iRobot Roomba 510 Vacuuming Robot Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)No, this is not going to be a review telling you how awful the Roomba is. Actually, the 510 is a really wonderful maintenance robot. The problem is that for just a little more you can get the Roomba 530 which comes with the Home Base. What that means is you never have to plug in your Roomba to recharge it: whenever it's done cleaning it automatically goes back to the home base for charging. Although the Home Base is available separately, it is not compatible with this model, leaving you with no upgrade path should you ever want this extremely convenient feature.
More expensive models have a timer for programmable operation (Roomba 560) and even a remote control (Roomba 580t).
All models are identical in terms of performance. The diminutive size and quiet operation would lead you to believe these are little toys akin to hand vacs... until you get back to a thoroughly cleaned room.
I set the 510 loose on the cats room, where the little devils send litter flying everywhere. The room has hardwood floors and an area rug. When I came back, the Roomba was sitting proudly in the middle of the room, and the rug was spotless. There was hardly a trace of litter or cat hair on the hardwood floors, either.
So, the Roomba is definitely a thumbs up. However, I wish I had paid more attention to the product line and at least picked the model that docks back to the home base. The 510 is potentially a tripping hazard, so it's well worth the extra fifty dollars to move up to the model 530.

Click Here to see more reviews about: iRobot Roomba 510 Vacuuming Robot

Product Description:
500 Series robots feature that latest robot technologies from iRobot, including an updated cleaning system and coverage patterns. Includes one Virutal Walls that tells Roombawhere to clean by restricting off-limit areas. Roomba efficientlycleans the whole floor, under and around furnitureand along walls, and automatically adjusts from carpets tohard floors. - 1 iRobot Roomba 510- 1 Virtual Wall® *- 1 Power Supply (3 hour charge time)- 1 Brush Cleaning Tool- 1 Rechargeable Battery- 1 Extra Filter- 1 Bumper Extension- 1 Year Limited Warranty* Requires 2 D batteries (not included)

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iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)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? Never
Climb onto thick throw rugs?Sometimes
Effectiveness on hard floors? Excellent
Effectiveness on carpets? Good
Trap itself in electrical cords?No
Trap itself in carpet fringes?No
# rooms it can do at once?2
Ease of emptying dirt?Fairly good
Scare cats and dogs?No
Clean under low furniture?Yes
Quietness?Fairly

Old Roomba:
Fall down stairs? Never
Climb onto thick throw rugs?Rarely
Effectiveness on hard floors? Excellent
Effectiveness on carpets? Good
Trap itself in electrical cords?Usually
Trap itself in carpet fringes?Always
# rooms it can do at once?2
Ease of emptying dirt?Fair
Scare cats and dogs?No
Clean under low furniture?Yes
Quietness?Fairly

Edit: 1/8/10
Roomba DIED!Nine beeps. Can't say I am happy.I called iRobot and they say the issue is due to a defective bumper which is NOT fixable.Since my warranty is expired, they offered me a somewhat discount price on a new Roomba.I am not sure what I will do.

Edit: 5/7/10
There directions for a cheap (although complicated) repair for this problem in the posts below.

Click Here to see more reviews about: iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White

Product Description:
With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, and particle filtration, the Roomba 530 vacuuming robot picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris with the simple touch of a button. The powerful unit features innovative spinning side brushes that grab dirt and dust from corners and along wall edges, as well as two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes that pick up pet hair, cat litter, food crumbs, and other debris from floors. The vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large, easy-to-empty bagless dustbin, and its improved fine-filtration system traps dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the unit, reducing infiltration into the living environment.
For added convenience, the vacuum's cleaning head automatically adjusts to transition from wood, tile, and linoleum to carpets and rugs, while improved anti-tangle technology ensures it won't get stuck on cords and rug fringe. If the unit begins to pick up a cord or carpet tassel, it will automatically reverse the direction of its brushes to extract the item. A gentle-touch bumper system senses obstacles so the vacuum automatically slows its approach, gently touches the obstacle, then redirects to continue cleaning under or around the object. Because it cleans under beds, couches, and other hard-to-reach areas, it actually vacuums more of the floor than a standard upright can. The vacuum also senses dirtier areas and spends more time cleaning them, and it uses built-in cliff sensors to avoid stairs and other drop-offs. In addition, invisible barriers can be set using the unit's Virtual Wall system. To mark off-limit areas, simply place a Virtual Wall at a doorway or other opening and adjust the infrared beam setting to the distance of the opening. The unit automatically detects the beam and will not cross it.
The vacuuming robot returns to its self-charging Home Base to dock and recharge between cleaning cycles or when the battery starts to run low. Its advanced power system consists of a fast-charging battery, a three-hour charger, and a power source that supercharges the unit for up to 120 minutes of continuous cleaning, covering about three to four average-size rooms on a single charge. Other accessories include two Virtual Walls (that require two D batteries each), a brush cleaning tool, and an extra filter. The vacuuming robot measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Yes, It Really Works
This smart, powerful, and autonomous vacuum features iRobot's proven and patented three-stage cleaning system. First, innovative spinning side brushes grab dirt and debris from corners and along wall edges, then two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes pick up pet hair, food crumbs, and other debris. The powerful vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large, easy-to-empty bagless dustbin.

