iRobot 530 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, White Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are new to Roomba, you will wonder if it is worthwhile. The answer is clearly YES, since anything it cleans is that much less for you to clean. However, which is better, the old (and cheaper) Roomba, or the new models like the 530?
First, the 530 comes with the charging/base station, and this is very useful. I have placed this in the entranceway which leads into the livingroom, the kitchen or the bedroom. Using the virtual walls (included), I block off rooms so that it can only do the entranceway + 1 other room. I simply press the "Clean" button, and it backs itself off the charging stand and then spends the next 2 hours cleaning, finally returning to the charging stand. Nice!
Should you upgrade from an older model Roomba (I now use my old Roomba upstairs)? It depends on your situation. By-the-way, the old virtual walls do NOT work with the new Roomba.
New Roomba:
Fall down stairs? Never
Climb onto thick throw rugs?Sometimes
Effectiveness on hard floors? Excellent
Effectiveness on carpets? Good
Trap itself in electrical cords?No
Trap itself in carpet fringes?No
# rooms it can do at once? 2
Ease of emptying dirt?Fairly good
Scare cats and dogs?No
Clean under low furniture? Yes
Quietness? Fairly

Old Roomba:
Fall down stairs? Never
Climb onto thick throw rugs?Rarely
Effectiveness on hard floors? Excellent
Effectiveness on carpets? Good
Trap itself in electrical cords?Usually
Trap itself in carpet fringes?Always
# rooms it can do at once? 2
Ease of emptying dirt?Fair
Scare cats and dogs?No
Clean under low furniture? Yes
Quietness? Fairly
Edit: 1/8/10
Roomba DIED! Nine beeps. Can't say I am happy. I called iRobot and they say the issue is due to a defective bumper which is NOT fixable. Since my warranty is expired, they offered me a somewhat discount price on a new Roomba. I am not sure what I will do.
Edit: 5/7/10
There directions for a cheap (although complicated) repair for this problem in the posts below.

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With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, and particle filtration, the Roomba 530 vacuuming robot picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris with the simple touch of a button. The powerful unit features innovative spinning side brushes that grab dirt and dust from corners and along wall edges, as well as two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes that pick up pet hair, cat litter, food crumbs, and other debris from floors. The vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large, easy-to-empty bagless dustbin, and its improved fine-filtration system traps dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the unit, reducing infiltration into the living environment.
For added convenience, the vacuum's cleaning head automatically adjusts to transition from wood, tile, and linoleum to carpets and rugs, while improved anti-tangle technology ensures it won't get stuck on cords and rug fringe. If the unit begins to pick up a cord or carpet tassel, it will automatically reverse the direction of its brushes to extract the item. A gentle-touch bumper system senses obstacles so the vacuum automatically slows its approach, gently touches the obstacle, then redirects to continue cleaning under or around the object. Because it cleans under beds, couches, and other hard-to-reach areas, it actually vacuums more of the floor than a standard upright can. The vacuum also senses dirtier areas and spends more time cleaning them, and it uses built-in cliff sensors to avoid stairs and other drop-offs. In addition, invisible barriers can be set using the unit's Virtual Wall system. To mark off-limit areas, simply place a Virtual Wall at a doorway or other opening and adjust the infrared beam setting to the distance of the opening. The unit automatically detects the beam and will not cross it.
The vacuuming robot returns to its self-charging Home Base to dock and recharge between cleaning cycles or when the battery starts to run low. Its advanced power system consists of a fast-charging battery, a three-hour charger, and a power source that supercharges the unit for up to 120 minutes of continuous cleaning, covering about three to four average-size rooms on a single charge. Other accessories include two Virtual Walls (that require two D batteries each), a brush cleaning tool, and an extra filter. The vacuuming robot measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
Yes, It Really Works This smart, powerful, and autonomous vacuum features iRobot's proven and patented three-stage cleaning system. First, innovative spinning side brushes grab dirt and debris from corners and along wall edges, then two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes pick up pet hair, food crumbs, and other debris. The powerful vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large, easy-to-empty bagless dustbin. The improved fine-filtration system traps dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the robot, reducing infiltration into your living environment. The cleaning head automatically adjusts to transition from wood, tile, and linoleum to carpets and rugs. Improved anti-tangle technology ensures it won't get stuck on cords and rug fringe. If Roomba begins to pick up a cord or carpet tassel, it will automatically reverse the direction of its brushes to extract the item. Roomba senses dirtier areas and spends more time cleaning them, and it uses built-in cliff sensors to avoid stairs and other drop-offs. When the job is done, Roomba returns to its self-charging Home Base to dock and recharge between cleaning cycles or when the battery is running low.

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