The Aftermath

   So the big day has come and gone. Now all that's left to do is the clean-up. You'll be getting out your manual vacuum cleaners and making your way about the house, or ... By any chance, did you ask the old gent in red to bring you one of the new robotic vacuums? If you did, sit back and pour another cup of coffee. All you have to do is pick your feet up out of the way while it cleans a swath through the room. iRobot Roomba Vacuums range in price from $40.00 to $230.00, not counting the dollar signs on the accessories. The top model, the iRobot Roomba Discovery, is the one that gets the nod from Wired Magazine as the one to buy. They say unswept hardwood floors will be transformed into visions of cleanliness by this little wonder, but they also say "when it comes to deep-cleaning carpets, these bots blow." Oh well, that's what you've got a hubby for, right, ladies? While they tie on their little frilly aprons to finish the cleaning, you can head back to the drawing boards and design the one bot that really will do it all.