Cleaning robots - http://ironbound.snradventure.com

Editor's picks

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  iRobot 610 Roomba Professional Series

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (25 reviews):

  (3.6/5)

  

  OK, not great vacuum

  I've used the Roomba 610 and 560. I now have two refurbished 560s in our house, at the same price as one 610. And it's definitely a better value.Before I talk about the 610, let me share what's good and bad about Roombas in general, based on my experience with both the 560s and 610:Pros:- You don't have to vacuum, the Roomba does it for you- Scheduled cleanings so you don't even have to worry about it or be home to hear the noise- Floors stay clean without much effort- One button start it and forget about itCons:- Absolute pain in the butt to clean these things. There's the two brushes, the front wheel, the spinning brush (which requires a screwdriver to remove), and the dust bin. All of these must be disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled, at least once per cleaning session.- It's not effort free. As I said above, lots to clean, which requires 5-10 minutes each time you want to run the Roomba.- With pets,... 3/5 Roopesh Sheth (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews, November 29, 2009

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  Great for light upkeep, excellent customer service

  We have five pets. Three elderly long haired cats and two large short haired dogs. We recently upgraded to a new home with a cream colored carpet and a mix of tile and linoleum in an open floor plan. What was I thinking? I was thinking I had three days to pick a house for a relocation is what I was thinking! But I digress. The carpet isn't perfect, it's five years old and the previous owners were pet owners too, but I was determined to keep it in good shape.I held out for the professional model despite the difference in price. I figured we had a professional level of hair here. Between one cat whose fur has the texture of cotton candy, another cat whose main hobby is tearing paper apart bit by bit, and the dogs with their rolling around on the floor I needed something that could stand up to the mess. I assumed I would need the larger debris bin to hold all the stuff that comes out of the carpet but actually after a few runs I felt that the smaller one with an air... 5/5 Noelle W Dempsey (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews This review is from: iRobot 610 Roomba Professional Series (Kitchen) We have five pets. Three elderly long haired cats and two large short haired dogs. We recently upgraded to a new home with a cream colored carpet and a mix of tile and linoleum in an open floor plan. What was I thinking? I was thinking I had three days to pick a house for a relocation is what I was thinking! But I digress. The carpet isn't perfect, it's five years old and the previous owners were pet owners too, but I was determined to keep it in good shape.I held out for the professional model despite the difference in price. I figured we had a professional level of hair here. Between one cat whose fur has the texture of cotton candy, another cat whose main hobby is tearing paper apart bit by bit, and the dogs with their rolling around on the floor I needed something that could stand up to the mess. I assumed I would need the larger debris bin to hold all the stuff that comes out of the carpet but actually after a few runs I felt that the smaller one with an air... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 4, 2009

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  This thing is great!

  I got the professional series because I have a family of professional grade mess makers (kids, husband, pets, etc.). I love it! I think when people are dissatisfied with it they do not understand what it is and what it is not. It won't clean up an already neglected floor. You start with clean floors and then push a button everyday and let it run around your house doing upkeep and you won't have to vacuum anything except for behind items it can't get to once a month or so. Before my roomba I vacuumed 2 times a week and still dirt would show up on the bottom of peoples white socks. Since roomba no more dirt!!! It handles the cat fur and it even found an earring I lost over a year ago that must of been hiding someplace. The best part is it can get under things my vacuum never could reach. Yes, you have to know its limitations. It is a programmed device. You have to change something's around your home to work with it. Get wires off the floor so it won't get stuck, for instance... 4/5 Unna (NJ United States) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: iRobot 610 Roomba Professional Series (Kitchen) I got the professional series because I have a family of professional grade mess makers (kids, husband, pets, etc.). I love it! I think when people are dissatisfied with it they do not understand what it is and what it is not. It won't clean up an already neglected floor. You start with clean floors and then push a button everyday and let it run around your house doing upkeep and you won't have to vacuum anything except for behind items it can't get to once a month or so. Before my roomba I vacuumed 2 times a week and still dirt would show up on the bottom of peoples white socks. Since roomba no more dirt!!! It handles the cat fur and it even found an earring I lost over a year ago that must of been hiding someplace. The best part is it can get under things my vacuum never could reach. Yes, you have to know its limitations. It is a programmed device. You have to change something's around your home to work with it. Get wires off the floor so it won't get stuck, for instance... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 30, 2009

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  List Price: $599.99
  

  Schedule up to seven cleaning times per week; 3 cleaning modes

  Cleans the whole floor, under and around furniture, into corners and along wall edges

  Measures 17 by 18 by 5 inches; 2-year limited warranty

  Designed for small business owners or those with larger areas to clean

  Vacuuming robot efficiently picks up dirt, debris, pet hair, dust, allergens and more from carpets and hard floors

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  iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (748 reviews):

  (3.7/5)

  

  Great but not perfect ***Downgraded Star Rating***

  My wife and I decided to get one of these because our 8 month old son is about to start crawling. While we try and keep our floors clean, our beagle has other thoughts as she sheds all over the place. We went with the latest 560 model as it has just about everything we would want with a product like this. It works as advertised and we will definitley keep it but there are some areas that need improvement. Here is a quick breakdown of the pros and consPros1. Quieter than a standard vaccuum2. Seems to learn the room dimensions quickly. The virtual walls and lighthouse feature are very nice.3. Is "smart" enough to avoid getting tangled in our area rugs4. Obviously easy to use as it is just a push of a button (or even better when you program it)5. Can use everyday to keep the floors spotless6. Have successfully used it on hard wood, vinyl, carpet and (accidently) concrete7. Cleans under... 4/5 M. Kelley "mpkelley20" (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews, September 16, 2007

