Any Enthusiasts care that a Paradigm Shift in the Cleaning Industry has Begun?

VacuumLand – Vintage & Modern Vacuum Enthusiasts

Help Support VacuumLand:

henrydreyfuss

henrydreyfuss

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
406
Location
Ohio
Here we go! Although it appears to be a C+ product, Dyson's 360 Eye robot is finally launching worldwide, and with it comes a wave of excited consumers that never cared about vacuums before. This is a GOOD thing for the vacuum industry, both regular and robotic, as interest fosters creativity and product improvement.

Robotic vacuums have become exponentially better over the last few years, and despite Dyson's half-baked offering, it has encouraged aggressive innovation in the industry. They're smarter, they clean better, and battery life is rapidly improving. It's so easy to dismiss them as glorified carpet sweepers that drag pet feces around, but a few good models are staking their ground, are here to stay, and selling like crazy. Go to Best Buy, and Roomba, Neato, and other robots suddenly have more shelf real-estate than Hoover, Eureka, and Bissell. I hope current household vacuum companies can keep up with looming competition! It's an exciting time for the industry.

People here on vacland mock them constantly (they are an understandably easy target), but my Neato robot has improved my quality-of-life at home since I bought my first one 2.5 years ago. Like owning a dishwasher or washing machine, I wouldn't want to live without one. Coming home to freshly-vacuumed floors after work is something I welcome. I think many of you will get to appreciate the benefits of owning a good robot soon.





(I recommend you double the speed of the second video in Settings)
 
Robot vacuums need to first be, actual vacuums. They need to address the fact that the vacuum cleaner needs to be propelled both forward AND backwards to clean effectively. They need to be able to do above the floor cleaning, as well as stairs, automobiles, garage floors, be able to get cobwebs and do the drapes. Otherwise, why buy a 'robot' if you still need a REAL vacuum cleaner?

Dyson actually had the idea right about 16 years ago. His first robot had a port on top to add a hose, for above the floor cleaning. A robot should also be able to have a mains cord, so you don't lose battery power while cleaning out the car. They need handles to pick them up, and large capacity bins to hold the dog hair from multiple shedding pets.

Until then, they are just expensive toys. Sure, for some folks who like a tidied up floor when they come through the door, they are a neat toy. But a toy just the same. A carpet sweeper and three minutes, would get a carpet just as clean as a robot vacuum.
 
My opinion on robots

Dysonman1 is right,Dyson had the idea at first,the dc06 was the most advanced robot of its time,its competition was the Electrolux Trilobite (something like that)Dyson nailed it,it was like a automated/redesigned DC05.It encapsulated cylinders and robots.The reason why it wasn't released was apparently the price,it would have cost a few grand,God knows why he thinks he can do that 16 years later.In Dysons defense,components wouldn't have been widely available and advanced at the time but they are now.

Regarding which?,they just suck off who bribes them.
 
As intriguing as these things appear to be, they're working against the laws of physics here. By that I mean they can't possibly have the suction, flow and dirt capacity that a good ol' canister has, because there simply isn't the room for the motor/vanes/dirt chamber. These things work by repetition mostly and I don't see that it's going to replace a real, conventional vacuum cleaning anytime soon....especially if you have company coming. Where I can see their use is AFTER a good ol' fashion cleaning....they do their thing as a 'touch up' entity. Really, that's what they are in the vacuum world...an 'entity'.


 


Kevin
 
Financially, it apears to be a bad investment?

So, I have three floors in my house and I would need 3 botvacs at $1000 each. Since the typical reliability seems to be around 3 years (best estimates I can find based on internet complaints), I would to spend about $3000 again in another three years.

Mmmm, that's averaging $1000 per year or about $80 per month. Awfully expensive just to show off to someone that you can schedule a cleaning from your cell phone.

And all that expense only to receive a surface level clean...

Then again, for this Christmas, I can only imagine how many $400 Dyson Supersonics will be given as stocking stuffers.

Bill
 
I can see the point of robotic window vacs - I might be a happy owner of a Karcher window vac and with the option clip on lock extender pole to get up high but most of the time I can't be bothered to clean my windows all of the time.

