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AR.Drone: Am I crazy for wanting this?
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Baltimore
Status:
Offline
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This was really the only thing that came out of CES that got me a little interested. Parrot's AR. Drone; a little four-prop, self-righting copter you control with your iPhone. This little thing has a lot of tech, so I'm sure it will carry a heavy price. Probably more than I should pay for the 20 minutes or so I'l play with it in a month. But somehow I love the idea of being able to buzz around and see what it sees through my iPod.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Calgary
Status:
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Status:
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I want that thing, too.
But I know the price is going to be steep when it first comes out.
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"It's weird the way 'finger puppets' sounds ok as a noun..."
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Online
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I want one, but I just know I'd use it to buzz the dog.
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Polwaristan
Status:
Offline
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I wonder if it can carry any weight or be modded for an external wifi antenna to improve range. GPS with iPhone app-based route/flight path programming would be cool too.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Why do you care?
Status:
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2001
Status:
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I wonder if you can attach a little gun to it.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Diego
Status:
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Am I the only person that read the title and thought this might be a UAV with an AR-15 built in?
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Your Anus
Status:
Offline
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No. I want one too. I'm sure as hell not paying $300 for it, but I want one.
I would pay $150 if it works well in the real world.
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My sig is 1 pixel too big.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Status:
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Man, I could see all kinds of mischief happening with this thing.
I want one too.
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__________________________________________________
My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Your Anus
Status:
Offline
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Yeah how much noise does it make? This thing could be a peeping tom's dream come true. What is the range?
I can't wait to see what the crazy modder community does with this thing.
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My sig is 1 pixel too big.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Why do you care?
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by ort888
Yeah how much noise does it make? This thing could be a peeping tom's dream come true. What is the range?
I can't wait to see what the crazy modder community does with this thing.
From videos I've seen, it's relatively quiet considering it's running four blades.
Range has yet to be confirmed in real world tests, but is theoretically as far as the built-in Wi-Fi can remain connected to the iPhone/iPad/iTouch it is connected to. If it loses connection, it commences to hover until connection is reestablished. If it doesn't reconnect in a certain amount of time, it will land itself.
Fully charged battery is said to last for 12 minutes of flight time.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Why do you care?
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by ort888
No. I want one too. I'm sure as hell not paying $300 for it, but I want one.
I would pay $150 if it works well in the real world.
When you consider the technology packed into this thing, I don't think $300 is unreasonable at all.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Your Anus
Status:
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I recently touched on this in another thread...
I agree that $300 is a reasonable price for such a thing... especially since it's brand new and surely is not being produced in huge numbers. I do not think it's over priced at all.
However, this thing is not worth $300 to me.
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My sig is 1 pixel too big.
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status:
Offline
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Bringing spying on the neighbors to a whole new level.
(cool)
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Status:
Offline
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I wonder what the military version costs?
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__________________________________________________
My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Your Anus
Status:
Offline
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My sig is 1 pixel too big.
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Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
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12 minutes? Hope you have fast hands.
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Sep 2010
Status:
Offline
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I purchased the AR.Drone by Parrot from Brookstone and it was delivered yesterday. I opened the box, read the manual, charged the battery and then gave the AR.Drone a 10 minute test flight. I thought it was a cool gizmo but didn't warrant the cost so I decided to return the item. This is when the problems started. I had purchased the AR.Drone on my iPhone from the Brookstone website where there is no disclaimer that open items cannot be returned to the Brookstone store so I didn't think this would be any different than any other item purchased from Brookstone and took it in to return. This is when they told me that they would not accept open boxed AR.Drone returns and that I had to contact Parrot to get a refund and provided me with the following information to return the item.
# RETURNS AND WARRANTY:
# Unopened and unused AR.Drones can be returned to Brookstone in accordance with Brookstone’s normal return policy which can be found in Brookstone stores, at Gift Ideas, Smart Solutions, Unique Gifts for Him & Her at Brookstone, or on the reverse of your sales receipt or shipping collate.