The improved fine-filtration system traps dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the robot, reducing infiltration into your living environment. The cleaning head automatically adjusts to transition from wood, tile, and linoleum to carpets and rugs. Improved anti-tangle technology ensures it won't get stuck on cords and rug fringe. If Roomba begins to pick up a cord or carpet tassel, it will automatically reverse the direction of its brushes to extract the item. Roomba senses dirtier areas and spends more time cleaning them, and it uses built-in cliff sensors to avoid stairs and other drop-offs. When the job is done, Roomba returns to its self-charging Home Base to dock and recharge between cleaning cycles or when the battery is running low.

Easy to Use
The Roomba 530 features a friendly and informative audio voice demonstration that walks you through initial setup and alerts you when Roomba requires maintenance or assistance. Starting a cleaning cycle is simple--just press the "Clean" button and Roomba does the rest. First it will calculate the size of the room, the obstacles in the room, and the cleanliness of the floors. Then it goes to work all by itself. At the end of each cleaning cycle, Roomba 530 returns to its Home Base to dock and recharge. Yes, it's that simple. Routine maintenance is a snap. The large-capacity bagless bin is easy to slide out, empty, and click back into place. The brushes and filters can be easily removed by hand for routine cleaning and maintenance.
Smart and Efficient
Roomba calculates the appropriate cleaning time and pattern for each area and adjusts its behavior over 67 times per second to achieve the most thorough cleaning result. On average, Roomba covers every part of the floor four times. A gentle-touch bumper system senses obstacles, so Roomba automatically slows its approach, gently touches the obstacle, then redirects to continue cleaning under or around the object. Because it cleans under furniture, Roomba actually vacuums more of the floor than a standard upright can--and you don't even have to push it around. Roomba's Virtual Wall creates an invisible barrier that it will not cross (two Virtual Walls are included with the Roomba 530). To mark off-limit areas, simply place a Virtual Wall at a doorway or other opening and adjust the infrared beam setting to the distance of the opening. Roomba automatically detects the beam and will not cross it. The vacuum's advanced power system consists of a fast-charging battery, a three-hour charger, and a power source that supercharges the unit for up to 120 minutes of continuous cleaning, covering about three to four average-size rooms on a single charge. When the battery is low or when Roomba has completed a cleaning cycle, it automatically returns to the self-charging Home Base to dock and recharge. As a member of the newest generation of Roomba innovation, the Roomba 530 features a more powerful vacuum and redesigned high-speed, counter-rotating brushes that pick up more dirt, pet hair, dander, cat litter, crumbs, leaves, and other debris.

Features

A powerful vacuum: Two counter-rotating brushes and a powerful vacuum remove dirt, dust, pet hair, and other debris from your carpets and floors

Robot intelligence: Navigates throughout your home, cleaning under and around furniture, covering each area an average of four times

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

Self-charging and docking: Automatically returns to its Home Base to dock and recharge between cleanings

Detects dirt: Senses dirtier areas and spends more time cleaning them

Cleans beneath furniture: Cleans under tables, beds, chairs, and other hard-to-reach places

Edge-cleaning capability: Follows wall edges and reaches deep into corners to remove dust, dirt, and debris

Self-adjusting cleaning head: Automatically adjusts from carpets to hard floors and back again

Light-touch bumpers: Roomba slowly approaches obstacles, gently touches them, then redirects to clean around them

