I just bought an iRobot Roomba Vacuum!

[wienerdog]

I just bought the Roomba Scheduler from Best Buy yesterday and it is so damn freaky cool. It's normally $329, but it's on sale now for $229, and we had a 12% Best Buy coupon, so it came to about $200!

My wife and I have a standard Hoover vacuum, and the thing sucks (and by sucks, I mean doesn't suck). Lint from my wife's socks, loose threads, and random other little bits of debris that collect in our carpet never seem to come up with the standard vacuum. Her friend recommended the Roomba, and timing was perfect with the sale and coupon!

So I charged it and started playing with it. It is truly kick ass. It does it's own cleaning programs, you can schedule it to automatically clean any specific day/time and it goes back home to its charger when it's complete, or you can also drive it around on the remote it comes with.

The wife was thrilled I was cleaning on a Sunday night, and I was happy to play with my new 'radio control car'. It was a freaky little Jetsons-like moment when I was sitting on my couch watching TV as the little guy rolls around the room cleaning.

It's only a matter of time before they take over...I can feel it.

[Jason Fraker]

Those things are very cool, but do they do a good job? They look like they just wander around, willly-nilly.

[TheBluePanda]

My mother gave me one about a month ago. Its definately a sweet invention. I actually find myself using the remote-controlled mode quite often, since its fun and a good way to maneuver around a room that has 'non-roomba-friendly' items everywhere. Yesterday I let it wander around my living room for about an hour.

[wienerdog]

Those things are very cool, but do they do a good job? They look like they just wander around, willly-nilly.

Actually it was getting a deeper clean than the Hoover we had for a year. It was picking up lint and all kinds of junk the standard vacuum didn't. I don't think the pattern of cleaning is totally random. It gently bumps into obstructions like walls and furniture, and I think the processor must figure out area of a room it's in based on distance between bumps.

I was sketpical of how good a job they would do and probably wouldn't have bought it until a friend of my wife recommended it. It just was a matter of great timing Best Buy had it on sale. Although one person I know went to Bed Bath and Beyond, had them price-match Besy Buy, and then use one of their common 20% off coupons. $185-$200 is a GREAT price for a robot vacuum.

There are a few things to keep in mind with it. It's still a vacuum, so it does make noise, but it's less noisy than my Hoover. And you probably should empty it and clean the bristle roller often, but it comes with a little comb to do that. The bristles pick up a LOT, and are better than I expected. It will get stuck on things like area rug tassles, so if your regular vacuum doesn't go over something well, neither will Roomba. It has spring suspension on it's wheels, so it adjusts for hard surfaces and plush carpet. Generally, it's impressively smart, cleans pretty close to the walls, and is fun to use.

[TheBluePanda]

http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/kitchen/detailpages/roomba/roomba-map.jpg
Thats the general path it attempts to take, but obviously it will vary greatly depending on the area available. My living conditions are very un-square, but it still manages to find its way to every nook and cranny over time. Its good to keep your eye on it the first few times, just so you know what objects it may have a problem with (it likes to get caught under my entertainment center sometimes).

As for cleaning power, its very powerful for something so small, hence the cost. Just as powerful as my bagless upright vaccum.

[wienerdog]

Yeah, I guess Best Buy must have overstock, because they're $100 off this week on-line and in-store.

[balou]

Did you buy great big "googly" eyes to put on top of it? That's what I'd do if I had one.

[morea]

I hope it doesn't eat you, wiener.

You don't have any pets, do you? :eek:

[morea]

Did you buy great big "googly" eyes to put on top of it? That's what I'd do if I had one.

lmao @ balou!

This is my stapler here at work... his name is Joe. He eats post its.

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5681/joe3og.gif

[Jason Fraker]

My drafting teacher in high school had "bendy" Mickey Mouse and Goofy figurines on his desk. He would often find them engaged in "provocative" actions when he returned from the john.

[wienerdog]

I hope it doesn't eat you, wiener.

You don't have any pets, do you? :eek:

Actually, I was dog-sitting my in-law's Terrier. I was dying to see his reaction to it. He was not too fond of Roomba. He barked at it a few times, and as it turned toward him, he backed off. It was SOOO worth it just to see his reaction.

[Navian]

Actually, I was dog-sitting my in-law's Terrier. I was dying to see his reaction to it. He was not too fond of Roomba. He barked at it a few times, and as it turned toward him, he backed off. It was SOOO worth it just to see his reaction.


And you didnt capture any video/pictures of this hillarious moment? :(