Roomba vs. Trilobite

[aniram]

Thinking about getting one of this gadget. However, I notice that
there are three types for Roomba : Standard, Roomba Red (or is this
Pro Lite?), and Roomba Discovery (or the one with SE on it). The price
starts around US $150, $225 form Pro-lite and $260 for Discovery. What
are the differences in those three? Which one is the best one... the
most expensive one (the Discovery)? I like the red colour (Pro
lite)... but does it has less features than the Discovery?
Then, I saw the Electrolux Trilobite ... a very nice machine, but it
costs around US $1600! Why is there so much difference in cost
between Roomba and Trilobite? Is Trilobite for real, heavy duty
cleaning (rather than a robotic "toy" like Roomba)? Is it worth to
get $1600 vacum cleaner in the long run? Has it better quality,
service and performance?
Need some opinion on this. Thanks.
Do any of these cleaners need a special order vacuum bags, which is
only supplied by the manufacturer?
I also heard about rechargable batteries... How fast that we need to
keep buying new batteries?
I am a little wary that I can get sucked by these manufacturers, which
probably have strategy to sell more of the accessories (just like a
cheap printers, when you have to pay a fortune for the ink... or a
free cell phone, but you have to pay arm and legs to use it).
Thanks for info.

[Matt]

I have to think these things are a passing fad... there is simply no
way a unit that small, running on batteries, can clean carpet decently.


Maybe it would be ok for a kitchen floor or something.

I'm sure it would be fun to watch.... for a while... and then one day
you realize that you are still lugging out the Hoover every week anyway.

[BruceR]

We tried a Roomba and returned it the next day. It didn't do a
particularly good job of cleaning and the carpet looked like crop
circles had been cut into it. If you miss the psychedelic 60's you might
like that but it looked awful to us.

From:aniram
aniramca@yahoo.com

> Thinking about getting one of this gadget. However, I notice that
> there are three types for Roomba : Standard, Roomba Red (or is this
> Pro Lite?), and Roomba Discovery (or the one with SE on it). The price
> starts around US $150, $225 form Pro-lite and $260 for Discovery. What
> are the differences in those three? Which one is the best one... the
> most expensive one (the Discovery)? I like the red colour (Pro
> lite)... but does it has less features than the Discovery?
> Then, I saw the Electrolux Trilobite ... a very nice machine, but it
> costs around US $1600! Why is there so much difference in cost
> between Roomba and Trilobite? Is Trilobite for real, heavy duty
> cleaning (rather than a robotic "toy" like Roomba)? Is it worth to
> get $1600 vacum cleaner in the long run? Has it better quality,
> service and performance?
> Need some opinion on this. Thanks.
> Do any of these cleaners need a special order vacuum bags, which is
> only supplied by the manufacturer?
> I also heard about rechargable batteries... How fast that we need to
> keep buying new batteries?
> I am a little wary that I can get sucked by these manufacturers, which
> probably have strategy to sell more of the accessories (just like a
> cheap printers, when you have to pay a fortune for the ink... or a
> free cell phone, but you have to pay arm and legs to use it).
> Thanks for info.

[Durian]

"BruceR" <brNOSPAM@hawaii.com> wrote in news:nS5Rd.3502$VD5.2965
@twister.socal.rr.com:

> We tried a Roomba and returned it the next day. It didn't do a
> particularly good job of cleaning and the carpet looked like crop
> circles had been cut into it. If you miss the psychedelic 60's you
might
> like that but it looked awful to us.
>
Wow, that has so not been my experience with the Roomba. Do you have
high pile carpeting? It's better with low pile.

The Roomba Discovery is the way to go, even if it is a little more
expensive. It has a larger dust bin, its battery recharges faster, and
it returns on it's own to is docking bay when the battery gets low. I'm
sorry, but what more do you want from a vacuum? I have one and I really
appreciate it as a convenience. Now I only do the old fashion vacuuming
once a month instead of every Sunday, which I hated. I'm happier and my
floors stay clean. Win Win in my opinion.

[BruceR]

Yes we have thick carpeting so maybe it's OK on thinner stuff or berber.
Maybe new models are better - we tried it a year ago. They sell a lot of
them so they must work for someone and if the choice is Roomba vs. not
vacuuming weekly then it's probably worth it.

From:Durian
durian@earthling.net

> "BruceR" <brNOSPAM@hawaii.com> wrote in news:nS5Rd.3502$VD5.2965
> @twister.socal.rr.com:
>
>> We tried a Roomba and returned it the next day. It didn't do a
>> particularly good job of cleaning and the carpet looked like crop
>> circles had been cut into it. If you miss the psychedelic 60's you
>> might like that but it looked awful to us.
>>
> Wow, that has so not been my experience with the Roomba. Do you have
> high pile carpeting? It's better with low pile.
>
> The Roomba Discovery is the way to go, even if it is a little more
> expensive. It has a larger dust bin, its battery recharges faster, and
> it returns on it's own to is docking bay when the battery gets low.
> I'm sorry, but what more do you want from a vacuum? I have one and I
> really appreciate it as a convenience. Now I only do the old fashion
> vacuuming once a month instead of every Sunday, which I hated. I'm
> happier and my floors stay clean. Win Win in my opinion.

[Marc D]

Matt wrote:
> I have to think these things are a passing fad... there is simply no
> way a unit that small, running on batteries, can clean carpet decently.
>
>
> Maybe it would be ok for a kitchen floor or something.

There are those of us who don't like or want carpet, and
therefore have hardwood floors or tile everywhere.
These little suckers probably rock in that kind of environment.

Still waiting for one that will do stairs though.
(actually, I'm going to build it soon as I know enough
on how to do it...)




--
Marc D.
(reply-to is black hole. Contact: list on domain ryuu in Canada)

[JGCASEY]

Durian wrote:
> "BruceR" <brNOSPAM@hawaii.com> wrote in news:nS5Rd.3502$VD5.2965
> @twister.socal.rr.com:
>
> > We tried a Roomba and returned it the next day.
> > It didn't do a particularly good job of cleaning
> > and the carpet looked like crop circles had been
> > cut into it. If you miss the psychedelic 60's you
> >might like that but it looked awful to us.
> >
> Wow, that has so not been my experience with the
> Roomba. Do you have high pile carpeting? It's better
> with low pile.
>
> The Roomba Discovery is the way to go, even if it is
> a little more expensive. It has a larger dust bin,
> its battery recharges faster, and it returns on it's
> own to is docking bay when the battery gets low. I'm
> sorry, but what more do you want from a vacuum? I
> have one and I really appreciate it as a convenience.
> Now I only do the old fashion vacuuming once a month
> instead of every Sunday, which I hated. I'm happier
> and my floors stay clean. Win Win in my opinion.

Yes I don't think you can throw away the old fashion
vacuum. Ours has a vibrator that brings sandy particles
to the surface for removal. We need a robot that can
use vacuum cleaners the way we do for those monthly
cleans :)

[Matthew Gunn]

JGCASEY wrote:
> Durian wrote:
>
>>"BruceR" <brNOSPAM@hawaii.com> wrote in news:nS5Rd.3502$VD5.2965
>>@twister.socal.rr.com:
> Yes I don't think you can throw away the old fashion
> vacuum. Ours has a vibrator that brings sandy particles
> to the surface for removal. We need a robot that can
> use vacuum cleaners the way we do for those monthly
> cleans :)
>
Or at least a robot one with a rotating brush or some other kind of
vibrator. Like you say, that brings the dirt to surface.