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  A Worthy Successor to the Roomba Line

  We have two Roombas plus a Scooba in our house. When one of the batteries on one of our Roombas finally reached the end of its life cycle, we decided to donate that Roomba to a friend and to get ourselves the new top of the line - the Roomba 560. We got this right when it first came out, but we waited several months before posting a review. It's pretty much impossible to review one of these Roombas after only a few days! It takes weeks if not months to start to see how well they last over time, and what breaks down. Believe me - been there, done that.So now it's many months later, and I have to say, we are quite pleased with the improvements of this Roomba over the previous generations of Roombas. So first, for those who don't even have ANY Roomba yet (hard to believe!). Roombas are awesome. We have cats, and we work from home so we're home all day. It is AMAZING how much dirt and dust and junk collects in the carpet every single day. Who really has time to vacuum their... 5/5 Lisa Shea "medieval swordfighting enthusiast" - See all my reviews, December 12, 2007

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  Beware of the "new" Roomba 560 now only for single room (updated review)

  UPDATE 12/19/2011My review in late 2007 describing the red side brush "amputee" problem and poor customer support is still the highest rated critical response on Amazon. Because of that experience, the recounting of which is in the original review appended below after this update, I had not bought an iRobot product in over four years. Now I have bought two "new" 560s, which arrived today (more about "new" below). This update is primarily for (i) previous owners of a 560 that are contemplating buying a "new" 560 or (ii) those that have information on the original 560 and mistakenly believe that this is what they will get if they order a "new" 560.If it were not for the problems discussed in this update, I would raise my rating to 3.5 stars. Once again, I think iRobot may be shooting itself in the foot. And what upsets me is that I really want to see this company succeed.By way of disclosure I have owned several of every generation of Roomba. I... 2/5 Matrixunloaded (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver (Kitchen) UPDATE 12/19/2011My review in late 2007 describing the red side brush "amputee" problem and poor customer support is still the highest rated critical response on Amazon. Because of that experience, the recounting of which is in the original review appended below after this update, I had not bought an iRobot product in over four years. Now I have bought two "new" 560s, which arrived today (more about "new" below). This update is primarily for (i) previous owners of a 560 that are contemplating buying a "new" 560 or (ii) those that have information on the original 560 and mistakenly believe that this is what they will get if they order a "new" 560.If it were not for the problems discussed in this update, I would raise my rating to 3.5 stars. Once again, I think iRobot may be shooting itself in the foot. And what upsets me is that I really want to see this company succeed.By way of disclosure I have owned several of every generation of Roomba. I... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , November 20, 2007

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  List Price: $449.99
  

  Measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

  Self-charging Home Base, 2 Auto Virtual Walls, an extra filter, and more included

  Easy-to-empty bagless dustbin; fine-filtration system traps allergens

  Vacuuming robot picks up dirt and debris with the touch of a button

  Anti-tangle technology; gentle-touch bumper system; built-in cliff sensors

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  iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (365 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  New Roomba vs. Old

  If you are new to Roomba, you will wonder if it is worthwhile. The answer is clearly YES, since anything it cleans is that much less for you to clean. However, which is better, the old (and cheaper) Roomba, or the new models like the 530?First, the 530 comes with the charging/base station, and this is very useful. I have placed this in the entranceway which leads into the livingroom, the kitchen or the bedroom. Using the virtual walls (included), I block off rooms so that it can only do the entranceway + 1 other room. I simply press the "Clean" button, and it backs itself off the charging stand and then spends the next 2 hours cleaning, finally returning to the charging stand. Nice!Should you upgrade from an older model Roomba (I now use my old Roomba upstairs)? It depends on your situation. By-the-way, the old virtual walls do NOT work with the new Roomba.New Roomba:Fall down stairs? NeverClimb onto thick throw rugs... 4/5 D. C. Eaton (Avon, IN United States) - See all my reviews, December 1, 2007

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  It's Like a Beloved Pet Who MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER

  Awesome. This new generation fixes all the problems of the previous. Much smarter, much bigger dust bin, much better in every way. Great that it self-docks when tired. Maintanence is a snap...really could not be easier/faster. There are some negatives - how could there not be? - but this thing has such a contagious personality that it starts feeling like your pet, and you're inclined to forgive, and even find the faults charming.You have to prep the room (cords up and out of the way, no papers or clutter on the floor, move small items out of the room and learn which objects present problems and get them out of the way). Performance varies on throw rugs (it's great on rug/carpet surfaces themselves, but Roomba can get caught up as it travels over edges of throw rugs that don't have much weight or cling). It's good at slowing down and banging objects gently, but less so on narrow vertical objects (e.g. piano legs), which it really clunks (not enough to damage, but it will... 5/5 New Yawkuh "New Yawkuh" (Queens, NY United States) - See all my reviews This review is from: iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White (Kitchen) Awesome. This new generation fixes all the problems of the previous. Much smarter, much bigger dust bin, much better in every way. Great that it self-docks when tired. Maintanence is a snap...really could not be easier/faster. There are some negatives - how could there not be? - but this thing has such a contagious personality that it starts feeling like your pet, and you're inclined to forgive, and even find the faults charming.You have to prep the room (cords up and out of the way, no papers or clutter on the floor, move small items out of the room and learn which objects present problems and get them out of the way). Performance varies on throw rugs (it's great on rug/carpet surfaces themselves, but Roomba can get caught up as it travels over edges of throw rugs that don't have much weight or cling). It's good at slowing down and banging objects gently, but less so on narrow vertical objects (e.g. piano legs), which it really clunks (not enough to damage, but it will... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 11, 2007

