GeekSugar

Rob and Big: Meaty Vs. Roomba

GeekSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:07:40 -0700

I brought out the closet Rob and Big fans last time I posted a clip of the hilarious besties calling out a blogger, so I know you guys will love this! Meaty, the cutest white bulldog EVER, got a little territorial this week with a brand-new Roomba.

Pups freaking out on a vacuum is no surprise to petsugar, and gigglesugar has long recognized an animal's reaction to a strange cleaning robot as fodder, but I kind of cringed seeing that poor Roomba being destroyed! Aww, Meaty, just trying to protect your daddies, you're ok!

The iRobot By Roomba Goes Red

GeekSugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 03:09:12 -0700

When I compared the Roomba to the Dyson Slim (if you haven't seen the fun video, click on the link), I described the Roomba as a "geeky guy magnet gadget that's cleverly disguised as a vacuum." Seriously, girls may swoon to the Dyson, but guys seem to be pulled by gravity to the Roomba. Well gravity has definitely shifted ever since the iRobot got a hot new makeover! What I suggest is you use the fantabulous Dyson for thorough carpet cleaning sessions and then bust out the red Roomba for quick touch-ups. Just turn it on and head out for an afternoon filled with lattés and shopping. The Roomba Red will clean all your surfaces while the supersensitive bumpers help the vacuum feel its way around the room. All you have to do is charge up the battery and leave the iRobot alone to do all your dirty work. Priced at $150.

To check out more images of the red hot iRobot, read more

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Battle Of The Vacuums: Roomba Vs Dyson Slim

GeekSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:07:17 -0700

A Dyson vacuum is one of those gadgets that elicits an "ohhhhh" and an "awwwww" from everyone that walks by it. Or at least everyone that's walked by geeksugar central in the last week. I attribute the giddy Dyson adulation to the British company's hoity-toity reputation (they make a jaw-dropping $2,000 model), the assertion that Dyson is the "first vacuum cleaner that doesn't lose suction" and the fact that for a vacuum, it's ridiculously good looking.

It frankly isn't fair to compare the Dyson Slim, which is only 15.8 pounds, to my clunky vacuum at home because the Dyson is designed with art and innovation in mind. So, in the spirit of cleaning fun, I decided I should pit the lady killer against an even more unlikely candidate, the iRobot Roomba. For those of you that don't know, I describe the Roomba as a "geeky guy magnet gadget that's cleverly disguised as a vacuum." Seriously, girls may swoon to the Dyson, but guys seem to be pulled by gravity to the Roomba. So how did the sexy, feminine Dyson compare to the more masculine robotic Roomba? Be prepared to be impressed all around.

For my full review, read more

Like I said, it's not fair to compare the Dyson to the Roomba based solely on the fact that they are completely different models and machines, but it was a fun challenge and they each presented their own perks.

Suction
Most of all, I wanted to compare how much each sucked up because at the end of the day, you buy a vacuum to suck. In that respect the Dyson was a clear winner. I can admit, much to the pleasure of my male colleague, the Roomba did perform a lot better than I expected and does have the ability to clean a room. It just needs to do it on its own time and can't be pushed with the same force of the Dyson.

Coverage and Strength
I was also curious to see how long it would take the Roomba to clean a room by itself versus how long it takes to clean a room with the Dyson. I passed the Dyson over the room and covered every spot in about 2 minutes. I then set the Roomba to clean the space - I had to put up a funky barrier wall to keep it within the same space - and it took about 15 minutes to tread the same ground. Of course, the plus of the Roomba in this case is that it can vacuum by itself, so if you don't have guests coming over in 10 minutes, you can program the Roomba to clean, leave the room and make yourself a spot of tea.

Grace and Beauty
Apparently, air expelled from a Dyson has up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than the air you breathe. That alone sold me on the model. Of course, it helped that the machine is sleek, light and powerful. I happen to be one of those geeks that gets a real pleasure out of vacuuming - it's the only chore that gives me a real sense of accomplishment - so I love that you can give the Dyson a good push and get the job done.

As for the Roomba, watching that little thing hum along the floor is a delight. There's the thrill you get when you realize it's actually cleaning your floor sans cords or human help, followed by an even greater thrill when you realize it can clean the floor when you're not home.

Need To Call A Draw?
Buy them both. Use the Dyson for the heavy duty cleaning and the Roomba to do your dirty work when you're not home. Or scare little dogs.

Finally, a Roomba Alternative: Samsung's Stealth

GeekSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:04:30 -0700

Were you thinking about getting a Roomba but got discouraged by some people's disappointment with it. Or, have you been let down by the brand iRobot, but still love the convenience of a robotic vacuum?

Samsung has finally premiered a Roomba alternative, the Stealth vacuum, which looks disarmingly similar to the Roomba (save for those swishy arms coming out of it, which could be a pet attractor), Akihabara News reports.

If Samsung's version can improve upon Roomba's concept - a robotic vacuum that cleans on its own - but say, improve functionality a bit and lower the price then I think it could be a great competitor. No news yet about how much the Stealth will cost or how it measures up to its predecessor, but I've got a particularly dirty hardwood floor that would be willing to test it out.

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Move Over Roomba: Here Comes a New Robotic Vacuum

GeekSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:33:01 -0700

I can't think of much not to love about the Roomba, but there's always room for competition in a market with one really great product.

