How sad is it that a geek girl like me is just now getting round to buying a robot, now that they have become such commodities that you can buy them in a discount store?
Anyway, I bought a Roomba vacuumbot at Costco last week. So far, I’ve tested its capabilities in three environments: fully carpeted, hardwood and area rug combo, and the dreaded linoleum-and-area-rug, dust-bunny sanctuary that is the man-cave in the basement. The little guy works like a champ in all three, but the man-cave nearly got the best of him. I turned him loose twice down there. The first time, he gave up and beeped pitifully at me to empty his dust bin. The second time, he drained his batteries in the battle against the evil dust bunnies. Poor little robot!
The Trouble Twins are intrigued, but cautious. When the robot moves away from them, they stalk it. When the robot advances toward them, they jump back. You should see what they do when the robot executes the following manuever: advance, recede, stop and spin, then advance. It’s a riot.
I like my vacuumbot. Someday, I will possess the true Universal Remote and have a fleet of service droids to do my bidding….
kosaginolegion
October 17, 2006 at 2:30pmPersonally, I want http://www.chibi-robo.com/. He’s not only hard working but he’s every so cute.
But I’m close to settling for a roomba right now. *glares at dining room floor.* *is amazed at how much food drops out of small children’s mouths.*
allisonstein
October 17, 2006 at 8:08pmHe’s cute! (As for random kid-droppings…. my family had a dog for just that purpose…)
kalimeg
October 17, 2006 at 2:37pmI have considered a Roomba, too, just because I am so stinkin lazy I never vacuum under beds. I think it is supposed to have some sort of keep-away spell so it doesn’t tumble down stairs.
I’ll have to think about this.
allisonstein
October 17, 2006 at 8:03pmI tread the fine line between too fatigued to vacuum regularly and gotta vacuum more often because of my allergies/asthma. I figured the vacuumbot would be a nice compromise. I still have to pick up the flotsam and jetsam of my life and tuck away the obstacles before I can let the little sucker loose, tho.
doubt72
October 17, 2006 at 2:56pmHmmm. I have not yet purchased a robot.
How much do Roombas cost?
allisonstein
October 17, 2006 at 7:59pmDepends on the bells and whistles. Visit the website for info.
smartchick76
October 17, 2006 at 2:58pma hearty and maniacal ‘bwah ha hahaha’ at the end of your post would have been amusing…my brain added it for you…
on another note…one reason for having children is to have them clean house, generally be our lackeys…hasn’t worked for us tho…
oh bother.
allisonstein
October 17, 2006 at 8:04pmYou know, I was having trouble spelling “bwah ha hahaha” so I skipped it. I suppose [cue maniacal laughter] might have done the trick.
tapestry01
October 17, 2006 at 3:00pmJust don’t let it uplink to Skynet, or it’ll go on a rampage searching for Sarah Connor…
allisonstein
October 17, 2006 at 8:07pmI was on an Archon panel about technological singularity (why they picked me, I don’t know) and posed the question to our friend Tom M.: “Should I be worried about what my robot vacuum cleaner is up to if I leave my computer on and connected to the Internet all day?” Perhaps the answer is “yes”…
dragonet2
October 17, 2006 at 9:07pmI want one BUT
I can see the World’s Dumbest Cat(tm) getting her tail in it or trying to kill it. She IS a hunter after all. I’d love it on the 2nd floor, it would be a help.
One of these days.
but don’t leave the Internet on or you might find robop!rn on your computer….
allisonstein
October 18, 2006 at 3:58amRe: I want one BUT
The vacuumbot supposedly has safety features for that kind of thing. Then again, if you truly have the WDC(tm), all bets are off.