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  A Great Product Made Even Better

  With two dogs in the house we could not live without our Roomba. The 530 is a vast improvement from earlier models. It seems to pick up more dirt, the battery life is longer, the fast-charge is about 33% more rapid than its Discovery predecessors and it is generally more quiet.The new sensors that prevent the robot from "speed-bumping" into furniture are a very nice touch, but beware if the robot is in a tight area, it may appear sluggish -- the sensors are working to continually slow it down. It's a feature I like, but need to get used to.My only concern with this robot is the high cost of parts. The bot itself is cheaper than earlier models but the components most prone to breakage or wear-out are twice the cost so the lifetime operation costs may be higher. Replacement batteries are nearly $100. Earlier models were $50.ONE MONTH LATER ....This is a slight amend to my review above. Having used it for a month a couple points of... 5/5 damg1 "damg" (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews This review is from: iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White (Kitchen) With two dogs in the house we could not live without our Roomba. The 530 is a vast improvement from earlier models. It seems to pick up more dirt, the battery life is longer, the fast-charge is about 33% more rapid than its Discovery predecessors and it is generally more quiet.The new sensors that prevent the robot from "speed-bumping" into furniture are a very nice touch, but beware if the robot is in a tight area, it may appear sluggish -- the sensors are working to continually slow it down. It's a feature I like, but need to get used to.My only concern with this robot is the high cost of parts. The bot itself is cheaper than earlier models but the components most prone to breakage or wear-out are twice the cost so the lifetime operation costs may be higher. Replacement batteries are nearly $100. Earlier models were $50.ONE MONTH LATER ....This is a slight amend to my review above. Having used it for a month a couple points of... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , September 12, 2007

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  List Price: $299.99
  

  Anti-tangle technology; gentle-touch bumper system; built-in cliff sensors

  Vacuuming robot picks up dirt and debris with the touch of a button

  Measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

  Self-charging Home Base, 2 Virtual Walls, an extra filter, and more included

  Easy-to-empty bagless dustbin; fine-filtration system traps allergens

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  Irobot Roomba 760 Vacuum

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (24 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  What Fun!

  In a newly remodeled house with laminate wood floors, I see a lot of dust everyday; Roomba 770 has been a good fit. What I've noticed after three weeks of daily use - the pros:- Roomba does a great job in empty rooms; the entire downstairs comes out dust free.- Works well under beds, chairs, wide tables, and kitchen cabinet toekick.- Has great sensors for walls, boxes, pillows, and goes beautifully over heavy rugs back onto hardwood.- Roomba didn't like the fringe on my oriental carpets, but it didn't choke on it like my big vacuum did and kept on going.- The electronic barriers work well, but there is a learning curve on how to place them properly (The signal is cone-shaped). These need 2 "C" batteries each (4 total, not included).- It is not difficult to maintain: emptying the dust collection, removing brushes and using brush cleaner, wiping off sensors, moving it to a new room.The cons:- need to watch Roomba do a room before... 4/5 Holly H (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Irobot Roomba 760 Vacuum (Kitchen) In a newly remodeled house with laminate wood floors, I see a lot of dust everyday; Roomba 770 has been a good fit. What I've noticed after three weeks of daily use - the pros:- Roomba does a great job in empty rooms; the entire downstairs comes out dust free.- Works well under beds, chairs, wide tables, and kitchen cabinet toekick.- Has great sensors for walls, boxes, pillows, and goes beautifully over heavy rugs back onto hardwood.- Roomba didn't like the fringe on my oriental carpets, but it didn't choke on it like my big vacuum did and kept on going.- The electronic barriers work well, but there is a learning curve on how to place them properly (The signal is cone-shaped). These need 2 "C" batteries each (4 total, not included).- It is not difficult to maintain: emptying the dust collection, removing brushes and using brush cleaner, wiping off sensors, moving it to a new room.The cons:- need to watch Roomba do a room before... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , September 9, 2011

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  I'm likin' this model!

  I saved up and bought this Roomba for my enclosed patio when both of my Dirt Dogs passed away and IRobot stopped making them....sigh....I really miss being able to use the Dirt Dog to sweep outside and in the garage. The IRobot people said this unit would work just fine in those areas, but I'm not going to put something I spent this much money on to clean up dropped screws and leaves!That said, I like this Roomba very much in our enclosed patio. I LOVE the two HEPA filters, which are easily blown out with a can of air or compressor after a vacuuming sesson. They're picking up a lot of dust that my regular vacuum misses....Ok, that I miss when I'm using the regular vacuum, which also has a HEPA filter. They pick up feathers and seeds from the birds, and lots of hair from the cats and dog. Mission accomplished.It does a nice job of moving from hard surfaces (concrete, in this case) to rugs, and cleaning them all well. Technology is really improved in this... 4/5 Janet "intersectionc" (GILROY, CA USA) - See all my reviews, October 22, 2011

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  Neat Freaks Be Warned: This is Only Part of What You're After

