Consumer reports on Roomba vacuum cleaners

If you've read one of the many consumer reports on Roomba floorvacs, you're probably itching to get your hands on one. Reviews on Roomba products are prolific on the Internet, offering comparisons between various Roomba models such as Roomba Red and Roomba Discovery, and with existing (non-robotic) vacuums. It's a rare Roomba review where the Roomba doesn't dominate the comparison. Because, frankly, in most categories, push vacuums simply don't compare. Sure, Roomba can't handle stairs and may miss the occasional corner because of its shape, but, as one reviewer puts it, know its limitations and you'll love it.

Thank you, iRobot

For Roomba, we can offer a hearty "Thanks!" to iRobot, the company that introduced the first Roomba vac in 2002. Irobot, in their wisdom, ushered in the personal robotics revolution with a nifty little gadget that cost just $199, and the base-model price has only gone down since. Compare that with the best upright vacuum cleaners and floorvacs that cost about the same. Even better, a Roomba vac uses a low-power, high-efficiency vacuum system that's quiet when compared to the high-powered systems most vacuums use.

Compare this

Reviews for the various Roomba floorvac models rave about Roomba's features and its cleaning ability, of course, but the most often-repeated fact is the discovery that most models costs less than $200. The Discovery series costs a little more, and you do get more spiffy features and arguably better cleaning, but the Roomba Red model can be had $149 -- less, if you're a careful shopper who likes to compare prices. And of course you are, or you would be here, right?