Anti-tangle system: Roomba effectively extracts itself if it picks up cords, carpet fringe, or tassels

Simple operation: Roomba keeps itself charged and ready to go--simply press the Clean button and Roomba does the rest

What's in the box: 1 iRobot Roomba 530, 2 Virtual Walls (require 2 D batteries each, not included), 1 self-charging Home Base, 1 power supply (3-hour charge time), 1 brush cleaning tool, 1 rechargeable battery, 1 extra filter

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iRobot Roomba 410 Intelligent Floorvac Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, Red Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First off, I want to say - get this product through Amazon directly. The third party resellers don't appear to stock product inventory and it can take weeks to ship (had to cancel a previous order from a third party reseller for this reason).

As for the iRobot Roomba 410:

Awesome little device. I use it downstairs in my kitchen and living area. I have two cats and a stained concrete floor and it does a magnificent job picking up cat hair and other miscellaneous dirt, bugs, etc. The first time I ran it, after only 20 minutes, I stopped it and opened the dust bin - pulled out a massive ball of cat hair and dust I wasn't even aware was on the floor. Over time, the amount of debris I have extracted from the unit has decreased substantially indicating it is doing its job. Fantastic - exactly why I bought it!

The cats love it; they follow it around and jump out of the way when it decides to suddenly turn in their direction.

Like any mechanical device, there are a few quirks and things to be aware of:

1.)It can get hung on power cords and rug edges. Watch the unit for the first few times you run it and (if possible) modify your space to eliminate these hazards (I taped down my rugs in a few places which helped a lot). Afterwards, you can let it run without worry.
2.)It has a small dust bin and as such, may need to be stopped and emptied every 20 minutes or so (at least on the first few runs, or until the room starts to become clean).
3.)Let it run until the battery goes down (about 45-60 minutes). This maximizes battery duration and performance. Accept the fact that the battery will expire in a year or so (maybe less) and you'll have to buy a replacement from iRobot (50 bucks, big deal).
4.)The unit is made almost entirely of plastic. I estimate a life expectancy of approximately 4-5 years, maybe longer if I clean it regularly and replace the brushes, bearings, etc. when needed (all available for order in iRobot's website). By that time, I'm sure iRobot will have 4th or maybe 5th generation Roombas available and I'll definitely be in the market for a new one!
5.)Don't expect it to return to its charging base every time. In my case it usually doesn't. I just pick it up and set it on the charger (maybe one day it will find it on its own and surprise me).

Overall, I'd give it a 9 out of 10. It efficiently does the job it is designed for, has a great "coolness" factor and it is a heck of a lot of fun to watch!

Click Here to see more reviews about: iRobot Roomba 410 Intelligent Floorvac Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, Red

Product Description:
Sporting a bold, solid-red exterior, this entry-level robotic floorvac is easy to use and includes an array of convenient features. Simply press the "clean" button and the unit will vacuum the whole floor, adjusting automatically to any floor surface including wood, tile linoleum, and low-to-medium pile carpet. The vacuum's artificial intelligence determines the room size and adjusts the run time to ensure that it cleans the entire floor. Integrated sensors detect dirt and will increase the focus and intensity of cleaning in that area, while infra-red cliff sensors in the non-marring bumper detect stairs to keep the unit from falling, as well as furniture and walls for cleaning right up to the edge.

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iRobot 110 Dirt Dog Workshop Robot Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Granted, I've had this thing for less than a week, but I can't quit raving about it.

I got the Dirt Dog for my enclosed patio, which is home to 12 messy caged parakeets and is also, of course, where my 4 cats like to hang out.I chose the Dirt Dog over the Roomba because I thought the sweeper would work better on the unfinished concrete than a vacuum unit, and it was cheaper.I liked the idea of the larger crud-holder than the vacuum, and I thought maybe it would be less tempramental, too.

The first time I turned it on, it wandered around exploring---I quickly learned that the fringed cotton rugs would have to go (no biggie, they just trap dirt anyway).I didn't move a lot of furniture---wanted to see how it would get along without much prep work on my part.

It quickly became my "Little Buddy" as it got stuck, or wrapped a string around its brushes and gently whimpered "Uh-Oh".I responded like the silly thing was one of my kids: "What's up, Little Buddy?Did you get caught on something?"Pathetic.