  I've been spoiled when it comes to vacuums: I have had the privilege of having a Lindhaus, which is a $1,000 German manufactured vacuum cleaner that I finally had to give up because it's so rarified that you can't get it repaired in some major cities. The Roomba is great, but if you're looking for suction, you'll be really frustrated.What's Good:Like virtually every kind of floor-cleaning robot, this will pick up dander, dirt, pet hair, and small objects that you had no idea were there.- It's good if you're trying to cut down on allergens and dirt, generally.- Also, the dreaded "unsealed, and-it-will-burn-out-in-six-months-unless-you-are-some-kind-of-engineer-and-can-take-it-apart-to-fix-it-part", is fixed. The gearbox on this one is sealed. You no longer need a screwdriver and reostat to do maintenance.-The computer location sensing technology on this is amazing. This can find its way around delicate dining... 4/5 Lisa M. Mims (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews, November 25, 2011

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  List Price: $449.00
  

  The robot can be scheduled to perform up to seven cleaning sessions per week, even when you're not home

  Easy to use -- just press the "Clean" button and let Roomba do the dirty work

  Includes a polymer bumper which provides a soft cushion between the robot and objects it touches to protect walls, furniture and other household items from bumps and scratches

  Can be scheduled to perform up to seven cleaning sessions per week, even when you're not at home

  The polymer bumper provides a soft cushion between objects it touches in the room, protecting your walls, furniture and other household items

  The robot effectively captures and stores large quantities of hair, lint and other debris

  Moves in a back and forth cleaning pattern to apply elbow grease where it's needed most -- giving you the cleanest possible results

  Effectively captures and stores large quantities of hair, lint and other debris

  Roomba is easy to use just press the "Clean" button and let the robot do the dirty work

  The robot moves in a back and forth cleaning pattern to apply elbow grease where it's needed most, giving you the cleanest possible results

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  iRobot Roomba Pet Series 532 Vacuum Cleaning Robot

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (184 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  Good product but proper care required!

  I received my Pet Roomba before Christmas and have been using it since. My house is a real test with 3 very long haired dogs inside most of the day. I run the Roomba every day to keep the hair down to a minimum and we've noticed the floors are much cleaner (even though I used to vacuum alot). However, if you buy this you should know that it requires frequent cleaning of the brushes, particularly the axle area where hair gets easily wrapped (pull off the end cap over the axle). By frequent I mean once or twice during the cleaning cycle. Otherwise, the brushes just stop moving leaving you with a cute robot that just drives around chasing the dogs! So this means you really should only run it when you are at home to keep it clean. I also have already cleaned the front wheel (just pops off - was really full of hair) and the side brush (unscrew the screw). Bottom line, the unit works great so long as it is kept really clean. I've got the cleaning down to a minute so it isn't too big of a... 4/5 bsantang (Colorado) - See all my reviews This review is from: iRobot Roomba Pet Series 532 Vacuum Cleaning Robot (Kitchen) I received my Pet Roomba before Christmas and have been using it since. My house is a real test with 3 very long haired dogs inside most of the day. I run the Roomba every day to keep the hair down to a minimum and we've noticed the floors are much cleaner (even though I used to vacuum alot). However, if you buy this you should know that it requires frequent cleaning of the brushes, particularly the axle area where hair gets easily wrapped (pull off the end cap over the axle). By frequent I mean once or twice during the cleaning cycle. Otherwise, the brushes just stop moving leaving you with a cute robot that just drives around chasing the dogs! So this means you really should only run it when you are at home to keep it clean. I also have already cleaned the front wheel (just pops off - was really full of hair) and the side brush (unscrew the screw). Bottom line, the unit works great so long as it is kept really clean. I've got the cleaning down to a minute so it isn't too big of a... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 29, 2008

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  Updated review - Still loving my Roomba!!

  I received my Robot on December 15,2008, an early Christmas Present. Rather than wrapping it, I gave it to the Missus so we could use it so the house would be nice and clean for Christmas day entertaining.It cleaned beautifully, the carpets looked great! This thing would fill up with crud even after running the old vacuum. How wonderful, one less chore to do.Until Christmas Day! So much for showing off the new gizmo! The brushes stopped turning that morning, and repeatedly gave a "clean Brushes" error message. After many attempts, and hours on the IRobot tech site, we established that the rollers indeed were not turning.After the Holiday rush, I found time to do a little more research. After consulting several robot discussion forums, it appears the cleaning head modules have a high failure rate. Apparently IRobot has made a new design of the module about 2 months ago. After getting frustrated with email support, I called IRobot and they say they... 5/5 Cornstalks (WNC, USA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: iRobot Roomba Pet Series 532 Vacuum Cleaning Robot (Kitchen) I received my Robot on December 15,2008, an early Christmas Present. Rather than wrapping it, I gave it to the Missus so we could use it so the house would be nice and clean for Christmas day entertaining.It cleaned beautifully, the carpets looked great! This thing would fill up with crud even after running the old vacuum. How wonderful, one less chore to do.Until Christmas Day! So much for showing off the new gizmo! The brushes stopped turning that morning, and repeatedly gave a "clean Brushes" error message. After many attempts, and hours on the IRobot tech site, we established that the rollers indeed were not turning.After the Holiday rush, I found time to do a little more research. After consulting several robot discussion forums, it appears the cleaning head modules have a high failure rate. Apparently IRobot has made a new design of the module about 2 months ago. After getting frustrated with email support, I called IRobot and they say they... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 29, 2008

