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nettlestonenell · 8 years ago

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Afterword

Here I am, five years to the day of when I posted the go-for-broke chapter of Don’t Give Out With Those Lips of Yours where Marion ‘dies’/is sent away to Germany, posting the final chapter of the entire Don’t series, as well as an afterword.

I have always thought of myself as a persuasive writer—certainly with regard to writing, that is what has most often drawn me to the process.

It might seem strange to say, a persuasive fiction writer, but it makes sense to me: getting the facts, figuring out the character, persuading a reader to buy into the fact that the story is genuine, [even though it is] set somewhere they’ve never been (time or place), and that the characters are believable and ring true.

Persuasion plays an even greater part in fan fiction. Can I, as an author, sell you on decisions this character—whom you may know quite intimately—will make? Do their words sound like them? How about the setting, the diction?

Not many know it, but I promised Glorious Clio that 2016 would see the conclusion of the Don’t Series. And I meant it when I said it. Well, 2016 proved a lot of things, a great many of them disappointing, and on this count I, too, failed 2016.

But here it is, February 9, 2017, and it’s DONE.

Funny, as Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree actually began in direct relation to my finishing the long work Death Would Be Simpler to Deal With—and fearing what came next.

What would I think about? What would I scribble notes about on random scraps of paper? What would I write?

It was 2010, the year of season one Sherlock in the US. The idea of an Alternate Timeline re-boot hung heavily in the air. And me? I couldn’t think about anything but Robin and Marian MOST OF THE TIME. Go to a concert—imagine every song through that lens, for example. I was still really, really burnt from the show killing Marian, and the failure to even follow through dealing with it on the scale it deserved. But mostly the show killing Marian. And Robin. And…[footage not found].

Look, Marian and Robin die OLD, their deeds accomplished, their lives fully LIVED. That’s how it works. It’s not JFK’s Camelot, a sort of short, limited run. It’s a lifetime. It’s-- Anyway…

I knew about AT or Uber-fiction from the Xena fandom, at the time the most famous of which was Melissa Good’s Dar and Kerry stories (Xena and Gabrielle’s dynamic transplanted into present day).

As for WWII? Anyone who examined my childhood would say that I was destined to create something about that era. Myself, I was raised in the post-war 50s. Yes, I am Older than Reblogginhood—but I’m not that old. But when one lives rurally, time does move slower, and despite my parents being born 1939 and 1941, they were raised more like turn-of-the-century babies. My mother recalls the installation of electricity in her home, a home that never saw running water. And so, despite living in a world with Original Madonna and Thriller, at my house we were listening more often than not to “Wonderful Songs and Inspiration” on Cincinnati’s WSAI (one of the program hosts was George Clooney’s dad/Rosemary Clooney’s brother). Big Band songs were often the standard, the soundtrack of a lot of our lives.

My father (more on him later) consumed WWII-centric film and television round-the-clock. From early days I saw war films (I may not know all their titles, but if Hollywood made it, chances are I saw it—multiple times), I went to bed at night to the sound of anti-aircraft guns, or submarines diving.

In the days of the big three networks, it was public television that most often showed my dad’s John Wayne films, Audie Murphy, documentaries, and (bless them) screwball comedies and serious dramas infused with pre-war or war time life of (often) civilians.

And that proved to be my jam. The lives of regular people, un-enlisted people, in the midst of war. Often, this means women. Sometimes, it means prisoners. And there’s simply not enough written or filmed about them for my taste. If the soldier’s role in WWII is well-documented (perhaps, even, in contrast with other wars, over-documented), the civilian/non-combatant story is nearly silent, with the exception of Holocaust literature.

So as Papa Nettlestone watched his war films, I was always like a research assistant, looking into the corners of frames, fixating on incredibly brief scenes and unnamed characters who seemed to fit into that class: ‘regular’ people and how they managed life during that war.

Shows like Jeeves and Wooster (and those period-filmed screwball comedies) showed me a pre-war lifestyle the wealthy in both America and Britain took part, or at least a facsimile of it.

And the timeline—the intersection of this period of human history: that a title-stripped Russian aristocrat raised in the opulent (and it could be said) out-of-touch Court of the Tsars could find himself in the war, become part of the new world following that war.

That an English lord born during the hoop skirts of the American Civil War, could see the colonization of India, women get the vote—and live to see the fashion of WWII, and the German’s plans to exterminate an entire people. Hot dog, that compelled me. Such drastic reorganization of the world, of society, of all European aristocracy. Still blows my mind.

But credit also must go to Clio, who stuck with me once she found Death, faithful in communication and reviewing. I knew she loved Hogan’s Heroes (at our house, also, required viewing), that team dynamic. I loved it, too, the soldiers now rendered non-combatants by virtue of the fact they are imprisoned—yet finding clever means of resistance. I loved The Great Escape (a film that has plenty for both me and my dad). Thomas Carter a definite character ‘descendant’ of Steve McQueen’s Cooler King, Hiltz.

I love stories about people hiding downed RAF pilots (Mary Lindell in One Against the Wind). Hiding Jews. Fusia Podgorska (Hidden in Silence) who hid thirteen people in her house’s attic for two and a half years, feeding and supporting them while she was still in her teens. Eight months of this time, German officers and their nurse girlfriends occupied the rooms directly below that attic. Charlotte-freaking-Gray (please, just the film version) getting stranded in France without a full cover story, unable to tell a soul who she really is, scheming to find a way to her crashed RAF lover, and living a constant knife’s-blade-edge away from being discovered.

Papa Nettlestone is a 1939 baby. He never really saw his father (that he would remember) until the man returned home after the war (Purple Heart, Battle of the Bulge). Papa N was six years old at the time. Their relationship was never less than damaged. So he’s that bridge between Then and Now, my dad, as is Zara--but he’s also quite strongly the story’s Carter.

Although what he would guaranteed say to me if he were ever to find and read these stories (which will never happen), is that they should contain battlefront action. And that it’s a great shame that they don’t.

Mind you, when I began writing this I had no thought to cultivating a series of stories. Apple Tree was meant to be a one-off as they say in television, not a back-door pilot.

It was just meant to get me over the hump of concluding Death. But, as with any good (I would say) short story, the final lines of it conveniently spiraled outward.

And then Clio said she would read the story forever in one of her reviews.

And that? That was clearly a challenge.

And Carter proved to be the necessary plot propulsion key.

I don’t know how long it took me to fully ‘break’ the story (obviously, via the series, certain plot beats were already there—but how to re-imagine them?), it happened over time.

I remember where I was standing in my house when I realized not only that Guy should burn down the barn, not the house, but that Marian wouldn’t die but would be sent away to a camp. (Originally, those two plot points happened more back-to-back in the narrative.)

I went with four stories primarily because that’s how many lines from the song I wanted to use. Purely dumb luck that it worked out so well.

I chose the Channel Islands after seeing an advertisement for the Island at War DVD series in a mail order catalog, and reading the small blurb saying the Nazis had occupied British islands, which left me suitably dumbstruck. I know A LOT about WWII for someone who has never studied it, as I said above. I’d never heard of these islands, much less their war-time past.

So, I looked them up.

Now, keep in mind: when I began this odyssey in November of 2010, the Internet was not what it is today. Today I can sit and watch YouTube video after YouTube video of Channel Islands travelogues. I can *see* Sark. Then, Google could find exactly ONE image to show me of Joe Kennedy (Carter). The Channel Islands had neither an official webpage nor a very good Wikipedia entry. I was largely flying blind. I wasn’t even certain the estate I’d imagined as Barnsdale (and its house) could feasibly be located on Guernsey.

The internet has vastly improved in Channel Island content in the intervening years. (Somewhat, likely, due to interest in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society published in 2008, but of which I was unaware until a reader brought it to my attention in the review section of-–I believe—Lover’s Lane.)

As I learned new information I tried to make use of it—without mucking up anything I’d shared in the narrative prior.

Finding Sark was, quite frankly, the kind of plot/setting gift any writer would endlessly thank her muse for. It is, and I say this as a person having never been there, the almost perfect 1:1 stand-in for Sherwood.

I do have regrets. I regret not better outlining how the Sheriff even caught wind that Stoker’s sub was coming to Sark in Lips (sylvi10 caught me out on that giant oops when it was far too late to fix).

I regret that fanfiction.net turns all my double dashes (--) into (-) single ones. That its cut and paste interface erases my (*,&,+)s that are meant to help me insert lines where breaks need to be.

I regret not allowing for more of a story between Mitch and Eva, that I didn’t get to make better, fuller use of Freyga Tuckmann and most particularly ReichKaptain Lamburg (at one point there was a whole side story during the break in Lips right after the wedding that focused on the unit and Lamburg, with R/M only in the deep background).

I regret misplacing the notes (I will find them someday!) that name Allen and Eleri’s two daughters.

As a (fan? is that the right word here?) of A Tale of Two Cities, I regret not having Robin reference Dr. Manette’s being ‘returned to life’ in the wake of his own ‘death’ and Marion’s ‘death’ and rediscovery. (I will not elaborate here on the Sidney Carton/Charles Darnay similarity to Marion/Magda, but I will recognize that I see it in the narrative, and that reading a lot of Dickens in my formative years is doubtless to blame.)

And while I don’t at all regret the format/design of ‘Til I Come Marchin’ Home (I 100% believe that it is done in the right, and the only, way to best relate the stor(ies) at that point), I do recognize that it is a format not at all conducive to reading easily in choppily posted, stretched-out-over-time excerpts.

I do not regret, but will take a sentence or two to explain that if at times words for things or spellings alter, such as sometimes tire, others tyre—color or colour, it’s because I always thought of the original series as a sort of US/British hybrid. US in the sense that so much pop culture is from there, and a series as openly anachronistic as BBC Robin Hood is going to have that aspect to it, Hollywood sort of creeping in here and there, the word ‘Okay’ being thrown around. For that matter, though he’s become a German Kommandant, the Sheriff, to me, still pronounces his English the same as Keith Allen doing Vaisey. He still barks LEFT-tenant at Guy, though a German would say LOYT-nant. Robin still says ‘punch’ like Jonas.

I try not to regret that there’s a lot of Love in this story, a lot of couples. The BBC series is responsible for a lot of that, I think. Sometimes I wonder if it were to be placed in a bookstore (and not shelved as fanfiction) if it would get sorted into the ‘Romance’ section.

I did write it for myself—make no mistake, this is 5000% the story I Want to Read, and one of the reasons I wrote it down (that I write anything down) is because it started to become so immense I was having trouble keeping track of it all in my head.

I had gone to an October yard sale the year of the first story (some of you know this story), I bought a cassette tape of Time Life’s “Romantic Memories of the War Years”—filled with pre-war and war-era Big Band. A four tape series, they only had the first one. Because at that time I was doing a sort of Robin/Marian overlay to almost anything I thought about, I overlaid them on those songs, and it was a potent fit for me.

I had Glorious Clio on board, and soon enough sylvi10 joined in, and—much later—reblogginhood. I mention them in particular because while I was writing the story for myself, their comments—as do any comments—caused me to turn my attention to certain parts of plot and character, and the narrative changed in specific ways directly related to those reviews. (Which is a definite endorsement that readers should consider writing reviews.)

Allen Dale bloomed as fully as he did in the way that he did due to sylvi10, I’ve no doubt of that. Chatting with her about the stories, hearing her thoughts on Allen, her investment turned my brain to his corner, caused me to think more about him than I might otherwise have done. (Allan does tend to take over stories I write anyway, tbh.)

I had at least one reader caution me about putting Robin and Allen as the two main characters in the fanfiction description for Marchin’, saying it would make people think the story is about a romance between the two. But I couldn’t not list Allen as second-most-important in that story (and at times, first). For a great deal of Marchin’ is Allen’s story. He’s at a point in his grief and dealing with the war where he’s finally agreed after years of swallowing it down to become proactive. Where he’s realized that his path to handling what he did in the war is to pursue facing it, whatever the consequences.

Perhaps his personal life triumphs/finding the love of his life are his ‘reward’, then. The good that came to him from his agreeing to hunt down and conquer--face the bad. He would not have re-met Eleri, after all, had he not traveled back to put his memory of Annie to peace, and avenge and memorialize her death. And it is in Eleri, who is able finally to understand what he was during the war, to whom he needn’t hide any longer, that he needn’t be two-faced anymore.

There’s a definite Allen/Marion parallel (not 1:1 in any sense) in the series. From the first moment they meet when he, just, misunderstands 1000% about her, to the life that she leads (like him) where no one knows all the contradictory and self-transgressive it involves. And she misunderstands him, too, thinking he’s nothing more than a short grift con man.

But it’s Robin who, while he doesn’t see all about either, knows both for being more than is shown.

I wrote Edward/Miranda entirely for myself. I fell so HARD for them and their narrative. But some of the latter sections with them (particularly their backstory in Marchin’) is directly resultant of reblogginhood having commented that she would read about them if it were written. That made me feel okay (because by the time you’re that far in to writing a series of this scope you can find yourself TOTALLY distracted by audience expectations) to write those portions, which were, to me as a reader, a joy in every way. So, thank you for that.

I learned some things: I learned that if I, with the RL I have, with the lack of RL time-to-myself, can not only find time to write, but to finish, this is an accomplishable goal for anyone. If you want it.

There’s a lot of writing advice getting blogged around on tumblr, but being a writer can be boiled to the simplest terms: the thing about writers is, They Write.

You can go to school for writing for as many years as you like, and your instructors will tell you this, they will expect this of you, but until you embrace it yourself, you won’t really get it. Writers write.

Look at these ridiculous timelines:

Apple Tree – Nov. 1, 2010 - November 10, 2010 – completed in TEN DAYS!

Lover’s Lane – November 11, 2010 – January 18, 2011, it’s 67K words. In just two months’ plus one weeks’ time.

Lips – January 20, 2011 – March 24, 2012, 239K word count. Fourteen months. That is within spitting distance of the length of HP and the Order of the Phoenix, for reference, which has 257K.

The first stories are ridiculous because of how MUCH was accomplished, and how quickly.

I posted the final chapter of Lips from the hospital, after having a baby—largely because I knew from experience I wasn’t about to get many chances to work on Don’t anytime in the near future.

So, I came to Marchin’. Of which contemplating it is hysterical to me, because I had always expected it to be only just slightly longer than Apple Tree. [laughs maniacally]

Marchin’ – April 1, 2012 – February 9, 2017. (Completed, though not yet fully published on fanfiction.net) Final count will show it just over 220K words. 30K more than HP and the Goblet of Fire. [Yes, I realize the almost five-year timeline to finish this was really, really, not acceptable. Way tooooo long to expect anyone to still be hanging around. I am not Susanna Clarke. And not only because I never got close to the 308K final word count of JSAMN in a single one of the discreet stories.]

And please don’t forget the little bit of holiday side-fic of Zara and Carter, with gang-based Christmas flashbacks. Don’t: The Ghosts of Christmas Past, published January 2012, at 5K words.

And to be accurate, I was occasionally writing and posting other fic while also writing Don’t (including fic outside of BBCRH).

I learned that I can write to an epic length (an important discovery for a short story writer), I learned how to craft a chapter (feel free to tell me I failed if you disagree). I learned how to juggle 10K plot strings and tie them off in the ending.

I learned that in the beginning writing is easy, slick as soap in an empty-but-wet bathtub; words can pour onto the page. You’re building. But then something clicks over in your plot, and suddenly you’ve got a lot of things to juggle, a lot of stitches not to drop.

You have to navigate among and around what you’ve built. Writing speed slows, writing time can get eaten up referring back to what you’ve written before to make sure all your pieces fit. To make sure you’re still holding the strings of all your marionettes.

I learned (I already knew a little about this before) that sometimes, when the words are gross and sticky and not coming out onto your screen you must fight to put them there anyway. That 97% of scenes/writing is clumsy and workman-level rather than craftsman quality. But you have to put down the bones and sinew before you can go back and build on that and add the plump flesh, the other parts of it that add beauty and poetry.

You have to trudge at times before you can dance. And if you’re not willing to slog through, you’ll be done (but not finished), your work will stall—and you’ll never dance.

As for process, I wrote these straight through, beginning to end. Does that sound crazy? I don’t know. I got into the way of that due to posting updates online, I suppose. In the early days, I would always be posting something a little earlier in the narrative than what I was presently working on. But at some point that stalled out and I was publishing in tandem with what I had just done, having no other writing ‘banked’.

As for the ‘finale’, I will confess that portions of Carter’s journals used there were written—as many as five to six--years ago. And a lot of the reunion scene speeches were also conceived and written before the last chapters of Lover’s Lane were posted online (that was posted Feb 2012).

I don’t mean that as a brag, only, to say that the storyline has always been pretty closely orchestrated and set for some time. Not all the particulars, though.

Clio said something recently about it being difficult to get back into the swing of writing Don’t, but you know, I’ve never really been out of it all these years. I wrote the unconventional narrative format of Death as what I expected to be my way to work through Marian’s on-screen murder.

And I started Don’t even before I completed the ending of that story. And creatively and in any daydreaming, I have lived solidly in that world ever since. Spare time? Think about Don’t. Can’t sleep? Think about Don’t. People, that’s a long time. Am I over Marian’s death? Probably not, but that frustration point is more like background noise at this point. But Don’t’s been with me long enough that I don’t think it will ever leave.

I’ve been stalling a long time (telling myself to finish it first), not going back to Story 1 and reading straight-through sequentially to the end.

It’s startling to think I don’t have to put it off anymore.

Don’t has received its share of criticism—not necessarily hostile criticism (thankfully). A reviewer thinking Marion’s reaction to Robin upon seeing him in Story 1 is too stoic (yes, I may have been watching too many stone-cold Barbara Stanwyck films, but I stand by the characterization), LOTS of feedback on how Marion was not in ‘Til I Come Marchin’ Home, the notion that all four stories are too sad/depressing, just to name a few.

It was always a deliberate intention to keep Marion absent for most of Marchin’. She is, after all, a ghost at that time. And readers should feel the Marion-shaped hole she left just as much as do the characters. Even saying her name is at times too much a trigger for them. And almost every side-flash scene of Marion when she appears post-war refrains from using her name in a familiar way. As though she no longer even thinks of herself as Marion.

I do believe her absence and the emotion of her post-war storyline is more bearable when all of Marchin’ can be read as a seamless whole rather than in parts and pieces and stops and starts.

As for sadness—well, okay. Maybe? I’ll say it’s hard for me to judge. If it is sad, to me it is an exquisite pain, a pain felt on the way to coming joy. But then, I always knew the end. I always knew the pain would not end in loss and futility.

And the end, frankly, may not satisfy all. [spoilers] Everything that happened (even, took place pre-series) to our beloved Robin and Marion can’t be fixed, simply, by mind-blowing sex following their reunion.

But their scars and insecurities still present shouldn’t be taken as unreclaimable. Only, the time it takes to regain such things in a relationship isn’t covered explicitly in the plot.

Real world studies have been done about those imprisoned in the camps. Contact me if you want some links. Everything from (obviously) PTSD to a myriad of health complications plagued those liberated, often for the rest of their lives. To pay true respect to what Marion is to have been subjected to, is to admit that there is no easy fix for it, not simply a ‘spunky’ disposition that can overcome it.

As for why Marion stayed away, when taken as a whole, pieces of that puzzle are (without direct mention of Marion) everywhere within Story 4’s narrative (and strong correlations exist to it in earlier stories), spoken about, by, or with regard to everyone tainted by the war, from Allen to Miranda to Djak to Carter (and others).

As for the long timeline between Marion’s ‘death’ and her being located alive, I respect cries of ‘too long!’, but as a person older than reblogginhood, I say: a decade, when life is at its most distracting (as with small children to care for), passes as less than two years’ time in one’s carefree singleton twenties. Time simply shortens later into life.

From Story 1, Don’t has always been about the conundrum of sexual loyalty, just as the song it was crafted around. A loyalty that goes (according to the original song’s lyric) both ways, just as the woman is asked not to sit under the apple tree, the man is later on admonished (*significantly, but curiously, this lyric is absent from The Andrews Sister’s most-famous version of the song) “Watch the girls on the foreign shores, you'll have to report to me, When you come marchin' home. Don't hold anyone on your knee, you better be true to me… you're gettin' the third degree, When you come marchin' home”

Clearly calling out the woman’s mate who is currently serving overseas.

So the sexual loyalty question in WWII goes both ways. Let me be clear: I don’t necessarily believe jealousy and compromised sexual loyalty are a 1:1.

I would, in fact, mount a defense of BBC series Robin as not necessarily motivated by jealousy toward Guy. At least not ‘simple’ jealousy. (ie: you have Marian! And I don’t!)

With as much in-series as is NOT said between Robin and Marian (recall: he tells her he loves her when she’s dying/dead/unconscious—and when she recovers he doesn’t bother to re-state it), a partial dynamic of Marian/Robin’s relationship is what goes unspoken between the two of them. Yet Guy is held back by no similar scruples. He may pursue BBC series Marian openly, speak with her openly, offer her safety, a home, financial and societal security. In short, as given, Guy represents a future for Marian. (And to most people/certainly her peers and her betters, an ACCEPTABLE future, as Guy is allied with the present power structure and law-in-place).

In this, BBC series Robin is frustrated (and Don’t series Robin even more so). What can he offer Marian? What can Don’t Robin offer Marion? Even less. He has nothing of stability, no home, no financial means he can access. He cannot even offer her (with any certainty) that he, himself, will remain alive and accessible to her.

