Roomba

I bought a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner a couple of weeks ago. Of course, these have been out for a few years now. I finally succumbed when I saw one on sale at Home Depot for $99.

I'd have to say I'm pleased with it. It tootles around pretty well, though it can get caught up on a stray cable, or under the leg of a rocking chair. It's especially good at getting under chairs and tables, areas that don't get vacuumed as much as they should. It can be annoying to watch it crisscross the room while continuing to miss an obvious patch of dirt, but I suppose this is because it works by feel instead of by sight.

When it's done, it is satisfying to empty out its little dirt chamber and see how much crud it has managed to find.