If you want hot robot action on a budget, the only choice is the super-functional Tomy Omnibot. With built in tape deck and remote control, and gripping hand, he truly is your plastic pal who's fun to be with. Better than that Aibo shit any day. This red eyed automaton was always out of my financial league when I was a kid. There was also an even more futuristic looking Omnibot 2000. If you can find one of these today, and the wierd custom batteries they used, you are damn lucky.

I remember going to a gadget store in a mall in D.C. and marvelling over these things that would be commonplace in the 21st Century. Where did it all go wrong?