# Any returns of opened, damaged, or used AR.Drones must be handled directly through Parrot. Please call Parrot directly at 1-877-9PARROT (1-877-972-7768) for full details. Parrot’s return policy is as follows:
You must follow this return procedure:
1. You must call Parrot customer service at 1-877-9PARROT (1-877-972-7768) with serial number and proof of purchase.
2. All opened, damaged, or used product are to be returned directly to Parrot for replacement or repair.
3. You are responsible for the cost of shipping the AR.Drone back to Parrot (at the address specified after calling Parrot at 1-877-9PARROT
I contacted Parrot at the above mentioned number that Brookstone provided me with and I was told that Parrot does not handle refunds of the AR.Drone and that I would have to contact Brookstone to get a refund. So I went back to the Brookstone store and called the same number with the Brookstone manager on the phone so I could get her and Parrot on the phone at the same time. They both said the other was responsible for the refund. They both are trying to contact their upper management to see who is responsible for this refund while me the customer is stuck with a very poor customer service experience.
I am documenting the process here Parrot AR Drone from Brookstone Review
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status:
Offline
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Sorry to hear of your difficulties, but let's be honest here: The AR.Drone is a niché product, and customer service is going to be no different.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by ARDroneGuy
I charged the battery and then gave the AR.Drone a 10 minute test flight. I thought it was a cool gizmo but didn't warrant the cost so I decided to return the item.
So you wanted to just rent it? For free? I'm sorry, but what did you expect it to do that it didn't?
imitchellg5 is exactly right, it's a niché product. it's not like a pair of shoes what were the wrong size. And it sounds like it worked as advertised.
I know it's annoying when anyone has customer service issues, but I don't think it's right to expect a refund of a non-defective product like this.
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__________________________________________________
My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status:
Offline
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Huh, I missed this earlier. In for one, I'll let you know what I think when it gets here.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Why do you care?
Status:
Offline
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Mine is scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Review to come...
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: USA
Status:
Offline
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That's pretty freakin' cool, but I just don't get what you do with it for 12 minutes. Just hover around the house?
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Administrator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: California
Status:
Offline
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Chase the cat? Use the camera to spy on neighbors? Dive bomb the dog that frequently visits your lawn? Safe way to get the money off the roof during a heist? Two minutes and I had 4 reasons already.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Mar 2003
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by ARDroneGuy
The link doesn't take you to an active blog. Did you give up on this project/gripe?
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by reader50
get the money off the roof
It would be interesting to know how much weight it could lift. The thought of stealing something with this things is fascinating.
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__________________________________________________
My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Why do you care?
Status:
Offline
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Initial thoughts:
1) This thing is VERY light
2) A lot louder than I expected
3) Difficult to control - with practice, should (hopefully) get easier
4) Will be fun to play with but I can see the novelty wearing off quickly
I expect you will see quite a few of these on EBay in the near future. It's fun, but not long-term fun. Overall, pretty cool demonstration of technology at a decent price-point but I just don't see this holding my attention for a long time.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: The Rock
Status:
Offline
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You should try to return it
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Mankind's only chance is to harness the power of stupid.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Why do you care?
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton
You should try to return it
LOL.
Problem is, I actually read return policies BEFORE I buy something so I know that Brookstone only accepts returns of NEW, UNOPENED items. I checked, there is no "rental" option.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: USA
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa
Initial thoughts:
4) Will be fun to play with but I can see the novelty wearing off quickly
This is what I meant when I said I don't see what I'm supposed to do with it for 12 minutes.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: 46 & 2
Status:
Offline
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Mine came in and I've been buzzing the cats and my neighbor with it. It's fun but the battery life isn't that great. I'm gonna take it downtown this week and mess with the office buildings.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Status:
Offline
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Just be careful which office buildings you buzz. Someone could call it in.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Status:
Offline
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I wonder what would happen if you tried to fly one across the White House lawn?
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__________________________________________________
My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status:
Offline
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In this country? You'd be questioned by the SS, held for a few hours, and maybe let go if the Internet found out about it.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: California
Status:
Offline
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Let it go little brother.
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