Robotic vacs have to go a long way yet until I remain convinced. I enjoy vacuuming, as opposed to washing windows!
 
Dyson bot vac may be $1000, but Roomba and Neato high end models can be had for less than 500. And if one is willing to buy second hand, they can be found for pennies on the dollar. Parts for Roomba are plentiful and cheap and these things aren't that complicated.

A friend has a couple and runs them every day. She reports that her floor care chores are much reduced and I can attest that her floors (hard surface, wood) remain clean. I would not trade my favorite upright for a robot vac, but must admit to being curious as to how well they work for daily touchups. And they certainly appeal to my gadget junkie side.
 
Of course we should all be thankful that theres a big a market with loads of different cleaning gadgets including vacuums. Traditional vacuums will never really phase out - after all look at people who have already rescued vintage appliances that are still working. Same with cars, same with things that are mechanically based that still have provide a purpose and a point.
 
THIS IS TERRIBLE

These vacuums are abominations. How do these even sell!! The dyson is a poorly constructed vacuum... I will never like modern technology... There going to put the real vac makers out of business. I dont believe it.. robovacs...
 
I think that was a wise comment about the initial cost. Even @$500 ea, that's $1,500 for three new ones to do his job. Sure you can buy them used for pennies on the dollar, but what are they worth after say a year's service? Not much if they have a three yr life expectancy. Your perceived value there would be to hit ones that were almost new and the owners hated them.


 


$1,500 would buy you some spectacular vintage vacuums and even pay for a boy to run them twice a week, if you're having health issues or whatnot.


 


Kevin
 
Most folks aren't going to need 3 robot vacs. And I'm not sure where this 3 year life expectancy claim comes from, but like most dumpster vacs, it's probably some simple repair that causes an owner to abandon them. If anything, I could see a battery going and that is a high cost item. But the co-worker who buys them used and repairs as necessary says repairs are easy and cheap. I'm all for anything that saves a bit of work when one is in a hurry. I have a couple of vintage Kirbies. One is gorgeous. But I don't want to drag that thing out for my quick touch ups. It's too much bother for quick cleaning. Ditto the Rainbow (great machine). I love vacuums, I love a clean house and I love gadgets. So I can see a robot sometime in my future. No contempt prior to investigation here. I'll try it first, then decide.
 
The three year typical lifespan comes from

extensive internet research based on comments from owners. Typically the battery goes first, then the control board, power supply/charging station, and lastly the motor. Also, one needs to account for accidents. For example, someone tripping over it, stepping on it, falling down the stairs, and vacuuming up damp spots, etc.

Bill
 
$80 per month buying a trio of robovacs?Better to hire a maid!-or get a good vacuum and go ahead and push it yourself-then YOU know the place is clean-not the robovacs opinion that its clean.Think the robovacs are just that----expensive toys for the gadgeteer-or as an amusement device for your pets-cats ride them and dogs chase them-or the dog poos and watches the robovac spread it around!
 
I've had four Roomba robots and they clean under beds very well, I've filled a few bins just cleaning under beds. That being said, they all needed new batteries after a seemingly short amount of time, they have difficulty finding the docking station, and they don't do a very good job of cleaning.

I can see how they could be helpful to someone who vacuums extremely rarely (ahem... my grandmother. Who vacuums her 3,000 square foot home about once a month at most) but I wonder if those infrequent vacuumers would maintain their robot well.

My ex's family had two Kirby vacs, a battery powered Shark, and a Roomba 770. The Roomba ran downstairs every day at 12 AM. Often times it would be found stuck under furniture with earbuds or phone chargers stuck in the brushes.
They pretty much relied on the Roomba to do the vacuuming, so there was always an approximately 2-inch thick line of black dog hair around all of the baseboards where Roomba's "side cleaning brushes" are -supposed- to clean. When I moved in with him I cleaned the whole house with their Kirby Ultimate G Diamond Edition and I filled a whole bag.

I can still hear the haunting voice of his Roomba 770 exclaiming "Error 1. Move Roomba to a new location, then press CLEAN to restart."
 

Latest posts

Back
Top