I thought Tamagotchis and Giga Pets were weird. Back in my middle school everyone seemed to be carrying about some brand of miniature electronic pet toys. Between classes girls would huddle together feeding and playing with their electronic pets while the teachers would swoop in and confiscate the them till the end of day.

I secretly think the fascination with these toys made it so young kids didn’t have to go through the traumatic experience of a pet dying. A few seconds after the digital pet ‘passed away’ another one would pop up.

Then, a few years ago I remember seeing Sony’s robot dog. The robot mimics several actions that real dogs do.

Now, I wonder: who would plop down $349 for a robot pet?

The newest to the robot line is a dinosaur named Pleo. That’s right, a dinosaur. 349 bucks? I’d rather pick up a used DVD of Jurassic Park. But I suppose to some people a moving, life like animal is more comforting than one lodged in your DVD player.

Unlike many of the newer editions of battery run robots – Pleo can express certain forms of emotions from rolling its eyes to making little sounds.

Last year my cat Dusty died. All my friends keep asking me when I plan on getting a new cat; I flitch at the thought of it. Its like one of those Nano Pets, one dies and you just replace it. But I couldn’t ever just go and ‘replace’ her. As cute as these little dinosaurs are and no matter how real they may be – there’s nothing better than the real thing. Especially if the real thing can sit on your head at 3 AM in the morning poking your ear till you to let it under your flannel sheets.
—Eming Piansay