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Robotic Lawn Mowers
- Best-value robotic lawn mower Friendly Robotics Robomower RL850 *Est. $1600
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- Lightweight
- Bluetooth remote control
- Quick-charge batteries
- Can handle lawns of about three-fourths of an acre
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Price
- Bluetooth feature is finicky
The LawnBott LB3500 is a deluxe robotic lawn mower, the most advanced and environmentally friendly such mower on the market, capable of mowing up to about three-fourths of an acre -- or even 2 or 3 acres when equipped with extra Lithium-ion batteries. It's much quieter than the Robomower models and programs itself to keep the lawn at the height you choose. It can handle slopes of up to 30 degrees, plus as many as four separate mowing areas. There's a 30-month warranty plus a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you don't need the remote control (which some reviewers say is buggy anyway), the LawnBott LB 3200 Evolution (Discontinued) is similar in performance.
We found the best and most detailed hands-on reviews of the LawnBott LB 3500 at two retailer sites, Bamabot.com and LawnbottReviews.com. The sophistication of this Bluetooth-enabled robotic mower also draws interest from such blogs as Engadget.com. A single-product review at ConsumerGuide.com covers the earlier LawnBott LB 3200, but some of the information still applies. ConsumerReports.org also tests the LB 3200.
Our Sources
This well-illustrated review is easy to read, and it takes you from opening the box through installation and mowing tests. There's plenty of detail and explanation here. The main drawback is the setup -- which can take several hours.
Review: LawnBott Review, Editors of LawnbottReview.com
2. Bamabots.com
This detailed hands-on review of the LawnBott LB 3500 Super Evolution is written by one of the top robotic lawn mower retailers in the United States. Another article here adds even more details about the LB 3500, and a recent chart on this site compares the long-term costs (including routine maintenance and average repairs) for the LB 3500 with those of two other LawnBott mowers and of two Robomower models. The big drawback is that the Bluetooth feature is "more trouble than it is worth."
Review: LawnBott LB 3500 King of the Mow, Kerry Clabaugh
Like the forum at Bamabots.com, this is an excellent place to find out details and owners' comments on specific LawnBott models. However, navigation isn't easy, and this is a better place for specific questions and answers than for determining overall performance.
Review: LawnBott Robomower Robotic Lawn Mower Forums, Contributors to RoboMower.biz
4. Engadget.com
This blog post highlights the Bluetooth technology built into the LB 3500, and a few reader comments add some useful information.
Review: LawnBott LB3500 Offers Bluetooth Control, Stylin' Rims, Evan Blass, Jan. 25, 2008
5. Amazon.com
This is one of the owner-written reviews of the Robomower RL1000. The writer says he wishes he'd bought a more-expensive LawnBott instead, and he explains why in some detail.
Review: I Wish I Got a LawnBott Instead, "T. Vo", Dec. 26, 2006
This reviews an earlier LawnBott model, but most of the advantages and disadvantages also apply to the LB 3500.
Review: Expert Review -- Kyodo America LawnBott Evolution LB 3200 electric mower, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, July 22, 2008
7. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org tests an older LawnBott model along with the Robomower RL1000, but it doesn't test the newer LawnBott LB 3500. No details are given about the initial setup or test conditions. Nor are any of the mowers reviewed here rated for noise or environmental impact.
Review: Robotic Mowers: Close Up, Contributors to ConsumerReports.org, May 2008
This is a good summary of the robotic mowers available in May 2007, based on interviews with ConsumerReports.org's lawn-tool expert, Peter Sawchuck, as well as with the editor of Bamabots.com and representatives from the major manufacturers. However, it doesn't compare models or report on any actual usage.
Review: For Latter-Day Tom Sawyers, Jay Romano, May 20, 2007
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