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  Robots really do work

  The iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner is my Christmas present. I wanted it as I've always been fascinated with robots. We've owned several Roombas including the very first one. The first Roomba was an admirable effort but it didn't clean much. It was fun to watch run around the floor though.The second Roomba was the Discovery model. This one worked a bit better but had a ways to go before successfully cleaning my house.Finally, we received Gort. Gort is the iRoomba 532 model specifically designed to help clean homes with pets. We have three cats so this seemed like the perfect vac robot for us.It was. The vacuum really does clean. Gort happily cleaned my low pile carpet. He then moved onto happily cleaning my laminate flooring. While cleaning Gort managed to not eat up the curtains (a problem with the previous models) and he managed to not chew up the power cords (another problem with previous older models).It looks like Gort is going to... 5/5 Penmouse - See all my reviews, December 11, 2008

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  List Price: $349.99
  Price: $329.99
  You Save: $20.00 (6%)

  Vacuuming robot designed especially for pet owners; comes with extra set of easy-to-clean brushes

  Measures 19-1/2 by 21-1/2 by 5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

  Cleans up to three standard-sized rooms on a single charge

  High capacity sweeper bin for trapping even more pet hair, kitty litter or dander

  2 Virtual Walls tell Roomba where to clean by restricting off-limit areas

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  Neato XV-11 All Floor Robotic Vacuum System

  Home (Neato Robotics)
  

  Rating (478 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  I am now a believer in robotic vacuums!

  For months, no years, my wife has been asking for a robotic vacuum. She does most of the house work and I do most of the fixing. I have followed the progress of the Roomba and decided to have another in depth look at the reviews and how it performed to date. What follows is NOT a Roomba/Neato comparison. I have never owned a Roomba nor do I think I ever will, but who knows. I purchased a Neato Robotics XV-11 about four weeks ago. What follows is a detailed look at what the Neato XV-11 is and how it performs. I will try to be as objective as possible and share my journey of how I decided which robot vacuum to buy.First, a bit about me. I am an avid Amazon buyer and use them heavily for both personal and work related purchases. They are simply the best at the online experience and I typically only purchase items that they ship. They have the best pricing on a regular basis and ship promptly with a great online experience. I have only had two issues with Amazon and... 5/5 M. Pearson (California) - See all my reviews, December 22, 2010

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  Very efficient & effective robot

  I really like this robotic vacuum. It cleans a ridiculous amount of pet hair and dust from my carpet! I used a Roomba, which was fairly good but the drawback was it couldn't navigate to other rooms and back as well as the Neato does. The other drawback was it couldn't figure out how to get onto area carpets without the spinning brush on the front getting stuck. For the Neato, this is no problem at all. Instead of bouncing all around looking for light houses it will detect doorways and move from room to room in a more logical fashion.The suction and cleaning ability is amazing. I would place the suction power closer to an actual upright vacuum. The noise level is a bit quieter than an upright and maybe a little louder than the whine of a Roomba. There is significantly less bumping, which overall, makes the Neato quieter. It still bumps into things (mostly table legs) from time to time but nowhere near as hard or as frequent.Battery life is adequate. About an... 4/5 Ryan Mckenney - See all my reviews, September 10, 2010

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  Neato is better than Roomba - I have had 6 different Roombas so I know

  I have had the Neato vacuum robot for a few weeks now and I am just now getting the time to write a review. I don't write reviews for everything I buy just the things I think people need to be warned about or things I think people should really buy.Compared to RoombasI have owned 6 different Roombas starting with the original red one. The thing about Roombas is they don't really know where they are or where they are going they just start going and when they come to a wall or furniture they change course. They travel in a pattern that is designed to cover the whole room but is some cases where there is an odd shaped room or furniture in the room they can end up going around in the same spot and not covering all areas evenly. Also the pattern that is left on the carpet looks like someone gave a monkey a vacuum and let it loose as there are lines going everywhere. Roombas don't always get all the rooms in the house either and if they do get into a remote area of the... 4/5 Amazon Addict (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Neato XV-11 All Floor Robotic Vacuum System (Kitchen) I have had the Neato vacuum robot for a few weeks now and I am just now getting the time to write a review. I don't write reviews for everything I buy just the things I think people need to be warned about or things I think people should really buy.Compared to RoombasI have owned 6 different Roombas starting with the original red one. The thing about Roombas is they don't really know where they are or where they are going they just start going and when they come to a wall or furniture they change course. They travel in a pattern that is designed to cover the whole room but is some cases where there is an odd shaped room or furniture in the room they can end up going around in the same spot and not covering all areas evenly. Also the pattern that is left on the carpet looks like someone gave a monkey a vacuum and let it loose as there are lines going everywhere. Roombas don't always get all the rooms in the house either and if they do get into a remote area of the... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 20, 2010

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  List Price: $399.00
  

  Schedule automatic cleanings while you're away via simple user interface

  Laser-based Room Positioning System sees everything in the room, avoids bumping into walls and furniture

  High performance vacuum removes all kinds of dirt and cleans all floors--carpets, rugs, hardwood, laminates, tile, and stone

  Automatically returns to charging base when vacuuming is concluded

  Powerful XV-11 saves you time by automatically vacuuming your entire floor--even deep into corners and under furniture

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  Irobot Roomba 562 Pet Series Vacuum Cleaning Robot

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (127 reviews):

  (4.2/5)

  

