Newby questions

sootica · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 7

I'm considering buying a Roomba and will probably go for the HS deal on the SE. Here are a couple of things I'm still not sure about:

1. I've seen reviews saying that it doesn't handle fringe well on area rugs, but those were a bit old. Is that still a problem?

2. How does it handle power cords? Or small toys, like LEGOs?

3. If my base station is on the ground floor, can I use the Roomba upstairs, or do I have to move the station too?

3. If I have a fairly open floor plan, ground floor is living room, dining room in one unit, and the family room and kitchen in another, will the Roomba do that whole area?

Thanks

Roomba Freak · Guest

1. Roomba still has a hard time with fringe's, but is an improvement compared to last model. Some people have luck every time, some people have luck about half the time, some people don't any luck with it. So I guess you'll have to check it out for yourself.
2. A lego would probably (depending on the size) get caught in the unit and make it's rotatry brushes stop moving and make the machine turn off for safety reasons.
As for power cords, and speaker wire: Roomba was designed if to get entangled in something to have a few tricks up it's sleave to get things loosened from with grips. I'd say that it's pretty good at this as well.
3.The base station is an OPTIONAL accessory for all new discovery models of Roomba. You can use Roomba in any room with or without the base station, just don't expect if roomba is upstairs to travel down stairs to find it's base station. :lol:
4. I know this from experience with my roomba discovery Se.
My apartment is about 1,000 sq ft. My living room, hall way, foyer, dining room, and kitchen are all pretty much open and I consider them one area. Roomba can clean all of this for me. I usually put Roomba on the MAX cycle for it.
One time I left my bed room door open for Roomba to clean in there to see how well it would do and it did only an ok job.
BUT there are some other factors to include in this as well. If your home it tile, or wood flooring then Roomba's battery life will last longer, if carpet shorter. Mine is carpet so I get about an hour and fifteen minutes of clean time to and hour and a half.
Hope this helps you.
Keep in mind that roomba is a great unit and I think you would enjoy it even though it's not perfect.

sootica · Guest Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 7

Thanks for the very detailed reply. I thought of one other question. My ground floor is 2/3 tile with very low pile carpeting in the living room, and an area rug (with the fringe) in the family room on tile. The Roomba will switch from one surface to another automatically won't it? Thanks

RC Eden Carpet Cleaning · Posted: May 27, 2005, 7:54 pm Post subject:

Yes it will switch from your carpet to tile with no prolems. I would suggest tucking the fringes on your rug under itself so that roomba has no problems.

Guest · Guest

I don't have a docking station, and my Rooma Red ate her own power cord. :lol:

No harm done to either of them, I just had to remove the brushes and do some untangling.