anyone with a ROOMBA? come and tell my DH we need one!!

[PeckaRolloverAgain]

because he aint buying it at the moment!!!!

My Roomba "ROO" is farking great!!! I love it!

Get one, get one, get one!!

Message withdrawn

How much is the programmable one that does is thang all by itself whilst I'm at work? Are we talking crazy money?

The thing is I think you need a traditional hoover too. My Roomba is fab and the house looks infinetely more loved since it took up residence. However once a month or so you do still need to hoover old-stylee to pick up ground in food (in our case) / dirt and to get to the edges / corners / under furniture. So waiting for your existing one to die is a red-herring. I'd definitely say go for it I love love love mine. Only wish I had the money for a scoba as well.

About £250 for the programmable one. I bought the next one down, can't programme it, but other than that no difference. It cost me £190 online but I believe Costco are doing them for less. No access to Costco, unfortunately.

Have you seen the video on the i-robot site?

I don't think you need the programmable one (the 560). The one down from that (the 530) you can just switch on when you leave the house in the morning and it can do a room or two before docking itself back in its station for a recharge. The next day you can do another room or two. We have a fairly small house, and I tend to do upstairs one day and downstairs the next.

so whats the difference between the programmable one and the next model down.
Also what are the negatives( ever the pragmatist). Does it have a bag in it or does it need emptying? am working on dh but need to find out the negatives so I am armed with a response!!

Still thinking the programmable one might be the better option as I wouldn't remember to turn it on until half way to work.

I have read on another Mner 'Roomba Appreciation Thread' that they even dock and recharge themselves. What I can't find out is where to position the 'docking station'. Do you plug it into a socket, is it battery powdered or is it more complicated and needs an electrician to install it?

Oh I would get the programmable one if you have the extra £. How fab would that be !
I think the docking station has to be plugged in but I am not sure...

I love my Roomba but it is currently sick.
Moves around OK but won't pick anything up-my diagnooosis it he needs nwe bearings.
Anyone know where to get them from?

I have the programmable one but I don't use that any more as if it starts up while I'm out it sets off my house alarm! Also, they are so slow - takes about an hour to do my hall carpet, and I'd rather buzz round with a vacuum cleaner for just a couple of mins before someone arrives.

The docking station needs to be plugged into a wall socket. The manual recommends that you leave Roomba on all the time.

The difference with the programmable one (560) is that you can programme it to start at a certain time. Also, the little "towers" that come with it allow it to complete a room fully before moving onto the next one and then the next one (up to 3 rooms). With the non-programmable one (530), it docks and recharges the same, and also has a little tower - but this tower acts as an invisible barrier and stops it going out of or into a room, or near to something that you want it to avoid. There is also a basic Roomba (Roomba 2?) that does not dock and recharge - you plug it in manually to recharge - I think it's about £100 to £120.

how often does it need emptied? Also, if you have the 530 model, does it only do one room when left to its own devices?

I empty it after the whole downstairs or upstairs (down=lounge/diner, hall, small kitchen; up=3 small beds, landing, toilet, small bathroom). If you have seen one, then the part that collects hte dirt occupies about one third of the size of the whole machine, which seems tiny, but it is enough.

I will admit that it doesn't have the suction power of something like a Dyson would, but then I use my Dyson about once a month all over the house to pick up what it might have missed deeper in the carpet. There's not much though, and I am satisfied with how much it (Roomba) picks up.

The 530 will do as much as you allow it. If it can get into more than one room, it will go. It only stops when it thinks it's done (no idea how it works it out) or if it runs out of battery. The tower can be used to limit it to one room or area if you want.

This is the manufacturers' site: www.irobot.com/uk/

I've ordered one of these. Seems to have reasonable reviews and at £37.99 I thought it was worth a try!

god thats good! bargain

NoNickname, that's fab, thanks

most of my house is hard floors with rugs - is it still advisable?

It's perfectly good for hard floors with (or without) rugs.

Although there is a cheaper sweeper thingy for about £30-40. Robomop I think it's called. A bit like one of those "swiffer" dusters , but does it on its own - will Google for you.

Robomop - £30 plus delivery

yes thanks for that no nickname

am soo tempted by roomba

can you use the roomba like a normal vacuum for stairs etc?