http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roomba
My old vacuum sucked (but not in the good, vacuum-y kind of way) and seemed to pour out more dust than it took in. Plus, it freaked the holy hell out of my cat. Seeing Roombas on sale yesterday, I bought one to combat the accumulating crud on my carpets. (I’m less a domestic goddess than a domestic demon.) The cat distrusts it rather than hating it, and I’m surprised at how amusing it is to watch – like having a new, drunken pet who trundles forward until it bashes, headfirst, into objects and walls. Maintaining the thing promises to be expensive – replacement parts and batteries appear to be needed regularly – but it’s a small price to pay for indulging my laziness.