  Still Happy and Content

  We've had our Roomba since January 2010 and approx. 6 months later, I still love it and am really glad we made the purchase. It took a little convincing for me to get my husband to agree with the purchase, but now he calls it "his vacuum", and likes to show it off to our friends and family when they come over. For us, it really has reduced my weekly in-house workload. With two cats in the house, birds, bunny, and a dog, pet hair gets tracked throughout the house. With two young children, our kitchen (hardwood floors) gets nibblets of food all over the floor. Setting the vacuum up to focus on one room (by using the virtual walls) makes a big difference. Frequently ours is venturing throughout the entire house.The only problem we occasionally have is when it gets stuck under our china cabinet, or stuck while trying to suck up a toy that was left behind, or shoelaces hanging off a shoe left out. All very minor issues. I will say, it's a bit odd, when in the middle of... 5/5 S. Long - See all my reviews, July 15, 2010

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  Note that bins are interchangeable, not used concurrently

  I've had quite a few Roomba cleaning robots, and was interested in the 562 because it's advertised as being new and different for homes with pets. Experienced "Roomba" users should note (as I failed to) that the new bin advertised for the pet model is simply a different bin that's used place of the normal one (as opposed to a secondary bin that's used concurrently, as I'd incorrectly assumed). The sweeper bin can be used in place of the normal bin, and seems to disables the vacuum functionality, making the Roomba a sweeping robot.The Achilles Heel of this robot (as with all Roomba floor-cleaning robots) is the constant need to clean the machine's brushes. We're not talking once every few days here--we're talking 1-2 times per cleaning cycle. You don't set the Roomba to clean while you're at work and expect it to be done when you get home. You learn to expect to find it in the middle of the floor, requiring a brush cleaning before it can continue. And ultimately--after a... 4/5 Jonathan K. Perkins (Harbor City, CA, USA) - See all my reviews, September 19, 2010

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  Doggie Roomba

  Our Roomba is really part of the family. We call him Paco (don't know why, it just seems to fit). We have four (4) dogs, two long hair and two short hair. Without Paco, it is impossible to keep up with the hair and dirt they bring in. By running Paco every other day, we manage to keep the hair to a minimum, even under the beds where cleaning is nearly impossible. Cleaning Paco up is easy if you have the right tools. My problems with the Roomba (my third one) is that it is impossible to get a person on the phone or on line. Emails to iRobot are generally answered within 30-45 days which is also a problem. They send extra brushes, sweeps, etc., with the robot which helps but I keep an old comb, a small screwdriver, a hemostat, and an old toothbrush to clean Paco. I'm hoping that this one lasts longer than the other two. 5/5 Dennis A. Cox (Jacksonville, FL, US) - See all my reviews, May 20, 2010

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  List Price: $0.00
  

  Features the latest irobot roomba innovations with unprecedented efficiency coverage and cleaning performance

  Includes a set of replaceable brushes, two extra filters and two brush cleaning tools

  Two interchangeable cleaning bins provide the option for everyday vacuuming or heavy duty cleaning in hairier and dirtier areas.

  Reaches deep into your carpet to remove dirt dust and pet hair

  Cleans up to four rooms on a single battery charge

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  iRobot Advanced Power System Ni-MH Battery, 3000 mAh, 17373

  Home (iRobot)
  

  Rating (205 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  Not all ROOMBA problems are (dead) battery related

  I have owned a ROOMBA Discovery for about 3 years and am just now finding it necessary to replace the battery. Sure, I had major problems like many others with short battery life beginning when the unit was about 14 months old.I did a bit of research and found a discussion group that listed a good "try this before you panic" solution. Reset the ROOMBA and refresh the battery. And it worked! How?Run the ROOMBA until the unit stops. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and try running it again. Do this until it no longer will start up. Then, remove the battery. Flip it over and hold down the POWER button for 20-25 seconds. Release. Flip back over and insert the battery. (I also took this opportunity to thoroughly clean all of the contacts with a Q-Tip and a little rubbing alcohol - letting it dry completely before putting the battery back in). Finally, I plugged the power supply directly into the ROOMBA (not the docking station) and let it charge for 3 days... 4/5 Thomas E. Hudson "THudPHud" (West Linn, OR USA) - See all my reviews, October 27, 2008

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  This Makes Three Batteries

  I have now had to order my third battery for this Roomba. Like another poster the first one died within a year. This time it lasted about 1 1/2 years. At $50 a pop that is ridiculous and, after reading complaints here and on other sites, makes me wonder if it is planned that way, a vacuum conspiracy. As funny as that sounds, it is also based on experience. I have given two Roombas for Christmas presents and the same thing happened to them. They both went down before 6 months was up. I have yet to read a review in which the battery lasted more than a year. If this was a car company they would be under Federal investigation. They know they've got you over a barrel and I'd be willing to be that they earn the vast majority of their money through replacement batteries, etc.Well, since the thing is worthless without it I am forced to buy yet another battery. That's three in less than three years. There's definitely something fishy going on here. How else can you... 2/5 dalefl "dalefl" (Here) - See all my reviews This review is from: iRobot Advanced Power System Ni-MH Battery, 3000 mAh, 17373 (Kitchen) I have now had to order my third battery for this Roomba. Like another poster the first one died within a year. This time it lasted about 1 1/2 years. At $50 a pop that is ridiculous and, after reading complaints here and on other sites, makes me wonder if it is planned that way, a vacuum conspiracy. As funny as that sounds, it is also based on experience. I have given two Roombas for Christmas presents and the same thing happened to them. They both went down before 6 months was up. I have yet to read a review in which the battery lasted more than a year. If this was a car company they would be under Federal investigation. They know they've got you over a barrel and I'd be willing to be that they earn the vast majority of their money through replacement batteries, etc.Well, since the thing is worthless without it I am forced to buy yet another battery. That's three in less than three years. There's definitely something fishy going on here. How else can you... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 22, 2008

