Mine gets stuck trying to get under the coffee table, gets stuck on shoe laces, and cables on the floor. It tries to climb on the chair legs and then gets stuck on those too.
To use the vacuum, I have to go around the house and inspect every room before I set it on its journey. It does do a good job though so it’s worth the effort.
I am a cluttered mess. I cannot get a robovac until they can reliably go around things like power cords, socks, and plastic bags holding those boxes of pasta I haven’t bothered to put away yet.
@ragingredd Mine was getting slowly better, then my best friend’s partner was in the icu for liver issues and he had to move in with me to be closer (said partner died a few days later) and we’re still sorting out stuff and space considerations. So timeline for a clean and clear apartment has been bumped to 2019.
Add to the problem list that the dirt container is really small. I’d have to empty it all the time due to cat hair. In the long run it would be easier just to vacuum with a real vacuum. Like this shark for sale today.
It can vacuum half as well, in 4x the time. I know these can be scheduled when you’re not home and stuff, but how long does it really take to vacuum a floor? Also it was always a mess cleaning it out/up. My Dyson powers through everything, and and I only occasionally need to do anything more than empting the bin.
I purchased the botvac during the last meh-rathon, and I’ve been surprisingly impressed by it. It does a solid job at covering the entire floor. Most importantly, it vacuums in straight enough lines that the path leaves acceptable vacuum lines on our area rug.
@seancookpdx That was the answer I was looking for, too. My robo vac is more like a robo pet - needs constant attention to untangle it from carpet fringe and the stray sock under the bed; have to watch out for cords and keep them out of the way; runs out of power and can’t find its “food bowl” if it strays too far from “base”; needs constant cleaning to keep it’s “paws” free of stuff and its “eyes” free of dust; have to put up “guards” to keep it out of places I don’t want it going; and it leaves messes in the corners. It doesn’t shed fur or need its litterbox cleaned, which is about its only advantage over a live pet. For actual vacuuming, I have a Dyson and a Shark - either of which is faster and less bother than the robo. What I really want is a robot maid that can operate a vacuum cleaner.
@rockblossom Well if you had paid the servants they wouldn’t have all quit and left you to do the job. I can attest though that having children do it would take longer than the robo vac… and likely to be just as hit or miss, things sucked up that shouldn’t be…
Vacuuming is the easiest chore, tell your 8 yr old to do it. Dishwashers priceless, garbage disposals genius. How about a robot that goes in the backyard and picks up dog crap? How about a robot that can clear snow off my driveway? Build robots that do things that we hate doing, vacuuming, please, that’s just walking around your house for 15 minutes a week.
@MrMark You seem like a guy that has never cleared a driveway. I have owned a snowblower for a few decades. First off, 15 minutes, that is one tiny driveway, it’s also never 10 degrees in my house when I vacuum. Also have you ever actually spent an hour or two pushing around a snow blower? They do not emit fresh air, it’s exhaust. They are noisy and smelly, if I have time I much prefer a shovel, that is quiet and does actually allow fresh air. The problem is, if I’m in a hurry I’m forced to use that monstrosity. Next year maybe a new battery operated version if they function.
@number51 Or I’m a guy that has cleared a crap ton of snow from a driveway. Since Christmas we’ve had a little over 60" of snow (according to local weather station), about 2x the YTD average so far. We average a little over 90" for the season.
Not sure what you consider a tiny driveway, but It’s about 50’ long, two car driveway which takes 11 passes to clear. Then about 30’ of a third stall bump that takes about 5 passes. So around 700 linear feet of walking. Add another 150 for clearing into the street, walkway to front door, and around the mailbox. So even at a speed of less than 1mph it’s around 10 minutes of snow blower time.
My snowblower seems to move pretty easily through the snow, I never really have to fight it. 24" clearing path, self propelled, two stage. It tosses the snow plenty far where I don’t have to blow it twice
Perhaps I’ll time myself next time, Although we have a mini heat wave coming, up to 50 degrees by Thursday, but then back to snow and the teens by Saturday.
We get lots of fur bunnies under the chairs in the dining room and Bottie will get stuck under them. So, I have to move them all, barstools and dining room table chairs. Same thing in the bedroom.
I like Bottie, but sometimes (like this morning) it’s just quicker to get out the vacuum and do it manually.