I confess, I kept from placing Marion into a fait accompli sexual relationship with Guy primarily because that felt like more weight than the story was prepared to bear, and secondarily because I find the idea of Geis’ sexual frustration really enjoyable, and it drives him very particularly as a character. A Geis who agrees to be put off by Marion repeatedly, when nothing truly stands in the way of his forcing himself on her is far more interesting than Geis as Marion-rapist. (Now, Geis as Anya-rapist is interestingly fraught in its own way, and faithful to the BBC series, as well.)

Sexual loyalty through the lens of female characters whose agency is compromised by something like an Occupation exists as well. Marion and Eva (on the BBC series more of a contrast than a comparison) here become two versions of a similar story. Yet the chance arose to give Eva, the more sexually transgressive (for the era depicted) with a bastard child and a confirmed sexual relationship with the Kommandant, offered the chance to give that character a happy ending sooner than that of her former mistress.

Early on, in a world where so little can be counted on, the question of Marion’s loyalty is of paramount importance to Robin, more so one might argue, than whether, even, she reciprocates his love.

The sexual aspect of her loyalty early on in Apple Tree and Lover’s Lane is almost always their departure point for argument. Marion expects him to have faith in her. But Robin, as would any of us (like the rest of Guernsey), logically assumes she is sexually involved with Geis.

Robin believes that sleeping with Geis would equal a betrayal of English values, and therefore, of him.

He carries the wound of Marion, at the time of their break-up fight, attempting to (in his eyes) use sex to manipulate him before she intends to leave him behind for America. And he knows, historically in their relationship, that Marion has never viewed sex in the same light as he has (and was socially expected to do).

Which culminates in the argument on Sark before Marion is returned to Geis following her kidnapping, wherein she attempts to get him to see that on the Islands during occupation, believing her agency is uncomplicated and without consequences in any sexual liaison is merely an illusion.

Hopefully, the series is more than just this debate/discussion. Certainly, to me it’s about more than sexual jealousy, but certainly that was an inciting catalyst.

Then again, maybe the overriding issue of sexual loyalty is just a notion I contemplate to try and defend the large number of hook-ups in finalizing the series…

But Don’t is also about heroism. At its very core.

I have personally long been fascinated by certain ‘hero’ narratives that see the heroes returning to normal life, such as the man instrumental in the Warsaw ghetto uprising who survived the war, moved to Florida, and successfully opened a chain of grocery stores. Or the Daniel Craig character/ real-life figure of the Jewish commando, Tuvia Bielski, who hid people in large numbers in the Polish woods in Defiance and went on to live a life in New York, running a small trucking company for 30 years--where his own children were ignorant of what he had done during the war.

For a long time this kind of “post war information”/return to normalcy always bummed me out. But as I’ve aged, I’ve honestly come to believe that this is wherein true heroism lies.

To know when to stop fighting. To manage to reclaim something of a ‘normal’ life. To enjoy the accomplishment of what was being fought for, the fruits of your wartime labors—and particularly for the oppressed people groups in WWII (Jews, the Rom), to partake in the society, culture, and family life/continuation of your people, as that is exactly what your enemies were trying to prevent you from doing.

To thrive in the wake of your oppression.

And in my age, I think I’ve realized that even though these heroes, these people who accomplished remarkable things during the war, then stop behaving quite so obviously heroic (no longer action movie stars) the heroism that they then face is a quieter one, one of learning to cope and process what the war did to them.

And really, it’s not flashy, but it is no less compelling. No less transformational, and dramatic as can be.

Some readers may still wish to argue that twelve years is too long a time, that it is impractical that Carter’s grandson is not well-acquainted with all that took place in the narrative. Rest assured; I’ve read more than my share of war and post-war narratives, of combatants and non-combatants alike, and the thread of survivors never again speaking of what happened to them, or simply never coming back home (though they lived) are more common than not.

Sometimes they find a way to speak of what happened to them, they speak only to others who experienced it, they go on to help curate a memorial—that safe space where they can speak and share about their experiences; they write it down, they paint it.

I’ve had two feedback responses that I think are important enough to include here for the general reader.

The first involves the gang not attempting to canonize Marion as a hero during the time she is missing/a thought that Marion should not feel quite so awfully, or make such drastic decisions based upon her wartime life choices.

Historically, honestly, that would have been pretty unlikely. The taint of collaboration would have overwhelmed any ‘redeeming possibility’ of Marion's resistance work as the Nightwatch (which it would not be simple to convince anyone she 100% was; the wrong accent--the fact no one ever really saw the Nightwatch, the fact Vaiser put forth that it was really Joss Tyr just for starters), and the fact Marion was female, in the 1940s; the world at large would hold the likelihood of her having been Geis' lover (recall: the importance of sexual loyalty) far above the slim chance that she was also the Nightwatch. Such things as promiscuity (especially with the enemy) weren't taken lightly, nor forgiven in females. Robin’s connection to her would have been colored by the notion she had been a scarlet woman, and him, doubtless unable to resist being in her thrall. (Honestly, as backward a notion that man is defined by an inability to resist his private parts as that a woman is in all situations responsible for what befalls hers). In fact, into the 1980s and 90s, the Channels were still fighting over who collaborated and who didn't. (Jersey records account for at least 900 illegitimate babies born to Islander mothers and German soldiers during the Occupation. As recently as 20 years ago the Islands were still in denial of this, despite Public Records being released that proved the numbers.) It was very divisive, a true crisis of the islands, and remains so to this day. So while I think, in later decades, yes, the world could embrace Marion as a hero, could believe her tale--those alive during the war, living out those years and trying to survive the wake of its ending, would not have been in a state of mind to accept her. In that starkly black and white, right and wrong, mindset of the times, she would have been condemned on all accounts. She would have had to be dead for real for her to be lionized, or even thought acceptable in Britain. Additionally, the National Secrets Act, which kept Robin & Co., and likely Carter from speaking about their war work for DECADES (if ever) following the war's end would have prevented anyone from talking about the Nightwatch, their time on Sark, etc., under penalty of imprisonment, and/or threat of a charge of treason. Not to mention being socially ostracized.

And Marion is that great sort of pragmatist/realist that fully understands this. And she's right, really. At least in that she's right that collaboration was not at all tolerated in the wake of the war. The taint she fears for Robin would have been 125% a real thing. He would have been tainted.

And we all know how skeletons in the closet are found and often via spin made into skeletons when they may not really be—in the political (or as he calls it, public) world. In fact, despite the majority of Islanders alive during the Occupation having died (and some, emigrated elsewhere) the Channels are still trying to work through and figure out how to accept WWII collaborators among them, how to speak of them historically. As said, it is still a tremendously divisive issue. So Marion's right in her conclusion about what association to her would bring about (even if her Nightwatch identity were known), but she's wrong in her understand of Robin. She's always hoped for that public life of doing good and legislating for Robin (no doubt because Edward was her standard for how a good man behaves/takes action), and she's right that Robin would excel at it, but she has never been able to get her head around the idea that Robin doesn't have any interest in that, playing that game, being that person—no interest in matters of state and diplomacy. It is that tragic flaw of a mistake/miscalculation she makes over and over again.

It may seem to go without saying, but let me thank you (any of you, all of you) for reading. Let me shower laurels on those of you who reviewed. I did write this work for myself, no doubt about it, but the encouragement of hearing from others reading cannot be undercut. It is an immense support to know as an author that your words matter to someone else out there.

And if you’ve been reading and you’ve never commented or checked-in, by golly, you’ll never find a better time than now.

I made some promises to myself, for when I finished Don’t. To buy all four CDs of Time Life’s Romantic Memories of the War Years (digital files of the original versions of many of the songs on them not available). To commission some fan art. To work to get the entire series posted to AO3.

But right now, I’m learning something new. I’m learning how to deal with surviving in the wake of completing a long, long work. As I mentioned earlier, when the end of Death came, I was already working on Don’t.

But, what now? What next?

I will never be over Robin/Maria(on). Of that you can be sure. But will I write more BBCRH? It seems doubtful, unless I do so to conclude at least one unfinished story (hi, sylvi10!). Don’t is certainly my ‘last word’ on the BBC series (I think). While I’ve not ‘gotten over’ them killing Marian (etc.), I have at least worked through it.

There was a time I thought to play around with writing “Widow Hood”, wherein Robin is killed in S2 in the Holy Land, not Marian, and Marian is the one left to reassemble the gang (re-recruit Will and Djaq back to England) and we sort of see if she can accept Guy into the gang, as the show had Robin doing, if she can forgive Allan’s betrayal, and see if she can overcome Robin’s loss (as the show had Robin ALLEGEDLY doing in S3). But I think my pursing that (at least as a whole) is pretty unlikely at this point.

What I do know, is I feel confident I can write to a longer form now, and manage chapter breaks to my own satisfaction if not others’. And somewhere out there, the promise of The Perfect Hat is waiting for me.

#the don't series #afterword #neftzer #'til i come marchin' home #fanfiction

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safebrowser-knowledge-blog · 5 years ago

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Why Hackathons Are Essentially Useless?

One evening, as I was tuning in to a sincere introduction from a benevolent worker attempting to illuminate one of our customers' greatest agony focuses, I felt a recognizable sinking feeling. This individual has put a huge amount of work and heart into this, and as one of umpteen pitches today out of an interior hackathon, I realized it wasn't going to go anyplace. Right at that point, I chose there must be a superior way.

A CIO's responsibility is to ensure their organization is utilizing the most recent advances and creative practices to reinforce its upper hand and convey the sorts of important encounters that its clients merit. Perhaps the most extravagant asset accessible to carry out that responsibility well is their group and the thoughts they carry to work with them consistently. Be that as it may, thoughts without the best possible help and conveyance channels are basically futile.

Resulting from Silicon Valley's new companies, enormous scale inner hackathons rose in prevalence among enterprises over the previous decade as an approach to take advantage of this store of thoughts and publicly support advancement. There have been innumerable models demonstrating the estimation of hackathons and their capacity to create considerable prizes. Tech behemoths, for example, Microsoft and Facebook have turned out items and highlights that were created from hackathons. Indeed, even at TD Ameritrade, we've had items left hackathons, for example, Trade Finder, an instrument that surfaces potential alternative exchanges dependent on customer showcase desires.

Hackathons have gotten de rigueur for any association that needs to be seen as imaginative. Be that as it may, experience possesses instructed me that it's energy for another methodology, one that joins three components from the earliest starting point that hackathons so regularly need.

Instruction

To truly take care of an issue, you need to know it personally. Pioneers ordinarily ascend to the top because of significant involvement with their field. While the crisp viewpoints of more extensive scope of representatives can be massively useful, I can't reveal to you what number of hackathon pitches I and my friends have heard for arrangements that we've either thought of previously or realize would be difficult to execute because of variables the worker hasn't considered.

For instance, one thought that won our hackathon two years straight — a great thought — would have cost a huge number of dollars of the venture, and not simply in the most productive territories of the business. This isn't the group's shortcoming. They don't have the experience we have, and we haven't given the training or setting they have to put their time, exertion and thought into thoughts that will work in a true situation.

Procedure

Hackathons are extraordinary at motivating a major eruption of vitality and inventive reasoning, however, you need a procedure for getting those thoughts into your item guide for the activity to be important. We had a group thought of a good thought for an approach to accelerate a three-day procedure to 30 minutes, yet it wouldn't have worked with any of our current customer frameworks and would have required an enormous redesign. Thus, we couldn't do it. It's positively not feasible, yet from what I've seen, it's very hard to progress from hackathon back to reality such that tries you and your group put in.

Structure

Hackathons all by themselves do for the most part have structure. In any case, what I'm alluding to here is a structure that incorporates advancement into your every day, versus one day a year. In case you will imbue a culture of development all through your association, you'll have to keep at it. Something else, it resembles going hard and fast at the exercise center once every year in the quest for physical wellness. You won't see almost similar outcomes you would on the off chance that you make it a steady, normal propensity.

Enabling or Discouraging?

For as far back as scarcely any years, TD Ameritrade held venture wide hackathons (named "think off" inside) as a component of our push to encourage an interior culture of advancement. These hackathons weren't my first rodeo, and like numerous tech chiefs, I had somewhat of an affection detest association with them. It's fortifying to have the option to give representatives the opportunity to think innovatively and zoom out of their ordinary work to consider the master plan of the problem(s) your organization is attempting to settle.

Yet, the unavoidable hit to cash and time aside, the chances of accomplishment in a hackathon are stacked against the representative from the earliest starting point. Individuals get energized and put a ton of time and exertion into thought, however because of the structure of the occasion (such a large number of thoughts with such brief period and consideration paid to everyone), not many thoughts ascend to the top. Much less make it into execution.

Consider it thusly: For each out of control achievement that left a hackathon, for example, Facebook's "like" button, there are a lot more thoughts that wound up pushed in a cabinet, filed in an envelope, or, more awful, hurled in the rubbish receptacle. For most of the members, these occasions that are planned to enable can wind up being really debilitating.

Uncovering "Advancement Theater"

"Advancement theater," a term initially instituted by a sequential business person, teacher, and development thought pioneer Steve Blank, portrays the wonder of an organization making a major demonstration of driving advancement without placing much in the method for assets or substance behind it.

From multiple points of view, hackathons are an ideal case of this. They're profoundly obvious, easy to comprehend and appear to be a simple route for an organization to check the "inventive" box. In any case, what a hackathon doesn't do is convey a lot of substantial returns for the business or for the worker. It's a stumble on the off chance that you understand that after it's finished, everything you've done is occupy assets from the every day of your business to concentrate on ventures that will never arrive at your customers.

So what's the other option? At TD Ameritrade, we're moving toward another model of driving advancement over our firm. Regardless we're keeping channels open at an undertaking wide level through activities, for example, an online thought accommodation gathering, which enables a worker or group to present any new thoughts for audit by our innovation development lab. This is offered all year, at whatever point motivation strikes.

We likewise hold a semiannual occasion called "improve-a-ganza" that perceives instances of innovative critical thinking, holding up crafted by groups breaking new ground to have an effect at our firm with thoughts that have made it into usage. Be that as it may, maybe generally energizing, we're embracing another venture development system to support community advancement endeavors among and between groups.

Setting up a New Model

Our new advancement structure takes a client-driven view to distinguish territories of chance where there are showcase holes and uses a test-and-adapt, iteratively supported way to deal with reveal better approaches to fill them. To keep our endeavors lined up with our general business methodology, we've built up a gathering of pioneers over our association to fill in as a speculation board to make a "development proposition." This is a wide articulation about where we are as a business, where we think the world is going, and how we will improve accordingly.

This board at that point goes about as a speculator much like a financial speculator, utilizing the advancement proposition to guide assets and subsidizing to encourage the revelations and experimentation of devoted groups over the association. With the business supporting the exploratory work from the earliest starting point, we're guaranteeing that thoughts don't end up destitute, searching for sponsorship after work has just been finished. Despite everything we're preparing to stun the world and including groups from over the firm, however, we're deliberately seeking after regions of chance where we are remarkably able to create imaginative arrangements.

As we adventure into a post-hackathon world and I consider my encounters, I feel it's significant for each organization to advance toward a model of important development where workers are heard and supported each day of the year to add to the eventual fate of the business. Doing the truly difficult work in the background may not be as attractive all things considered, yet it's eventually a vastly improved approach to guarantee your organization's way to deal with development isn't only for appear.

Read How Incognito Mode Won’t Keep Your Browsing Private here...

#Technology ITDistributor

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furiousbeardstudent-things · 5 years ago

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Colorado Springs SEO

Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality wherein it governs itself through the home rule charter. As a home rule municipality, Colorado Springs has the authority to declare itself to be either a city or town. Thankfully, it chose to be the former, and now, it is one of the largest city by area in the state of Colorado. The all-known USA Hockey and the United States Olympic Training Center and 22 other national governing bodies of sport are all located in Colorado Springs.

It is the second-most populous city in Colorado, with the capital city of Denver being the first, and the 42nd most populous city in the entire United States. With over 194.9 square miles of area coverage, the city is the most extensive municipality in Colorado. At 6,035 feet, the city sits over one mile above sea level and is situated near the base of Pikes Peak—one of the most popular American mountains.

General William Palmer founded the city on 1871 with a vision of establishing a quality resort community, which later on became a reality as it was then considered as one of the most popular travel destinations in the United States during the late 1800s. It was once referred to as the “Little London” due to the abundance of English tourists shortly after it was founded.

Colorado Springs is a popular tourist destination for people that are into the scenery, trails, parks, rock formations, and other unique geological features. Some of the famous places in the city are the Garden of the Gods Park, Cave Of The Winds Mountain Park, The Broadmoor Seven Falls, and Pikes Peak. The city is also home to several educational, historical, and cultural sites such as Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, the United States Air Force Academy, and so much more.

TRIVIA: Colorado Springs is one of the most active lightning areas in the United States. This circumstance brought Nikola Tesla to pick the city as the place to build his land and study electricity.

Marketing agencies Colorado Springs

There’s no stopping now. Internet marketing Colorado Springs agencies are having the time of their lives. With the off-the-charts popularity of internet alongside technology, it has become a necessity for every business in the city to leverage on the one thing that will bring them long- Term success—and that is digital marketing Colorado Springs.

The importance of working with an SEO marketing Colorado Springs

For most businesses in Colorado Springs and anywhere else in the world, it is almost impossible for them to survive without having the presence of a fully functional business website. Nonetheless, if you want to get the most out of your business website, then it is imperative to ensure that your site is on its most beautiful form to be discovered quickly by internet users.

To achieve this, you will have to properly optimize your website, which could be done by using the SEO services provided by a good internet marketing Colorado Springs company, or better yet, an exclusive SEO agency. Incorporating just the right amount of SEO work on your business website will also help you improve your digital marketing.

The benefits of outsourcing an SEO company in Colorado Springs

Contrary to the beliefs of many people, SEO is still alive. It continues to serve its purpose by being a major contributing factor in driving targeted potential customers to websites. The truth is, the majority of the shoppers conduct online research before making massive purchases. And with that alone, it should be enough to prove that SEO indeed plays a significant role in the long-term digital strategy success.

However, what continues to be a hot topic between people today is how an SEO campaign should be established and managed. In other words, it’s a battle between outsourcing an SEO agency or building an in-house team.

When you outsource various works of your business website, it enables you to get more benefits for your company. Meanwhile, many business owners are not particularly fond of this idea, mainly because they have this misguided notion that is outsourcing an SEO or digital marketing Colorado Springs company would mean losing control of their business. What they don’t know is that doing exactly that will be more beneficial not just for their business but also for their selves as the business owners.

That said, below are some of the reasons why outsourcing SEO is almost always the best option for your business.

Guaranteed professional services

Through the help of SEO companies and marketing agencies Colorado Springs, you can now Take comfort from the fact that you are getting reliable and professional services. These companies will give you the professional support that your business needs because they have extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with all things digital marketing, and specifically SEO.

You are hiring them to work for the benefit of your business, so naturally, they should dedicate their time and efforts in giving you the results you want. If that is the case, then you’ll have some extra time for yourself, allowing you to do other essential things that need your attention. Your An SEO agency will do their share of the work while you do what you’re best at—managing your business.

Complexity

SEO is not something that anyone can master in a span of a few months. It takes years of knowledge and experience to become well-versed in this complicated field. Even the best SEO practices that we have presently are changing more times we can count and sometimes, dramatically, taking us all off guard.

It’s difficult enough to keep up with the latest and best practices without completely wrapping up yourself in the SEO world. In fact, for most businesses, they are already having a hard time keeping up with the demands of core business practices, let alone a foreign—but vastly significant—activity like SEO. Hence, the best option that they can do is to reach out to an SEO marketing Colorado Springs agency and avail of their services.

Cost-effective

Another great benefit of employing an external service provider for your company is that you will be spending less money on these services than you will spend on hiring different employees for each work. Building an in-house team exclusively for your company means you have to hire them as full-time employees. In doing so, you will further need to offer them all employee benefits that your current workers are receiving. In other words, you’ll have to spend more.

Whereas when you outsource SEO services to an SEO agency, you will only be paying for all the works they have done at a minimal cost. On top of that, you’ll be able to get excellent outcomes when the time comes since they have the necessary skills, knowledge, and field experience on these things.

Results-driven

One of the main reasons why many businesses are looking into hiring external SEO companies and marketing agencies Colorado Springs is because these service providers are trained to be results-driven. They will dedicate their time and energy to improve your website and use the best practices that work the most for your business.

The key here is to look for an SEO company that has an excellent track record in the field. An ideal SEO firm should be able to deliver accurate and expressive results on whatever project they are working on. This is why many businesses rely on these agencies to get the job done at a lower cost and within the time allotted.

Get the best of Social Media Marketing

When you outsource SEO, you are setting your business up for a bountiful future. One of the essential services that you can get from hiring an external SEO company in Colorado Springs is that your social media marketing is also taken care of. Social media is a promising platform that offers tons of opportunities for businesses.

It is a place where you can quickly expand your network and reach out to a broader audience. More importantly, it is where SEO outsourcing agencies spend plenty of hours to share your content effectively. What it is not, is a place for you to use your precious business hours to do the same. Leave all SMM works to your SEO agency and utilize your time for other essential things.