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  Brought new life to my Roomba Discovery

  After having my roomba for about 2 years, the battery got to the point where it only lasted about 10 minutes per charge. After trying the method by another reviewer to extend its life (a method which, for me, didn't do anything), I decided to fork out the money to buy a new one.I couldn't be happier with my decision. Since replacing the battery, it's like I have a brand new roomba again. Rather than 10 minutes, it can go a few hours at a time before it gives up and goes to its dock for a recharge. 5/5 John Jankowski (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews, December 12, 2008

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  List Price: $69.99
  

  Cleans up to 4 rooms in a single cleaning cycle

  3000 mAh runs approximately 2 hours on one charge

  Charges in 7 hours with standard charger

  Charges in less than 3 hours using optional APS Fast Charger

  Extended battery for Roomba 400 Series, Discovery Series, and original models

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  Evolution Robotics Mint Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner, 4200

  Home (Mint)
  

  Rating (409 reviews):

  (4.2/5)

  

  Fantastic cleaning robot!

  I must say, I'm impressed with the mapping system on this little guy. I have a very large (20'X20') open living room/kitchen area giving plenty of obstacles to confuse it. There's a staircase (which it deftly avoids), an island, a kitchen table with chairs, a couch and a number of tables for it to go under, an area rug and a piece of curved beveled glass on the floor that serves as a stand for a fireplace (which it surprisingly does not ride up on). Also, the room is overall "U" shaped with several entryways. This is the only robotic cleaner that has been able to figure this room out in its entirety. Other things to note is the room has a large fan and high, sloped ceilings and it can still find it's way.My Roomba did terribly. It would get stuck in one section, the Neato XV was OK but would miss some parts. This thing does a great job of freshening up the floor and getting at just about everything due to it's small size!One thing I did not know is the Mint... 5/5 Ryan Mckenney - See all my reviews, September 9, 2010

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  Mint v Roomba: Which is hte Better Sucker

  The short version, for those reading many reviews quickly is this; the Mint has many advantages over the Roomba on a feature for feature basis. But at the end of the day, the Roomba is the better product and picked up a LOT more pet hair.Here's the longer version with the gory details:Both of these are great innovations. True, the Mint is far quieter, cheaper and cooler looking than the Roomba. It is also easier/cheaper to maintain. But the Roomba gets more dust off the floor, despite the fact that the Mint can get under places Roomba can not, and Roomba returns to its base for a re-charge on it's own, as needed. The Mint just dies in place.The guy on here who's review said that he sent his Roomba on a mission and then sent the Mint after it to discover dirt the Roomba missed, would have had the same result if he performed the experiment in reverse. I know b/c I did just that. these two devices clean differently, so any comparison is useless... 2/5 dusthater - See all my reviews This review is from: Evolution Robotics Mint Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner, 4200 (Kitchen) The short version, for those reading many reviews quickly is this; the Mint has many advantages over the Roomba on a feature for feature basis. But at the end of the day, the Roomba is the better product and picked up a LOT more pet hair.Here's the longer version with the gory details:Both of these are great innovations. True, the Mint is far quieter, cheaper and cooler looking than the Roomba. It is also easier/cheaper to maintain. But the Roomba gets more dust off the floor, despite the fact that the Mint can get under places Roomba can not, and Roomba returns to its base for a re-charge on it's own, as needed. The Mint just dies in place.The guy on here who's review said that he sent his Roomba on a mission and then sent the Mint after it to discover dirt the Roomba missed, would have had the same result if he performed the experiment in reverse. I know b/c I did just that. these two devices clean differently, so any comparison is useless... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , October 7, 2010

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  Beware False Hopes

  First: notice the 5-star rating that I have given this.I agree with all of the 5-star reviewers: this product is worth the price (have had it about 6 weeks now). I have used it on vinyl (Congoleum/linoleum) floors, tile floors and wooden floors. It works well on all of them. Time will tell more.However, rather than repeat what others have said, I will describe some aspects that might disappoint you when/if you buy it, but these do not outweigh the benefits.- This does NOT do a deep clean. That takes elbow grease and this, naturally, is not heavy enough to scrub that well (you wouldn't want it to be that heavy). You will have to do a deep clean first. The Mint will then maintain that clean floor. I use it about once a week.- The designers did a generally good job, except for the week when they all took vacation at once and let the janitor decide where to put the charging port. Believe or not, these idiots put the port in a spot on the... 5/5 Careful Reviewer - See all my reviews This review is from: Evolution Robotics Mint Automatic Hard Floor Cleaner, 4200 (Kitchen) First: notice the 5-star rating that I have given this.I agree with all of the 5-star reviewers: this product is worth the price (have had it about 6 weeks now). I have used it on vinyl (Congoleum/linoleum) floors, tile floors and wooden floors. It works well on all of them. Time will tell more.However, rather than repeat what others have said, I will describe some aspects that might disappoint you when/if you buy it, but these do not outweigh the benefits.- This does NOT do a deep clean. That takes elbow grease and this, naturally, is not heavy enough to scrub that well (you wouldn't want it to be that heavy). You will have to do a deep clean first. The Mint will then maintain that clean floor. I use it about once a week.- The designers did a generally good job, except for the week when they all took vacation at once and let the janitor decide where to put the charging port. Believe or not, these idiots put the port in a spot on the... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , September 21, 2010

