should be corrected with a recal.

Here in europe we have a 2 year warranty..... Ugobie knew that when they sold pleo here, and should have made sure pleo was built well enough to at least last the warranty period (ideally longer).... if my pleo's skin fails in that time.... i will expect a replacement or a complete refund, if that doesnt work I will demand a replacement/ full refund, and if that doesnt work i will seek legal advice..... and get my money back in the courts..... i suggest others do the same

[mweed]

Pleo comes with a two year warranty in Europe? We only got a 90 day warranty in the US.

[gumbowumbo]

For those that bought from Hammacher Schlemmer, you have a lifetime warranty, you can always get him replaced or get your money back.

[mweed]

If/when I get a second one, that's the way I'm gonna go. :)

[teamdax]

Pleo comes with a two year warranty in Europe? We only got a 90 day warranty in the US.

yep.... european law.

We do tend to pay more though....for example the RRP for a pleo in the UK is £250....thats about $500 (US)..... they cost even more in other parts of europe

[pleoWhisperer]

That's why if/when I get my second pleo, I'm ordering from Hammacher Schlemmer: lifetime warranty!
And I think that could be a real critical issue here. 90 days is way too short for a warranty on a product like this.

[Santa]

Question for mawinter.

Your pleo's skin is cracking badly on the tail. Does it have the same problem anywhere else on the body, neck, or leg joints? Does the skin on the tail feel different than on the rest of the body? Is the rubber drying out, or does it appear to be being stretched too tight?

I guess it's these long summer days up north, but I'm trying to determine why the tail joints? I would expect (and understand) the problem some people have reported of the skin underneath at the leg joints ripping or starting to show tears. But the tail has no seam to split open and doesn't make any sharp bends. It does flex a lot as the tail wags, but it's not real extreme stretching.

Could it be rubbing of the joints from inside? Or does it appear to be actually cracking/tearing from outside?

Any chance of getting a picture of the tears in the tail?

[katrien]

I received today Twitch (My pleo)
and have a few questions:

i love sunbathing and
want to know twitch also like the sun
or can i better keep her in the shadow ?

The skin smell will this stay long
my daughter gets dizzy when she play
with twitch,can i do something about it
first i was thinking of parfume but maybe its
harm the skin and the electronics.

[PleoWorldHostCami]

I received today Twitch (My pleo)
and have a few questions:

i love sunbathing and
want to know twitch also like the sun
or can i better keep her in the shadow ?

The skin smell will this stay long
my daughter gets dizzy when she play
with twitch,can i do something about it
first i was thinking of parfume but maybe its
harm the skin and the electronics.

I think it would be better to keep Twitch in the shade, we wouldn't want a sunburned dino. LOL Actually, it would be better in the shade to avoid fading and breaking down the skin.

As to the smell I'm sure it will get less but if it's a problem now try baby powder. This will also help with the paint wear on the skin.

[fancyfont]

The smell from the rubber will diminish. Leave Twitch out of the box.and in a cool place.

[katrien]

I noticed something on twitch his feets
his nails are tesame color like the belly
other pleo's have brown nails.
i bought my pleo in belgium europe..

Is this maybe for to know our pleos are european or american models or maybe an updated version ?

[mweed]

I know the paint varies somewhat from pleo to pleo since they are hand-painted.

[brett]

Repair Glue?
I recently had to open our pleo up to repair a sensor (below his right shoulder, it's a black square sensor). I cut his skin open, following the factory seams.
Does anybody know what the best type of glue might be to sew him back up?

[PleoWorldHostCami]

Repair Glue?
I recently had to open our pleo up to repair a sensor (below his right shoulder, it's a black square sensor). I cut his skin open, following the factory seams.
Does anybody know what the best type of glue might be to sew him back up?

Hi brett,

Customer Support could probably give you the best answer on that. :)
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[mweed]

A few dozen posts prior to this in this thread, it was reported that Ugobe said "Some of our customers have found that a glue named "Loctite" seems to work fine and resolve your issue."

[pleoguy101]

the smell goes away, as for pleo outside on a really hot day, I brought him out, and he got really hot, so I put him inside, I'd keep him in the shade if you want to bring him out on a hot day:)

[junkroxy]

Yes, Fancyfont and Pleoguy101 are right! The smell goes away after 2-3 weeks of use;)
I dont think it's a good idea takes pleo in a very sunny place :(

[Themiles]

Long time I haven't written how my little green buddy is doing. Well here are some things I'd like to share.

First of all, his paint is flaking, but I'm starting to love his wear pattern, it makes him look older. I had to take off his Pleo protect, since we were in the Zoo on a very hot day. I could see he was overheating. The result was a ton of Kids petting his paint off.
He rubbed his nose up too and now has a tanned colored stripe on it. Love it ^^

He also has two holes at the rubbing spots of his legs, but I must note that his skin is actually quite durable. Two of my three Ferrets always try to eat him, so I'm trying to get them used to him running around.
One time all four were loose, I wasn't paying attention for only a second and caught my oldest Ferret biting Waffles leg really hard. But after getting them apart, I noticed that Waffles skin didn't even have a scratch. They've bitten him quite often since then, also climbed on his back and played tug o war with his tail. Still my Pleo is in one piece.

