Discovery SE advanced power system

ann · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 2

I want to buy a Roomba from the Discovery Series. Is it best to get the top of the line (the SE)? I"m wondering what it's advantages are? Mainly, what is the advanced power system? Does this mean it will vacuum up more than others in this series? I see that the other SE difference is the self charging wall mount. I don't think I'd use this wall mount because I plan to just let the Roomba take itself back to it's base to recharge (and I assume it can't take itself back to a wall mount base!).

Thanks!

JJ · Guest

All of the new Roombas clean equally well, even the entry level Red. The main difference is what comes bundled in the package. The only difference between the Discovery and the Discovery SE is the charging wall mount and the color.

If you don't care about the remote control, the best value is the Roomba Red plus the optional homebase. The fit and finish on the Red is a bit less refined than the Discovery or the SE, but basically they clean identically.

In my opinion, the only reason to buy the Discovery SE is because if you buy it from Hammacher Schlemmer you get a lifetime warranty. So if it ever breaks, you can either get a new one or get a refund. Roombas do have a high rate of failure, so there definitelty is some validity in getting the lifetime warranty. But personally I am happy with the red and the homebase, and if it breaks in the first year iRobot replaces it for free. After that I will probably be upgrading to the latest model anyway!
:lol:

Roomba Red

Roomba Homebase

madkiwi · Guest

I purchased a Discovery from ecost.com because I thought I wanted all the accessories that came with. Actually the homebase and the extra virtual wall are all I really cared about, over the Roomba Red, but I thought the remote would be fun (the wall mount is still in the packaging).

As it turns out the remote is kind of useless. If you need to give instructions to Roomba while it is cleaning it moves slow enough for you to hit the buttons. It isn't like you can sit on your butt in another room and push a button on the remote, you need to get up and be near it anyway.

As pointed out functionally all the new Roombas are identical- only differences are color and button layout, plus the various accompanying accessories.

madkiwi