LOL!! My friend just got one of those too and swears by it!! She claims it's her "new man" because she's so smitten. She's even named him. ;)

I'm so glad to see these good reports. We just bought one for my 83 year old mother's Christmas present. mclarke - I would be just like your 14 year old son - too excited to wait for Mama to open it! We'll find out next week!

I got one too yesterday. It looks really neat and I agree it doesn't seem very bright! It cleaned the same path again and again. DH started it too soon so it ran out of battery and went back to its base to charge. How cool is that! DH, the programmer, is thrilled that he can add programs to it once he has it figured out. AS IF i will let him mess with it :-)) Our 18 month old DS thinks its a pet(we don't have one) and offered it some juice and water. Good thing I found him before he tried to make it drink up the liquids like mama tells him!

Wodka--open the package and charge the battery for at least 16 hours. then you can put your Rooma into use as soon as Mom opens it.

Our is cleaing now. I love it! My floors have never been this clean. Even my teens have taken an interest in them now-WOW! My youngest daughter has adopted "roomie" as hers, she keeps "roomie" cleaned out.

I've said this before, but the "Roombareview.com" message boards are helpful with tips, etc.

Happy sweeping!

Can I beg of someone who has one to tell me which one they got that they love and where they bought it?

There seem to be several and prices vary. I want a good one but do not want to overpay.

I had asked Santa for one of these but he has told me that he has not gotten it for the reasons stated.

The messiest area of our floors is around the bar stools at the kitchen counter -- I'm constantly sweeping there! Can anybody tell me if it will get this area clean, or will all the legs get in the way so it won't get clean? If it can handle that area, I might need to get one!

rnmomof2 - thanks for the advice. I was thinking of giftwrapping it this afternoon. I'll definitely charge it first. Also, will check out the roombareview.com website.

My husband bid on the roomba on ebay. It is brand new IRobot Roomba 560 - It was $275 plus $29.95 shipping - total of $304.95. It's a little steep and more than we would normally spend on a Christmas gift, but my dad died last year, and just feel like we need to make Christmas extra special for my mom each year. She's worth every penny and then some.

patricia, I am not sure I love mine yet but I got it at Costco for 279$ The fifth generation one is the one getting good reviews. It supposedly doesn't get stuck on rug fringes and can transition between different flooring surfaces. So make sure the model no starts with 5. Ours is 550 which is mid-line. HTH

Thank you for this information. Oh, I hope I can find one I really love, that does what I want it to do. With the recent loss of my housekeeper, I not only feel the void in having lost a good friend of many years but the best housekeeper anyone could have.

Ours is the 530 and we got it at Best Buy for $299.

Hoosier, I aimed mine at my barstools and it did just fine.

When it needs recharging, it will go back to its dock if it can; if it can't, it makes a sad little noise and shuts off.

Vinudev, I completely understand why your kid would want to give it food and water; it definitely seems alive!

Also, it's much quieter than I thought it would be.

There's a coupon code at HSH for 15% off your first purchase. This makes the 535 $212 with free shipping. THe roombareview.com site has a thread that's always at the top that tells where the best prices are.

Hoosiergirl from another Hoosiergirl!--I just randomly pull out barstools and chairs at the table to get the Roomba to sweep close to everything. You have to allow enough clearance for the roomba to circle between things.

We have a guinea pig that loves to kick bedding, food , etc out of the cage. I LOVE that the floor in front of the cage is clean all the time now.

It's fun to watch it make it's way back home when it's done!

I have questions about these. Will they pick up big things like dog kibbles and nutshells? If they pick up food (green beans, carrot pieces, etc.) is there an easy way to clean them out thoroughly so they don't get stinky? Are they good on hard floors or just carpets? No, I'm not a slob, but with four parrots in the house I have just the job for one of these little guys...

There is a shop vac version of roomba that will pick up kibbles and nutshells. I haven't tried it but I've been thrilled with all roombas and scoobas I've had.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dirt dog

Thanks, prettyphysicslady. That's just what I need -- a vacuum that is a combination backhoe and flamethrower. :D

Do any of you have any four legged pets? I could imagine Elvis and the roomba having to spar. Any issues for any of you? We've learned he doesn't care for many things, people in hats, nutcrackers, bad hair days, moving toys, etc. I'm sure a roomba would get his goat too.

I think it was ConsumerReports that had a good review on these too. I wonder how it does with cat litter!

Is it noisy?

I've had a Roomba for several years. We had a rotti when we first got it. She paid no attention to Roomba until it bumped into her. Then she would give it a dirty look and get out of the way. Our sheltie barked at it when we first got it, but soon became bored when Roomba didn't respond. The kitten thinks it is a toy to be pounced on. Being pounced on by a 8 pound cat hasn't phased Roomba yet except when the kitten hits the power button.

I love my roomba.

Rnmomof2: Do you live around Indy too? And hope I'm not being dense, but what is HSH?!

Our cat found Roomba interesting for about half an hour. She's quite a hunter and loves to pounce on moving objects, but she didn't try to pounce on Roomba. She just sat and stared at it.