It’s that they are spies for the coming robot overlords. All that clumsiness is just a ruse. When you are out they explore the house, map it, and find your weakness
@kaighintze and it seems to me I read one brand, which one I can’t remember, transmits the layout of your house back to its manufacturer overload. And god only knows what they do with that.
i have car handheld vacuum and upright one as well in addition to my roomba
once i forgot to lock my dog out when lil robo-guy was cleaning, and well… my dog pooped out of fear (she is chihuahua and she is scared shitless of the robo-vacuum), roomba cleaned it, it get stuck and it was better to throw it out than to clean
so its good cuz it saves you time. but it needs an additional support and goes bad with cats and dogs J
I think Tempest would murder it if it got close to me. She’s terrified of everything, but loves her mommy. So I have to watch out when I’m using the shop vac or the weed eater, because she hovers around with her tail between her legs and then screws up her courage and comes running up and slams into the thing that’s attacking me. She doesn’t bite it, thank goodness, but she body slams or head butts the crap out of it.
I live in a tidy, 900sqft apartment so it’s great. Yeah, I could vacuum better with the real vacuum, but I’m not going to (especially not 3 times a week). Yeah, sometimes I forget to pick up the bath mat and it gets stuck halfway through cleaning. It’s still more vacuuming than would have gotten done without it.
My least favorite thing is that it’s ugly and you can’t really tuck it out of site.
/image rug tassels
I have a path house. Don’t need no robot vacuuming a strip through the house all day.
Mine gets stuck trying to get under the coffee table, gets stuck on shoe laces, and cables on the floor. It tries to climb on the chair legs and then gets stuck on those too.
To use the vacuum, I have to go around the house and inspect every room before I set it on its journey. It does do a good job though so it’s worth the effort.
The problem with robot vacuums is that I keep not getting one in my Fuko.
I am a cluttered mess. I cannot get a robovac until they can reliably go around things like power cords, socks, and plastic bags holding those boxes of pasta I haven’t bothered to put away yet.
@Jamileigh17 sounds like my house
@ragingredd Mine was getting slowly better, then my best friend’s partner was in the icu for liver issues and he had to move in with me to be closer (said partner died a few days later) and we’re still sorting out stuff and space considerations. So timeline for a clean and clear apartment has been bumped to 2019.
The biggest problem is that they aren’t sturdy enough to reliably convert for robot fighting.
@simplersimon Why fight when you can make music
/image DJ Roomba
@simplersimon
@MagnaVis Now I really want a robot vac.
@cengland0 Like a discount robot battle contestant.
@simplersimon
@cengland0 sure it looks good, but one bot with a decent flipper, or a long hammer, and your beloved Dr Stabity is doomed.
Not interested, for all of the above reasons!
I say it as a problem that they’re super expensive, but it did make me a few hundred dollars when I got one in my day 0 fuku
Add to the problem list that the dirt container is really small. I’d have to empty it all the time due to cat hair. In the long run it would be easier just to vacuum with a real vacuum. Like this shark for sale today.
Can’t do stairs, which is a major problem for a trilevel house
@broccoliboy21 You should get one with a done attachment, if they make them.
/image drone flying in the house
It can vacuum half as well, in 4x the time. I know these can be scheduled when you’re not home and stuff, but how long does it really take to vacuum a floor? Also it was always a mess cleaning it out/up. My Dyson powers through everything, and and I only occasionally need to do anything more than empting the bin.
I purchased the botvac during the last meh-rathon, and I’ve been surprisingly impressed by it. It does a solid job at covering the entire floor. Most importantly, it vacuums in straight enough lines that the path leaves acceptable vacuum lines on our area rug.
@MrMark Those lines only last a millisecond if there are kids in the house…
@Kidsandliz Yep, and I enjoy every last one of those milliseconds.
All of the above!
@seancookpdx That was the answer I was looking for, too. My robo vac is more like a robo pet - needs constant attention to untangle it from carpet fringe and the stray sock under the bed; have to watch out for cords and keep them out of the way; runs out of power and can’t find its “food bowl” if it strays too far from “base”; needs constant cleaning to keep it’s “paws” free of stuff and its “eyes” free of dust; have to put up “guards” to keep it out of places I don’t want it going; and it leaves messes in the corners. It doesn’t shed fur or need its litterbox cleaned, which is about its only advantage over a live pet. For actual vacuuming, I have a Dyson and a Shark - either of which is faster and less bother than the robo. What I really want is a robot maid that can operate a vacuum cleaner.
