Roomba Discovery And It's Siblings:
Riding The Wave Of The Future

All hail Roomba Discovery! In 2002, a company called iRobot quietly started the personal robotics revolution we geeks have been awaiting for so long. The first robotic Roomba vacuum cost just $199, and amazed consumers by doing everything from automatically vacuuming without running into obstacles to finding its own charger. Today the flagship Discovery Roomba model and its sibling, the Roomba Discovery SE, costs a little more, but offers plenty of extra features. If you want to save money, try out the lower-priced Roomba Red (MSRP $149).

Forward-looking iRobot

iRobot's Roombas, Discovery, Red, and otherwise, soon racked up a reputation as better cleaners than most vacuums, with the highest coverage rating of any floorvac or upright. It's electronics help it find the dirt other vacuums leave behind, and as a flattened disk it can fit easily under most furniture. No more moving the coffee table or the couch so your upright vac can get the underneath. A Roomba has no problem finding its way under most couches, and other furniture is downright easy. Its electronic features and sensors see what's in the way, and make sure it doesn't get stuck (most of the time!).

Miracles of modern electronics

Electronics fans and engineers have been known to geek out upon their discovery of Roombas, and love to soup-up their electronics, features, and onboard microcircuitry (they call their modified vacs Zoombas). However, those reaping the real benefits are everyday folks like you and me, who need a little help with the vacuuming. As robotic help goes, iRobot's Roombas are way cheaper than most. Why bother with an upright or floorvac when a Roomba costs the same, makes a lot less noise, and you don't have to push it around?