It's HERE!!!!

[rafaelito]

Well, FedEx got here late afternoon yesterday and I set about unboxing, charging, and deploying the XV-11 around the house. Like JEfromCanada's, this model sports the updated firmware with spot-cleaning and multiple language support. I cannot compare it's algorithms to existing firmware but I observed some very interesting behavior.

But first, the setup is a breeze as observed by others, and the unit charged rapidly before I sent it on it's first mission. Now, living in Utah, there is a double meaning here, but I digress... The XV-11 found its way around my wood-floored living room through the hallway to my computer room, down to the master bedroom and did a great job finding it's way home... the first time.

It high centered perfectly 3 times on my computer desk on it's 2nd mission and then went crazy on a reclining rocker on a thick area carpet in my computer room. It spent 10 solid minutes burrowing under the thing, like a dog tunneling after a gopher! When I finally lifted the recliner (mistake) so it could move, it went under all the way and started turning in circles, a sort of victory dance. I put it to bed. Where would I put the magnetic tape?

My dogs are indifferent to it. It's not food or warm blooded, but I hope Stubby, our Corgi-Chihuahua mix doesn't use it for a hydrant.

It did great on the wood floors and area rugs. I have several pieces of tubular stainless-framed glass top console, coffee and end table and these items are in it's blind spot so it bumps along them cycling on it's right bumper switch and sometimes wedging itself under before moving on.

I really like it's efficient cleaning method, speed of time to completion (figuring that fewer operating hours will translate into longer life on mechanical/electronic parts. Not so endearing are its ability to exactly repeat its self-defeating behaviors with mechanical precision... way too close to home! So it fits, for sure, and I'll figure out how to adapt to its deluxe features.

Gary

[JEfromCanada]

Your observation about its exact repetition is something I noted as well. While, in my opinion, it cleans much more thoroughly and quickly that the Roomba 560, it's downright boring to watch once you've seen it once. No more will I be betting with myself which dust-bunny will be the last to be picked up by Roomba, and which will be missed altogether.

I guess now, I will actually have time to do something else while Neato vacuums, rather than amusing myself and wasting time while watching Roomba do its thing...

[Scott up north]

How do the detanglement and spot clean applications work? Scott

[justflie]

How do the detanglement and spot clean applications work? Scott

+1. I'm very interested in the detanglement as well.

[piokrza]

How do the detanglement and spot clean applications work? Scott

+1. I'm very interested in the detanglement as well.

Me too

[rafaelito]

I will stage a test with tasseled material and do a spot clean on some wheat kernels on hardwood floor. As reported, I have 2 small dogs and 3 cats. The intake hole plugged up last night with cat hair and I spot-cleaned the resulting mess, manually pausing the XV-11 when it was clean. The unit did a good job, staying within a limited radius, but nary a Roomba-like circle.

I then removed the beater bar and wiped down the narrow channel and dirt opening which had accumulated dirt residue which may attract kitty hair. How could fine kitty hair get inside the orange silicone bearing cover on the beater bar? There it was... Yikes! This was after running it under an ottoman in the "cat room" a converted closet that houses a tower, food, water, etc. I did not pre-pre-vacuum (only pre-vacuumed that area.

One of the silicone beaters is wider than the others and "squiggles" a little when the beater bar ends are installed. Is this by design, do you think?

[JEfromCanada]

How do the detanglement and spot clean applications work? Scott

+1. I'm very interested in the detanglement as well.

Me too

I ran a spot cleaning test with my new Neato today...

I put the unit on the floor, about a foot behind the dirty area. When I clicked on spot mode, it immediately turned to its right and went a ways (between 2-3 feet). It then turned left and went about 4-5 feet, turned left again and went about 4-5 feet, turned left again and went 4-5 feet, then turned left and finished off the rectangle that it started when I first turned on the unit. This rectangle (or square?) defined the "spot". It then traveled back to the top of the rectangle (not going over the same area as before), and methodically went back-and-forth across the rectangle, starting at the top and working its way to the bottom. It stopped when it reached its original starting point.

For what I had asked it to pick up, it was successful. However, if you were trying to do multiple passes over the same area (to get a particularly dirty spot), I don't think it would have worked as well, since it only hit each spot once.

As far as trying the detangling, I don't have a basis of comparison, since this is my first Neato. I can tell you that I have done nothing special with my electrical cords, but I have not tried a test like shoelaces; and I don't own a rug with tassels.

[rafaelito]

Tried detangling with tasseled blanket on wood floor. It was gruesome. Really. The XV-11 chowed down and didn't let up while it totally choked, before omitting a plaintive cry for help. This is not an experiment that was pleasant to watch. But I did film it!! Trying to figure out how to post it online.

Spot cleaning with popcorn produced a 90+ success rate, but the remaining 10% look poor on a wood floor.

The XV-11 is a serious machine and very good at what it does. However, it will choke on cords, socks, etc. and should not be faulted for this. That said it does some very interesting maneuvers to get out of jams. I really like it, especially in the ease of cleaning compared to Roomba, vacuum power and efficient use of that power to clean multiple rooms and return to base.

It has helped me to improve my floor cleaning habits, which is what I wanted. It is a pleasure to empty and vacuum out the filter, which I suggest as it removes all hair, dust etc.

[pjnagel]

It has helped me to improve my floor cleaning habits,

Yup.

I consider the Neato's propensity to choke on socks and shoelaces of shoes left lying about a definite Feature, NotABug.

[Scott up north]

It has helped me to improve my floor cleaning habits,

Yup.

I consider the Neato's propensity to choke on socks and shoelaces of shoes left lying about a definite Feature, NotABug.

My upright Kirby vacuum will also choke on socks and stuff.....