Quality SEO Content

Excellent content quality is a must if you want your website to have better traffic ration. In most cases, companies don’t hire a full-time in-house writer for their content preparations. Instead, they outsource such work with their SEO outsourcing agencies who most likely have their respective skilled SEO content writers. These writers will be responsible for producing weekly articles, blogs, and other attractive contents to publish on your website, and ultimately, drive more traffic to it.

from https://ift.tt/2YeuNQD

#Las Vegas #Search Engine Optimization

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ranivijay721-blog · 7 years ago

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Incredible iRobot Roomba 980 Hulu Terengganu

With adversary Neato lately releasing their Botvac “D that was marginally improve ” series, it was speculated that iRobot might be following suit. However, it is a comparatively long time since 870 debuted and the Roomba 880. I honestly didn’t understand what to expect. Certainly, iRobot isn't interested in ceding any market share to competitors, and rightfully so.

As with all preceding Roomba’s there are things that I don’t enjoy and things to enjoy. Regardless, it ’s going to be challenging for me to not gift a couple Roomba 980’s this year.

In this Roomba 980 review, I’ll get into the crucial features (what’s new) as well as the Benefits and Drawbacks. At the base, I’ll propose a number of alternatives and make an overall recommendation.

Essential Attributes – What’s New with the Roomba 980

The following are notable attributes on the 980, and some of the new, updated:

The Roomba 980 is capable of running fro a full 2 hours before needed to recharge. On some of my older 700 series hoovers I’ve come close to this with after market third party replacement batteries, but this can be the greatest factory default (out of the carton) battery life so far. It’s still not Lithium-ion (for those who like that), but it is an advancement. Like the 800 series robots, the 980 will automatically return to the docking station base, but it'll recharge, then resume cleaning where it left off.

iRobot HOUSE App: For me, this is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become more fully integrated into the bright house experience. iRobot is the first robot vacuum business – to my knowledge – that has a program such as this. It's possible for you to press on “Clean” from everywhere and the 980 will start/stop as wanted. I can get things began while I’m away, if I’m at work or out of your house. The program is simple basically functions as an innovative remote control and to use. On the older Roomba’s you could have a predetermined program to run each day, but not instantaneous control like this!

New Navigation System: It’s actually more of an upgrade. As well as the conventional “bumper” detectors, the Roomba 980 now features the “VSLAM” (Visual Coincident, Localization, and Mapping) technology. That is a big deal. Essentially it allows the visual localization allows the Roomba to “look” out and up to help browse and map the room. This is the type of groundbreaking betterment that vastly enhances the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean practically? Bumping into things at random and a more organized – and efficient – cleaning course.

Thankfully, iRobot wasn’t content with just a few features that are new. Additionally they upped their game in the power department. The AeroForce cleaning system is per cleaning cycle exactly the same base technology, but 2 times more efficient at picking up debris. Additionally, it has “carpet boost” which optimizes air power when it finds a carpet or rug underneath. The end result is a hoover that is conventional that is extensive clean, repeating a greater level.

Improved Virtual Wall Lighthouse: The 980 has stepped up lighthouse game is ’sed by it. They have been now smaller and require AA batteries (compared to the hulking “D” batteries for previous set). This really is a fine progress because who has extra “D” batteries lying around?

Things I enjoy and Things I Don’t

Pros

The Program is Wonderful: It’s reasonably easy and straightforward, but it means everything to me. Being able to control my robot from my phone means the Roomba is now part of my home family that is smart. Picking up on where tools like the Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats have left off, iRobot has actually delivered on a smart, web-connected, roomba vacuum. I eagerly thinking about the options for future integration with my various smart home apps and controllers.

App Helps Screen Maintenance: There's a really trendy “diagnostics” part of the app that monitors different parts of the Roomba and uses simple bars to tell you when things need to be altered or serviced (think emptying the bin, altering extractors, filters, etc…). It also tells you precisely the way to perform the maintenance requirement that is desired.

Better on Carpets: Robots vacuums constantly have a tendency to perform better on hardwood floors and tough flooring choices (tile, etc…). Now, the newly redesigned motor is not particularly bad at adapting to carpeting surfaces as well. After detected, the 980 will engage a bit more muscle to thoroughly clean carpets the manner they should be cleaned. It was a subtle difference, t that is challenging tell from standing up but an important difference nonetheless.

The new app, the battery that is more powerful and the automatic recharging/resume attribute makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than both previous versions and the contest. Slowly but surely, home robotics is living up to it’s guarantee. If you hate vacuuming physically or – cannot do it this is the option that is outsourced that is quintessential. Short of hiring cleaning help, the Roomba 980 is the best option out there.

Navigation is Clearly Improved: Occasionally new attributes are added and I will barely tell the difference. Not so with the new navigation technology. For cleaning in a randomized, haphazard pattern previously, Roomba’s have had the knock. While the ending result was clean floors, how it happened wasn’t fairly. However, it was also a bit inefficient. It was among the contrasts I liked about most Neato versions. Now, the 980 is efficient, methodical, and much more organized.

It bumps into matters to gain its relevance, especially in rooms with lots of furniture. Merely not nearly to the degree it did previously. On careful observation it WOn't keep doing it with the same wild abandon and seems the 980 will recall these “bumps” for future cleans.

Brighter Algorithm: For all you geeks out there, this robot is really smarter than it’s predecessors and the opposition.

Generally speaking, I found that the 980 spent much less time than both my 880 and Botvac’s (included the new Linked Botvac) pausing and calculating as it creates the map of the room.

Strong Secondary Parts Market: As a longtime Roomba proprietor I know that it’s merely a matter of time before I need to replace a battery, brush, or filter (among other items). Unlike other robot companies, the Roomba has a deluge of after market companies specializing in creating parts and better replacement accessories. For example, I’ve been able to locate replacement batteries that are not worse in relation to the factory default ones. This is just somewhat true for businesses like Neato (smaller market share) and this market is almost non existent for the other small players.

Outstanding Customer Service: iRobot continues to be the leader when it comes to customers service. This more of a general “ace” and less unique to this model, but worth noting. Every time I’ve needed to replace a Roomba, I’ve had no issues. They've been also good at walking you through diagnosing issues.

Better Suction Total: My two quasi scientific ways of quantifying this are that A) I can sense a lot more wind/atmosphere coming from the unit and B) those bigger particles of grit that only high powered vacs tend to get are being captured in the dust bin.

Cons

App Could be More: because I’m thrilled with the new program This isn’t really a legit gripe. It’s more of a wish. I’d like to fully integrate my Roomba with the remainder of my smart home. It would be nice to be able to manage everything from one app (and one controller like the SmartThings Hub and others). It probably wouldn’t be difficult to do and it may be something iRobot already plans to do anyway.

Still Not “Perfect”: It’s a definite progress, but it not perfect. Power cords sometimes confused it and can have problem with considerable brinks. Once in a while it'll get stuck, but once you determine the problem areas, it’s not difficult to “Roomba proof” your house. It’s not quite like a human��.yet.

Both the Dyson Eye and the Neato Botvac Joined are rumored to be coming out “ soon. How? I can’t really tell. The Botvac Joined (which features similar app controls) will likely be out sometimes this season, but no firm release date continues to be set. The Dyson Eye was rumored to be in the works for years, but I 'ven’t heard much lately about an anticipated release date. It could be 6-12 months away. What this means is that the Roomba 980 could have some stiffer competition on the horizon. At this time, the 980 is the finest robot available on the market, but that could change. Specially if the price points are more affordable, Roomba could be severely undercut. UPGRADE: The Dyson 360 Eye has recently been released. In general, it's a vacuum that is more powerful, but less qualified room -to-room navigation. It's possible for you to read my full review for more details.

Nevertheless, for pitch black rooms you are going to necessarily get an error code. If cleaning at night or in a basement with no lights, this could be a concern. My easy solution would be to keep night lights on in every room that wants it.

Just Available in One Place: So far – as is frequently the case with new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY available via the store that is iRobot here. This really is likely because they would like to control pricing. When it’s released to other markets like Amazon and carton retailers, I’ll be sure to upgrade this post. UPGRADE 10/8#158/15: It’s just been released to Amazon (see here for the listing)!

Cost: As always, iRobot is the price leader. All their robots usually are slightly to somewhat more expensive than the competition. The 980 is distinct. Actually, it’s pretty darn expensive! At RM 4850 per unit, this can be likely not something that’s simple to spring for. It's possible for you to take a look at this listing for more detailed pricing info. In this instance, you do get what you buy. Many facets that were important really HAVE enhanced. Hands down, this really is the best robot vacuum currently accessible. However, if this really is your first robot, you might want to look into some less expensive – but still competent – alternatives (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Alternatives to Consider

If the cost is too much of a sticking point, never to worry. There are other great vacuums with considering.

Roomba 880

Occasionally last years model is the best value. You get 3 virtual Lighthouses which allow for creating a perimeter for bigger homes and spaces. Until the 980 was released, the Roomba 880 WAS the cream of the crop. It's possible for you to check out my review of it here. At some time, it was the most effective robot hoover cash could buy. The patented AeroForce cleaning system is 50% more effective at cleaning up debris compared to the 700 series. This, combined with a an improved battery, a larger dust bin, and a remote control made it the most hands free apparatus at the time. It doesn’t have the revolutionary use, but it's all the other crucial features for a real runner up. Most importantly, it’s a full cheaper compared to the 980 (check this listing for even steeper discounts). Still expensive, but a lot.

Botvac D80

I wasn’t overly impressed with the initial Botvac release, but some helpful advancements have been made by the new “D” chain. Notably, they’ve repaired a problem with the brush (by altering a bearing) to make it less susceptible to getting tangled (particularly with human and pet hair, within my experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t simply look better, it also performs better than previous Neato versions. The suction power is comparable to the new Roomba 980 and the best yet. Still, you won’t get the app managements, but it’s still relatively easy to schedule and use. The patented laser navigation technology means more routes that are organized and it normally works fairly well. This listing can be seen by you here, where it generally retails for less compared to the top line Roomba’s.

Roomba 650

It’s been around for some time, but it’s not still false. It MUCH more affordable. Attempt the 650 out to see if it on your needs, if budget is the top concern. Yes, it’s missing a bunch of pleasant extras” that is “ but the center cleaning technology is till there. The 650 is ideal for people that have apartments, small homes, or merely a little area they want regularly cleaned. It does not come with the conventional HEPA filter (great for those with allergies and pet owners) like the 880 and 980, but the AeroVac filter does a good enough job. On top of that, you can locate the 650 for a really affordable price at this listing.

The rumored Dyson Eye is formally under development as I mentioned previously. Who knows when it will be released. As of this period it'll be unlikely to strike before the 2015 Holiday season, although they haven’t discussed release dates. The new features on the Roomba 980 may actually cause them to delay launch until they could fit the core features.

UPDATE: The Botvac Connected has officially been released in early Novemeber 2015! See my complete review.

The more intriguing option is the the Neato Botvac “Joined” robot which aims to add WiFi ability that is similar to the Roomba 980. You'll be able to read more here. They’ll have to get it done soon to capitalize fully, although it would seem sensible for them to release it prior to the 2015 Holiday season.

Thinking Cleaner Faceplate

I was a little skeptical of this “work-around” at first, but it actually works reasonably well. Presuming Cleanser was the effect of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It adds any Roomba 500 or 600 series robot and WiFi ability. Disbelieving? I was too. Basically, you attach a “faceplate” that alters your Roomba. It’s simple enough to attach. It is possible to do most of the same functions in intuitive way and a polished”, just as the Roomba 980 WiFi. The program is pretty strong and will let you schedule slightly, alarm you when your Roomba wants help and plays with a song if you have to locate your lost Roomba. It’s accessible just for a fraction of the price of a brand new Roomba here.

Who is this a good option for? 1) Present owners of a 500 or 600 series Roomba. 2) Prospective buyers who desire WiFi capability, but can’t afford/don’t want to spend $899 on the 980. By way of example, purchasing Believing Cleaner Faceplate and a fresh Roomba 650 will run you .

Thinking Cleanser is working on a fresh faceplate for the 700/800 chain, but as of yet it only as a Kickstarter job here.

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Joined

I needed to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it, although I’ll be writing up the full comparison soon.

What are the Essential Differences? 2) The Botvac now has “Eco” and “Turbo” mode. 4) The Roomba uses virtual wall’s (invisible beams to comprise the robot) whereas the Botvac still relies on laying down “magnetic tape” to define boundaries around your home.

Both Botvac Connected and the Roomba 980 feature WiFi enabled management. This really is certainly the headline characteristic for both. Both are similar in terms of characteristics/utilization, although I personally favor the Roomba app better.

UPDATE: It is possible to read my full comparison (recently completed) right here.

Ultimate Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The brief answer: Yes! The longer reply? If you've got the cash, this really is arguably the greatest robot vacuum cleaner available on the market. At minimum, it’s definitely the greatest roomba version to date. Whether or not it is “worth it” comes down to what your unique needs are.

However, if you've got a small flat, the 980 becomes an extravagance. One caveat: it doesn’t matter, if you're a geek like me. This really is a MUST possess!

The 980 is the best robot for the occupation if you've got a bigger house or office/business that must be cleaned regularly. The ground can be covered by it and recharge on it’s own as needed. The 980 has the most electricity/suction and the finest cleaning tech of any robot if you need a vacuuming job that strongly resembles a conventional upright vacuum clean.

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#Roomba 980 Wifi Connected iRobot #iRobor Roomba 980 #iRobot Roomba malaysia #IRobot roomba

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ricardomichael70 · 7 years ago

Text

Leading iRobot Roomba 980 Lahad Datu

Just in time for Christmas, iRobot released their prized Roomba 980 vacuum cleaner. With their Botvac “D that was somewhat enhance being recently released by competitor Neato ” set, it was supposed that iRobot might be following suit. However, it is a comparatively long time since 870 debuted and the Roomba 880. I honestly didn’t understand what to anticipate. Definitely, iRobot isn't considering ceding any market share to competitors, and rightfully so.

As with all preceding Roomba’s there are things that I don’t enjoy and things to like. It ’s going to be hard for me to not gift a couple of Roomba 980’s this year.

At the bottom, I’ll make an overall recommendation and propose a number of options.

Essential Attributes – What’s New with the Roomba 980

The following are remarkable characteristics on the 980, and some of the new, updated:

More Battery Charge Life: The Roomba 980 is capable of running fro a complete 2 hours before needed to recharge. That is a personal best for Roomba. It’s still not Lithium-ion (for those who enjoy that), but it's an advancement.

iRobot HOME App: For me, this is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become more fully integrated into the intelligent home experience. iRobot is the first robot hoover company – to my knowledge – that's an app similar to this. You can press on “Clean” from anywhere and the 980 will start/stop as desired. This can be perfect for people who are on the go (like me). I can get things began while I’m away if I’m at work or out of the house. The program is easy basically functions as an innovative remote control and to use. On the older Roomba’s you could have a pre-determined schedule to run each day, but not instant control like this!

New Navigation System: It’s really more of an upgrade. As well as the traditional “fender” detectors, the Roomba 980 now features the “VSLAM” (Visual Coincident, Localization, and Mapping) technology. This can be a big deal. Essentially it allows the visual localization enables the Roomba to “look” out and up to help browse and map the room. This can be the type of ground breaking betterment that vastly improves the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean practically? Bumping into things randomly and a more organized – and efficient – cleaning course.

Mercifully, iRobot wasn’t content with just a couple attributes that are new. In addition they upped their game in the power section. The AeroForce cleaning system is exactly the same base technology, but 2 times more effective at picking up debris per cleaning cycle. Additionally, it has “carpet boost” which optimizes air power when it discovers a carpet or rug underneath. The outcome is a comprehensive clean, reproducing a level that is higher hoover that is traditional.

Enhanced Virtual Wall Lighthouse: The 980 has stepped up it’s lighthouse game. They are now smaller and require AA batteries (compared to the hulking “D” batteries for previous series). Because who has spare “D” batteries this really is a nice advancement?

Matters I like and Things I Don’t

Pros

It means everything to me: It’s straightforward and fairly easy, although the Program is Wonderful. Being able to control my robot from my telephone means the Roomba is now part of my dwelling family that is smart. Picking up on where tools like the Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats have left off, iRobot has actually provided on a smart, net-joined, roomba vacuum. I thinking about the options for future integration with controllers and my various smart home programs.

Program Helps Monitor Maintenance: There is a really cool “diagnostics” part of the app that tracks different parts of the Roomba and uses simple bars to inform you when things need to be altered or serviced (think emptying the bin, altering extractors, filters, etc…). It also tells you precisely the way to perform the desired maintenance demand.

Better on Carpets: Robots hoovers always have a tendency to perform better on hardwood floors and tough flooring options (tile, etc…). Now, the newly redesigned motor is specially good at conforming to carpeting surfaces too. After discovered, a bit more muscle wills engage to completely clean carpets the way they should be cleaned. In a side by side test with my Roomba 880 (and a group of spilled crushed cheerios), both “seemed” to clean the same at a space, but the 980 actually was able to pick up more of the crumbs that had filtered down to the underparts of the the carpet. It was a subtle difference, challenging t tell from standing up even, but an important difference nonetheless.

The new app, the battery that is more powerful and the automatic recharging/resume attribute makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than the contest and both previous models. Slowly but surely, dwelling robotics is living up to it’s guarantee. If you hate vacuuming – or physically cannot do it this is the quintessential solution that is outsourced. Short the Roomba 980 is the best option out there.

Navigation is Plainly Improved: Occasionally new attributes are added and I can scarcely tell the difference. Before, Roomba’s have had the knock for cleaning in a randomized, haphazard pattern. While the ending result was clean floors, how it happened wasn’t rather. Nevertheless, it was also a little wasteful. This was among the contrasts I liked about most Neato models. Now, the 980 is much more organized, methodical, and efficient.

It still bumps into things to gain its bearings, especially in rooms with tons of furniture. Just not nearly to the level it did in the past. On careful observation it seems the 980 will recall these “lumps” for future cleans and will not keep doing it with precisely the same wild abandon.

Smarter Algorithm: For all you geeks out there, this robot is really smarter than it’s forerunners and the competition.

Strong Secondary Components Market: Unlike other robot firms, the Roomba has a deluge of after market firms specializing in creating components and better replacement accessories. For instance, I’ve been able to find replacement batteries that are better than the factory default ones. This can be only somewhat accurate for businesses like Neato (smaller market share) and this market is almost non existent for the other small-scale players.

Exceptional Customer Service: iRobot is still the leader when it comes to customers service. This more of a general “ace” and less particular to this model, but worth noting. They may be also great at walking you through diagnosing issues.

Better Suction Total: My two quasi scientific ways of quantifying this are that A) I can sense a lot more wind/air coming out of the device and B) those bigger particles of determination that only high powered vacs often get are being captured in the dust bin. This really is an upgrade over the Roomba 880 which I was comparing it also as my baseline.

Cons

App Could be More: because I’m thrilled with the new app, This isn’t actually a legit gripe. It’s more of a wish. Like to completely integrate my Roomba with the rest of my dwelling that is smart I’d. It'd be pleasant in order to handle everything from one app (and one control like the SmartThings Hub and others). It likely wouldn’t be hard to do and it may be something iRobot already plans to do anyhow.

Not “Perfect”: It’s a certain progress, but it not perfect. Power cords occasionally confused it and can have trouble with thresholds that were considerable. It’s easy to “Roomba proof” your house once in a while it will get stuck, but once you find out the problem areas. It’s not quite like an individual….yet.

Both Dyson Eye and the Neato Botvac Connected are rumored to be coming out “ soon”. How soon? I can’t really tell. The Botvac Connected (which features similar app controls) will probably be out occasionally this year, but no firm release date continues to be set. The Dyson Eye continues to be rumored to be in the works for years, but I haven’t heard much lately about an anticipated release date. It could be 6-12 months away. What this means is the Roomba 980 could have some harder competition on the horizon. At this time, the 980 is the best robot available on the market, but that could change. UPGRADE: The Dyson 360 Eye has been released. Generally speaking, it's a vacuum that is more powerful, but less room that is competent -to-room navigation. You'll be able to read my complete review for additional information.

However, for pitch black rooms you will inevitably get an error code. If cleaning at night or in a cellar with no lights, this could be a concern. My simple alternative is to keep on in every room that wants it.

It worth noting, although carpet Boost is Loud: It picks up more dirt, so I’m a happy customer. Don’t plan on sleeping in the same room.

Just Available in One Place: So far as is frequently the case with new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY accessible via the store that is iRobot here. This really is likely because they want to control pricing as long as possible. When it’s released like carton retailers and Amazon to other markets, I’ll make sure to update this post.

Cost: As always, iRobot is the cost leader. All their robots are often slightly to moderately more expensive than the contest. The 980 is different. In fact, it’s not pretty darn cheap! At RM 4850 per unit, this is likely not something that’s not difficult to spring for. It's possible for you to check out this listing for more detailed pricing info. In this instance, you do get what you pay for. This generation actually HAS enhanced many aspects that were important. Hands down, this can be the best robot vacuum currently available. However, if that is your first robot, you may want to look into some less expensive – but still competent – alternatives (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Options to Consider

If the price is too much of a sticking point, not to stress. There are other great vacuums with considering.