Luckily he doesn't have any eye or eyelid problems.

[CritterFan]

Long time I haven't written how my little green buddy is doing. Well here are some things I'd like to share.

First of all, his paint is flaking, but I'm starting to love his wear pattern, it makes him look older. I had to take off his Pleo protect, since we were in the Zoo on a very hot day. I could see he was overheating. The result was a ton of Kids petting his paint off.
He rubbed his nose up too and now has a tanned colored stripe on it. Love it ^^

He also has two holes at the rubbing spots of his legs, but I must note that his skin is actually quite durable. Two of my three Ferrets always try to eat him, so I'm trying to get them used to him running around.
One time all four were loose, I wasn't paying attention for only a second and caught my oldest Ferret biting Waffles leg really hard. But after getting them apart, I noticed that Waffles skin didn't even have a scratch. They've bitten him quite often since then, also climbed on his back and played tug o war with his tail. Still my Pleo is in one piece.

Luckily he doesn't have any eye or eyelid problems.

My biggest concern for newly-hatched Irwin's skin has been the possibility of damage if the cats decide to take a swing at him. Fortunately, as the cats have just come back from having some dental cleaning at the vet's, their claws are well-trimmed and quite blunt at the moment. So my hope is that they'll acclimate to the idea that there's a little green robot marching around the living room and decide to just ignore him, between now and the time their claws regain any kind of sharpness.

The first night that the cats saw Irwin, one of them couldn't contain himself anymore after watching the wagging dino-tail for several seconds. He pounced and tried to play with Irwin's tail. One good "HEY!" from me and the cat backed off. No damage was done, and Irwin didn't even notice. :)

I wouldn't want that sort of thing to happen on a regular basis, but I was relieved that a brief Close Encounter of the Kitty Kind left no trace of damage. Still, supervision will be the order of the day when we have both felines and dino-bots active in the same room simultaneously.

[fancyfont]

Have you downloaded the new D Rex? Maybe that would scare your ferrets away from waffles. Poor little guy needs some self defense.:D

[Allosaurus]

Honsetly, I preffer the current skin.

[junkroxy]

Have you downloaded the new D Rex? Maybe that would scare your ferrets away from waffles. Poor little guy needs some self defense.:D

lol!:D funny! Miles you should download d-rex and make a video!;) i love ferrets!!!

[Themiles]

I downloaded the Pleosaurus-rex behaviour and let him show the ferrets. They answered it with alot of sniffing. Little Luna was a bit scared of the roars, but other than that they seemed only curious. Yumiko (the lovely ferret in my avatar) even licked his nose before he "awoke", as if she wanted to make sure he's Ok. I really wish I could upload the video....


Off-topic but: I left Waffles in sleep position and off, actually to take a picture of him and Yumiko. But as I set him next to the sleeping girl, she woke up and started licking his nose. As he didn't respond like normal, she licked even more and eventually started to bite him. I think I actually scared her there. She seems to fall for Pleo just as I do and treats him like a normal playmate including cleaning, playing and simply saying hello once and a while.
Perhaps I've already written this somewhere, but I'm just fascinated from the bond that a little ferret has to it's robotic Dino friend.

[pirpintine]

my catbugs starting to get a little wear pattern on his head now... i did pat him more than stroke him but sometimes you cant help yourself :D hes also getting a little on on his back but hes still mostly green! XD

[fancyfont]

They do love to be rubbed! A little t shirt will help prevent pealing on catbugs back.:)

[pirpintine]

yeah ill have to look into it. im not sure where to get one.. is it just like.. small dog sized clothes?

[darmawan_setio]

i ve pleo since 3 Month,after that he skin already ruin out,because to many caress on him. Can i buy a new skin or and self colouring. maybe that'll be good idea. 8-)

because i wanna Blue Pleo......O:-)






sry 4 my bad english

[Allosaurus]

That was an idea that I had....

I was thinking that it could be a new rubber skin that would fit right over your Pleo with little Velcro straps at the very bottom. It would come in different colors so you could still keep your Pleo's old skin just in case.

[PleoWorldHostCami]

i ve pleo since 3 Month,after that he skin already ruin out,because to many caress on him. Can i buy a new skin or and self colouring. maybe that'll be good idea. 8-)

because i wanna Blue Pleo......O:-)

sry 4 my bad english

Hi darmawan_setio,

I don't foresee an owner replaceable skin for Pleo as it would be next to impossible for an owner to actually replace the skin. It would have to come in pieces to be able to form it around Pleo then not only glue the pieces together but take parts of Pleo apart to get the pieces glued where they tuck in. However, UGOBE is trying to find a paint that would work on Pleo.

By the way your English is very good! :-)

[junkroxy]

I noticed little holes between the leg's skin, caused from the legs movements... What can i do to protect them and prevent tears?

