LOVE my new Roomba Red!

Bakat · Guest

I have been watching these things with skeptical hopefullness for a couple years. I am a total technophile but also don't believe in blowing money.

I really wanted the Discovery that docks itself but $250 is a LOT of cash for this family so I went a different route. I found an ebay seller with a good reputation who takes Paypal (added insurance) and bought a Romba Red for $115 including shipping.

I have 2 cats and 2 dogs who are my issue. Unless I vaccum every other day, I have HUGE tumbleweed rolling thru my house. And in order for it to be effective I must also move all the furniture.

Well little Roger Robot has cleaned under all my furniture in the older childs room, the living room and my office. Without getting stuck one time! I'm thrilled!

So the plan now is to save up $250 to buy the one with all the gadgets and pass this little guy on to one of my girlfriends to test drive for awhile.

Oh yeah, and the pets aren't scared of it either. The dogs couldn't care less about it and the cats are just curious. In fact one of the cats just walked within 6 inches of it on her way to the food bowl.

Debbie · Guest

Yeah, I find it amazing that my cats aren't afraid of my Roomba! They aren't the bravest of soulds to begin with, and they run like Forest Gump from my regular vacuum. The Roomba they just watch it go like it was a toy.

Deb

Lam · Guest

Hi Bakat

I wonder how is the roomba red doing ? still run well?. I just got a room ba discovery but I think I should return it for a red since I don't use the base any more. It's a pain to move the base to every room every time. So I think I should have get a red since they are mechanically the same.

Bakat · Guest

Still loving my Roomba red!

I've had my Roomba (named Roger) for a little under 2 weeks now and he's running like a dream. Even with two cats, one very long haired dog, and another that sheds non-stop (I seriously mean NON-STOP). Roger cleans one room a day while I'm at work and another smaller room after I get home.

To give you an idea of the dog hair problem in my house, we painted my youngest childs bedroom Saturday. After we were done Roger vaccumed and then we mopped the hardwood floors, we then put all the furniture back. On Monday (2 days later) I sent Roger in there, when he was done the dustbin was literally FULL of dog hair.

Funny that you should mention returning your Discovery model because of the base. That is the one thing that I wish I had! Roger seems to have a particular penchant for finishing the living room while under the couch as far from the front as possible. I don't let him finish in my bedroom because I'm afraid of him turning off while under my king sized bed.

The other thing is that the Red only comes with the slow charger, so I can basically do 2 rooms and then have to charge it overnight (7 hours) before I can use it again... Yeah I definately need the fast charging base.

I have taken it to all my girlfrienda houses to show off, and they are all envious. My only regret is not buying a model with the fast charging homebase.

My friends keep joking that I should become a salesman for i-Robot, because I tell everyone about the little red guy! Girlfreinds, other mothers in the carpool line, people at the grocery store, my husbands boss.....

T T · Guest

Have you thought of buying a base for your Red? I am considering getting this combo: Red + base, because I don't feel I need all the other gadgets that come with Discovery or SE.

JJ · Guest

Roomba Red + Homebase = All the best features of the Discovery for $100 less!!

The homebase give you automatic recharging and the 3 hour fast charger as well. For $45 delivered, it's a steal. I have one on each floor of my house.

Homebase

rissacher · Guest Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 11

I'm about to buy a roomba and I'm leaning towards the red. I would like the home base and the scheduler, but it looks like I can add both of those if I so choose. $50 for the base and $30 for the remote. The only other disadvantage I've heard is MAX mode, but someone said that its a function available on the remote.

timiny · Guest Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 125

rissacher wrote: I'm about to buy a roomba and I'm leaning towards the red. I would like the home base and the scheduler, but it looks like I can add both of those if I so choose. $50 for the base and $30 for the remote. The only other disadvantage I've heard is MAX mode, but someone said that its a function available on the remote.

The normal remote does not allow you to schedule, plus you will also need the virtual walls that can be scheduled. Luckily, IRobot sells the home base charger, scheduler remote and 2 scheduler walls as a kit for just under $100. If you register your Roomba with IRobot, you get 15% off your first accessory order from them as well.

I have several Roomba's and I rarely use the Max mode.

rissacher · Guest Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 11

Why do I need the virtual scheduling walls.

timiny · Guest Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 125

The walls are used to keep roomba out of areas. You can block doorways and such with them. The regular wall that comes with the red must be turned on manually. The scheduler walls come on automatically using according to the schedule you program just like the roomba will if you schedule it.