iRobot Scooba experience

[aklryan]

If we're ladies, we would be on Cosmetic forums or something. Yah, I'm MCP (Male Chauvinist Pig).
Lotsa guys I know have to do housework, me included.

You must be the lowest grade of the MCP if not you will be at home shaking your legs

The world is changing now......LOL

 

[aklryan]

Infact 80-90% of my customers are also male The world has change, female no longer wants to stay home as a housewife or rather we are forced into dual income family.......

Well....we have to face the fact, female do not like to do not like to sweep/mop floor . In the end we have to take up this tasks.

But luckily we know how to find helper to help us.. they cannot complain us if we spend a fortune on it... hehe

 

[thewiseone]

Yes, i know what u are saying. I've grown tired looking for that elusive perfect bot which will never exist. As such, i have no choice but to settle on one which suits my environment and i'll just have to take a gamble with support. Believe me, if LG Singapore sells the Roboking (even if its the older generation), i would have gotten it instead. However, all they did was to give me a run about through all the various Harvey Norman stores for that invisible bot. In the unfortunate event should i end up getting a lemon, then i'll just have to start this whole process all over again. Anything beats holding that broom stick again.

WiseOne, in my 1st sentence here: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/63792241-post8828.html
When I wrote "I applaud ur courage to buy a newly launched product", it's by no means sarcasm.

I'm just amazed by all the regular forummers here who bought various brand robots overseas, effectively without any local tech support (Yes, Bakasa u amaze me no end!).
Many regulars here have used iRobot way before me, I only started using Roomba 400 series in Mar 2008.

I bought V-bot in Oct 2007, lasted me 5 mths & battery died. I even had to mod the front wheel as described here: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/55066329-post8009.html
Another crazy mod I did for V-bot was actually same concept as Mint Plus. A bag of water, an aquarium air pump adjustable valve, drips water via air pump tube onto a modded Magiclean mop head with melamine sponge & microfibre paper, V-bot will drag this constantly moist attachment.
I also bought Advante Stingray steam mop, used 5 times didn't wanna use liao. Same goes for Step & Spin mop, forced myself to use maybe 5 times for small area, never once used it to mop anything larger than my bedroom.
Hence, I can GUARANTEE one thing, no one likes manual cleaning, which is why I've met so many customers who got Delphin or Rainbow, but are white elephants.

As I wrote "The only concern for me is always the ability to service" (in last para), it's a genuine concern since most new products will go thru many revisions to "smooth out the kinks". Just like Windows XP, Windows Vista, iPhone 4S, Nokia Symbian^3 OS.
When I first used robotic cleaners, I just wanted something to clean my floor other than myself. When the V-bot battery died, I spend a lot of effort to revive battery. Read a lot of battery forums, tried freezing the battery & finally bought my 1st computerised charger.
Same goes for Roomba 400 series, when it first exhibited "Circle Dance". Had to search forums for an answer.

So I've been thru the routine of "I want to buy it so badly -> Oh crap! Down again? -> I want to rectify it so badly"

 

[thewiseone]

Dont get your hopes high as LG Singapore cant even make an assurance to bring in the lower end 6th generation Robokings, much less the flagship Triple Eye model. Perhaps talking about the 6th generation is a little far fetched when i cant even find the 5th generation here. If u really want one, getting it direct from Korea will probably be your best bet. I wonder if the majority of households in Singapore employs a maid and hence, there's a lack of demand for robotic vacuum cleaners.

The Lg Roboking Seems really good. Considering that it can finish cleaning your home is less time than even the Neato!! The Latest model Roboking Triple Eye (VR6180WMNC) even allows you to monitor it using your phone from outside. I am sure lots of Robotic Vacuum owners always question if the vacuum cleans every room. But the VR617XLVM models should do just as well. Hopefully and probably it would be more widely available and discounted with warranty support here soon.

 

[android]

Yes, the XV11 is much better than a Roomba and i still stand by that when it comes to cleaning performance. The XV11 is let down only by its reliability issues. The LG on the other hand, is already in its 6th generation.

Bro, what issues did u face with neato?

 

[thewiseone]

#1. A melted rear charging plate due to firmware 2.1 and a sticky docking plate.


#2. Broken drive wheel mounts at BOTH ends.

Bro, what issues did u face with neato?

 

[android]

#1. A melted rear charging plate due to firmware 2.1 and a sticky docking plate.


#2. Broken drive wheel mounts at BOTH ends.

So does new firmware fix the melted rear charging plate...how long did neato last before the fault? Thks

 

[thewiseone]

The melted rear charging plate is caused for the firmware which has been fixed from FW2.4 onwards. This issue never re-appear. As for issue #2, the mounting points broke 10+ months after i've started using my Neato.

