Roomba- How to Freak Out a Partner, Clean the House, and Save Time/ Hassle
Written: Dec 06 '02
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Pros: I do not have to do the work, freak out significant other
Cons: Not perfect, but good enough
The Bottom Line: Amazing. Saves time, money, and hassle. What more could you ask for? Oh, and it is cool.
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| hwz1's Full Review: iRobot Roomba Robotic Vacuum |
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a robot clean your house? Do you think that the reality of this is nothing more than a Jetson inspired dream? Guess again. The Rommba has arrived and it will make you life so much easier.
I saw this "thing" at Brookstone and wondered if it really worked. The demonstration area showed me how this round dinner plate sized electronic gizmo could motor around the floor and clean the area while I browsed the rest of the store. Hallelujah!!! No more spending time vacuuming when I could be drinking beer and watching football. No more nagging from the girlfriend. I had to have it.
So, I got one. Yes, I spent $200 for a vacuum that is about the size of a dinner plate. Yes, I am placing the well being of my floors and carpets in the hands of CP3O and George Jetson. Yes, I am going to catch funny looks when I come home and my girlfriend asks me if I vacuumed. But, oh the thrill of the perplexed look as I say "yes" and see her wonder how and when.
HOW IT WORKS:
The Roomba could not be easier to use. To begin with, you select a room size (1- small, 2- medium, 3- large) so that Rommba's "brain" knows what size room it will be taking on. After selecting a room size, you leave. Sounds too simple, doesn't it? Well, that is truly all you have to do get the thing going.
Once the room size is determined and set, the Roomba will work it's way around the area in a spiral- like movement and clean as it goes. Roomba even has side brushes that allow it to get closer to walls. When Roomba feels that is has done a good job, it will shut off automatically (Kind of like me, in some regards.) and wait patiently for you to return.
THE DESIGN:
The Roomba contains a few well thought out features that make it even better than just a robotic maid. For one, Roomba was designed with "non- smudge" bumbers so that when it bumps into something it will leave a mark. A good touch.
From the bottom up, you would think you are looking at a normal vacuum cleaner. The Roomba has the same brush type arms as a vacuum and as well as a clean air sensor that is supposed to help cleanse the air. For something that appears to be so high tech, the Roomba really is about as easy to use as anything you will ever see.
HOW IT NAVIGATES:
Roomba cleans in a spiral pattern until it becomes bored. When boredom sets in, Roomba tends to seek out a wall and then clean in a straight line pattern along the wall until, alas, boredom strikes again. At this point, Roomba will cross a room a few times in a straight line. Sounds confusing or kind of haphazard, but the company claims that this is the way in which you get maximum room coverage.
The rounded edges and bumpers do allow Roomba to work around anything that it comes into contact with and continue on the cleaning journey. Additionally, Roomba is somehow adept as managing to miss the steps entirely. One of my main concerns was how it would work in an upstairs hallway. Roomba came through with flying colors. The thing managed to stay far enough way while still cleaning. Amazing.
THERE HAS TO BE MORE TO IT:
I did fail to mention earlier that you need to "prep" the room in order for Roomba to work effectively. However, the room prep involves nothing more than what you would do for a typical vacuum. Simply, tuck couch flaps, curtains, and other fabrics that could get caught in the suction or brushes.
DOES IT WORK:
The big question is whether or not Roomba works. What good is the coolest vacuum on the block if the performance leaves a lot to be desired? The simple answer is yes, Roomba works and it works well. The question you need to ask yourself is what do you want Roomba to do for you? In other words, if you drop a flower pot and expect Roomba to get up all of the dirt, you are out of luck. If the plant in the flower drops a few leaves and you expect Roomba to get them up, you are in luck. Use common sense and figure that if your 100 pound vacuum would struggle with something, well, then Roomba will also.
In my experience, Roomba cleans a carpet quite well, but not as well as a vacuum. The difference is that the vacuum will usually not miss a spot or two, but Roomba may. Not many spots, but a few here and there. Does this keep me from using Roomba? Huh, not a chance. In addition, Roomba is designed to clean the following types of flooring: wood, linoleum, tile, and carpets. My experience has been with tile, wood, and carpet and I am pleased. I would guess that Roomba would have trouble with thick shaggy carpets, but than again, we are no longer in the '70's. Hence, these types of carpet are limited in number.
HOW IS USE ROOMBA:
I use Roomba in two ways; to clean and to freak out my girlfriend. We will tackle the cleaning aspect first. I simply set the room size in the morning and then head out to work. When I get home the floor is clean. In other words, Roomba has done work that would take me five minutes (Five minutes a week by four weeks a month by 12 months a year equals four hours a year per room. Though I cannot imagine I spend four hours a year vacuuming each room in my apartment.) to do and has finished while I was 10 miles away. Cool. The next day I will do the same drill, but Roomba will be in another room.
The second way I use Roomba is to freak out my girlfriend (GL). It usually goes like this (picture me sitting on the couch watching football):
GL: Honey, have you done your part of the cleaning yet? We
need to get the floors cleaned.
ME: Not yet. UGH, ok honey. I am off to do it now.
GL: Thank you.
ME: No problem.
One minute after the response final response I am back on the couch watching football.
GL: What are you doing? I thought you were going to do
the floors? We really need them done before the
guests arrive.
ME: Honey, I AM doing the floors. They will be done in
plenty of time. I promise.
GL: Ok, whatever. You have to do your part. I cannot do
it all around here while you sit around and watch
football all day long.
ME: Honey, I AM doing my part as we speak. I promise.
GL: (Eyes rolling, grunts, walks away without saying a
word, and has already put me on the doghouse).
ME: Honey, come here.
GL: What? You better be ready to get the floors done and
I mean NOW!
ME: Let me show you something, darling.
You get the picture. The first time you use Roomba, you can really freak people out. They have no idea whatsoever. I would strongly suggest this tactic, or one where you use Roomba to surprise an unexpecting member of the family (Have it running when they enter a room, or before they go to bed) and see how they react.
A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS:
A few final aspects that bear mentioning. As I mentioned above, the Roomba does have it's limits when it comes to picking up "big spills or messes". The battery is quite good (I can do my entire apartment twice.) and you can purchase a secondary battery if you so choose. I would pass on it, as you can re- charge the original fairly quickly.
The cost is high, but keep in mind what you pay someone to do your floors, or what it costs you in time to do the floors yourself. I would not throw your old vacuum out the window, but you will find that the old vaccum does a good job of collecting dust from lack of use.
Finally, you can purchase Roomba at Sharper Image, Brookstone, and Hammacher Schlemmer or through their catalogs/ web sites. The web site for Roomba is www.roombavac.com and shows a number of cool illustrations along with a great deal of information on the product.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
I would strongly recommend purchasing Roomba. Roomba saves you time, money, and probably is the first in a wave of similar type gadgets that truly will make our lives easier on a daily basis (I am still waiting for the gadget that cooks more frequently than the girlfriend.). I would also suggest that Roomba is the "ONLY" vacuum you could purchase as a gift and not end up in big trouble with your significant other.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 200.00
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hwz1
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Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 845
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Just got a big promotion that will move my new wife and I to Atlanta.
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