Robotic Vacuum cleaners

[Caran]

Had a leaflet from Lakeland today and there was one of these in it called a ROOMBA, it looks super, very tempted, been on ebay and there are lots for sale there. Have any ABers got one (or any other make). What do you think of them? are they any good?

[ELVIS68]

I've got one, no consideration whatsoever when I'm trying to watch telly, she just carries on regardless

[bednobs]

i dont understand where those hoovers put all the fluff - there's seriously no room!

[237SJ]

My friend`s got one. Goes by the name of Doris Roomba. She swears by it but because it`s round, it can`t really get into all the nooks and crannies so they still need hoovering properly every now and again. It`s very good for day to day cleaning though.

[Caran]

I thought they had external brushes that got into the corners.

[237SJ]

She said that the brushes were good along skirting boards and around table legs etc but didn`t quite get into corners. She loves it though. I hate hoovering and if it wasn`t for the fact that I have a perfectly good vacuum cleaner, I would get one myself.

[Caran]

I have a Dyson that is fine except it is awkward to use. Also I have osteoarthritis and COPD so hoovering is getting to be a problem. OH says he will do the hoovering but I am looking at other options.

[237SJ]

You could try one of those stick vacuum cleaners. I`m not sure how powerful they are though.

[Caran]

The problem is the walking about pushing it around, I am in constant pain and get very breathless.

[Alagopus]

Apologies if this is too late to be useful.
They're brilliant. Ours is the red LG Roboking (HomBot in UK): http://forums.whirlpo...t.au/archive/1860835.
We have two dogs and our floors have never been so clean. It vacuums around them then goes back to finish after they've moved. Copes with carpet, polished floors and tiles. Would be best for a single storey home as could do the whole thing with no intervention – if battery runs out it recharges then continues from where it left off. However, it's easy enough to pick up and move to a different level and the cliff sensors stop it falling down stairs. It's the only time I've seen OH get excited about housework. However, the downside is you can waste a lot of time just watching it work.
Minuses: can't climb more than about 1cm and can get stuck on thick rug fringes; can't do stairs; need to tidy up first; doesn't get right into corners and can shut itself into rooms. Having said that I wouldn't be without it and when used every day it doesn't matter if some bits get missed.
There are lots of reviews and comments on Amazon. I was keen on the Neato but unfortunately they stopped shipping to Oz.