When it came towards her, she just got up and moved.

Yes, it picks up cat litter.

It's much less noisy than a regular vacuum cleaner. I spend a lot of time at home, and I was afraid the noise of the Roomba would bother me, but it doesn't.

We got a Roomba 570 a few weeks ago. No problems with the pets (one dog, two cats). They were midly irritated by it at first but quickly realized it wouldn't hurt them and is a lot less noisy than the regular vacuum or even the Bissel sweeper I have. They usually just keep their distance and watch it 'til they get bored with it.

The Roomba is not super noisy, but if you're watching TV while it's on, you may need up the volume up just a tad. You can chat on the phone while it's sweeping the floor at your feet and still hear just fine.

The only problem I have with the Roomba is that, most of the time, it won't finish a room before the brushes need cleaning, at which time it automatically shuts off and alerts to the fact. Our animules shed a lot this time of year though and the excess fur seems to be the prime culprit. DH said there is some kind of filter? or special brush attachment? you can buy to prevent this. I *think* he also mentioned there is an older Roomba specially made for picking up pet hair but when he read the feedback, people said the new 570 works just as well, I guess, with the filter/brush kit mentioned above.

Overall, I'm very pleased with it! Just wish it did not clog as often as it does.

I want one!! What is HSH?

Might be HSN (Home Shopping Network). ?

Glad to hear they're not noisy and the newer models pick up kibbles!!

So, how long do you let these little guys run around the house?

Yep, just checked -- it's HSN.com. Thanks Squirrelheaven!

I want one too, but our living room in sunken by about a 6 inch drop off. I'm guessing that's too much of a flooring transition?

I bought a Roomba when it first came out. It functioned well, but the maintenance involved in cleaning the machine negated most of the benefits for me. Besides, emptying the dust bin, I also had to remove dust that accumulated around the delicate electronics. Then I had to move the kitchen chairs so that it could travel under the table.

I understand the newer models are better and can now run over carpet fringe - is that true?

Reno fan, a device that comes with the machine sends a beam of light that prevents the machine from going past. You would need to set it at the edge of the drop off.

Well, I have decided to get one. I spend $300 on stuff that I never use, like fabric I want and then decide it does not work with my room or draperies that I buy to get buy until I can get some made, or paint that I decided once it was on the wall does not look good and then I buy paint and hire a painter to re-do it. So I figure this is one of those things for $300 that if it works, it will redeem some of my other frivolous spending and if it bombs, I will just chalk it up to "bought wit," the best advice I ever get, buying a little wisdom.

Does anyone know the differences between the various 5th generation models? 530, 535, 550, 560, 570?? I want one but I don't know how to choose!

Thanks,
bloomin...

Oops!! Typing fingers gone bad! It was supposed to be HSN but your guys figured that out.

Some models come with "virtual walls" to close off openings and schedulers for it to automatically start cleaning. The model numbers reflect some of these options.

I have teens with long hair but no pets. Maybe once a week we need to clean hair from around the "beater" bars. It is somewhat gratifying to empty the collection bin after use and see all that was picked up.

Our Bed Bath and Beyond has a 25% coupon good until Christmas. They hae a 560 or something there.

Hoosiergirl--I live a short drive up 65 but grew up in Indy.

bloomin, here's a comparison chart from iRobot, the makers of Roomba.
The higher up the no, the more extra features and more $.
HTH

Here is a link that might be useful: Roomba comparison

This is pretty funny. Someone attached a camera to a Roomba and you can see the video of the Roomba cleaning a living room:

Here is a link that might be useful: roomba video

Reno, the Roomba has sensors in it that prevent it from falling off ledges. It won't fall down the stairs, for example. You don't need the "virtual wall" thingy for that.

The virtual wall thingy is used when you want it to stay in a room that has no door to close.

Mine has no problem with rug fringe, although it leaves them in some disarray.

Mclarke,
Really? Mine has problems with rug fringe. I got it for X-mas last year and now I wish I could buy the new one that can handle tassels. I have to either pick up my rugs or tuck the fringe under (doesn't always work). My rugs are pretty light weight, though, resembling kilims and thank god I only have two (I was pretty disappointed when my mother got me the second one, because of the implications).

I feel my roomba is actually better on hard surfaces than on rugs. It doesn't fall down the stairs. I have the scheduler and the walls, but never used them. When I want it to stay somewhere, I just put some chairs to cover the opening (this is because I never got batteries for the walls, this is how lazy I am). The scheduler is a different problem. I basically want to clear the floors of clothes and other random items before I run the roomba, so i don't put it on the scheduler

You will to some extra work with this. Like clean the corners and baseboards, but I feel like if you run it often, it keeps the overall dust level low, so stuff doesn't get dirty as fast.

I love my roomba, but wish it could love my fringe.

Pinar

Big Lots was advertising the Roomba for $199. I bet it is one of the older models.

I loved mine also until I got a cat that sheds. It clogs up the machine. Any suggestions.

I got the batteries, 530 model. Now I go to irobot and there is no 530 model mentioned.

It's talking. Is it supposed to talk? I can't understand it. LOL