In an era when vacuums run upwards of $500, spending $250 on a vacuum that works when you're not even in the room seems like a bargain. With the push of a button, the iRobot Roomba 510 robotic vacuum zips over carpets and bare floors to clear them of debris. It has adequate suction -- more than we thought it would, actually -- and really seemed to cover a lot of ground. The Roomba picks up particles like a pro, as well as an impressive amount of pet hair. We only wish it worked on stairs.

To prevent the Roomba from falling down stairs or leaving a designated area, one can set up a device known as a "virtual wall." One virtual wall is included with purchase, but people who live in homes with open floor plans will probably want to invest in at least one additional virtual wall.

The iRobot Roomba 510 is the newest generation of robotic vacuums offered by iRobot, and we've noticed several improvements. For those who are a bit leery of buying a vacuum that requires programming, there's a built-in voice tutorial. This takes much of the guesswork out of learning how to use the Roomba as it demonstrates the vacuum's various features. For those of us who were worried possible damage if it hit baseboards, furniture or other objects, there is good news. The 510 has a more sensitive system to detect the proximity of walls or other obstacles. The closer the Roomba gets, the slower it moves. This results in softer impacts and less of those bumping problems generated by previous versions. We were curious about the Roomba's "anti-tangle" technology, too. We wondered how a machine without appendages could free itself from a tangle of wires and cords behind our organizationally challenged media center, but it did an admirable job. Although not really a fair fight, the Roomba came out swinging, and with a bit of help, made its way out of the maze.

The iRobot Roomba 510 is easy to clean, and we find that cleaning it after every use improves performance. We also suspect it helps reduce some of the daily wear-and-tear the Roomba experiences. (Yes, we do mean daily. We find this is one vacuum we would use every day.) It comes with a homing recharger that makes daily use that much easier. While the iRobot probably wouldn't replace our traditional upright vacuum, it is OK for everyday use and helps make a marathon cleaning session more of a sprint.


Pros: Works independently, great for daily use
Cons: Probably won't replace a traditional vacuum

Warranty
1 year, limited