Must Have Robot: Elmo Live

Elmo Live is finally available for pre-order and as such qualifies as our Must Have Robot of the week. At a size of 5.5 x 11 x 15" and a weight of 2.2 lbs., he bobs his head, waves his arms, stands, sits, and crosses his legs. He can be activated by tickling (of course) or a squeeze on his tummy, foot, nose or back. He sings, tells jokes and stories, and plays games. This is a must have that we predict will be the hottest toy this holiday season. He comes with a MSRP of $65.99 and will arrive October 14.

Via Elmo Live

Must Have Robot: Pleo

It's becoming an Amazon World. We found Pleo there and, in its honor, have made him our Must Have Robot of the Week. There is no time like the present to adopt one of the little critters as he is becoming much less expensive to own, not to mention to feed. And then there is that nasty housebreaking you can forgo.

Via Pleo

Must Have Robot: WowWee Alive Cubs

Our Must Have Robot this week are WowWee's Alive Cubs. Give one of them a pat and he will purr and meow or roar with supposedly realistic sounds. His eyes blink, his mouth moves, and he has sensors to react to your cuddling. Forget about your robotic pet and it will snore for 5 minutes before shutting itself off going into a deep sleep. There are 4 versions, the Lion, Panda, Polar Bear, and White Tiger. Each requires 4 AA batteries (included) and is priced at $59.99.

Via WowWee

Must Have Robot: Simba Infrared Control Robot

Danger, Will Robinson! Simba Infrared Control Robot is our Must Have of the week. Using his remote, he will walk in any direction. With flashing lights, he will also speak to you and protect you by firing soft foam green discs from his chest. At a height of 12.5 x 7" and a weight of about 2 1/2 pounds, the bot comes with 24 discs, requires 6 AA batteries (not included,) and is yours for $39.99. We love that although Amazon's recommended age is 6 - 8 years, the manufacturer says that Simba is great for those who are 6 to 99.

Via Simba Toys at Simba Infrared Contro Robot

Must Have Robot: Robo-Robbie

He walks, he talks, he dances, he shoots foam disks, he says goodbye, he amuses kids when you can't. He is Robo Robbie, all of 12" tall, and our Must Have Robot this week. Running on batteries (not included,) he has a clever auto-turnoff for kids who forget. RR can be yours for $34.99.

Via Robo-Robbie

Must Have Robot: Tekno Mega Mech R/C Robot

This Friday's Must Have Robot honor goes to Tekno's Mega Mech R/C Robot. Even if you are over 48" tall and weigh over 8 lbs., the bot promises easy assembly and inflates with an included foot pump. A remote controls his movements and a button push produces one of 5 pre-programmed phrases. Mega Mech needs both AA and AAA batteries to run (not included.) If you have a skittish cat, remember to close the door before you let the bot loose.

Amazon at Mega Mech R/C Robot

Must Have Robot: Mr. Clock Radio

Okay, he is loud, he is obnoxious, but what better way to get up in the a.m. than with Mr. Clock Radio? He plays Revelry, yells at you to wake up, and announces the time. The Geewiz bot features an analog AM/FM tuner, an MP3 player, multiple wake-up settings, and a light and motion sensor on its LCD backlit display. We found Mr. CR online at Amazon for $65.95.

Via Geewiz at Mr. Clock Radio.

Must Have Robot: RobotSnob Declares Today Wall-E Day

We declare this honorary Wall-E Day! If you are going to miss the premiere or want to avoid the audience of screaming kidlets, here's a taste of what you missed. You go, bot!

We figure this is a great way to introduce Must Have Robot Friday, because how could you not want this little guy to hang with?

By the way, Ben Burtt speaks for the diminutive robot. He is mostly known for his creaturely voices that include Chewbacca, E.T., and a host of sound effects for various movies. Don't tell anyone, but we hear the lightsaber noise from Star Wars came by mixing the sound of an old 35mm projector with a TV tuned between channels.

Via Official Wall-E Site at Wall-E