Roomba 880

Occasionally last years model is the best value around. Sure, it’s not the latest and greatest, but it nevertheless can offer many of the exact same benefits. You get 3 virtual Lighthouses which allow for creating a perimeter for larger houses and spaces. At the time, it was the most effective robot hoover cash could buy. The patented AeroForce cleaning system is 50% more effective at cleaning up debris in relation to the 700 series. This, combined with a a much better battery, a larger dust bin, and a remote control made it the most hands free device at the time. It doesn’t have the app that is groundbreaking, but it's all the other essential characteristics for a true runner up. Most importantly, it’s a total cheaper compared to the 980 (check this listing for even steeper discounts). Still expensive, but a lot.

Botvac D80

The new “D” series has made some advancements that are helpful, although I wasn’t too impressed with the initial Botvac release. Notably, they’ve fixed a problem with the brush (by changing a bearing) to allow it to be less susceptible to getting tangled (particularly with human and pet hair, within my experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t only seem better, it also performs better than previous Neato models. The suction power is comparable to the new Roomba 980 and the greatest yet. Still, you won’t get the program controls, but it relatively easy use and to schedule. The patented laser navigation technology means more organized routes and it generally works fairly nicely. You can see this listing here, where it normally sells for less than the top line Roomba’s.

Roomba 650

It’s not still false, although it’s been around for some time. It’s also MUCH less expensive. It is possible to read my full take here. If budget is your top concern, attempt the 650 out to see if it’s good enough for your own needs. Yes, it’s missing a group of “extras” that is fine but the center cleaning technology is till there. The 650 is ideal for people who have flats, little homes, or only a small space they desire regularly cleaned. It doesn't come with the typical HEPA filter (great for those with allergies and pet owners) like the 880 and 980, but the AeroVac filter does a good enough job. On the whole, this can be an excellent robot for those just getting started, interested to see if the technology works because of their needs. I still have mine running to this day after 3 years (and a few replacement batteries). Best of all, you are able to locate the 650 for a very affordable price at this listing.

Thinking Cleaner Faceplate

I was a bit skeptical of this “work-around” at first, but it actually works fairly well. Believing Cleanser was the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It functionally adds or 600 series robot and WiFi capability. Skeptical? I was also. Essentially, you attach a “faceplate” that changes your Roomba. It’s simple enough to attach. You can do most of exactly the same functions in a polished” and intuitive way, just as the Roomba 980 WiFi. The app will let you schedule remotely, alert you when your Roomba needs help and plays a song if you must find your lost Roomba and is quite strong. It’s available for just a fraction of the price of a Roomba that is new here.

I’ll caveat by saying that 1) it’s still “laggy” 2) reduces typical run-time by about 10-15% and 3) it’s not native to iRobot (third party app). Thinking Cleaner is working on a fresh faceplate for the 700/800 series, but as of yet it only as a Kickstarter job here.

Who is this a great option for? 2) Prospective buyers who want WiFi capacity, but can’t manage/don’t need to spend too much on the 980. By way of example, by purchasing a brand new Roomba 650 and Thinking Cleaner Faceplate, you will be run .

New Robots on the Horizon?

The long rumored Dyson Eye is officially under development as I mentioned previously. Who knows when it'll be released. They haven’t discussed release dates, but at this period it will not be likely to hit before the 2015 Holiday season. The new attributes on the Roomba 980 may really cause them to delay release until the core features can be matched by them.

UPGRADE: The Botvac Linked has formally been released in early Novemeber 2015! See my complete review.

The more fascinating possibility is the the Neato Botvac “Connected” robot which plans to add similar WiFi ability to the Roomba 980. It's possible for you to read more here. It'd make sense about them to release it but they’ll have to get it done shortly to capitalize fully.

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Joined

I needed to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it, although I’ll be writing up the full comparison soon.

What are the Essential Differences? 1) The Botvac Joined is significantly more affordable (generally about $200 less), but see this listing for up to date info. 2) The Botvac now has “Eco” and “Turbo” mode. 4) The Roomba uses virtual wall’s (invisible ray to include the robot) whereas the Botvac still relies on laying down “magnetic tape” to define boundaries around your dwelling.

Both the Roomba 980 and Botvac Linked feature WiFi enabled control. That is certainly the headline feature for both. Both are comparable with regards to characteristics/usage, although Personally, I prefer the Roomba program better.

UPGRADE: It's possible for you to read my complete comparison (recently completed) right here.

Final Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The brief reply: Yes! The longer response? If you've the cash, this is arguably the best robot vacuum cleaner available on the market. At minimum, it’s certainly the best roomba version to date. Whether or not it is “worth it” comes down to what your unique needs are.

However, if you have a small flat, the 980 becomes an extravagance. One caveat: it doesn’t matter in case you are a geek like me. This really is a MUST own!

https://youtu.be/FHdVqHm4ilw

The 980 is the greatest robot for the occupation if you've a larger house or office/company that must be cleaned regularly. It can cover the ground and recharge own as needed. If you'll need a vacuuming occupation that strongly resembles a traditional upright vacuum clean, the 980 has the most power/suction and the finest cleaning tech of any robot.

#Roomba 980 Wifi Connected iRobot #iRobor Roomba 980 #iRobot Roomba malaysia #IRobot roomba

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alexanderkoh-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Unstoppable iRobot Roomba 980 Kunak

Just in time for the Holidays, iRobot released their prized Roomba 980 vacuum cleaner to the masses. With rival Neato lately releasing their marginally improve Botvac “D ” series, it was supposed that iRobot might be following suit. Nonetheless, it continues to be a relatively long time since 870 debuted and the Roomba 880. I honestly didn’t understand what to anticipate. Clearly, iRobot is not interested in ceding any market share to rivals, and rightfully so.

As with all previous Roomba’s there are things that I don’t enjoy and things to like. Regardless, it ’s going to be tough for me to not gift a couple Roomba 980’s this year.

In this Roomba 980 review, I’ll get into the crucial attributes (what’s new) as well as the Pros and Cons. At the bottom, I’ll propose several choices and make an overall recommendation.

Key Features – What’s New with the Roomba 980

The following are remarkable features on the 980, and some of the new, upgraded:

More Battery Charge Life: The Roomba 980 is effective at running fro a complete 2 hours before needed to recharge. This really is a personal best for Roomba. It’s still not Lithium-ion (for individuals who like that), but it is an improvement. Like the 800 series robots, the 980 will automatically return to the docking station base, but it'll recharge, then resume where it left off cleaning,.

iRobot HOUSE App: For me, this really is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become fully integrated into the bright house experience. iRobot is the first robot vacuum firm – to my knowledge – that's an app such as this. You'll be able to press on “Clean” from anywhere and the 980 will start/stop as desired. I will get things began while I’m away, if I’m at work or from your house. The app is simple enough essentially functions as an advanced remote control and to use. On the Roomba’s that is older you could have a pre-determined program to run every day, but not immediate control in this way!

It’s actually more of an upgrade. In addition to the traditional “fender” detectors, the Roomba 980 now features the “VSLAM” (Visual Simultaneous, Localization, and Mapping) technology. This can be a big deal. Essentially it enables the visual localization enables the Roomba to “look” up and out to help navigate and map the room. This is the kind of ground breaking improvement that vastly enhances the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean almost? Less bumping into a more organized efficient and – – cleaning route and things at random.

More Suction Power: Mercifully, iRobot wasn’t content with just a few features that are new. Additionally they upped their game in the power section. The AeroForce cleaning system is per cleaning cycle the same base technology, but 2 times more effective at picking up debris. Additionally, it has “carpet boost” which optimizes air power when it finds a carpet or rug underneath. The end result is an extensive clean, reproducing a greater rank hoover that is conventional.

Enhanced Virtual Wall Lighthouse: The 980 has stepped up it’s lighthouse game. They are now smaller and require AA batteries (in contrast to the hulking “D” batteries for preceding set). Because who has spare “D” batteries lying around this is a nice advancement?

Matters I like and Things I Don’t

Pros

It means everything to me: It’s pretty simple and straightforward, although the Program is Amazing. Having the ability to control my robot from my phone means the Roomba is currently part of my smart home family. Picking up on where tools like Ecobee smart thermostats and the Nest have left off, iRobot has really produced on a smart, net-connected, roomba vacuum. I considering the options for future integration with controllers and my various smart house programs.

Program Helps Monitor Maintenance: There's a really cool “diagnostics” portion of the app that tracks different parts of the Roomba and uses simple bars to tell you when things need to be changed or serviced (think emptying the bin, shifting extractors, filters, etc…). Additionally, it tells you exactly how to perform the desired maintenance demand.

Better on Carpets: Robots vacuums constantly tend to perform better on hardwood floors and hard floor choices (tile, etc…). The recently redesigned motor is not particularly bad at conforming to carpet surfaces as well. After found, a little more muscle wills engage to completely clean carpeting the way they should be cleaned. It was a subtle difference, an important difference nonetheless, although t that is hard tell from standing up even.

The new program, the battery that is more powerful and the automatic recharging/resume feature makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than the contest and both previous versions. Slowly but surely, house robotics is living up to it’s guarantee. If you hate vacuuming physically or – cannot do it this is the quintessential outsourced solution. Short of hiring cleaning help, the Roomba 980 is the best option out there.

Navigation is Plainly Improved: Sometimes new features are added and I will hardly tell the difference. Not so with the new navigation technology. In the recent past, Roomba’s have had the knock. While the end result was clean floors, how it happened wasn’t quite. Still, it was also a bit wasteful. It was among the contrasts I liked about most Neato models. Now, the 980 is methodical, much more organized, and efficient.

It bumps into things to gain its bearings, particularly in rooms with tons of furniture. Merely not nearly to the level it did in the past. On careful observation it appears the 980 will recall these “lumps” for future cleans and will not keep doing it with precisely the same wild abandon.

Smarter Algorithm: This robot is actually smarter than it’s predecessors and the competitors.

Strong Secondary Components Marketplace: As a longtime Roomba proprietor I know that it’s only a matter of time before I have to replace a battery, brush, or filter (among other things). Unlike other robot firms, the Roomba has a deluge of after market businesses specializing in creating parts and better replacement accessories. For example, I’ve been able to locate replacement batteries that are better in relation to the factory default ones.

Exceptional Customer Service: iRobot remains the leader when it comes to customers service. This more of a general “pro” and particular to the model, but still worth noting. They may be also good at walking you through diagnosing problems.

Better Suction Overall: My two quasi scientific methods for quantifying this are that A) I can feel a lot more wind/atmosphere coming from the unit and B) those larger particles of determination that only high powered vacs often get are being caught in the dust bin. This is an upgrade over the Roomba 880 which I was comparing it also as my baseline.

Disadvantages

Use Could be More: because I’m thrilled with the new app This isn’t really a legit gripe. Like to totally incorporate my Roomba with the rest of my home that is smart I’d. It'd be nice to be able to handle everything from one program (and one control like the SmartThings Hub and others). It likely wouldn’t be hard to do and it may be something iRobot already intends to do anyhow.

Not “Perfect”: It’s a definite progress, but it not perfect. Power cords occasionally confused it and can have trouble with considerable thresholds. Once in a while it will get stuck, but once you figure out the problem areas, it’s not difficult to “Roomba evidence” your house. It’s not quite like a human….yet.

The Dyson Eye and the Neato Botvac Joined are rumored to be coming out “ soon. How soon? I can’t really tell. The Botvac Joined (which features similar program controls) will probably be out occasionally this season, but no firm release date continues to be set. I 'ven’t heard much lately about an anticipated release date, although the Dyson Eye continues to be rumored to be in the works for years. It could be 6-12 months away. What this means is the Roomba 980 could have some stiffer competition on the horizon. Right now, the 980 is the best robot available on the market, but that could change. UPGRADE: The Dyson 360 Eye has recently been released. Generally, it has a vacuum that is more powerful, but less room that is competent -to-room navigation. It's possible for you to read my full review for more details.

Doesn’t Work in Entire Darkness: As long as there's some light i.e. you can see your way around, the 980 should work good. Nevertheless, for pitch black rooms you will necessarily get an error code. If cleaning at night or in a basement with no lights, this could be a concern. My simple solution is to keep on in every room that needs it.

It’s still worth noting, although carpeting Foster is Loud: It picks up more dirt, so I’m a happy customer. Don’t plan on sleeping in exactly the same room.

Just Accessible in One Area: So far – as is often the case with new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY accessible via the store that is iRobot here. This is likely because they would like to control pricing. When it’s released like Amazon and carton retailers to other markets, I’ll be sure to upgrade this post.

Cost: As always, iRobot is the price leader. All their robots are usually somewhat to moderately more costly than the contest. The 980 is distinct. In fact, it’s fairly darn expensive! At RM 4850 per unit, this can be likely not something that’s not difficult to spring for. You'll be able to check out this listing for more detailed pricing information. In this instance, you do get what you buy. Many significant features actually HAVE enhanced. Hands down, this is the best robot vacuum now accessible. However, if this is your first robot, you may want to look into some less expensive – but still qualified – alternatives (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Alternatives to Consider

If the cost is too much of a sticking point, not to worry. There are with contemplating other great hoovers.

Roomba 880

Sometimes last years model is the best value. Sure, it’s not the latest and greatest, but it still can offer many of exactly the same benefits. You get 3 virtual Lighthouses which allow for establishing a perimeter for larger homes and spaces. At some time, it was the most effective robot vacuum money could buy. The patented AeroForce cleaning system is 50% more effective at cleaning up debris in relation to the 700 series. This, joined with a an improved battery, a larger dust bin, and a remote control made it the most hands free device at the time. It's all the other key features for an actual runner up, although it doesn’t have the groundbreaking app. Most of all, it’s a full cheaper compared to the 980 (check this listing for even steeper reductions). Still pricey, but a lot less so.

Botvac D80

Some helpful advancements have been made by the new “D” string, although I wasn’t too impressed with the original Botvac release. Notably, they’ve repaired a problem with the brush (by changing a bearing) to make it less susceptible to getting tangled (particularly with person and pet hair, in my experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t just seem better, it also performs better than preceding Neato models. The suction power is arguably comparable to the new Roomba 980 and the best yet. Still, you won’t get the app controls, but it’s still not too hard use and to schedule. The patented laser navigation technology means more courses that are organized and it usually works quite nicely. Where it usually retails for less compared to the top line Roomba’s you can see this listing here.

Roomba 650

It trusted, although it’s been around for a while. It’s also MUCH cheaper. It is possible to read my full take here. If budget is your top concern, try the 650 out to see if it enough to your needs. Yes, it’s missing a bunch of “extras” that is nice but the center cleaning technology is till there. The 650 is perfect for people that have only a little area they need routinely cleaned, apartments, or little dwellings. It does not come with the conventional HEPA filter (good for those with allergies and pet owners) like the 880 and 980, but the AeroVac filter does a good enough job. Generally, this is a great robot for those just getting started, curious to see if the technology works because of their needs. On top of that, you're able to find the 650 for a really affordable price at this listing.

New Robots on the Horizon?

The long rumored Dyson Eye is officially under development as I mentioned previously. Who knows when it will be released. They still haven’t discussed release dates, but at this stage it'll be unlikely to hit before the 2015 Holiday season. The new attributes on the Roomba 980 may really lead them to delay release until they're able to fit the core features.

UPDATE: See my full review.

The interesting possibility is the the Neato Botvac “Connected” robot which plans to add WiFi ability that is similar to the Roomba 980. It's possible for you to read more here. They’ll have to do it shortly to capitalize entirely, although it would seem sensible for them to release it prior to the 2015 Holiday season.

Believing Cleaner Faceplate

I was a bit skeptical of this “work-around” at first, but it really works reasonably well. Thinking Cleaner was the consequence of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It adds or 600 series robot and WiFi ability. Disbelieving? I was also. Essentially, you attach a “faceplate” that modifies your Roomba. It’s simple to attach. You can do most of the same functions as the Roomba 980 WiFi, merely in a polished” and intuitive way. The app is pretty stable and will let you schedule slightly, alarm you when your Roomba needs help and plays with a tune if you must find your lost Roomba. It’s accessible for just a fraction of the cost of a Roomba that is new here.

I’ll caveat by saying that 1) it’s still “laggy” 2) reduces typical run-time by about 10-15% and 3) it’s not native to iRobot (third party app). Presuming Cleaner is working on a fresh faceplate for the 700/800 chain, but as of yet it only as a Kickstarter endeavor here.

Who's this a great option for? 1) Existing owners of a 500 or 600 series Roomba. 2) Prospective buyers who need WiFi capacity, but can’t afford/don’t want to spend $899 on the 980. As an example, by purchasing a fresh Roomba 650 and Thinking Cleaner Faceplate, you will be run .

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Joined

I’ll be writing up the full comparison soon, but I wanted to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting lots of questions about it.

Both the Roomba 980 and Botvac Linked attribute WiFi enabled management. This really is definitely the headline characteristic for both. Both are similar when it comes to characteristics/utilization, although Personally, I favor the Roomba app better.

What are the Crucial Differences? 1) The Botvac Connected is significantly more affordable (normally about $200 less), but see this listing for up to date info. 2) The Botvac now has “Eco” and “Turbo” mode.

UPGRADE: You're able to read my complete comparison (recently completed) right here.

Final Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The short reply: Yes! The longer response? This can be arguably the best robot vacuum cleaner on the market, if you have the cash. At minimum, it’s surely the best roomba model to date. Whether or not it is “worth it” comes down to what your unique needs are.

But if you've got a little flat, the 980 becomes an extravagance. One caveat: it doesn’t matter, If you are a geek like me. This is a MUST own!

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#Roomba 980 Wifi Connected iRobot #iRobor Roomba 980 #iRobot Roomba malaysia #IRobot roomba

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irobotroombamelaka11-blog · 7 years ago

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Awesome iRobot Roomba 980 Tenom Huge Discount

Just in time for Christmas, iRobot released their prized Roomba 980 vacuum cleaner. With rival Neato recently releasing their slightly improve Botvac “D ” set, it was speculated that iRobot might be following suit. Nevertheless, it continues to be a relatively long time since 870 debuted and the Roomba 880. I actually didn’t know what to expect. Definitely, iRobot isn't considering ceding any market share to competitors, and rightfully so.

As with all previous Roomba’s there are things to like and things that I don’t enjoy. Regardless, it ’s going to be difficult for me to not gift a couple Roomba 980’s this year.

In this Roomba 980 review, I’ll get into the crucial attributes (what’s new) as well as the Pros and Cons. At the base, I’ll propose several options and make an overall recommendation.

Key Features – What’s New with the Roomba 980

The following are notable characteristics on the 980, and some of the new, updated:

More Battery Charge Life: The Roomba 980 is effective at running fro a full 2 hours before needed to recharge. This really is a personal best for Roomba. It’s still not Lithium-ion (for those who enjoy that), but it is an advancement. Now it'll recharge, and resume where it left off cleaning, although like the 800 series robots, the 980 will automatically return to the docking station base.

iRobot DWELLING App: For me, this is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become more fully incorporated into the home experience that is smart. iRobot is the first robot vacuum firm – to my knowledge – that's an app in this way. You can press “Clean” from anywhere and the 980 will start/stop as wanted. If I’m at work or out of your house, I can get while I’m away things started. The app is simple enough to use and essentially functions as an advanced remote control. On the older Roomba’s you could have a pre determined schedule to run each day, but not immediate control in this way!

New Navigation System: It’s actually more of an upgrade. This is a big deal. Essentially it enables the visual localization map the room and allows the Roomba to “look” out and up to help navigate. This really is the type of ground breaking improvement that vastly improves the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean practically? Bumping into things randomly and a more organized – and efficient – cleaning route.

Thankfully, iRobot wasn’t content with just a couple features that are new. Additionally they upped their game in the power section. The AeroForce cleaning system is exactly the same base technology, but 2 times far better at picking up debris per cleaning cycle. It also has “carpet boost” which maximizes air power when it detects a carpet or rug underneath. The outcome is a more comprehensive clean, duplicating a rank that is higher hoover that is traditional.

Enhanced Virtual Wall Lighthouse: The 980 has stepped up lighthouse game is ’sed by it. They are now smaller and require AA batteries (as opposed to the hulking “D” batteries for previous series). Because who has extra “D” batteries this is a fine progress?

Pros and Cons – Matters I enjoy and Things I Don’t

Pros

It means everything to me: It’s straightforward and reasonably simple, although the Program is Amazing. Having the ability to control my robot from my telephone means the Roomba is now part of my smart home family. Picking up on where tools like the Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats have left off, iRobot has actually provided on a smart, net-joined, roomba vacuum. I’m already eagerly considering the possibilities for future integration with controls and my various smart dwelling apps.

App Helps Screen Maintenance: There is a really trendy “diagnostics” portion of the app that tracks different parts of the Roomba and uses straightforward bars to let you know when things have to be changed or serviced (believe emptying the bin, altering extractors, filters, etc…). It also tells you exactly how to perform the desired care demand.

Better on Carpeting: Robots vacuums always often perform better on hardwood floors and hard flooring choices (tile, etc…). The newly redesigned motor is not specially bad at adjusting to carpeting surfaces as well. After found, a little more muscle wills engage to thoroughly clean carpeting the manner they should be cleaned. It was a subtle difference, an important difference however, although hard t tell from standing up even.

