ruby roomba :)

i just have to take a minute to brag about my roomba... i absolutely love it! now i understand that we haven't had ruby very long; but so far, she has done a superb job, as well as very much impressed us.

there are a few things about roombas that just seem... umm, so advanced (but in an amazing way).  for example, the box says:

1. robot intelligence--roomba efficiently cleans the whole floor, under and around furniture and along walls.
2. self-adjusting cleaning head--automatically adjusts to clean carpets and hard floors.
3. avoids stairs--automatically senses and avoids stairs and other drop-offs.
4. edge cleaning capability--follows walls and reaches deep into corners to remove dust, dirt and debris.
5. detects dirt--roomba senses dirtier areas and cleans more thoroughly in those spots.
6. anti-tangle system--roomba won't get stuck on cords, carpet fringe or tassels.
7. simple operation--just press the clean button, roomba does the rest.

(also says: a powerful vacuum--two counter-rotating brushes and an efficient vacuum reach deep into your carpet to remove dirt, dust, and pet hair.)

and we can't forget about the virtual walls and lighthouses. the roomba comes with 2 virtual wall/lighthouses.  you use the virtual walls to confine the roomba/not let it pass.  you use the lighthouses to guide the roomba from room to room.  you don't have to use the virtual walls or lighthouses--it still cleans the entire house when you simple press clean and have nothing set up.  but it goes in kind of a different pattern.  the virtual walls and lighthouses will more than likely simply shorten the process.  anywho, i haven't set mine up yet b/c i got the wrong batteries.  the roomba booklet has 2 pages about the virtual walls/lighthouses.  one page says the they require D batteries; the other page says C batteries.  so, i bought D batteries only to come home and find out that they are too big.  C it is.  virtual walls/lighthouses or not, ruby still works marvelously.

oh, and the "spot" clean mode... you can place the roomba in a dirty area and press the "spot" button, and it cleans thoroughly in that spot (it goes around and around the area until it's clean).  also, when it's in clean mode, it can detect dirtier areas, so it does the same thing.  it's pretty neat.

so.. need i say more?! it does everything a regular vacuum does without the hassle... or without any work at all.  it's basically vacuuming for lazy people. but hey, it gets the job done :)