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  List Price: $249.99
  

  Low maintenance with no bins to empty or filters to change

  Compact robot floor cleaner runs up to 3 hours on single charge using microfiber cloths or most brands of disposable cloths

  Guided by North Star Navigation System to methodically clean open areas, around furniture and rugs, and along room perimeter

  Measures 9.6 inches wide by 8.5 inches deep by 3.1 inches high; 1-year warranty

  Whisper-quiet operation; turns itself off when finished

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  IROBOT ROOMBA 400 VACUUM CLEANING ROBOT

  Kitchen (iRobot)
  

  Rating (25 reviews):

  (3.3/5)

  

  i heart roomba

  I have wanted a Roomba for a while. I have a perfectly good vacuum (so I thought) but it was getting on in years and was cumbersome, plus I hate vacuuming and being a pet owner I really need to do it more than I would prefer (never). So when I found the basic Roomba very on sale I was suspicious and decided to research reviews first. In short, people seemed really excited about their Roombas. Its maybe the best reviewed product I have ever come across. These people seemed a little over-enthusiastic, but the few negative reviews seemed trivial so feeling confident I went and bought my Roomba (for $90). Now I am one of those crazy fans too. I am in love with my Roomba.When I brought it home I ran my regular vacuum first. My house looked clean. Then I ran the Roomba and checked the dust compartment. I was both horrified and fascinated at how much junk was in there. Who knew I was living in such squalor and filth! It was weirdly satisfying to dump it all out. Every... 5/5 e.m. - See all my reviews This review is from: IROBOT ROOMBA 400 VACUUM CLEANING ROBOT (Electronics) I have wanted a Roomba for a while. I have a perfectly good vacuum (so I thought) but it was getting on in years and was cumbersome, plus I hate vacuuming and being a pet owner I really need to do it more than I would prefer (never). So when I found the basic Roomba very on sale I was suspicious and decided to research reviews first. In short, people seemed really excited about their Roombas. Its maybe the best reviewed product I have ever come across. These people seemed a little over-enthusiastic, but the few negative reviews seemed trivial so feeling confident I went and bought my Roomba (for $90). Now I am one of those crazy fans too. I am in love with my Roomba.When I brought it home I ran my regular vacuum first. My house looked clean. Then I ran the Roomba and checked the dust compartment. I was both horrified and fascinated at how much junk was in there. Who knew I was living in such squalor and filth! It was weirdly satisfying to dump it all out. Every... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 30, 2008

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  I think I'm in love!

  I was skeptical about how well the Roomba would clean but I decided to give it a shot. I am so glad that I did! This was probably the smartest purchase that I have ever made. I also own a Dyson DC17 Animal which cleans like a beast. However my Roomba is so easy to use and cleans so well that I wish I would have saved my money on the Dyson and purchased the Roomba from the start. This model doesn't have all the bells and whistles that some of the more expensive units have but works perfectly for me. It is so simple to operate that a child could use it. Simply charge it and place it in the middle of the room and press the clean button. It starts by covering the large open area of the room by going in a spiral motion until it bumps up against something and then it will go around all the corners. It takes a while to clean a large room but it cleans like a champ. It has a decent sized collection bin so you don't have to empty it too often, maybe once every hour or so. This unit comes with... 5/5 Cute Chihuahua (Orient, OH USA) - See all my reviews, October 3, 2009

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  Love it!

  So I'm definitely one that researches the CRAP out of my technological products - my roomba maybe a little to the extreme. After reading the reviews there was a trend that they don't last too long - so I decided to get the cheapest model and replace it every couple years instead of being out alot more money with the $500 models. So I trucked down to walmart and bought the cheapy model.We've now had the little darling for 2 months. Background info: We run it in our living room and kitchen nearly everyday (hardwood floors, linoleum, area rugs). We have three border collies (LOTS of fur). Now my review:It takes a while... about an hour and a half (if you've kept up on the cleaning... longer if you've left it a couple days). Does it do a perfect job? No. It does a pretty half ass job.... but if it does a half ass job every day - in two days it would be 100%... and well I don't vacuum like at all - so it does a better job then I do. I would not suggest this for... 5/5 SJ_ontario - See all my reviews This review is from: IROBOT ROOMBA 400 VACUUM CLEANING ROBOT (Electronics) So I'm definitely one that researches the CRAP out of my technological products - my roomba maybe a little to the extreme. After reading the reviews there was a trend that they don't last too long - so I decided to get the cheapest model and replace it every couple years instead of being out alot more money with the $500 models. So I trucked down to walmart and bought the cheapy model.We've now had the little darling for 2 months. Background info: We run it in our living room and kitchen nearly everyday (hardwood floors, linoleum, area rugs). We have three border collies (LOTS of fur). Now my review:It takes a while... about an hour and a half (if you've kept up on the cleaning... longer if you've left it a couple days). Does it do a perfect job? No. It does a pretty half ass job.... but if it does a half ass job every day - in two days it would be 100%... and well I don't vacuum like at all - so it does a better job then I do. I would not suggest this for... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 15, 2010

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  List Price: $199.99
  

  Patented Cleaning System

  Edge Cleaning - spinning side brush & wall following technology

  Roomba Power System - powerful battery & charging system

  Bagless Bin - No Bags to replace, Bin easy to empty & holds moe dirt than ever

  iRobot AWARE Robot Intelligence System - unique system

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