More Hands Off/User Friendly: in summary, it’s more of a robot! The new program, the battery that is stronger and the automatic recharging/resume feature makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than the competition and both previous versions. Slowly but surely, dwelling robotics is living up to it’s guarantee. If you hate vacuuming physically or – cannot do it anymore – this is the outsourced option that is quintessential. Short the Roomba 980 is the smartest choice out there.

Navigation is Apparently Enhanced: I will barely tell the difference and Occasionally new attributes are added. Previously, Roomba’s have had the knock for cleaning in a randomized, haphazard pattern. While the ending result was clean floors, how it occurred wasn’t pretty. Still, it was also somewhat ineffective. It was among the comparisons I liked about most Neato versions. Now, the 980 is methodical, much more organized, and efficient.

It still bumps into things to gain its impacts, especially in rooms with tons of furniture. Just not nearly to the level it did in the past. On careful observation it appears the 980 will recall these “bumps” for future cleans and WOn't keep doing it with precisely the same wild abandon.

Brighter Algorithm: This robot is really smarter than it’s the opposition and predecessors.

Exceptional Customer Service: iRobot remains the leader when it comes to customers service. This more of a general “pro” and less particular to the model, but worth noting. Every time I’ve needed to replace a Roomba, I’ve had no problems. They've been also not bad at walking you through diagnosing problems.

Strong Secondary Parts Market: Unlike other robot firms, the Roomba has a deluge of after market businesses specializing in creating better replacement accessories and components. For instance, I’ve been able to locate replacement batteries that are not worse than the factory default ones. This is only somewhat accurate for firms like Neato (smaller market share) and this market is almost non existent for the other small-scale players.

Better Suction Complete: My two quasi scientific ways of measuring this are that A) I can sense a lot more wind/atmosphere coming from the unit and B) those larger particles of grit that only high powered vacs often get are being captured in the dust bin. This really is an upgrade over the Roomba 880 which I was comparing it also as my baseline.

Cons

App Could be More: This isn’t actually a legit gripe, because I’m thrilled with the new program. Like to totally integrate my Roomba with the rest of my smart home I’d. It'd be nice in order to handle everything from one program (and one controller like the SmartThings Hub and others). It probably wouldn’t be hard to do and it may be something iRobot already intends to do anyhow.

Not “Perfect”: It’s a clear progress, but it’s still not perfect. It occasionally gets confused by power cords and can have problem with thresholds that were substantial. It’s simple to “Roomba proof” your house once in a while it will get stuck, but once you figure out the problem areas. It’s not quite like a human….yet.

Both the Neato Botvac Joined and the Dyson Eye are rumored to be coming out “ soon”. How? I can’t actually tell. The Botvac Connected (which features similar app controls) will likely be out sometimes in 2013, but no firm release date has been set. I haven’t heard much lately about an anticipated release date, although the Dyson Eye was rumored to be in the works for years. It could be 6-12 months away. What this means is that the Roomba 980 could have some harder competition on the horizon. At the moment, the 980 is the greatest robot out there, but that could change. Particularly if the price points are more affordable, Roomba could be severely undercut. UPDATE: The Dyson 360 Eye has been released. Generally, it's a vacuum that is more powerful, but less room that is competent -to-room navigation. You can read my complete review for additional information.

Doesn’t Work in Entire Darkness: As long as there is some light i.e. you can see your way around, the 980 should function good. Nonetheless, for pitch black rooms you may necessarily get an error code. If cleaning at night or in a basement with no lights, this could be a concern. My easy solution would be to keep night lights on in every room that wants it.

Just Available in One Area: So far as is frequently the case with new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY available via the iRobot shop here. This really is likely because they want to control pricing as long as possible. When it’s released to other marketplaces like Amazon and box retailers, I’ll make sure to upgrade this post.

Price: As always, iRobot is the cost leader. All their robots are often slightly to somewhat more expensive as opposed to competition. The 980 is no distinct. Actually, it’s not pretty darn cheap! At RM 4850 per unit, this really is probably not something that’s not difficult to spring for. You'll be able to check out this listing for more detailed pricing info. In this instance, you do get what you buy. Many important facets actually HAVE improved. Hands down, this is the best robot vacuum currently accessible. Still, if this really is your first robot, you may want to look into some less expensive – but still competent – options (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Choices to Consider

If the cost is too much of a sticking point, not to worry. There are other great hoovers with considering.

Roomba 880

Occasionally last years model is the best value. You get 3 virtual Lighthouses which allow for creating a margin for larger houses and spaces. It's possible for you to take a look at my review of it here. At some time, it was the best robot hoover cash could buy. The AeroForce cleaning system that is patented is 50% more effective at cleaning up debris compared to the 700 series. This, joined with a a remote control, a much better battery, and a larger dust bin made it the most hands free apparatus at the time. It ’s the 2 nd best. It doesn’t have the ground-breaking use, but it's all the other essential features for an actual runner up. Most importantly, it’s a total cheaper compared to the 980 (check this listing for even steeper reductions). Still pricey, but a lot.

Botvac D80

I wasn’t too impressed with the first Botvac release, but the new “D” string has made some helpful advancements. Notably, they’ve fixed a problem with the brush (by changing a bearing) to ensure it is less susceptible to becoming tangled (especially with person and pet hair, in my own experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t merely look better, it also performs better than previous Neato models. The suction power is the greatest yet and arguably comparable to the new Roomba 980. However, you won’t get the app controls, but it not too hard to schedule and use. The patented laser navigation technology means more organized routes and it generally works fairly nicely. You can see this listing here, where it usually retails for less than the top line Roomba’s.

Roomba 650

It’s been around for some time, but it dependable. It MUCH cheaper. If budget is your top concern, attempt the 650 out if it for your own needs to see. Yes, it’s missing a bunch of nice extras” that is “ but the center cleaning technology is till there. The 650 is perfect for individuals who have merely a small area they want often cleaned, flats, or small houses. Best of all, you are able to locate the 650 for a really affordable cost at this listing.

Believing Cleaner Faceplate

I was somewhat skeptical of this “work around” at first, but it actually works fairly well. Believing Cleaner was the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It functionally adds WiFi capability to any Roomba 500 or 600 series robot. Disbelieving? I was also. Essentially, you attach a “faceplate” that changes your Roomba. It’s simple enough to attach. Best of all, it can synchronize with other smart home apps (like SmartThings, etc…), something that I’ve criticized the Roomba 980 for not doing. It is possible to do most of exactly the same functions merely in intuitive way and a polished”. The app is pretty stable and will let you schedule remotely, alert you when your Roomba wants help and plays with a song if you need to find your lost Roomba. It’s accessible for just a fraction of the cost of a Roomba that is new here.

I’ll caveat by saying that 1) it’s still “laggy” 2) reduces average run-time by about 10-15% and 3) it’s not native to iRobot (third party program). Presuming Cleanser is working on a fresh faceplate for the 700/800 chain, but as of yet it only as a Kickstarter project here.

Who's this a great option for? 1) Existing owners of a 500 or 600 series Roomba. 2) Prospective buyers who desire WiFi capacity, but can’t manage/don’t need to spend too much on the 980. For instance, buying a brand new Roomba 650 and Thinking Cleaner Faceplate will run you no more than $500 total.

New Robots on the Horizon?

The rumored Dyson Eye is formally under development, as I mentioned previously. Who knows when it'll be released. At this period it will not be likely to strike before the 2015 Holiday season, although they still haven’t discussed release dates. The new attributes on the Roomba 980 may actually cause them to delay launch until they can match the core attributes.

UPGRADE: The Botvac Connected has formally been released in early Novemeber 2015! See my complete review.

The possibility that is more interesting is the the Neato Botvac “Joined” robot which plans to add WiFi ability that is similar to the Roomba 980. You can read more about it via the official press release here. They’ll have to do it shortly to capitalize completely, although it'd seem sensible for them to release it prior to the 2015 Holiday season.

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Linked

I desired to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it, although I’ll be writing up a full comparison soon.

What are the Crucial Differences?

Both Botvac Joined and the Roomba 980 characteristic WiFi enabled control. This really is definitely the headline characteristic for both. I personally prefer the Roomba program better, but both are comparable with regards to characteristics/use.

UPDATE: It is possible to read my full comparison (recently finished) right here.

Ultimate Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The brief answer: Yes! The longer answer? This can be arguably the greatest robot vacuum cleaner on the market if you might have the money. At minimum, it’s surely the finest roomba version to date. Whether or not it's “worth it” comes down to what your unique needs are.

If you've got a bigger house or office/business that must be cleaned regularly, the 980 is the greatest robot for the job. The ground can be covered by it and recharge on it’s own as needed. The 980 has the most electricity/suction and the finest cleaning technology of any robot to get the job done if you'll need a vacuuming occupation that closely resembles a traditional upright vacuum clean.

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#Roomba 980 Wifi Connected iRobot #iRobor Roomba 980 #iRobot Roomba malaysia #IRobot roomba

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siewannchiang · 7 years ago

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Kick Ass iRobot Roomba 980 Company in Hulu Perak

With their slightly improve Botvac “D being recently released by competitor Neato ” series, it was theorized that iRobot might be following suit. Nevertheless, it is a comparatively long time since 870 debuted and the Roomba 880. I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Undoubtedly, iRobot is not interested in ceding any market share to rivals, and rightfully so.

As with all previous Roomba’s there are things that I don’t like and things to like. Regardless, it ’s going to be difficult for me to not gift a couple Roomba 980’s this year.

At the bottom, I’ll propose several options and make an overall recommendation.

Essential Characteristics – What’s New with the Roomba 980

The following are some of the new, updated, and remarkable features on the 980:

The Roomba 980 is now capable of running fro a complete 2 hours before needed to recharge. This is a personal best for Roomba. On some of my older 700 series hoovers I’ve come close to this with after market third party replacement batteries, but this is the greatest factory default option (out of the box) battery life to date. It’s still not Lithium-ion (for people who enjoy that), but it really is an improvement. Like the 800 series robots, the 980 will automatically return to the docking station base, but now it will recharge, then resume where it left off cleaning,.

iRobot DWELLING Program: For me, this is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become more fully integrated into the house encounter that is smart. iRobot is the first robot hoover company – to my knowledge – that's an app in this way. It's possible for you to press “Clean” from anywhere and the 980 will start/stop as wanted. That is perfect for individuals who are on the go (like me). If I’m at work or from the house, I will get things began while I’m away. The program is simple to use and basically functions as an innovative remote control. On the older Roomba’s you could have a pre determined schedule to run every day, but not instant control in this way!

It’s actually more of an upgrade. In addition to the conventional “bumper” sensors, the Roomba 980 now features the “VSLAM” (Visual Simultaneous, Localization, and Mapping) technology. This is a big deal. Essentially it lets the visual localization map the room and enables the Roomba to “look” out and up to help navigate. This really is the type of ground-breaking enhancement that vastly improves the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean almost? Bumping into things at random and a more organized efficient and – – cleaning path.

Happily, iRobot wasn’t content with just a couple new attributes. In addition they upped their game in the power department. The AeroForce cleaning system is exactly the same base technology, but 2 times more efficient at picking up debris per cleaning cycle. It also has “carpet boost” which optimizes air power when it detects a carpet or rug beneath. The outcome is a hoover that is traditional that is more thorough clean, replicating a greater level.

Enhanced Virtual Wall Lighthouse: The 980 has stepped up lighthouse game is ’sed by it. They're now smaller and take AA batteries (compared to the hulking “D” batteries for previous series). This is a nice improvement because who has spare “D” batteries lying around?

Pros and Cons – Matters I enjoy and Things I Don’t

Pros

The App is Wonderful: It’s straightforward and pretty simple, but it means everything to me. Being able to control my robot from my telephone means the Roomba is currently part of my dwelling family that is smart. Picking up on where tools like the Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats have left off, iRobot has really produced on a smart, internet-joined, roomba vacuum. I thinking about the options for future integration with controllers and my various smart house apps.

App Helps Screen Care: There's a very trendy “diagnostics” portion of the app that tracks distinct parts of the Roomba and uses simple bars to inform you when things have to be changed or serviced (believe emptying the bin, shifting extractors, filters, etc…). It also tells you precisely how you can perform the care demand that is desired.

Better on Carpeting: Robots hoovers always tend to perform better on hardwood floors and hard floor choices (tile, etc…). The recently redesigned motor is not especially bad at adjusting to carpeting surfaces too. Once found, a little more muscle wills engage to thoroughly clean carpeting the manner they should be cleaned. In a side by side test with my Roomba 880 (and a bunch of spilled crushed cheerios), both “seemed” to clean the same at a distance, but the 980 truly was able to pick up more of the crumbs that had filtered down to the bottom of the carpeting. It was a subtle difference, an important difference nonetheless, although difficult t tell from standing up even.

More Hands Off/User Friendly: In short, it’s more of a robot! The new program, the battery that is stronger and the automatic recharging/resume attribute makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than the competition and both previous versions. Slowly but surely, house robotics is living up to it’s guarantee. If you hate vacuuming – or physically cannot do it anymore – this is the quintessential outsourced solution. Short the Roomba 980 is now the smartest choice out there.

Navigation is Noticeably Enhanced: Sometimes new features are added and I can hardly tell the difference. For cleaning in a randomized, haphazard pattern previously, Roomba’s have had the knock. While the ending result was clean floors, how it occurred wasn’t pretty. However, it was also somewhat inefficient. This was among the comparisons I liked about most Neato versions. The 980 is efficient, methodical, and much more organized.

It still bumps into matters to gain its relevance, especially in rooms with lots of furniture. Only not nearly to the amount it did in the past. On careful observation it will not keep doing it with the same wild abandon and even appears the 980 will remember these “lumps” for future cleans.

Smarter Algorithm: For all you geeks out there, this robot is actually smarter than it’s predecessors and the competition.

Superb Customer Service: iRobot is still the leader when it comes to customers service. This more of a general “ace” and less particular to the model, but still worth noting. Every time I’ve needed to replace a Roomba, I’ve had no issues. They truly are also not bad at walking you through diagnosing difficulties.

Strong Secondary Parts Marketplace: Unlike other robot companies, the Roomba has a deluge of after market firms specializing in creating components and better replacement accessories. For example, I’ve been able to locate replacement batteries that are not worse in relation to the factory default ones. This really is just somewhat true for firms like Neato (smaller market share) and this market is almost non existent for the other small players.

Better Suction Complete: My two quasi scientific methods for measuring this are that A) I can sense a lot more wind/air coming from the unit and B) those larger particles of grit that only high powered vacs have a tendency to get are being caught in the dust bin. This is an upgrade over the Roomba 880 which I was comparing it too as my baseline.

Cons

App Could be More: This isn’t actually a legit gripe, because I’m thrilled with the new app. It’s more of a wish. Like to fully incorporate my Roomba with the rest of my smart dwelling I’d. It would be nice to be able to manage everything from one program (and one controller like the SmartThings Hub and others). It probably wouldn’t be tough to do and it may be something iRobot already intends to do anyway.

Not “Perfect”: It’s a definite progress, but it not perfect. It sometimes gets confused by power cords and can have trouble with thresholds that were substantial. Once in a while it will get stuck, but once you figure out the issue areas, it’s not difficult to “Roomba proof” your house. It’s not quite like a person….yet.

Competition on the Way? Both the Dyson Eye and the Neato Botvac Joined are rumored to be coming out “ soon. How? I can’t actually tell. The Botvac Connected (which features similar app managements) will probably be out sometimes this season, but no firm release date has been set. The Dyson Eye was rumored to be in the works for years, but I 'ven’t heard much recently about an anticipated release date. It could still be 6-12 months away. What this means is the Roomba 980 could have some harder competition on the horizon. Right now, the 980 is the finest robot out there, but that could change. UPDATE: The Dyson 360 Eye has recently been released. Generally speaking, it has a vacuum that is more powerful, but less room that is qualified -to-room navigation. You can read my full review for more details.

Nevertheless, for pitch black rooms you may inevitably get an error code. My easy alternative is to keep on in every room that needs it.

Carpeting Boost is Loud: It picks up more dirt, so I’m a happy customer, but it’s still worth noting.

Only Accessible in One Area: So far – as is often true for new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY accessible via the store that is iRobot here. This really is likely because they want to control pricing as long as possible. When it’s released like box retailers and Amazon to other markets, I’ll be sure to update this post. UPDATE 10/8#158/15: It’s only been released to Amazon (see here for the listing)!

Price: As always, iRobot is the cost leader. All their robots are often marginally to moderately higher priced than the competition. The 980 is no distinct. In fact, it’s pretty darn pricey! At RM 4850 per unit, this really is probably not something that’s simple to spring for. You are able to check out this listing for more detailed pricing info. In this instance, you do get what you pay for. This generation actually HAS enhanced many significant aspects. Hands down, this can be the best robot vacuum currently accessible. Still, if that is your first robot, you might want to look into some less expensive – but still capable – options (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Choices to Consider

If the cost is too much of a sticking point, not to stress. There are other great hoovers with considering.

Roomba 880

Occasionally last years version is the best value. Sure, it’s not the latest and greatest, but it nonetheless can offer many of the exact same advantages. You get 3 virtual Lighthouses which allow for establishing a margin for bigger dwellings and spaces. At time, it was the best robot hoover cash could purchase. The patented AeroForce cleaning system is 50% more successful at cleaning up debris than the 700 series. This, joined with a a much better battery, a larger dust bin, and a remote control made it the most hands free apparatus at the time. It ’s the 2 nd best. It doesn’t have the app that is revolutionary, but it's all the other essential characteristics for an actual runner up. Most significantly, it’s a complete cheaper compared to 980 (check this listing for even steeper reductions). Still costly, but a lot.

Botvac D80

I wasn’t overly impressed with the first Botvac release, but some helpful advancements have been made by the new “D” string. Notably, they’ve repaired a problem with the brush (by altering a bearing) to allow it to be less susceptible to getting tangled (especially with human and pet hair, within my experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t merely seem better, it also functionally performs better than previous Neato versions. The suction power is arguably comparable to the new Roomba 980 and the greatest yet. Still, you won’t get the program managements, but it relatively simple to schedule and use. The patented laser navigation technology means more organized courses and it usually works fairly nicely. This listing can be seen by you here, where it normally sells for less compared to the top line Roomba’s.

Roomba 650

It’s been around for a little while, but it’s not still false. It MUCH more affordable. You are able to read my full take here. Try the 650 out to see if it enough for the needs, if budget is the top concern. Yes, it’s missing a bunch of extras” that is “ that is pleasant but the heart cleaning technology is till there. The 650 is ideal for people that have just a small area they need routinely cleaned, apartments, or little dwellings. It doesn't come with the conventional HEPA filter (good for those with allergies and pet owners) like the 880 and 980, but the AeroVac filter does a good enough job. I still have mine running to this day after 3 years (and a couple of replacement batteries). Best of all, you can find the 650 for a very affordable price at this listing.

New Robots on the Horizon?

The rumored Dyson Eye is officially under development, as I mentioned previously. Who knows when it will be released. They still haven’t discussed release dates, but as of this period it will not be likely to strike before the 2015 Holiday season. The new attributes on the Roomba 980 may really cause them to delay release until they are able to match the core attributes.

The interesting option is the the Neato Botvac “Joined” robot which aims to add similar WiFi capacity to the Roomba 980. You can read more about it via the official press release here. They’ll have to do it soon to capitalize fully, although it would make sense about them to release it prior to the 2015 Holiday season.

UPDATE: The Botvac Linked has formally been released in early Novemeber 2015! See my complete review.

Believing Cleaner Faceplate

I was a bit skeptical of this “work around” at first, but it actually works reasonably well. Thinking Cleanser was the outcome of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It functionally adds any Roomba 500 or 600 series robot and WiFi capacity. Skeptical? I was also. Basically, you attach a “faceplate” that changes your Roomba. It’s simple to attach. You can do most of the exact same functions in a polished” and intuitive way, only as the Roomba 980 WiFi. The app is quite sound and will let you schedule remotely, alert you when your Roomba wants help and plays with a tune if you must locate your lost Roomba. It’s available for just a fraction of the cost of a brand new Roomba here.

Who's this a good option for? 1) Existing owners of a 500 or 600 series Roomba. 2) Prospective buyers who need WiFi capability, but can’t manage/don’t want to spend $899 on the 980. For example, by buying a fresh Roomba 650 and Thinking Cleaner Faceplate, you will be run no more than $500 total.

Believing Cleaner is working on a brand new faceplate for the 700/800 chain, but as of yet it only exists as a Kickstarter endeavor here.

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Connected

I’ll be writing up a complete comparison soon, but I desired to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting lots of questions about it.

Both Botvac Linked and the Roomba 980 feature WiFi enabled control. This is certainly the headline characteristic for both. Both are comparable when it comes to features/utilization, although Personally, I favor the Roomba app better.

What are the Crucial Differences? 1) The Botvac Linked is significantly more affordable (normally about $200 less), but see this listing for up to date information. 3) The Roomba 980 has “carpet boost” and the Botvac doesn’t.

UPGRADE: It is possible to read my full comparison (recently completed) right here.

Ultimate Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The short reply: Yes! The longer answer? If you've got the money, this can be arguably the greatest robot vacuum cleaner available on the market. At the very least, it’s certainly the finest roomba model to date. Whether or not it is “worth it” comes down to what your unique needs are.

