Author Topic: Holiday shopping Q and A (Read 894 times)

tapakeg · « **on:** November 30, 2007, 04:03:03 PM »

Ok, if you have any questions about a product for the holiday season post it here and hopefully some people with more technical knowledge or personal experience can help.

Here is mine.

I am thinking about getting a roomba. I have done research, but I would like to hear from someone who has purchased one.

roomba

I would also like to get a digital movie camera for the family. Something under $300 or so. Do I want one of those mini DVD ones, or do they have memory cards? Any brand better than another. I will mostly be using it for e mail and web sharing.

Thanks, and keep the questions and answers coming

Tapakeg

Shuffler · « **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2007, 04:31:12 PM »

I prefer digital 8 on movie cameras and I stick with Sony. There are lots to chose from.

texasmom · « **Reply #2 on:** November 30, 2007, 07:16:49 PM »

Oh, good idea tapakeg.

eagl · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2007, 09:21:30 PM »

If you can wait, get the roomba from http://www.woot.com. They put refurb ones up for sale for about $140-$150 every week or two. I got one and it's neat. Just pick up the clutter on the floor and push the go button. It runs around for an hour or two and then parks itself to recharge. Neat.

bj229r · « **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2007, 09:39:12 PM »

I got a wifeba:D

Excel1 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2007, 12:08:05 AM »

does this thread come with a complimentary handbag?

real men don't shop.. they buy stuff

LePaul · « **Reply #6 on:** December 01, 2007, 12:30:51 AM »

Here comes a short novel...

I've had a Roomba Discovery for 3 years.

I have hardwood floors and a throw rug in the living room. The standard upright vacuum cleaners would just spin dirt/dust into the air before the vacuum head ever reached the debris. (It had an agitator on the front, ideal for rugs...terrible for hardwood no matter how high you had it above the floor)

At the time I worked part time for Sears. As these were new, they were offered to us with a substancial discount.

The Pros:

Push button, walk away.

Not loud. About as loud as a hair dryer on low.

Gets under beds, couches, etc...hard to reach stuff.

Excellent at nabbing pet hair/dander

Excellent support. Mine had a sensor issue where it would spin in circles. 2 days later, a USB thumb drive arrived. Plug into port, power up Roomba and watch it load new version. Problem solved. Mail thumb drive back.

The Cons:

High amount of cleaning required to the actual unit. If you don't mind investing about an hour a month to clean the brushes and stuff, its fine. The newer models seem to include special tools to make this easier.

Filters and accesories are limited...so buy em online or at Sears. You seldom see them elsewhere.

Batteries dont seem to last long as they get older. Mine's red (low) after 30 mins.

As they are so low to the ground, if you have a moderate amount of pet hair/debris on the floor, it just pushes it along....unable to stuff it underneath itself.

They have excellent vacuum power. Left unattended, they will suck up a floor mat and drag it around.

Don't bother watching the thing at work. You'll watch it just miss debris for several minutes. It has an algorithm it follows to eventually hit every part of the room 3 times.

Summary:

These are pretty cool devices. If I had to give it a 5 star rating, it would be a solid 4. The cool factor is up there but having to see if its really picked up everything is a draw back. NOTE!! Newer models have improved on these issues...larger waste bins and more. And the price has come down substancially. I still have the power broom (dirt devil) I use in conjunction with it for bigger jobs.

The Scooba is a floor washing variant that looks neat...but for that amount of money, Id rather get a floor scrubber.

nirvana · « **Reply #7 on:** December 01, 2007, 02:16:26 AM »

I work at a big chain retailer, we sell the Roombas. I personally wouldn't get one, but my sister and I are getting one for our parents this Christmas. Now I'm basing this on sales alone no personal experience as of yet. Most Roombas we sell (any of the 5 or 6 models that we carry) tend to get returned, most usually because the battery goes dead fast. Now whether or not proper directions were followed I have no idea. We also hardly sell any at all unless they are on sale for a good amount.

I'd personally skip the convenience and go with a Dyson vacuum. If you choose to go that route I'd be more than happy to give you my advice on them, although I've seen others on this board that greatly dislike Dysons. To each their own, you can always take it back.