Anyway, he soon seemed to "learn" how to handle the edge of the platform my desk chair sits on and scoot under the shelves where the birds drop seeds & feathers.I learned to put barriers up so he couldn't get into trouble on the indoor-outdoor carpet that trends to unravel.We trained each other.

He's noisy...but I got used to it.The floor was looking better!

The cats seemed fascinated, but not afraid---they didn't freak out, just watched and stayed out of the way.At one point one of them actually sat on the floor and watched while he worked all around her.

By the time he finished, I was thrilled with my utterly brilliant purchase.I pulled out the hepa DustBuster http://www.amazon.com/review/R3DJL18LOJDRWI/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm and sucked up what little was missed or out of his range.Walking on the floor in my bare feet, I could feel how clean it really was---as clean as it gets when I spend half a day working on it with the big Shop Vac!

Next test:The bachelor son's house, equipped with three shedding dogs.Buddy whipped back and forth under two couches and a chair, scooping up fuzzballs like a champ.He cleaned the tile, the wood, and the (unfringed) area rug.He wanted to do the bedroom carpet, but I was afraid that might be just TOO much, even for him.

Buddy's next challenge was our garage---smooth concrete, but VERY UNclean.This is what he's built for, right?We set a timer and checked up on him about every 10 minutes to make sure he hadn't gotten stuck somewhere or pulled something into his brushes that made him stop.It took him a while, and I could tell by his yellow light that he was getting really tired, but he got it CLEAN.I emptied out his "dustpan" about 5 times.Yesterday I did some spray-painting in the garage, and the whole newly-clean floor was soon covered with overspray.So I put Buddy back to work.He swept up all the fine paint dust off the floor---no whining, no dust mask, no beer break.And now all that dust isn't getting tracked into the house.I can hardly wait to turn him loose the next time there are tiny metal shavings all over the floor from some drill-press project...

TBD is how well he'll last, but can you tell I'm pretty pleased with our newest family member?

Update June 23 2007:

It's now been six months, and we're on our second "Little Buddy".After a few weeks, Buddy I began just wandering around in a circle; it turned out he had an incurable wheel issue.It IS annoying that IRobot won't cover postage on a warranty return, but it was worth the hassle to get a new Little Buddy.The house just wasn't the same without him.....

Buddy II seems to be an even better and more energetic unit than his late, lamented sibling.He has earned the weekly task of sweeping our outdoor concrete courtyard.He gets a little rambunctious launching himself at some of the potted plants from time to time, but he does a wonderful job of cleaning up dirt, dust and leaves.It still amazes me how much stuff he picks up from what appears to be a pretty clean surface.

Buddy II has also been called into service for the above-mentioned drill press project.The scene begins as I step barefoot into the garage.I return hissing, swearing and bleeding on the floor.As I head for the tweezer drawer, I snarl to my husband, "Get Buddy!You've been drilling metal again and haven't cleaned up!"So Buddy has now succesfully taken on the role of marriage counselor.

He's also been on a couple of sleepovers at friends' houses, where he delighted his hostesses by cleaning their patios, decks and garages.One friend was so impressed she asked for her own Buddy as a birthday gift.He was apparently VERY well-behaved, even without parental supervision.

Buddy continues to work tirelessly, asking for nothing but a charged battery, a clean brush and an occasional (chaperoned) date with the air-compressor.

Click Here to see more reviews about: iRobot 110 Dirt Dog Workshop Robot

Product Description:
Leave the cleaning to a robot with this convenient machine. Its 14.4-volt rechargeable NiCD battery provides the power needed to clean hard floors, shop carpets, garage and basement areas, as well as industrial-floor surfaces. In addition, specially designed counter-rotating brushes spin almost 1,000 times per minute, sweeping up dirt and debris that cling to rough surfaces. Simply press the "clean" button and the unit sweeps under workbenches, cars, and other hard-to-reach places, picking up nuts, bolts, dirt, and more. For added convenience, "cliff" sensors keep it from falling down stairs or other vertical drops. The unit offers an oversized, bagless, easy-to-empty debris bin, and its power supply fully charges in seven hours. Accessories include a standard battery, a standard charger, a cleaning tool, and an owner's guide. The cleaning machine measures approximately 13 by 13 by 4 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the box:

iRobot Dirt Dog Workshop Robot
Standard battery--non APS
Standard charger
Cleaning tool
Owner's guide

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