But if you have a little apartment, the 980 becomes an extravagance. One caveat: if you're a geek like me, it doesn’t matter. This really is a MUST possess!

The 980 is the best robot for the job, if you've a larger house or office/company that needs to be cleaned frequently. The ground can be covered by it and recharge on it’s own as needed. The 980 has the finest cleaning tech of any robot and the most power/suction if you need a vacuuming job that strongly resembles a traditional upright vacuum clean.

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#Roomba 980 Wifi Connected iRobot #iRobor Roomba 980 #iRobot Roomba malaysia #IRobot roomba

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holmesandrew1216-blog · 7 years ago

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Best iRobot Roomba 980 Hands Down!

Just in time for Christmas, iRobot released their prized Roomba 980 vacuum cleaner to the masses. With their slightly improve Botvac “D being lately released by competitor Neato ” collection, it was supposed that iRobot might be following suit. However, it is a comparatively long time since the Roomba 880 and 870 debuted. I really didn’t understand what to expect. Certainly, iRobot is not thinking about ceding any market share to competitors, and rightfully so.

As with all preceding Roomba’s there are things that I don’t enjoy and things to like. It ’s going to be challenging for me to not gift a couple Roomba 980’s this year.

In this Roomba 980 review, I’ll get into the essential attributes (what’s new) as well as the Advantages and Disadvantages. At the base, I’ll make an overall recommendation and propose a few choices.

Key Features –

The following are some of the new, upgraded, and remarkable features on the 980:

More Battery Charge Life: The Roomba 980 is effective at running fro a full 2 hours before needed to recharge. On some of my older 700 series hoovers I’ve come close to this with after market third party replacement batteries, but this can be the best factory default (out of the carton) battery life thus far. It’s still not Lithium-ion (for those that like that), but it's an advancement.

iRobot DWELLING Program: For me, this really is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become fully integrated into the intelligent house encounter. iRobot is the first robot hoover business – to my knowledge – that's an app similar to this. You can press on “Clean” from anywhere and the 980 will start/stop as desired. I will get things began while I’m away, if I’m at work or out of your house. The app is easy to use and basically functions as an innovative remote control. On the older Roomba’s you could have a pre determined schedule to run every day, but not instant control like this!

It’s actually more of an upgrade. That is a big deal. Essentially it allows the visual localization allows the Roomba to “look” out and up to help browse and map the room. This is the type of ground breaking improvement that vastly enhances the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean almost? Bumping into a more organized – and efficient – cleaning route and things randomly.

Mercifully, iRobot wasn’t content with just a few new attributes. They also upped their game in the power section. The AeroForce cleaning system is per cleaning cycle the same base technology, but 2 times more effective at picking up debris. It also has “carpet boost” which optimizes air power when it discovers a carpet or rug beneath. The end result is a vacuum that is traditional that is more extensive clean, duplicating a higher level.

Enhanced Virtual Wall Lighthouse: The 980 has stepped up it’s lighthouse game. They have been now smaller and take AA batteries (in contrast to the hulking “D” batteries for previous set). This really is a nice improvement because who has extra “D” batteries lying around?

Things I like and Things I Don’t

Pros

The App is Wonderful: It’s straightforward and pretty simple, but it means everything to me. Being able to control my robot from my telephone means the Roomba is now part of my house family that is smart. Picking up on where tools like the Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats have left off, iRobot has really delivered on a smart, net-connected, roomba vacuum. I considering the possibilities for future integration with my various smart dwelling programs and controllers.

Program Helps Monitor Care: There's a really trendy “diagnostics” portion of the app that monitors different parts of the Roomba and uses straightforward bars to inform you when things must be altered or serviced (think emptying the bin, altering extractors, filters, etc…). It also tells you precisely the way to perform the maintenance requirement that is desired.

Better on Carpets: Robots vacuums constantly tend to perform better on hardwood floors and tough flooring options (tile, etc…). The recently redesigned motor is not particularly bad at adjusting to carpet surfaces as well. Once discovered, the 980 will engage a little more muscle to thoroughly clean carpets the way they should be cleaned. In a side by side test with my Roomba 880 (and a bunch of spilled crushed cheerios), both “seemed” to clean the same at a distance, but the 980 really was able to pick up more of the crumbs that had filtered down to the underparts of the the carpet. It was a subtle difference, an important difference nonetheless, although challenging t tell from standing up even.

More Hands Off/User Friendly: In short, it’s more of a robot! The new app, the stronger battery and the automatic recharging/resume attribute makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than the contest and both previous versions. Slowly but surely, house robotics is living up to it’s guarantee. If you hate vacuuming physically or – cannot do it anymore – this is the quintessential outsourced alternative. Short of hiring cleaning help, the Roomba 980 is the smartest choice out there.

Navigation is Plainly Enhanced: Occasionally new attributes are added and I will barely tell the difference. In the recent past, Roomba’s have had the knock. While the ending result was clean floors, how it occurred wasn’t rather. Nevertheless, it was also somewhat inefficient. It was one of the contrasts I enjoyed about most Neato models. Now, the 980 is methodical, considerably more organized, and efficient.

It still bumps into things to gain its bearings, particularly in rooms with tons of furniture. Just not nearly to the level it did previously. On careful observation it appears the 980 will recall these “bumps” for future cleans and WOn't keep doing it with the same wild abandon.

Brighter Algorithm: For all you geeks out there, this robot is really smarter than it’s forerunners and the competitors.

Generally, I noticed that the 980 spent much less time than both my 880 and Botvac’s (included the new Connected Botvac) pausing and calculating as it creates the map of the room.

Powerful Secondary Parts Marketplace: As a longtime Roomba owner, I understand that it’s only a matter of time before I should replace a battery, brush, or filter (among other things). Unlike other robot businesses, the Roomba has a deluge of after market companies specializing in creating better replacement accessories and parts. For example, I’ve been able to find replacement batteries that are better than the factory default ones. This can be only somewhat true for companies like Neato (smaller market share) and this market is practically non existent for the other small players.

Exceptional Customer Service: iRobot remains the leader when it comes to customers service. This more of a general “ace” and particular to the model, but still worth noting. They've been also not bad at walking you through diagnosing difficulties.

Better Suction Complete: My two quasi scientific ways of measuring this are that A) I can sense a lot more wind/air coming out of the unit and B) those bigger particles of grit that only high powered vacs tend to get are being captured in the dust bin.

Cons

Use Could be More: because I’m thrilled with the new program, This isn’t really a legit gripe. Like to completely incorporate my Roomba with the rest of my smart house I’d. It'd be nice in order to manage everything from one program (and one controller like the SmartThings Hub and others). It likely wouldn’t be tough to do and it may be something iRobot plans to do anyway.

Still Not “Perfect”: It’s a certain improvement, but it not perfect. Power cords occasionally confused it and can have problem with thresholds that were sizable. It’s easy to “Roomba proof” your house, once in a while it'll get stuck, but once you find out the issue areas. It’s not quite like a person….yet.

The Dyson Eye and the Neato Botvac Connected are rumored to be coming out “ soon”. How? I can’t actually tell. The Botvac Linked (which features similar app managements) will likely be out sometimes in 2013, but no firm release date continues to be set. The Dyson Eye has been rumored to be in the works for years, but I haven’t heard much lately about an anticipated release date. It could be 6-12 months away. What this means is the Roomba 980 could have some stiffer competition on the horizon. At this time, the 980 is the finest robot on the market, but that could change. Specially if the price points are more affordable, Roomba could be severely undercut. UPDATE: The Dyson 360 Eye has been released. Generally speaking, it's a more powerful vacuum, but less competent room -to-room navigation. You are able to read my full review for additional information.

Nevertheless, for pitch black rooms you may inevitably get an error code. If cleaning at night or in a cellar with no lights, this could be a concern. My easy alternative would be to keep on in every room that needs it.

Don’t plan on sleeping in the same room.

Just Accessible in One Location: So far as is often the case with new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY available via the iRobot store here. This really is likely because they want to control pricing. As soon as it’s released to other marketplaces like carton retailers and Amazon, I’ll be sure to update this post. UPDATE 10/8#158/15: It’s merely been released to Amazon (see here for the listing)!

Price: As always, iRobot is the price leader. All their robots are usually slightly to moderately more costly as opposed to contest. The 980 is different. Actually, it’s pretty darn pricey! At RM 4850 per unit, this can be probably not something that’s easy to spring for. It's possible for you to check out this listing for more detailed pricing info. In this case, you do get what you pay for. This generation really HAS enhanced many significant facets. Hands down, this is the best robot vacuum now accessible. However, if this really is your first robot, you may want to look into some less expensive – but still competent – alternatives (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Alternatives to Consider

If the price is too much of a sticking point, never to stress. There are other great hoovers with considering.

Roomba 880

Occasionally last years model is the best value. At time, it was the best robot vacuum money could buy. The patented AeroForce cleaning system is 50% more effective at cleaning up debris compared to the 700 series. This, joined with a a remote control, an improved battery, and a larger dust bin made it the most hands free device at the time. It ’s the 2 nd. It doesn’t have the groundbreaking app, but it has all the other key characteristics for an actual runner up. Most significantly, it’s a full cheaper compared to the 980 (check this listing for even steeper reductions). Still pricey, but a lot less so.

Botvac D80

I wasn’t overly impressed with the initial Botvac release, but some helpful progress have been made by the new “D” series. Notably, they’ve fixed a problem with the brush (by shifting a bearing) to ensure it is less susceptible to getting tangled (particularly with human and pet hair, within my experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t simply seem better, it also performs better than previous Neato models. The suction power is the greatest yet and comparable to the new Roomba 980. It’s still not too hard to schedule and use, although still, you won’t get the program managements. The patented laser navigation technology means more courses that are organized and it usually works quite well. This listing can be seen by you here, where it normally sells for less compared to the top line Roomba’s.

Roomba 650

It’s been around for some time, but it trusted. It MUCH cheaper. Attempt the 650 out if it enough on your needs to see if budget is the top concern. Yes, it’s missing a bunch of “extras” that is pleasant but the core cleaning technology is till there. The 650 is ideal for people who have just a little area they desire routinely cleaned, apartments, or modest homes. I still have mine running to this day after 3 years (and a couple replacement batteries). Best of all, you can find the 650 for a really affordable cost at this listing.

New Robots on the Horizon?

The rumored Dyson Eye is formally under development as I mentioned previously. Who knows when it'll be released. As of this stage it will be unlikely to hit before the 2015 Holiday season, although they still haven’t discussed release dates. The new attributes on the Roomba 980 may actually cause them to delay launch until the core attributes can be matched by them.

UPGRADE: The Botvac Linked has officially been released in early Novemeber 2015! See my full review.

The possibility that is more intriguing is the the Neato Botvac “Linked” robot which aims to add similar WiFi capability to the Roomba 980. It is possible to read more here. It would seem sensible about them to release it prior to the 2015 Holiday season, but they’ll have to do it shortly to capitalize entirely.

Presuming Cleaner Faceplate

I was a little skeptical of this “work-around” at first, but it really works fairly well. Presuming Cleanser was the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It adds or 600 series robot and WiFi ability. Disbelieving? I was also. Basically, you attach a “faceplate” that alters your Roomba. It’s easy enough to attach. You can do most of the same functions as the Roomba 980 WiFi, just in intuitive manner and a polished”. If you need to find your lost Roomba the program is pretty stable and will let you schedule slightly, alarm you when your Roomba wants help and even plays a song. It’s available for just a fraction of the cost of a Roomba that is new here.

Who's this a good option for? 2) Prospective buyers who desire WiFi capability, but can’t afford/don’t need to spend $899 on the 980. For instance, you will be run by buying a fresh Roomba 650 and Thinking Cleaner Faceplate no more than $500 total.

Believing Cleanser is working on a brand new faceplate for the 700/800 chain, but as of yet it only as a Kickstarter project here.

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Linked

I desired to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting lots of questions about it, although I’ll be writing up a complete comparison shortly.

What are the Crucial Differences? 1) The Botvac Connected is significantly more affordable (usually about $200 less), but see this listing for up to date advice. 2) The Botvac now has “Eco” and “Turbo” mode. 3) The Roomba 980 has “carpet boost” and the Botvac doesn’t. 4) The Roomba uses virtual wall’s (invisible ray to comprise the robot) whereas the Botvac still relies on laying down “magnetic tape” to define boundaries around your home.

Both the Roomba 980 and Botvac Joined feature WiFi enabled control. This really is undoubtedly the headline characteristic for both. Both are comparable when it comes to characteristics/use, although I personally favor the Roomba app better.

UPGRADE: You'll be able to read my complete comparison (recently finished) right here.

Ultimate Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The brief answer: Yes! The longer response? If you have the money, this can be arguably the best robot vacuum cleaner available on the market. At minimum, it’s certainly the finest roomba version to date. Whether or not it is “worth it” comes down to what your unique needs are.

If you've got a bigger home or office/business that needs to be cleaned frequently, the 980 is the best robot for the job. It recharge own as needed and can cover the earth. If you need a vacuuming job that closely resembles a traditional upright vacuum clean, the 980 has the most electricity/suction and the finest cleaning technology of any robot to get the job done.

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#Roomba 980 Wifi Connected iRobot #iRobor Roomba 980 #iRobot Roomba malaysia #IRobot roomba

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ahmadshafiq2211-blog · 7 years ago

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iRobot Roomba 980 Raub Kickass Promotion

Just in time for the Holiday Season, iRobot released their prized Roomba 980 vacuum cleaner to the masses. With their marginally improve Botvac “D being lately released by competition Neato ” collection, it was theorized that iRobot might be following suit. Yet, it has been a relatively long time since the Roomba 880 and 870 debuted. I actually didn’t know what to anticipate. Clearly, iRobot is not interested in ceding any market share to rivals, and rightfully so.

As with all previous Roomba’s there are things to enjoy and things that I don’t like. Regardless, it ’s going to be tough for me to not gift a couple Roomba 980’s this year.

At the bottom, I’ll propose a few alternatives and make an overall recommendation.

Essential Attributes – What’s New with the Roomba 980

The following are some of the new, upgraded, and remarkable features on the 980:

More Battery Charge Life: The Roomba 980 is effective at running fro a complete 2 hours before needed to recharge. That is a personal best for Roomba. On some of my older 700 series hoovers I’ve come close to this with after market third party replacement batteries, but this is the finest factory default option (out of the carton) battery life so far. It’s still not Lithium ion (for people who like that), but it's an advancement. Like the 800 series robots, the 980 will return to the docking station base, but now it will recharge, and resume where it left off cleaning,.

iRobot HOUSE Program: For me, this is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become completely integrated into the bright house encounter. iRobot is the first robot vacuum business – to my knowledge – that has a program similar to this. You'll be able to press “Clean” from everywhere and the 980 will start/stop as desired. If I’m at work or out of the home, I will get while I’m away things began. The app is simple enough to use and essentially functions as an advanced remote control. On the Roomba’s that is older you could have a pre-determined program to run every day, but not instantaneous control in this way!

It’s really more of an upgrade. As well as the conventional “fender” sensors, the Roomba 980 now features the “VSLAM” (Visual Simultaneous, Localization, and Mapping) technology. This can be a big deal. Essentially it enables the visual localization map the room and allows the Roomba to “look” out and up to help browse. This is the sort of ground-breaking enhancement that vastly improves the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean almost? Bumping into a more organized efficient and – – cleaning route and things randomly.

More Suction Power: Mercifully, iRobot wasn’t content with just a few attributes that are new. Additionally they upped their game in the power section. The AeroForce cleaning system is the same base technology, but 2 times more efficient at picking up debris per cleaning cycle. Additionally, it has “carpet boost” which optimizes air power when it detects a carpet or rug underneath. The end result is a conventional hoover that is more comprehensive clean, reproducing a grade that is higher.

Enhanced Virtual Wall Lighthouse: Roomba uses these small towers to indicate where to clean (and where not to clean…acting as an invisible wall barrier). The 980 has stepped up it’s lighthouse game. They are now smaller and require AA batteries (as opposed to the hulking “D” batteries for preceding series). Because who has spare “D” batteries this really is a fine advancement?

Pros and Cons – Matters I like and Things I Don’t

Pros

The App is Wonderful: It’s straightforward and pretty easy, but it means everything to me. Being able to control my robot from my telephone means the Roomba is currently part of my smart home family. Picking up on where tools like the Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats have left off, iRobot has really produced on a smart, web-joined, roomba vacuum. I eagerly thinking about the options for future integration with controllers and my various smart house programs.

Program Helps Screen Maintenance: There's a very cool “diagnostics” part of the app that monitors different parts of the Roomba and uses straightforward bars to let you know when things need to be altered or serviced (think emptying the bin, altering extractors, filters, etc…). Additionally, it tells you exactly how you can perform the desired care demand.

Better on Carpeting: Robots hoovers constantly have a tendency to perform better on hardwood floors and tough floor options (tile, etc…). The recently redesigned motor is not especially bad at adapting to carpet surfaces too. Once detected, the 980 will engage a bit more muscle to completely clean carpeting the manner they should be cleaned. In a side by side test with my Roomba 880 (and a group of spilled crushed cheerios), both “seemed” to clean the same at a space, but the 980 actually could pick up more of the crumbs that had filtered down to the underparts of the the carpeting. It was a subtle difference, t that is hard tell from standing up even, but an important difference nonetheless.

More Hands Off/User Friendly: in summary, it’s more of a robot! The new program, the more powerful battery and the automatic recharging/resume attribute makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than the contest and both previous versions. Slowly but surely, home robotics is living up to it’s guarantee. If you hate vacuuming physically or – cannot do it this is the quintessential outsourced solution. Short of hiring cleaning help, the Roomba 980 is the best option out there.

Navigation is Clearly Enhanced: I can barely tell the difference and Sometimes new attributes are added. In the past, Roomba’s have had the knock for cleaning in a randomized, haphazard pattern. While the end result was clean floors, how it happened wasn’t fairly. However, it was also a bit wasteful. This was among the contrasts I enjoyed about most Neato versions. Now, the 980 is efficient, methodical, and much more organized.

It still bumps into matters to gain its relevance, particularly in rooms with tons of furniture. Only not nearly to the amount it did in the past. On careful observation it seems the 980 will recall these “bumps” for future cleans and WOn't keep doing it with the same wild abandon.

Smarter Algorithm: For all you geeks out there, this robot is really smarter than it’s the opposition and predecessors.

Superb Customer Service: iRobot is still the leader as it pertains to customers service. This more of a general “pro” and particular to the model, but still worth noting. They're also not bad at walking you through diagnosing problems.

Powerful Secondary Parts Marketplace: As a longtime Roomba proprietor I understand that it’s just a matter of time before I should replace a battery, brush, or filter (among other things). Unlike other robot businesses, the Roomba has a deluge of after market companies specializing in creating better replacement accessories and components. For instance, I’ve been able to locate replacement batteries that are not worse than the factory default ones. This really is just somewhat true for businesses like Neato (smaller market share) and this market is virtually non existent for the other small players.

Better Suction Total: My two quasi scientific means of quantifying this are that A) I can sense a lot more wind/atmosphere coming out of the unit and B) those larger particles of determination that only high powered vacs tend to get are being captured in the dust bin.

Disadvantages

Use Could be More: because I’m thrilled with the new program This isn’t actually a legit gripe. It’s more of a wish. I’d like to totally integrate my Roomba with the remainder of my smart house. It would be nice to be able to manage everything from one app (and one control like the SmartThings Hub and others). It likely wouldn’t be challenging to do and it may be something iRobot intends to do anyway.

Still Not “Perfect”: It’s a definite improvement, but it’s still not perfect. Power cords occasionally confused it and can have trouble with ample brinks. It’s easy to “Roomba evidence” your house once in a while it will get stuck, but once you determine the issue areas. It’s not quite like a human….yet.

Both the Neato Botvac Joined and the Dyson Eye are rumored to be coming out “ soon. How? I can’t really tell. The Botvac Connected (which features similar app controls) will likely be out sometimes this year, but no firm release date has been set. I 'ven’t heard much recently about an anticipated release date, although the Dyson Eye has been rumored to be in the works for years. It could still be 6-12 months away. What this means is the Roomba 980 could have some stiffer competition on the horizon. Right now, the 980 is the best robot in the marketplace, but that could change. Particularly if the price points are more affordable, Roomba could be seriously undercut. UPDATE: The Dyson 360 Eye has been released. In general, it's a vacuum that is more powerful, but less room that is capable -to-room navigation. You are able to read my complete review for more details.

Nevertheless, for pitch black rooms you'll inevitably get an error code. My simple solution would be to keep night lights on in every room that needs it.

Carpet Boost is Loud: It picks up more dirt, so I’m a happy customer, but it’s still worth noting. Don’t plan on sleeping in exactly the same room.

Only Accessible in One Area: So far as is frequently true for new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY available via the shop that is iRobot here. That is likely because they would like to control pricing as long as possible. As soon as it’s released like carton retailers and Amazon to other markets, I’ll make sure to update this post. UPDATE 10/8#158/15: It’s just been released to Amazon (see here for the listing)!