AWMac · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2007, 02:25:16 AM »

I work at a big chain retailer, we sell the Roombas. I personally wouldn't get one, but my sister and I are getting one for our parents this Christmas.
_____________________________ _____________________________ _

So you and your Sister really hate your parents?

That's sad.

Mac

Halo · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2007, 08:13:46 AM »

(quote) I work at a big chain retailer, we sell the Roombas. I personally wouldn't get one, but my sister and I are getting one for our parents this Christmas. Now I'm basing this on sales alone no personal experience as of yet. Most Roombas we sell (any of the 5 or 6 models that we carry) tend to get returned, most usually because the battery goes dead fast. Now whether or not proper directions were followed I have no idea. We also hardly sell any at all unless they are on sale for a good amount.

I'd personally skip the convenience and go with a Dyson vacuum. If you choose to go that route I'd be more than happy to give you my advice on them, although I've seen others on this board that greatly dislike Dysons. To each their own, you can always take it back. (unquote)

We've had a Dyson and a Roomba for several years and both have become our favorite cleaning equipment. The Dyson is powerful and fun to use.
The Roomba Discovery is like a pet to my wife. Cleans under beds and other difficult spots, then heads for its power source to dock and recharge!

Can't wait for the next robot breakthrough. Maybe it will be his and hers Stepford Wife and Stepford Hubby?

nirvana · « **Reply #10 on:** December 01, 2007, 08:37:57 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by AWMac
I work at a big chain retailer, we sell the Roombas. I personally wouldn't get one, but my sister and I are getting one for our parents this Christmas.
_____________________________ _____________________________ _

So you and your Sister really hate your parents?

That's sad.

Mac

Hate? Extremely!

Not really, they just like the idea of not having to physically vacuum every week. Not sure how well it's going to work with the animal hair but time will tell I suppose.

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2007, 09:04:10 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Halo
We've had a Dyson and a Roomba for several years and both have become our favorite cleaning equipment.

Both are your favorite; but which one is more favorite than the other?

I mean... one has to be just a little less favorite... still favorite but just not as much.*

*Reference Brian Regan

Halo · « **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2007, 03:23:50 PM »

Co-favorites. A Dyson and a Roomba are like a car and a bike -- same general purpose, but quite different. Dyson favorite vac, Roomba favorite robot vac.

texasmom · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2007, 04:53:09 PM »

wait ~ the roomba is a vacuum? That sounds like a big no-go for a gift for your mom ~ you telling her that you like that she cleans?

I could make a wishlist of things that I would like to get as gifts from my husband and/or kids. None of them would include anything close to a vacuum. I got a set of tires for my truck one year for valentines day ~ that's another no-go

*edit* well, instead of just sharpshooting someone else's idea, I thought I'd add in here an idea as well.

If you gotta go with something functional, get a wallet ~ put in it a gift card from starbucks, a gift card from the local book store, a gift card from a chainstore (wal-mart or target, or dillards or whatever), a little bit of cash, and a picture of each of the ones she loves (husband, each of the kids, etc). So for all that, you don't have to get the most expensive stuff... but it would be nice to get a wallet that's already filled w/the stuff that you like ~ not just an empty wallet. Plus, usually those places w/gift cards let you determine how much you want to put on the cards ~ so it can be a lot, or it can be a little. That gift would be good for anyone (not just Mom's)

texasmom · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2007, 05:21:39 PM »

Gift idea for the Mom of little ones:

Basket filled with this:

Tickets to the movies (you can usually buy them in advance): make it a kids movie ~ one ticket for dad & one ticket for each of the kids. No ticket for Mom ~ she stays home on movie night. While everyone else is out at the movies ~ she stays home with this (also in the basket)

Bath-fizzles
candlestick w/candle
a book
a cd of her fav. relaxing music.
small box of chocolates
maybe some PJs (nice & comfy ~ it's for her, not dad)

So Mom gets to soak in the bath totally relaxed ~ no husband, no kids for just a little bit of time.

This gift is good for any time of the year ~ not just Christmas.