So, welcome the Panasonic Fukitorimushi (Japanese for "wipe-up bug"), introduced recently at the Tokyo Fiber Senseware exhibition in Milan.

The Fukitorimushi (um, can we please just abbreviate it to "Fuki"? OK then) has a nanocloth underbelly, rather than a traditional sucking mechanism like a Roomba.

Its cloth-covered body kind of looks like you dropped a towel on the floor and forgot to pick it up, but I could learn to live with anything that cleans my apartment for me.

This Week On Geeksugar - Dyson Slim Vs. Roomba

GeekSugar — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 11:03:56 -0700

CBC news reports that internet usage among women has been ahead of male usage for some time. Apparently women like community sites while men chose videos. Study Shows More Women Than Men Online
Customers at a three-star restaurant in Britain will soon be presented with Apple iPods to listen to while they eat their meals. Trend: Top Chef Serves Up iPod With Cuisine
If you want to know the weather wherever you are, or wherever you are going, just text the message 'weather' and the ZIP code of the city to Google at 46645 (that's 'Google' without the 'e'). Geek Tip: Use Google As Your Mobile Weatherman
The BBC is reporting that a man was arrested and cautioned after neighbors reported seeing a man inside a car using a laptop while parked outside a house. British Police Caution Man After 'Wi-Fi' Theft
The Japanese have come up with a way to better beer, which of course means having it served to you by a cute, white and red robot. Asahi Beerbot Serves Up Cold Ones
Created by Korea-based DND Casa, this TV is set within a mirror and designed to be installed in bathrooms, living rooms, hotels rooms and luxury hot-spots. Is That A TV In The Mirror Or Am I Seeing Things?
A Dyson vacuum is one of those gadgets that elicits an "ohhhhh" and an "awwwww" from everyone that walks by it. The Roomba is a geeky guy magnet gadget that's cleverly disguised as a vacuum. Battle Of The Vacuums: Roomba Vs Dyson Slim

Image Source

This Week On Geeksugar - Kurkova Makes Armbands Look Good

GeekSugar — Sat, 26 May 2007 14:07:10 -0700

Karolina Kurkova was out and about in Manhattan the other day displaying how geek chic iPod armbands really are. How Does She Make iPod Armbands Look Good?
There's no doubt about it mashup sites provide a unique and pleasurable website experience by combining services of two sites into one. For example, Flickrvision is a mashup site that displays the pictures people across the world are posting on Flickr on a map. What Mashup Site Would You Love?
It's only been about a week since the lineup for Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s was announced (yes, for those of you that didn't hear, "Heat Of The Moment" will be available), but game's maker, Activision has announced the lineup for Guitar Hero 3, which will be out this fall. Guitar Hero 3 Lineup Announced
I speak from experience when I say once you hear the "Eye of The Tiger" ringtone three or four times a day you are bound to start living and breathing it - so I would hereby like to propose an alternative. Geek Tip: Make Your Own Ringtone
I'm not sure how appropriate these would be for the traditional office space, but I think they're kinda cute for late night laptop sessions at home. Love It or Leave It? USB Fairy Lights
When I compared the Roomba to the Dyson Slim I described the Roomba as a "geeky guy magnet gadget that's cleverly disguised as a vacuum." It's gotten a makeover and this girl is sold. The iRobot By Roomba Goes Red
Are you one of the bazillion people obsessed with the show Lost? Apple has just posted the "Lost TV game" from Gamelot on the iTunes Store. Play The 'Lost' TV Show Game On Your iPod

The BacVac Would Make Vacuuming Suck Less

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 03:00:21 -0700

Yes, we got the memo - Roombas are trendy and Dysons are chic yet practical - check. But what about a vacuum that you could throw on your back, that's free from the constraints of irritating cords and a heavy base?!

I bring you the BacVac, a smart concept design created by The Continuum studio, which I spotted on Trend Hunter. This backpack-style vacuum cleaner is powered by an onboard fuel cell that would be replenished with ethanol. Hmm, they had me sold until the ethanol part!

Check out a full picture gallery below!

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Daily Tech: Google Keeps Getting Prettier and Prettier

GeekSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:25:11 -0700

Google's Swiss headquarters is the furthest thing from a "typical office." It's fun, colorful, and makes traditional office spaces seem like your worst nightmare. - Gizmodo
Gadget guru Gina Hughes puts the D-Light huggable pillow to the test. Check out her full video review. - Techie Diva
The European Commission said today that they will allow cell phones to be used on planes. - CitizenSugar
A Maryland man sells the domain name pizza.com for $3 million. Ten thousand times the price he paid for it in 1994. - BBC Online
Californication's Rachel Miner admits she wants the next-generation Mac laptop and a Roomba to clean her house! - Switched
Palm releases a blue Centro by Palm in Mexico. - Gadgetell

Robot Love: Cool Robot Goods

GeekSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:45:58 -0800

With all the robot love making the rounds lately, it got me thinking about the little tin men and just how much I love them! And who doesn't? A geek's rite of passage to obsess over robots, sort of how purple is every little girl's favorite color at some point in their childhood. I especially like vintage robots from the 40s and 50s, since they have so much character, but I don't discriminate - from toys to robots that help me clean, I'm a fan of all kinds, especially if they make my life a little easier (hello, Roomba!). I did some thorough investigating, and found some pretty cool robotic goods floating around.
Check them out when you flip through the slideshow! Source

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