@rockblossom Well if you had paid the servants they wouldn’t have all quit and left you to do the job. I can attest though that having children do it would take longer than the robo vac… and likely to be just as hit or miss, things sucked up that shouldn’t be…
Vacuuming is the easiest chore, tell your 8 yr old to do it. Dishwashers priceless, garbage disposals genius. How about a robot that goes in the backyard and picks up dog crap? How about a robot that can clear snow off my driveway? Build robots that do things that we hate doing, vacuuming, please, that’s just walking around your house for 15 minutes a week.
@number51 Buy a snowblower. It’s like vacuuming your driveway. Same 15 minute walk, but the benefit of fresh air.
@MrMark @number51 And I have one to sell, cheap.I live in the deep south and forgot to sell it before I moved from northern ID.
@MrMark You seem like a guy that has never cleared a driveway. I have owned a snowblower for a few decades. First off, 15 minutes, that is one tiny driveway, it’s also never 10 degrees in my house when I vacuum. Also have you ever actually spent an hour or two pushing around a snow blower? They do not emit fresh air, it’s exhaust. They are noisy and smelly, if I have time I much prefer a shovel, that is quiet and does actually allow fresh air. The problem is, if I’m in a hurry I’m forced to use that monstrosity. Next year maybe a new battery operated version if they function.
@number51 Or I’m a guy that has cleared a crap ton of snow from a driveway. Since Christmas we’ve had a little over 60" of snow (according to local weather station), about 2x the YTD average so far. We average a little over 90" for the season.
Not sure what you consider a tiny driveway, but It’s about 50’ long, two car driveway which takes 11 passes to clear. Then about 30’ of a third stall bump that takes about 5 passes. So around 700 linear feet of walking. Add another 150 for clearing into the street, walkway to front door, and around the mailbox. So even at a speed of less than 1mph it’s around 10 minutes of snow blower time.
My snowblower seems to move pretty easily through the snow, I never really have to fight it. 24" clearing path, self propelled, two stage. It tosses the snow plenty far where I don’t have to blow it twice
Perhaps I’ll time myself next time, Although we have a mini heat wave coming, up to 50 degrees by Thursday, but then back to snow and the teens by Saturday.
After reading the response options, I decided that I have no strong opinions about robot vacuums. No weak opinions either, now that I think on it.
@melonscoop meh.
The AI is not advanced enough to know when a human is in need of comforting.
/giphy vacuum companionship
@darksaber99999 LOL @ that gif! Dude had better watch hisself.
How about that pesky floor plan mapping? Freaks me out
@tinamarie1974 pew pew pew pew lazers pew pew pew pew foots attack mode pew pew pew pew
@thismyusername OMG they ARE taking over the world! !!!
We get lots of fur bunnies under the chairs in the dining room and Bottie will get stuck under them. So, I have to move them all, barstools and dining room table chairs. Same thing in the bedroom.
I like Bottie, but sometimes (like this morning) it’s just quicker to get out the vacuum and do it manually.
It’s that they are spies for the coming robot overlords. All that clumsiness is just a ruse. When you are out they explore the house, map it, and find your weakness
@kaighintze and it seems to me I read one brand, which one I can’t remember, transmits the layout of your house back to its manufacturer overload. And god only knows what they do with that.
@kaighintze my weakness is that I am lazy and bought a roomba. The overlords knew that when I bought the damn thing from woot.
I think it would try to eat up all my sons Legos and break cause they’re every were
Well its good actually, but…
so its good cuz it saves you time. but it needs an additional support and goes bad with cats and dogs J
I think Tempest would murder it if it got close to me. She’s terrified of everything, but loves her mommy. So I have to watch out when I’m using the shop vac or the weed eater, because she hovers around with her tail between her legs and then screws up her courage and comes running up and slams into the thing that’s attacking me. She doesn’t bite it, thank goodness, but she body slams or head butts the crap out of it.
I like mine. I guess if I were to pick something I would make the little dirt container bigger (too many pets).
I live in a tidy, 900sqft apartment so it’s great. Yeah, I could vacuum better with the real vacuum, but I’m not going to (especially not 3 times a week). Yeah, sometimes I forget to pick up the bath mat and it gets stuck halfway through cleaning. It’s still more vacuuming than would have gotten done without it.
My least favorite thing is that it’s ugly and you can’t really tuck it out of site.