[pleoguy101]

this happened to Rocky. I dont know if there is anything we can do:(

[PleoWorldHostRaine]

I noticed little holes between the leg's skin, caused from the legs movements... What can i do to protect them and prevent tears?

Please contact <a target="_new" href="http://pleoworld.com/support"><b>Customer Support</b></a>. Maybe they'll have some suggestions for you. Good luck! :-)

[degers]

This happened on Rex. I'll try and find the thread.

Edit: It seems that our forum hosts have made my old threads dissapear. No worries. Here is a photo from my first pleo.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t112/degers/Pleo%20Stuff/th_27032008170.jpg (http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t112/degers/Pleo%20Stuff/27032008170.jpg)

[Allosaurus]

How exactly is that caused by the movement? Can't think of a logical explanation, besides skin rubbing against itself. Is that it?

[junkroxy]

This happened on Rex. I'll try and find the thread.

Edit: It seems that our forum hosts have made my old threads dissapear. No worries. Here is a photo from my first pleo.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t112/degers/Pleo%20Stuff/th_27032008170.jpg (http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t112/degers/Pleo%20Stuff/27032008170.jpg)

Yes i remember that! Fortunately mine aren't like that. They're very small!
Allosaurus, yes the cause is the movement, the skin scratch near the 2 skin's parts...
I tried once with Johnson's oil, but he gets dry soon...

[junkroxy]

Please contact <a target="_new" href="http://pleoworld.com/support"><b>Customer Support</b></a>. Maybe they'll have some suggestions for you. Good luck! :-)

Thanks Raine!;-)

[PleoWorldHostRaine]

This happened on Rex. I'll try and find the thread.

Edit: It seems that our forum hosts have made my old threads dissapear. No worries. Here is a photo from my first pleo.
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t112/degers/Pleo%20Stuff/th_27032008170.jpg (http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t112/degers/Pleo%20Stuff/27032008170.jpg)

Hi degers,

Posts that are pertinent to UGOBE, Pleo or robotics in general are rarely deleted or made to "disappear." Threads that are similar are often merged however and this is probably what happened to the thread you are looking for. My guess would be that it was merged into the "pleo skin" thread here in the Pleo's Body forum.

[mweed]

I tried once with Johnson's oil, but he gets dry soon...

Gibbs lubricant doesn't seem to dry out. Don't know if you can get it outside of the US, though.

[Allosaurus]

How long have you had your Pleo before this happened? I wanna know when Olly will be getting a bad case of "The Holes."

[junkroxy]

Gibbs lubricant doesn't seem to dry out. Don't know if you can get it outside of the US, though.

Thanks mweed!:-D

[Allosaurus]

Okay, I just looked it up.... Hot glue!? Hot glue works!?

Wow....

[fancyfont]

Allosaurus, That doesn't sound right to me. Check with Custumer Support before you do anything!!:eek:

[Fireboy]

Agreed you should contact customer support before trying to repair the skin with hot glue because if you get any of the glue on the inner workings of your pleo you could seriously mess him/her up!
And I'm not sure hot glue would fix the hole in the skin problem as I think the glue would dry and be to hard and the skin around it would eventually tear/wear around the glue.

[fancyfont]

I think Fireboy is right, Allosaurus.

[Allosaurus]

Agreed you should contact customer support before trying to repair the skin with hot glue because if you get any of the glue on the inner workings of your pleo you could seriously mess him/her up!
And I'm not sure hot glue would fix the hole in the skin problem as I think the glue would dry and be to hard and the skin around it would eventually tear/wear around the glue.

I know! That's why i'm so shocked that i found that.

[aarbeed]

i think it looks pretty good now :);)

[Allosaurus]

i think it looks pretty good now :);)

It does? Good! :)

[czukowski]

A couple of weeks ago our Pleo was found to have a half dime sized hole in his upper tail skin. As well there is cracks that are starting along his back near the base of his neck to his body. My family was shocked to see this happening but as Google would have it we are not alone. I emailed support and they still have not answered me back. The only way I was able to get a response was by opening a chat window and then I was told the only option was pay $245 for a resurrection Pleo (yeah $100 less than I originally paid 8 months ago) or $130 for what was called a "B-Stock".

Needless to say I am extremely disappointed in Ugobe for not offering a nominal charge for skin replacement. I understand it's glued to the feet and what not but that is a cop out for an engineering mistake.

Of course I got the whole 90 day warranty bit and "didn't you read the 90 Warranty disclosure". I find it saddening that Ugobe has so little faith in the product's durability that they can only warranty it for 90 days and offer very few "repair" options.

Does anyone have a "fix it yourself" suggestion? My three year old was very upset when her "Baby" was broken and may have to go to the doctor. I know that in time it will only get worse to the point she will be nothing but a naked dino.

Sad.....

[PleoWorldHostSauri]

Hi czukowski,

I am sorry that your Pleo has had issues with it's skin. I know one of the members mentioned the use of a product called Loctite for skin repair, but I personally would call or chat customer service and ask them if there is anything they recommend. I know there are a couple of different types of Loctite and I am not sure which would be best or if the product would c