Cost: As always, iRobot is the cost leader. All their robots usually are marginally to somewhat more expensive as opposed to competition. The 980 is different. In fact, it’s fairly darn expensive! At RM 4850 per unit, this can be likely not something that’s not difficult to spring for. It is possible to check out this listing for more detailed pricing info. In this case, you do get what you pay for. This generation really HAS improved many important facets. Hands down, this is the best robot vacuum currently accessible. Still, if this is your first robot, you may want to look into some less pricey – but still competent – alternatives (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Alternatives to Contemplate

If the cost is too much of a sticking point, never to worry. There are with considering other great hoovers.

Roomba 880

Occasionally last years model is the best value. The Roomba 880 WAS the cream of the crop, until the 980 was released. At the time, it was the best robot hoover cash could buy. The patented AeroForce cleaning system is 50% more successful at cleaning up debris in relation to the 700 series. This, combined with a an improved battery, a larger dust bin, and a remote control made it the most hands free apparatus at the time. Now it ’s the 2 nd best. It doesn’t have the revolutionary app, but it has all the other key features for a runner that is true up. Most significantly, it’s a total cheaper compared to 980 (check this listing for even steeper discounts). Still pricey, but a lot.

Botvac D80

The new “D” series has made some improvements that are helpful, although I wasn’t too impressed with the first Botvac release. Notably, they’ve fixed a problem with the brush (by altering a bearing) to ensure it is less susceptible to getting tangled (especially with person and pet hair, within my experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t only look better, it also performs better than previous Neato versions. The suction power is comparable to the new Roomba 980 and the best yet. It’s still relatively simple use and to schedule, although still, you won’t get the program controls. The patented laser navigation technology means more routes that are organized and it normally works quite well. Where it normally sells for less compared to the top line Roomba’s, you can see this listing here.

Roomba 650

It’s still dependable, although it’s been around for some time. It’s also MUCH more affordable. It's possible for you to read my full take here. Attempt the 650 out if it enough for your needs to see if budget is your top concern. Yes, it’s missing a group of extras” that is “ that is fine but the center cleaning technology is till there. The 650 is perfect for individuals who have flats, modest dwellings, or just a small space they desire frequently cleaned. It doesn't come with the typical HEPA filter (good for those with allergies and pet owners) like the 880 and 980, but the AeroVac filter does a good enough job. I still have mine running to this day after 3 years (and a few replacement batteries). Best of all, you're able to find the 650 for an extremely affordable cost at this listing.

New Robots on the Horizon?

As I mentioned previously, the long rumored Dyson Eye is formally under development. Who knows when it'll be released. They still haven’t discussed release dates, but at this period it will be unlikely to strike before the 2015 Holiday season. The new features on the Roomba 980 may actually lead them to delay release until the core features can be matched by them.

The intriguing possibility is the the Neato Botvac “Joined” robot which aims to add WiFi capability that is similar to the Roomba 980. You are able to read more about it via the official press release here. It would make sense about them to release it but they’ll have to get it done shortly to capitalize entirely.

UPDATE: See my complete review.

Thinking Cleaner Faceplate

I was somewhat skeptical of this “work-around” at first, but it really works pretty well. Believing Cleanser was the outcome of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It adds any Roomba 500 or 600 series robot and WiFi capability. Disbelieving? I was too. Basically, you attach a “faceplate” that alters your Roomba. It’s easy to attach. It is possible to do most of the exact same functions as the Roomba 980 WiFi, only in a less “ polished” and intuitive way. If you must locate your lost Roomba the app is quite strong and will let you schedule slightly, alert you when your Roomba needs help and even plays a song. It’s accessible for just a fraction of the price of a new Roomba here.

Presuming Cleanser is working on a brand new faceplate for the 700/800 chain, but as of yet it only exists as a Kickstarter job here.

Who's this a good option for? 1) Existing owners of a 500 or 600 series Roomba. 2) Prospective buyers who want WiFi capacity, but can’t manage/don’t desire to spend $899 on the 980. For instance, by purchasing a brand new Roomba 650 and Believing Cleaner Faceplate, you will be run no more than $500 total.

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Linked

I needed to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it, although I’ll be writing a full comparison up shortly.

Both Botvac Joined and the Roomba 980 characteristic WiFi enabled control. That is undoubtedly the headline feature for both. Both are similar in terms of features/usage, although I personally favor the Roomba program better.

What are the Key Differences? 3) The Roomba 980 has “carpet boost” and the Botvac doesn’t.

UPGRADE: You're able to read my full comparison (recently completed) right here.

Final Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The short reply: Yes! The longer reply? If you've the money, this can be arguably the best robot vacuum cleaner available on the market. At the minimum, it’s surely the finest roomba version to date. Whether or not it is “worth it” comes down to what your unique needs are.

But if you might have a little flat, the 980 becomes an extravagance. One caveat: it doesn’t matter, if you're a geek like me. This really is a MUST own!

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#Roomba 980 Wifi Connected iRobot #iRobor Roomba 980 #iRobot Roomba malaysia #IRobot roomba

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irobotroombakl08-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Amazing True Story - iRobot Roomba 980 Bachok

With competitor Neato recently releasing their Botvac “D that was somewhat improve ” collection, it was supposed that iRobot might be following suit. However, it is a comparatively long time since 870 debuted and the Roomba 880. I honestly didn’t understand what to anticipate. Clearly, iRobot is not considering ceding any market share to rivals, and rightfully so.

As with all preceding Roomba’s there are things to like and things that I don’t like. Regardless, it ’s going to be hard for me to not gift a couple Roomba 980’s this year.

In this Roomba 980 review, I’ll get into the essential attributes (what’s new) as well as the Advantages and Disadvantages. At the base, I’ll propose a few alternatives and make an overall recommendation.

Essential Features – What’s New with the Roomba 980

The following are notable characteristics on the 980, and some of the new, upgraded:

The Roomba 980 is effective at running fro a full 2 hours before needed to recharge. It’s still not Lithium-ion (for those that enjoy that), but it's an improvement. Now it'll recharge, and resume where it left off cleaning, although like the 800 series robots, the 980 will return to the docking station base.

iRobot HOUSE Program: For me, this is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become fully integrated into the smart home experience. iRobot is the first robot hoover company – to my knowledge – that's a program in this way. You'll be able to press on “Clean” from anyplace and the 980 will start/stop as desired. I can get things started while I’m away if I’m at work or from the house. The app is simple enough to use and essentially functions as an innovative remote control. On the older Roomba’s you could have a predetermined program to run each day, but not instant control like this!

New Navigation System: It’s actually more of an upgrade. This can be a big deal. Basically it lets the visual localization allows the Roomba to “look” out and up to help navigate and map the room. This is the type of ground-breaking betterment that vastly improves the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean practically? Less bumping into a more organized efficient and – – cleaning route and things at random.

More Suction Power: Thankfully, iRobot wasn’t content with just a couple of new attributes. Additionally they upped their game in the power department. The AeroForce cleaning system is the same base technology, but 2 times far better at picking up debris per cleaning cycle. It also has “carpet boost” which optimizes air power when it detects a carpet or rug underneath. The end result is a more extensive clean, repeating a greater rank vacuum that is conventional.

Improved Virtual Wall Lighthouse: The 980 has stepped up it’s lighthouse game. They're now smaller and require AA batteries (in contrast to the hulking “D” batteries for preceding collection). This really is a nice development because who has spare “D” batteries lying around?

Matters I like and Things I Don’t

Pros

It means everything to me: It’s pretty simple and straightforward, although the Program is Awesome. Being able to control my robot from my telephone means the Roomba is currently part of my house family that is smart. Picking up on where tools like the Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats have left off, iRobot has actually provided on a smart, net-connected, roomba vacuum. I eagerly considering the possibilities for future integration with my various smart home programs and controls.

Program Helps Screen Care: There's a very cool “diagnostics” part of the program that tracks distinct parts of the Roomba and uses straightforward bars to inform you when things have to be changed or serviced (believe emptying the bin, shifting extractors, filters, etc…). It also tells you precisely the way to perform the desired maintenance demand.

Better on Carpeting: Robots vacuums always often perform better on hardwood floors and hard flooring options (tile, etc…). Now, the newly redesigned motor is particularly good at adapting to carpet surfaces as well. Once discovered, the 980 will engage a bit more muscle to completely clean carpets the manner they should be cleaned. In a side by side test with my Roomba 880 (and a group of spilled crushed cheerios), both “seemed” to clean the same at a space, but the 980 really was able to pick up more of the crumbs that had filtered down to the underparts of the the carpet. It was a subtle difference, an important difference nonetheless, although t that is challenging tell from standing up even.

More Hands Off/User Friendly: In short, it’s more of a robot! The new app, the stronger battery and the automatic recharging/resume attribute makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than both previous models and the contest. Slowly but surely, dwelling robotics is living up to it’s guarantee. If you hate vacuuming physically or – cannot do it anymore – this is the quintessential outsourced solution. Short of hiring cleaning help, the Roomba 980 is the smartest choice out there.

Navigation is Apparently Improved: Occasionally new features are added and I will barely tell the difference. Not so with the new navigation technology. For cleaning in a randomized, haphazard pattern previously, Roomba’s have had the knock. While the ending result was clean floors, how it occurred wasn’t rather. Nevertheless, it was also a little wasteful. This was one of the comparisons I liked about most Neato models. The 980 is much more organized, methodical, and efficient.

It still bumps into things to gain its bearings, particularly in rooms with lots of furniture. Just not nearly to the amount it did previously. On careful observation it appears the 980 will remember these “bumps” for future cleans and WOn't keep doing it with exactly the same wild abandon.

Smarter Algorithm: This robot is really smarter than it’s predecessors and the competitors.

Superb Customer Service: iRobot is still the leader as it pertains to customers service. This more of a general “pro” and specific to the model, but worth noting. Every time I’ve needed to replace a Roomba, I’ve had no issues. They truly are also good at walking you through diagnosing difficulties.

Powerful Secondary Components Market: Unlike other robot companies, the Roomba has a deluge of after market companies specializing in creating better replacement accessories and parts. For instance, I’ve been able to find replacement batteries that are not worse than the factory default ones. This really is only somewhat true for companies like Neato (smaller market share) and this market is almost non existent for the other small-scale players.

Better Suction Complete: My two quasi scientific methods for measuring this are that A) I can feel a lot more wind/atmosphere coming from the unit and B) those bigger particles of grit that only high powered vacs tend to get are being captured in the dust bin.

Cons

Use Could be More: because I’m thrilled with the new program This isn’t actually a legit gripe. Like to completely integrate my Roomba with the remainder of my smart house I’d. It would be nice to be able to manage everything from one program (and one controller like the SmartThings Hub and others). It probably wouldn’t be tough to do and it may be something iRobot plans to do anyhow.

Still Not “Perfect”: It’s a certain improvement, but it not perfect. It occasionally gets confused by power cords and can have trouble with considerable thresholds. Once in a while it will get stuck, but once you find out the problem areas, it’s simple to “Roomba proof” your house. It’s not quite like an individual….yet.

Competition on the Way? Both the Neato Botvac Joined and the Dyson Eye are rumored to be coming out “ soon. How? I can’t actually tell. The Botvac Linked (which features similar app managements) will likely be out sometimes this year, but no firm release date continues to be set. The Dyson Eye continues to be rumored to be in the works for years, but I haven’t heard much recently about an anticipated release date. It could still be 6-12 months away. What this means is the Roomba 980 could have some stiffer competition on the horizon. Right now, the 980 is the greatest robot in the marketplace, but that could change. UPGRADE: The Dyson 360 Eye has been released. In general, it has a more powerful vacuum, but less qualified room -to-room navigation. You are able to read my full review for more details.

Yet, for pitch black rooms you may inevitably get an error code. My easy solution would be to keep night lights on in every room that needs it.

Carpeting Foster is Loud: It picks up more dirt, so I’m a happy customer, but it worth noting.

Only Available in One Location: So far as is often the case with new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY available via the iRobot shop here. This is likely because they would like to control pricing as long as possible. When it’s released like box retailers and Amazon to other marketplaces, I’ll make sure to update this post. UPDATE 10/8#158/15: It’s just been released to Amazon (see here for the listing)!

Cost: As always, iRobot is the cost leader. All their robots are usually marginally to moderately more expensive than the competition. The 980 is no distinct. Actually, it’s pretty darn expensive! At RM 4850 per unit, this is probably not something that’s simple to spring for. It's possible for you to take a look at this listing for more detailed pricing information. In this case, you do get what you pay for. Many important aspects really HAVE enhanced. Hands down, this is the best robot vacuum currently accessible. Still, if this is your first robot, you might want to look into some less pricey – but still capable – choices (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Choices to Contemplate

If the price is too much of a sticking point, never to worry. There are other great hoovers with contemplating.

Roomba 880

Sometimes last years model is the best value. Sure, it’s not the latest and greatest, but it nevertheless can offer many of the same benefits. Until the 980 was released, the Roomba 880 WAS the cream of the crop. You can take a look at my review of it here. At the time, it was the best robot vacuum cash could buy. The patented AeroForce cleaning system is 50% more effective at cleaning up debris compared to the 700 series. This, joined with a a remote control, an improved battery, and a larger dust bin made it the most hands free apparatus at the time. It has all the other key characteristics for an actual runner up, although it doesn’t have the groundbreaking app. Most significantly, it’s a full cheaper than the 980 (check this listing for even steeper reductions). Still costly, but a lot less so.

Botvac D80

Some helpful advancements have been made by the new “D” series, although I wasn’t overly impressed with the initial Botvac release. Notably, they’ve repaired a problem with the brush (by altering a bearing) to allow it to be less susceptible to becoming tangled (particularly with individual and pet hair, in my own experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t just seem better, it also functionally performs better than preceding Neato models. The suction power is arguably comparable to the new Roomba 980 and the best yet. It’s still relatively simple to schedule and use, although still, you won’t get the app controls. The patented laser navigation technology means more courses that are organized and it usually works fairly well. It's possible for you to see this listing here, where it normally retails for less than the top line Roomba’s.

Roomba 650

It’s been around for a little while, but it’s still dependable. It MUCH more affordable. You can read my full take here. Try the 650 out if it on your needs to see if budget is your top concern. Yes, it’s missing a group of fine “extras” but the cleaning technology that is heart is till there. The 650 is ideal for individuals who have apartments, modest houses, or only a little area they want frequently cleaned. It doesn't come with the conventional HEPA filter (great for those with allergies and pet owners) like the 880 and 980, but the AeroVac filter does a good enough job. Generally, this really is an excellent robot for those just getting started, curious to see if the technology works due to their needs. I still have mine running to this day after 3 years (and a couple replacement batteries). Best of all, you're able to find the 650 for a really affordable cost at this listing.

The rumored Dyson Eye is formally under development, as I mentioned previously. Who knows when it'll be released. They still haven’t discussed release dates, but at this stage it will be unlikely to strike before the 2015 Holiday season. The new attributes on the Roomba 980 may actually cause them to delay release until they are able to match the core attributes.

UPGRADE: See my full review.

The more interesting option is the the Neato Botvac “Linked” robot which plans to add similar WiFi capacity to the Roomba 980. You are able to read more here. It would seem sensible about them to release it but they’ll have to do it shortly to capitalize completely.

Thinking Cleaner Faceplate

I was a bit skeptical of this “work-around” at first, but it actually works reasonably well. Thinking Cleaner was the consequence of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It functionally adds WiFi capacity to any Roomba 500 or 600 series robot. Skeptical? I was too. Essentially, you attach a “faceplate” that changes your Roomba. It’s easy to attach. Additionally, it can synchronize with other smart house apps (like SmartThings, etc…), something that I’ve criticized the Roomba 980 for not doing. You can do most of the exact same functions in intuitive way and a less “ polished”, merely as the Roomba 980 WiFi. The program will let you schedule remotely, alarm you when your Roomba needs help and even plays a tune if you need certainly to find your lost Roomba and is quite strong. It’s accessible for just a fraction of the price of a brand new Roomba here.

Thinking Cleaner is working on a fresh faceplate for the 700/800 series, but as of yet it only as a Kickstarter job here.

Who's this a great option for? 1) Present owners of a 500 or 600 series Roomba. 2) Prospective buyers who desire WiFi capacity, but can’t manage/don’t desire to spend $899 on the 980. As an example, by buying a fresh Roomba 650 and Thinking Cleaner Faceplate, you will be run no more than $500 total.

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Joined

I’ll be writing a complete comparison up shortly, but I needed to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it.

What are the Essential Differences?

Both Roomba 980 and Botvac Linked characteristic WiFi enabled management. That is clearly the headline attribute for both. Both are similar when it comes to attributes/use, although Personally, I prefer the Roomba program better.

UPGRADE: It is possible to read my complete comparison (recently finished) right here.

Final Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The brief answer: Yes! The longer answer? This is arguably the best robot vacuum cleaner on the market if you've got the cash. At the very least, it’s definitely the best roomba version to date. Whether or not it's “worth it” comes down to what your unique needs are.

The 980 is the greatest robot for the occupation, if you have a larger house or office/company that needs to be cleaned regularly. It recharge on it’s own as needed and can cover the ground. If you need a vacuuming occupation that closely resembles a conventional upright vacuum clean, the 980 has the most electricity/suction and the finest cleaning technology of any robot to get the job done.

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#Roomba 980 Wifi Connected iRobot #iRobor Roomba 980 #iRobot Roomba malaysia #IRobot roomba

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trembleysimoon912-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Breakthrough iRobot Roomba 980 Tumpat

With their Botvac “D that was slightly improve being lately released by competition Neato ” set, it was theorized that iRobot might be following suit. Nonetheless, it is a comparatively long time since the Roomba 880 and 870 debuted. I actually didn’t know what to expect. Undoubtedly, iRobot is not considering ceding any market share to rivals, and rightfully so.

As with all previous Roomba’s there are things that I don’t like and things to like. It ’s going to be tough for me to not gift a couple Roomba 980’s this year.

In this Roomba 980 review, I’ll get into the essential attributes (what’s new) as well as the Advantages and Disadvantages. At the base, I’ll propose a few options and make an overall recommendation.

Key Features – What’s New with the Roomba 980

The following are some of the new, upgraded, and remarkable features on the 980:

More Battery Charge Life: The Roomba 980 is now effective at running fro a full 2 hours before needed to recharge. It’s still not Lithium ion (for those who like that), but it is an advancement. Now it'll recharge, and resume where it left off cleaning, although like the 800 series robots, the 980 will return to the docking station base.

iRobot HOUSE Program: For me, this really is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become completely integrated into the house encounter that is smart. iRobot is the first robot hoover firm – to my knowledge – that has a program like this. You'll be able to press “Clean” from anyplace and the 980 will start/stop as wanted. That is perfect for individuals who are on the go (like me). I can get things began while I’m away if I’m at work or out of your house. The app is easy essentially functions as an innovative remote control and to use. On the older Roomba’s you could have a predetermined program to run every day, but not instantaneous control in this way!

New Navigation System: It’s really more of an upgrade. In addition to the conventional “bumper” sensors, the Roomba 980 now features the “VSLAM” (Visual Coincident, Localization, and Mapping) technology. This really is a big deal. Basically it allows the visual localization map the room and allows the Roomba to “look” up and out to help browse. This is the sort of ground-breaking enhancement that vastly enhances the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean almost? Less bumping into a more organized efficient and – – cleaning route and things randomly.

Mercifully, iRobot wasn’t content with just a couple new attributes. Additionally they upped their game in the power section. The AeroForce cleaning system is per cleaning cycle exactly the same base technology, but 2 times more effective at picking up debris. Additionally, it has “carpet boost” which maximizes air power when it finds a carpet or rug beneath. The end result is a comprehensive clean, duplicating a grade that is higher conventional vacuum.

Improved Virtual Wall Lighthouse: Roomba uses these little towers to indicate where to clean (and where not to clean…acting as an invisible wall barrier). The 980 has stepped up it’s lighthouse game. They are now smaller and require AA batteries (compared to the hulking “D” batteries for previous collection). This is a nice development because who has extra “D” batteries lying around?

Pros and Cons – Matters I enjoy and Things I Don’t

Pros

The Program is Amazing: It’s straightforward and pretty easy, but it means everything to me. Being able to control my robot from my phone means the Roomba is currently part of my smart house family. Picking up on where tools like Ecobee smart thermostats and the Nest have left off, iRobot has actually delivered on a smart, internet-linked, roomba vacuum. I thinking about the options for future integration with my various smart dwelling apps and controllers.

App Helps Monitor Care: There's a really cool “diagnostics” portion of the program that tracks distinct parts of the Roomba and uses simple bars to let you know when things must be changed or serviced (think emptying the bin, changing extractors, filters, etc…). It also tells you exactly how you can perform the desired maintenance demand.

Better on Carpeting: Robots hoovers always have a tendency to perform better on hardwood floors and tough flooring alternatives (tile, etc…). The newly redesigned motor is not especially bad at conforming to carpeting surfaces as well. After found, a little more muscle wills engage to thoroughly clean carpeting the manner they should be cleaned. In a side by side test with my Roomba 880 (and a group of spilled crushed cheerios), both “seemed” to clean the same at a distance, but the 980 actually could pick up more of the crumbs that had filtered down to the underparts of the the carpeting. It was a subtle difference, an important difference nonetheless, although challenging t tell from standing up even.

The new app, the stronger battery and the automatic recharging/resume feature makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than the contest and both previous models. Slowly but certainly, house robotics is living up to it’s guarantee. If you hate vacuuming – or physically cannot do it anymore – this is the quintessential alternative that is outsourced. Short of hiring cleaning help, the Roomba 980 is now the smartest choice out there.

