RE: Roomba and Scooba

["White, Peter" <peter.white@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think so.  I've only got carpet and tiles at the moment, but have no
complaints.  Like the Roomba advertising says, "it cleans routinely so
you
don't have to"... which is another way of saying put Roomba out
regularly
(1-2 times per week), and also expect to occasionally have to get a proper
vacuum out once a month or so just to get into the spots that Roomba can't
get to (or maybe a swifter type thing on timber/laminate floors).  On the
flip side, underneath the bed and sofas get's regularly vacuumed by Roomba,
do they're the cleanest they've ever been.

-----Original Message-----
From: Martin McCreesh [mailto:martin@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 24 January 2008 04:54
To: Martin McCreesh
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Roomba and Scooba


Sorry if this gets sent twice but didnt see it posted


Peter,

I have a more basic question

Does it do a good job at lifting all the dust off different types of
hard floor - wood, tile  - grooves between tiles?

Martin


----- Original Message -----
From: White, Peter
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:08 PM
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Roomba and Scooba


I've just bought a new 5th-generation Roomba, to answer your
questions:

1. Yes :-)
2. Yes, on the higher-end models. I've got a 535 which allows the use
of a
separate wireless scheduler module. The 550, which is close to the
current
top of the range in the US, has this feature on-board. I was in Costco
at
the weekend, and they're selling them for $279 (might have been the
560, not
completely sure).
3. Yup, on all but the cheapest models. My previous Roomba was a
series 1
from the bulk-buy I did with Mark; they've come on a LONG way since
then.
4. Very well. I've only had mine for a few weeks, but it has no
problem
going from carpet to tile and vice-versa. The better models have
'lighthouses', which you put at door openings (if you want to). These
act
as intelligent Virtual Walls, in that they'll stop Roomba from going
into
the next room until it's spent enough time in the previous room.
They'll
also help guide Roomba back to the charging base.

I can't answer for the Scooba, but I do know that they cannot be
scheduled.
You can go here for a Roomba model comparison:
http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=336
... the difference between a
560 and
a 530 is that the former has the scheduling on-board (i.e. buttons on
the
unit), the latter has no scheduling. My 535 uses a wireless command
centre,
its was a special for around $220 from one of the shopping channels
over
here.

Pete

-----Original Message-----
From: Ho Yin Ng [mailto:architect.hoyin@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 22 January 2008 04:41
To: ukha_d
Subject: [ukha_d] Roomba and Scooba

I am considering buying a Roomba and a Scooba for washing my rubber
floors.
My idea would be to set it up and let it trundle around and clean the
floor
whilst I am at work.

The problem is I have never seen one and don't know of anyone who has
used
one.

1. Does anyone on this group have either a Roomba or Scooba?
2. Am I able to program them as described previously so they can clean
whilst I am out?
3. I assume if they run out of battery power they will return to the
cradle
to recharge then carry on cleaning?
4. How does the Roomba cope with crossing door thresholds from one
room to
another?

I have seen the Roomba 560 on sale, is it worth it over the 530 - am I
right
I needs the 560 before I do scheduling? My rooms that actually have
carpet
is minimal my main areas are rubber. I cannot find a UK seller that
sells
the Scooba.

Thanks

Ho Yin