iRobot's new Roomba 560, 530: totally redesigned vacuumbots
By Ryan Block 
posted Aug 22nd 2007 12:01AM
posted Aug 22nd 2007 12:01AM
- iRobot is touting these new Roombas as being "totally redesigned" from the ground up.
- The new vacuum system is supposedly 100% more effective at picking up the grime in your floors. Really makes the old model suck. Thanks, we'll be here all week.
- The 560 features 2.4GHz RF that activates its new Virtual Wall Lighthouse system (we'll get to that in a sec. The 530 doesn't have RF.
- Scheduling is now built into the robot. Friggin FINALLY!
- The new Roombas have IR sensors built into the bumper, and have a second, slower running speed. When Roomba is approaching an object, it slows down so as not to bump it so hard.
- Lighthouses are Roomba's new RF-based progress tracking system. Place one in each doorway, and they switch on via RF when your Roomba does. When Roomba's done with a room, it won't re-enter until the next time it runs.
- The battery is still removable, but you have to unscrew the bottom plate to get it out. Oh, and now you can add faceplates.
- The system is far better sealed off, so most of the crap you're vacuuming up supposedly won't actually get inside the robot anymore. Extra bonus: that black arc between the bumper and buttons is a handle that lies flush.
- The 560 goes for $350, the 530 goes for $300 -- snag 'em both starting now.
The reason I never even really considered buying one is because they don't really seem to vacuum, but instead they just fling the dirt into the machine instead of sucking the junk out of the carpet with rollers and such.
what are you talking about? there's a vacuum and rollers. while i can't say it's the world's most powerful vacuum, it does manage to fill its bin with a bunch of crap in the carpet
Thousands of people would completely disagree with you.
Just check the Roomba forum, even the older generation was and still is a very competent vacuum. I have an older model, and I couldn't be happier with it!
http://www.roombareview.com/chat
But it does vacuum: it has a vacuum impeller motor, meaning the Roomba really sucks!
look forward to eventually buying one off woot!
LOL,.. That's what I was thinking. Woot should be flooded with them in another couple of months. Not that I mind, I'm still happy with the one I got from Woot a year ago.
The good news is this makes my Dyson Slim look like a bargain.
I want it
And at the end of the day, you'll still need to vacuum manually.
Not at the end of my day, Roomba does fine enough. But I also don't eat of the floor.
eat off the floor!
My carpet looks perfect aside from a drink stain......and I have two dogs......including a great pyrenees.
The following video shows the new Roomba picking up dust on the floor not picked up by a traditional manual vacuum after one sweep:
http://home-solutions.hsn.com/irobot-roomba-vacuum-cleaning-robot_p-3675181_xp.aspx?web_id=3675181&ocm=sekw
(click "video" in the middle of the page, ~60% mark)
It's no NS-5, but hey we're making progress. 350$ doesn't even seem that bad.
I for one welcome our new roomba overlords.
My wife works for free and also makes a hell of a sandwich.
There ain't nothing free about having a wife - believe me!
I was so hoping this version would empty it's own bin. That would make it the killer app for me.
I want one of these soooo bad. But my husband is kind of weirded out by them. He thinks that they are going to turn on by itself and attack us or turned into so evil thing that "watches" us or something. . . to much SciFi channel.
"The new vacuum system is supposedly 100% more effective at picking up the grime in your floors. Really makes the old model suck."
Don't you mean the new model sucks even more than the old one?
well, technically I guess they both suck. At least there isn't a switch to turn that baby from suck to blow. *shrug*
Someone want to clue me in as to why they don't design these things with a squared-off head as opposed to this round one? I've always wondered what people do with all the corners this thing couldn't hit because of its shape. You know: cat hair, dust bunnies, old spiderwebs... etc.
Look closely at the image above. Notice that white, cross-like thing in the top-right corner? That's a sweeping mechanism specifically for corners.
The reason they don't make the Roomba square is because that would require a lot of back-and-forth to actually get into the corner. Even then, it won't get into the absolute corner because of the housing.
So, that little sweeping mechanism spins in a counter-clockwise direction the whole time the Roomba is running and kicks anything in a corner out of the corner and into the path of the Roomba.
This is also why the Roomba always runs its right side, and never its left side, against walls.
Aha! That makes a lot of sense. I bequeath a "+" unto your comment.
Although... I still can't help but think that sweeper's radius seems a tad short of the full corner, but then again many satisfied owners can't go wrong.
That certainly is a lot sexier. Can they change direction and race off beeping when they come across rebel intruders yet?
yes they can
And I just freakin' bought one! Dammit...
Guess it "sucks" to be you...
(Sorry, couldn't resist)
I work at brookstone, and we have a roomba running around the store all day, so we have to change batteries all day. The new design with the battery cover is going to be hell for us, but I'm looking forward to the new virtual walls, because ours rarely ever work and we have roomba escaping into the belly of the Glendale Galleria Mall.
its not a vacuum. produces zero suction and is nothing more than an overpriced carpet sweeper
Soo...? You don't have one but you're reading about it and felt the need to make a nasty comment.
How are those sour grapes workin' for ya?
Smittie
The Roomba is a vacuum. The DirtDog is a heavy duty sweeper, though they call it a shopvac.
Suction is created by Roomba's impeller: http://parasol.tamu.edu/people/jkp2866/myRoomba/
It's not the most powerful but it works.
If you have an XBOX LIVE DIAMOND CARD, go to the site and use the MSPORT coupon code to get 20% off of any IROBOT cleaning robot. That's how I'm getting mine this morning! Woohoo!
Thank you so much! I just ordered one, just saved me a lot of money
now I am going to be truthfuff. The vac was weak, the compartment small both too poor to consider buying and keeping, i bought and returned aorry but it's true. Remember You need feedback weather you are big enought to take it and use it will determine if you succeed or not.
I have the older model and I never vacumm for 1.5 years already. Its program to clean when I am at work almost everyday. But if u expect to use your floor/ carpet as your dinnning table, I suggest u clean it yourself.
This robot cleans very well in my opinion. Clean enough for u to sleep on it.
I for one may just have to add to Roomba fleet. I have tile, wood and carpet, and my Roomba cleans them all! I sometimes send it outside into my Florida Room to clean that dirt bunny haven. That is one sexy machine. I love the fact that it slows down before hitting the wall!
I have had my Roomba for almost a year. We use it downstairs on the tile floors. There is also a small room with carpet and it does a great job. I read that one person said it was LAZY, however with a Chihuahua that sheds all day long; I see it as a great investment. I would recommend it for anyone with ward wood or tile floors or the occasional rug.
I'm going to buy the new roomba. It looks like they addressed my concerns. I once tried the older model and was very disappointed. I returned it and tried a robotic lawnmower (lawnbott evolution.) That was the best purchase I've made - I swear! I'm stunned at how well it keeps my lawn cut. I sold my old lawnmower a week ago.
If you hate cutting your grass I highly recommend one. I bought mine from http://www.lawnbotts.com with their 30 day trial.
I've owned a Roomba and enjoyed it. Wheh I moved to a place with a hardwood flr, I bought the Scooba. That was the worst purchase ever, and I returned it. Soured on Roomba after that, I did some research about its high-priced competitor and in the midest of the research learned that the Roomba 560 was coming. I have waited for months and cannot wait to buy this tomorrow! I have an apartment alone and vacuuming on my hands and knees is no fun.