Navigation is Noticeably Enhanced: I will hardly tell the difference and Occasionally new features are added. Before, Roomba’s have had the knock for cleaning in a randomized, haphazard pattern. While the ending result was clean floors, how it happened wasn’t quite. However, it was also a little inefficient. It was among the comparisons I enjoyed about most Neato versions. Now, the 980 is efficient, methodical, and much more organized.

It still bumps into things to gain its relevance, especially in rooms with lots of furniture. Just not nearly to the amount it did previously. On careful observation it will not keep doing it with precisely the same wild abandon and seems the 980 will remember these “lumps” for future cleans.

Brighter Algorithm: For all you geeks out there, this robot is actually smarter than it’s the competitors and forerunners.

Outstanding Customer Service: iRobot continues to be the leader when it comes to customers service. This more of a general “ace” and particular to this model, but still worth noting. They may be also not bad at walking you through diagnosing difficulties.

Powerful Secondary Parts Market: Unlike other robot companies, the Roomba has a deluge of after market businesses specializing in creating parts and better replacement accessories. For example, I’ve been able to find replacement batteries that are better in relation to the factory default ones.

Better Suction Overall: My two quasi scientific means of quantifying this are that A) I can sense a lot more wind/air coming out of the unit and B) those larger particles of determination that only high powered vacs have a tendency to get are being caught in the dust bin.

Cons

Use Could be More: This isn’t really a legit gripe, because I’m thrilled with the new program. Like to completely integrate my Roomba with the rest of my house that is smart I’d. It'd be nice in order to manage everything from one app (and one control like the SmartThings Hub and others). It likely wouldn’t be hard to do and it may be something iRobot intends to do anyway.

Still Not “Perfect”: It’s a certain progress, but it’s still not perfect. Power cords occasionally confused it and can have problem with considerable thresholds. Once in a while it'll get stuck, but once you determine the problem areas, it’s not difficult to “Roomba evidence” your house. It’s not quite like a person….yet.

Competition on the Way? Both the Neato Botvac Connected and the Dyson Eye are rumored to be coming out “ soon”. How soon? I can’t really tell. The Botvac Joined (which features similar app controls) will probably be out occasionally this season, but no firm release date continues to be set. The Dyson Eye has been rumored to be in the works for years, but I 'ven’t heard much lately about an anticipated release date. It could be 6-12 months away. What this means is the Roomba 980 could have some harder competition on the horizon. Right now, the 980 is the best robot out there, but that could change. UPGRADE: The Dyson 360 Eye has recently been released. In general, it has a vacuum that is more powerful, but less room that is qualified -to-room navigation. You can read my full review for more details.

Nevertheless, for pitch black rooms you may necessarily get an error code. My simple solution would be to keep on in every room that needs it.

It’s still worth noting, although carpeting Boost is Loud: It picks up more dirt, so I’m a happy customer. Don’t plan on sleeping in exactly the same room.

Just Available in One Place: So far – as is frequently the case with new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY accessible via the shop that is iRobot here. This is likely because they want to control pricing. When it’s released to other marketplaces like Amazon and carton retailers, I’ll be sure to upgrade this post.

Price: As always, iRobot is the price leader. All their robots are often marginally to somewhat higher priced than the competition. The 980 is different. Actually, it’s fairly darn expensive! At RM 4850 per unit, that is probably not something that’s not difficult to spring for. It's possible for you to check out this listing for more detailed pricing information. In this instance, you do get what you buy. Many facets that were significant actually HAVE improved. Hands down, this can be the best robot vacuum now accessible. However, if that is your first robot, you may want to look into some less pricey – but still qualified – options (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Choices to Contemplate

If the cost is too much of a sticking point, never to stress. There are other great hoovers with contemplating.

Roomba 880

Sometimes last years model is the best value. Sure, it’s not the latest and greatest, but it nonetheless can offer many of the exact same advantages. You get 3 virtual Lighthouses which allow for establishing a perimeter for larger houses and spaces. The Roomba 880 WAS the cream of the crop, until the 980 was released. It's possible for you to check out my review of it here. At some time, it was the best robot hoover money could purchase. The patented AeroForce cleaning system is 50% more successful at cleaning up debris in relation to the 700 series. This, combined with a larger dust bin, an improved battery, and a remote control made it the most hands free apparatus at the time. It doesn’t have the app that is ground-breaking, but it's all the other key attributes for a runner that is true up. Most significantly, it’s a full cheaper compared to the 980 (check this listing for even steeper discounts). Still pricey, but a lot less so.

Botvac D80

I wasn’t overly impressed with the original Botvac release, but some helpful advancements have been made by the new “D” series. Notably, they’ve fixed a problem with the brush (by changing a bearing) to ensure it is less susceptible to getting tangled (particularly with person and pet hair, within my experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t merely seem better, it also performs better than preceding Neato models. The suction power is arguably comparable to the new Roomba 980 and the finest yet. Still, you won’t get the app managements, but it relatively easy use and to schedule. The patented laser navigation technology means more organized routes and it normally works quite nicely. Where it usually retails for less in relation to the top line Roomba’s, you can see this listing here.

Roomba 650

It trusted, although it’s been around for some time. It’s also MUCH cheaper. Attempt the 650 out to see if it’s good enough for the needs if budget can be your top concern. Yes, it’s missing a bunch of “extras” that is pleasant but the heart cleaning technology is till there. The 650 is perfect for individuals who have merely a small space they desire routinely cleaned, flats, or modest houses. It will not come with the conventional HEPA filter (great for those with allergies and pet owners) like the 880 and 980, but the AeroVac filter does a good enough job. Overall, this really is an excellent robot for those just getting started, curious to see if the technology works for his or her needs. I still have mine running to this day after 3 years (and a couple of replacement batteries). On top of that, you're able to locate the 650 for a very affordable price at this listing.

Presuming Cleaner Faceplate

I was a bit skeptical of this “work-around” at first, but it actually works fairly well. Thinking Cleaner was the outcome of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It adds or 600 series robot and WiFi capability together. Skeptical? I was also. Essentially, you attach a “faceplate” that modifies your Roomba. It’s easy enough to attach. You can do most of the exact same functions only in intuitive manner and a less “ polished”. The program will let you schedule remotely, alarm you when your Roomba needs help and even plays a song if you must find your lost Roomba and is fairly strong. It’s accessible for just a fraction of the cost of a Roomba that is new here.

Who is this a good option for? 2) Prospective buyers who want WiFi ability, but can’t afford/don’t desire to spend RM 5000 on the 980. For example, purchasing a fresh Roomba 650 and Believing Cleaner Faceplate will run you no more than $500 total.

I’ll caveat by saying that 1) it’s still “laggy” 2) reduces average run time by about 10-15% and 3) it’s not native to iRobot (third party program). Believing Cleaner is working on a fresh faceplate for the 700/800 series, but as of yet it only exists as a Kickstarter job here.

New Robots on the Horizon?

The long rumored Dyson Eye is formally under development as I mentioned previously. Who knows when it will be released. At this period it will not be likely to hit before the 2015 Holiday season, although they haven’t discussed release dates. The new features on the Roomba 980 may actually cause them to delay release until they're able to match the core features.

The intriguing possibility is the the Neato Botvac “Connected” robot which aims to add WiFi capacity that is similar to the Roomba 980. You are able to read more about it via the official press release here. It would make sense about them to release it but they’ll have to do it soon to capitalize entirely.

UPDATE: See my full review.

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Connected

I’ll be writing up the full comparison shortly, but I needed to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it.

Both the Roomba 980 and Botvac Joined characteristic WiFi enabled control. That is definitely the headline feature for both. Both are similar in terms of characteristics/utilization, although Personally, I prefer the Roomba program better.

What are the Essential Differences? 1) The Botvac Connected is significantly more affordable (generally about $200 less), but see this listing for up to date information.

UPDATE: You're able to read my complete comparison (recently finished) right here.

Final Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The brief reply: Yes! The longer reply? This really is arguably the best robot vacuum cleaner available on the market, if you might have the cash. At minimum, it’s surely the best roomba model to date.

However, if you might have a little flat, the 980 becomes an extravagance. One caveat: it doesn’t matter if you're a geek like me. This can be a MUST own!

The 980 is the greatest robot for the job, if you've a bigger home or office/business that needs to be cleaned regularly. It can cover the earth and recharge on it’s own as needed. The 980 has the most power/suction and the best cleaning technology of any robot to get the job done if you need a vacuuming job that strongly resembles a traditional upright vacuum clean.

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#IRobot roomba #iRobot Roomba malaysia #iRobor Roomba 980 #Roomba 980 Wifi Connected iRobot

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irobotkedah-blog · 7 years ago

Text

iRobot Roomba 980 Jitra Kickass Promotion

With their Botvac “D that was somewhat improve being lately released by rival Neato ” series, it was speculated that iRobot might be following suit. Yet, it is a comparatively long time since 870 debuted and the Roomba 880. I really didn’t understand what to expect. Undoubtedly, iRobot isn't thinking about ceding any market share to rivals, and rightfully so.

As with all preceding Roomba’s there are things that I don’t like and things to enjoy. Regardless, it ’s going to be hard for me to not gift a couple of Roomba 980’s this year.

At the base, I’ll make an overall recommendation and suggest several choices.

Essential Characteristics – What’s New with the Roomba 980

The following are notable attributes on the 980, and some of the new, upgraded:

The Roomba 980 is capable of running fro a full 2 hours before needed to recharge. It’s still not Lithium-ion (for those that enjoy that), but it's an advancement.

iRobot DWELLING Program: For me, this is the game changer. I’ve been waiting for robot vacuums to become more completely integrated into the bright house experience. iRobot is the first robot hoover company – to my knowledge – that has an app similar to this. You'll be able to press on “Clean” from everywhere and the 980 will start/stop as desired. This is perfect for people who are on the go (like me). If I’m at work or out of the home, I can get while I’m away things started. The app is simple enough to use and basically functions as an advanced remote control. On the Roomba’s that is older you could have a pre determined schedule to run each day, but not instantaneous control in this way!

It’s actually more of an upgrade. In addition to the conventional “fender” detectors, the Roomba 980 now features the “VSLAM” (Visual Simultaneous, Localization, and Mapping) technology. This really is a big deal. Basically it allows the visual localization map the room and allows the Roomba to “look” out and up to help browse. This can be the kind of ground-breaking improvement that vastly improves the 980 over previous versions. What does this mean almost? Bumping into things randomly and a more organized – and efficient – cleaning path.

More Suction Power: Thankfully, iRobot wasn’t content with just a few attributes that are new. They also upped their game in the power department. The AeroForce cleaning system is the same base technology, but 2 times far better at picking up debris per cleaning cycle. Additionally, it has “carpet boost” which maximizes air power when it detects a carpet or rug beneath. The end result is a vacuum that is conventional that is thorough clean, duplicating a higher standard.

Improved Virtual Wall Lighthouse: The 980 has stepped up lighthouse game is ’sed by it. They have been now smaller and take AA batteries (compared to the hulking “D” batteries for preceding collection). Because who has extra “D” batteries this really is a fine improvement?

Matters I like and Things I Don’t

Pros

The App is Amazing: It’s straightforward and fairly simple, but it means everything to me. Having the ability to control my robot from my phone means the Roomba is currently part of my house family that is smart. Picking up on where tools like the Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats have left off, iRobot has actually delivered on a smart, web-joined, roomba vacuum. I eagerly considering the options for future integration with my various smart house programs and controls.

Program Helps Screen Maintenance: There is a really trendy “diagnostics” portion of the program that monitors different parts of the Roomba and uses straightforward bars to inform you when things have to be changed or serviced (believe emptying the bin, changing extractors, filters, etc…). Additionally, it tells you precisely the way to perform the care demand that is desired.

Better on Carpets: Robots hoovers consistently tend to perform better on hardwood floors and hard flooring options (tile, etc…). The newly redesigned motor is specially great at adapting to carpeting surfaces as well. After detected, the 980 will engage a little more muscle to completely clean carpeting the manner they should be cleaned. It was a subtle difference, t that is hard tell from standing up even, but an important difference however.

More Hands Off/User Friendly: in summary, it’s more of a robot! The new program, the battery that is more powerful and the automatic recharging/resume attribute makes the Roomba 980 more hands free than the contest and both previous models. Slowly but certainly, house robotics is living up to it’s guarantee. If you hate vacuuming physically or – cannot do it this is the outsourced alternative that is quintessential. Short of hiring cleaning help, the Roomba 980 is now the smartest choice out there.

Navigation is Plainly Improved: I can hardly tell the difference and Occasionally new features are added. Not so with the new navigation technology. In the recent past, Roomba’s have had the knock. While the ending result was clean floors, how it occurred wasn’t quite. Still, it was also a little inefficient. This was one of the comparisons I liked about most Neato models. The 980 is efficient, methodical, and much more organized.

It bumps into things to gain its impacts, particularly in rooms with lots of furniture. Just not nearly to the level it did previously. On careful observation it WOn't keep doing it with precisely the same wild abandon and even seems the 980 will remember these “lumps” for future cleans.

Smarter Algorithm: This robot is actually smarter than it’s the competitors and predecessors.

Generally speaking, I discovered the 980 spent much less time than both my 880 and Botvac’s (contained the new Joined Botvac) pausing and calculating as it creates the map of the room.

Powerful Secondary Components Market: Unlike other robot firms, the Roomba has a deluge of after market businesses specializing in creating parts and better replacement accessories. For instance, I’ve been able to find replacement batteries that are better than the factory default ones. This can be only somewhat accurate for companies like Neato (smaller market share) and this market is virtually non existent for the other small-scale players.

Exceptional Customer Service: iRobot remains the leader when it comes to customers service. This more of a general “pro” and specific to the model, but still worth noting. Every time I’ve needed to replace a Roomba, I’ve had no issues. They are also good at walking you through diagnosing problems.

Better Suction Complete: My two quasi scientific means of measuring this are that A) I can feel a lot more wind/atmosphere coming from the unit and B) those larger particles of grit that only high powered vacs often get are being captured in the dust bin.

Disadvantages

App Could be More: because I’m thrilled with the new program This isn’t actually a legit gripe. It’s more of a wish. Like to fully integrate my Roomba with the remainder of my home that is smart I’d. It'd be nice to be able to handle everything from one program (and one control like the SmartThings Hub and others). It probably wouldn’t be difficult to do and it may be something iRobot already intends to do anyhow.

Not “Perfect”: It’s a definite improvement, but it’s still not perfect. It occasionally gets confused by power cords and can have problem with brinks that were considerable. Once in a while it'll get stuck, but once you find out the issue areas, it’s simple to “Roomba proof” your house. It’s not quite like a person….yet.

Competition on the Way? Both the Dyson Eye and the Neato Botvac Connected are rumored to be coming out “ soon. How? I can’t actually tell. The Botvac Joined (which features similar program controls) will probably be out occasionally this year, but no firm release date continues to be set. I haven’t heard much recently about an anticipated release date, although the Dyson Eye was rumored to be in the works for years. It could still be 6-12 months away. What this means is that the Roomba 980 could have some stiffer competition on the horizon. At the moment, the 980 is the greatest robot available on the market, but that could change. UPGRADE: The Dyson 360 Eye has recently been released. Generally speaking, it's a more powerful vacuum, but less competent room -to-room navigation. It's possible for you to read my complete review for additional information.

Doesn’t Work in Complete Darkness: As long as there's some light i.e. you can see your way around, the 980 should work fine. Nonetheless, for pitch black rooms you'll necessarily get an error code. My simple alternative would be to keep night lights on in every room that needs it.

It’s still worth noting, although carpeting Boost is Loud: It picks up more dirt, so I’m a happy customer. Don’t plan on sleeping in the same room.

Just Accessible in One Location: So far – as is often true for new releases – the Roomba 980 is ONLY accessible via the store that is iRobot here. That is likely because they want to control pricing. As soon as it’s released to other markets like carton retailers and Amazon, I’ll make sure to update this post.

Cost: As always, iRobot is the cost leader. All their robots usually are somewhat to somewhat higher priced as opposed to competition. The 980 is distinct. In fact, it’s fairly darn pricey! At RM 4850 per unit, this is likely not something that’s not difficult to spring for. You can take a look at this listing for more detailed pricing information. In this instance, you do get what you buy. Many important facets really HAVE enhanced. Hands down, this can be the best robot vacuum currently accessible. Still, if that is your first robot, you may want to look into some less expensive – but still qualified – options (see below)

Other Roomba 980 Alternatives to Consider

If the price is too much of a sticking point, never to stress. There are with contemplating other great hoovers.

Roomba 880

Occasionally last years version is the best value. Sure, it’s not the latest and greatest, but it nonetheless can offer many of the exact same benefits. You get 3 virtual Lighthouses which allow for setting up a margin for larger homes and spaces. Until the 980 was released the Roomba 880 WAS the cream of the crop. At the time, it was the best robot vacuum cash could purchase. The AeroForce cleaning system that is patented is 50% more effective at cleaning up debris than the 700 series. This, combined with a larger dust bin, a better battery, and a remote control made it the most hands free device at the time. Now it ’s the 2 nd. It's all the other key features for a real runner up, although it doesn’t have the ground-breaking app. Most significantly, it’s a total cheaper compared to 980 (check this listing for even steeper discounts). Still expensive, but a lot less so.

Botvac D80

Some helpful advancements have been made by the new “D” series, although I wasn’t overly impressed with the original Botvac release. Notably, they’ve fixed a problem with the brush (by altering a bearing) to make it less susceptible to becoming tangled (particularly with individual and pet hair, in my experience). The Botvac D80 doesn’t merely seem better, it also functionally performs better than previous Neato models. The suction power is the best yet and arguably comparable to the new Roomba 980. It not too hard use and to schedule, although still, you won’t get the program managements. The patented laser navigation technology means more routes that are organized and it usually works quite nicely. It's possible for you to see this listing here, where it generally sells for less compared to the top line Roomba’s.

Roomba 650

It’s been around for a little while, but it dependable. It’s also MUCH more affordable. If budget is your top concern, attempt the 650 out if it enough to your needs to see. Yes, it’s missing a bunch of pleasant extras” that is “ but the center cleaning technology is till there. The 650 is perfect for people that have little houses, apartments, or only a small area they desire consistently cleaned. Best of all, you can locate the 650 for an extremely affordable cost at this listing.

New Robots on the Horizon?

The rumored Dyson Eye is formally under development, as I mentioned previously. Who knows when it will be released. At this stage it'll be unlikely to hit before the 2015 Holiday season, although they haven’t discussed release dates. The new features on the Roomba 980 may really cause them to delay launch until the core characteristics can be matched by them.

UPDATE: The Botvac Linked has officially been released in early Novemeber 2015! See my complete review.

The possibility that is more intriguing is the the Neato Botvac “Linked” robot which aims to add similar WiFi ability to the Roomba 980. It's possible for you to read more here. It would seem sensible about them to release it prior to the 2015 Holiday season, but they’ll have to get it done shortly to capitalize completely.

Thinking Cleaner Faceplate

I was a bit skeptical of this “work around” at first, but it actually works pretty well. Believing Cleaner was the effect of a successful Kickstarter campaign. It adds or 600 series robot and WiFi capacity. Skeptical? I was also. Essentially, you attach a “faceplate” that alters your Roomba. It’s simple to attach. It is possible to do most of the exact same functions in intuitive manner and a less “ polished”, only as the Roomba 980 WiFi. The program will let you schedule remotely, alarm you when your Roomba needs help and even plays a song if you have to locate your lost Roomba and is pretty solid. It’s available just for a fraction of the price of a brand new Roomba here.

Who's this a great option for? 2) Prospective buyers who desire WiFi ability, but can’t manage/don’t need to spend $899 on the 980. As an example, buying Thinking Cleaner Faceplate and a brand new Roomba 650 will run you .

I’ll caveat by saying that 1) it’s still “laggy” 2) reduces average run-time by about 10-15% and 3) it’s not native to iRobot (third party program). Presuming Cleanser is working on a new faceplate for the 700/800 series, but as of yet it only exists as a Kickstarter project here.

Roomba 980 vs Botvac Connected

I wanted to touch on this briefly because I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it, although I’ll be writing a complete comparison up soon.

Both Botvac Linked and the Roomba 980 attribute WiFi enabled management. This is certainly the headline attribute for both. Personally, I prefer the Roomba app better, but both are comparable when it comes to features/utilization.

What are the Key Differences? 1) The Botvac Connected is significantly more affordable (normally about $200 less), but see this listing for up to date advice. 3) The Roomba 980 has “carpet boost” and the Botvac doesn’t.

UPDATE: It's possible for you to read my full comparison (recently completed) right here.

Final Call – Is the Roomba 980 Worth it?

The brief answer: Yes! The longer reply? This can be arguably the greatest robot vacuum cleaner available on the market, if you've got the cash. At the very least, it’s surely the finest roomba model to date. Whether or not it is “worth it” comes down to what your unique needs are.

The 980 is the best robot for the job, if you've got a bigger house or office/company that must be cleaned frequently. It recharge on it’s own as needed and can cover the earth. If you need a vacuuming occupation that strongly resembles a conventional upright vacuum clean, the 980 has the most electricity/suction and the best cleaning tech of any robot to get the job done.

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