So does new firmware fix the melted rear charging plate...how long did neato last before the fault? Thks

 

[Vachel Chan]

The melted rear charging plate is caused for the firmware which has been fixed from FW2.4 onwards. This issue never re-appear. As for issue #2, the mounting points broke 10+ months after i've started using my Neato.

The melted rear charging plate would indeed be fixed with a software update. I have seen it once, occurring on an older set. Of course a replacement of the set should be provided as it causes damage the exterior of the Neato too.

Actually Neato sets that arrive with Rev 113 and software of ver2.4 or later, comes with slightly different LCD control Panel module, whereby the ribbon attached to the motherboard is inverted compared to previous editions. So it seems its not just a software update, but an improvement on the hardware as well. RPS error and critical battery error also rarely occurs.

As for issue #2, You can do a quick fix yourself. I have done a simple and straight forward guide with photos on how to do it on my blog.
Neato Spring Repair (D.I.Y)
Hope it helps.

 

[dirtysock]

My new bot just arrived ...

[/IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e86/dinkydong3004/20120202_193903.jpg[/IMG]


Finally freeing me from sweeping the !@@#$$#$! floor with a broom everyday!!!

How is this compared to the rest? Like roomba etc.

My house is always very dusty and thinking of getting 1 to clean it everyday. Also thinking of scooba but don't know if it will 'vacuum' as well before 'mopping'

 

[liangtam]

The scooba 3 series does vacuum, but only smaller particles like dusts and crumbs.

 

[thewiseone]

It is one of the best that i've come across. It has a smart mapping system using cameras so that it knows which areas it has cleaned and which it has not. This is different from a Roomba which basically bumps around in a random manner. If u use it daily, it will be able to keep your place clean. The only concern with this bot is that u must not have carpets or rugs thicker than 1cm. It will not be able to climb up these carpets or rugs.


A Scooba is different. It washes/scrubs the floor. Though it has a vacuum motor built in, it does not suck up dirt, debris and hair as well as a robotic vacuum cleaner. I would suggest that u start by using a robotic vacuum cleaner first. Once u are comfortable with it, u can consider getting a Scooba later.

How is this compared to the rest? Like roomba etc.

My house is always very dusty and thinking of getting 1 to clean it everyday. Also thinking of scooba but don't know if it will 'vacuum' as well before 'mopping'

 

[foosdoll]

i always wanted an irobot and going to usa in 1month, i thought i would return with an irobot. now i dont know if i want an irobot, mint plus or lg or samsung or philips.

any advise?

 

[Jubooo]

Get iRobot if you want reliability and ease of support.

 

[bakasa2002]

i always wanted an irobot and going to usa in 1month, i thought i would return with an irobot. now i dont know if i want an irobot, mint plus or lg or samsung or philips.

any advise?

Asking this in a iRobot thread, most of the answers will be unanimous.
However, if you are going to the States, iRobot and Mint+ are your better buys compare to Samsung or Philips. Btw, do Philips make robovac?

I would recommend you get iRobot cos' Roomba does a better job as a sweeper, picking up hair/dust. Mint+ is more like a 2-in-1 since it does 'sweep' and mop. If does e sweep job much like magic clean mop of picking up hairs on a single sheet. For the mop job, Mint+ has a reservoir that keep the mopping sheet wet during the 2 hrs mopping.

 

[thewiseone]

Philips Homerun = iClebo Smart.

 

[bakasa2002]

Philips Homerun = iClebo Smart.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[thewiseone]

U r most welcomed!

Thanks for the tip!

 

[foosdoll]

mint plus @ 299usd but which irobot model to buy? more expensive better? main concern is we might or might not have carpet in the living area of the house.

 

[sneezybum]

Dont get your hopes high as LG Singapore cant even make an assurance to bring in the lower end 6th generation Robokings, much less the flagship Triple Eye model. Perhaps talking about the 6th generation is a little far fetched when i cant even find the 5th generation here. If u really want one, getting it direct from Korea will probably be your best bet. I wonder if the majority of households in Singapore employs a maid and hence, there's a lack of demand for robotic vacuum cleaners.

hi, thewiseone

Saw yr new robot and am tempted by it. Searched thru internet for info & reviews and got tempted further, especially the comparison videos on youtube.

Saw that local LG site has the Hom Bot VR5902LVM, which should be older than your VR6173LVM. Tried calling LG SG but they asked me to ask the bigger stores, which i did not get good response. Is there really no chance of getting it through official channels in SG?

On some websites, it seems that the specs for VR5902LVM and VR6173LVM are almost identical except for the lower noise and battery time. Was the VR5902LVM in your consideration, taking into account that they are more widely sold and discussed in Australian markets.

Sorry to bore you with questions, but I am also eager awaiting your review. Mind pointing out where did you get yr VR6173? Have owned a Roomba 560 before, but this LG roboking seems much superior, in terms of cleaning, maintenance and everything else. And I dig the red color.