The Roomba 770 works hard and gets results.

Despite their many differences, robot vacuums tend to get similar results. The majority of them do a great job keeping floors looking clean, but none of them are as competent as a traditional, human-guided vacuum.

That's why it's important to choose a robot vacuum that's not just a good performer, but one that will be a good fit for your needs. As a generalist, the iRobot Roomba 770 is one of the best robot vacuums out there. In our tests, it did what a robot vacuum should: got itself where it needed to go in order to tidy up your floors between cleanings.

While many other robot vacuums have strengths and weaknesses, the 770 does well with navigation, pickup, and ease of use—the three most important measurements of a robot vacuum. It does so not with fancy features, but by getting under and around furniture and beds. Included infrared Virtual Walls help contain it within a room, too.

Even though the 770 lacks some of the high-end features and design elements of pricier vacuums—like the Samsung VR9000 Powerbot's Point Cleaning remote control—this Roomba has everything the average buyer would need.

The 770 is simply a great value, and anyone looking for a robot to help with housework should check it out.

Spartan HD GoCam (Verizon Version)

The MOULTRIE M-40I GAME CAMERA is low priced and comes in several colors for those that like to accessorize. They all come with a 4GB SD card for extra storage, so that alone is a nice little extra that the company threw in, and is money saved upfront. Available colors and styles are 5210A, 8210A 4GB Black, 8210A 4GB Camo, 8210A 4GB Dark Green and 8210A 4GB Gray.

It’s a nice little mix that adds some variety to the sometimes restricted choices with other cameras. Behind the stylings is a powerful 12MP CMOS sensor that promises brilliant photos and videos during the day and night cycles. Time, Moon, and temperature stamps work as an easy way to identify pictures if there are many. Users have a choice of determining how much standby power they need with the minimum of 4xAA batteries leading to 3 months while doubling that amount also doubles the standby time.

It is an intuitive system that’s easy enough for even new customers to get attached to. All styles are built to function in multiple environments, and the Prep Sensor design pairs well with the response speed trigger, enhancing both tremendously. Unique to this model is the ability to code locations in photos using the serial number feature. Everything that you want and more in a camera, this is a solid buy.

For a really good deal on security or game hunting, then this (4) Moultrie MLB-800ihigh priced package from Moultrie is just about everything you’ll need right out of the box. Four identical cameras are included in the package, and they are all 8MP and low glow infrared. These are in no way throwaway cameras, and there is less than a 1 second trigger time before they capture image or video. This is especially useful if you place them not far from each other. Customers will be able to get real time 360 updates about what is going on, and all in picture or video form.

They also did a great job of using the RealTree Xtra camaflouge design as a way to hide the cameras when you are using them for game hunting. During the day or night, the blend in well with the scenery so the buyer doesn’t have to change its positions on a daily basis. Range during the night is 70ft., which is more than enough to capture the good stuff, even if it moves quickly in front of the camera. To fully utilize the cameras capabilities Moultrie allowed the free use of a downloadable Time Lapse software. It works great for beginners and has a lot of advanced features to play around with. For a full setup that gets the most for your money then this is a nice bundle to purchase.

3 Alternatives Better Than Raising Startup Capital From the 3 F's

Just like a first date, I remember every detail of my first start-up. It was a busy time in my life, but there are many things that stand out. Thankfully, seen now in life's rearview mirror, those memories are lessons that allowed me to be significantly more effective in my current enterprises.

Our first investor was fond of asking about what he called "the three F's," as in “Who are the friends, family and fools willing to help fund the expansion of XYZ?”

The goal was to raise capital quickly so that we could expand and capture market-share. But, if you have a conscience, it isn't easy taking money from friends, family and people foolish enough to throw their savings at an untested concept. Accepting that money represents a promise they can trust you to get things done. The three F’s are likely liquidating some of their retirement nest-egg to fund your business. Can you live with yourself if you lose their money and cause them financial hardship?

I’m an emotional, caring person. I want to make sure the people with confidence in me can rely on my intentions. These are three alternative sources of funding I used to avoid needing money from the three F’s.

The Beauty of Bartering: A Smart Way to Start and Grow Your Business

When money’s tight, how can you grow your business? Trade for the items you need, say trading professionals and the hosts of A&E’s 2012-2014 original trading show Barter Kings. Traders Steve McHugh and Antonio Palazzola have their own approach to trading up to get what they want -- on the premiere episode, the pair worked their way up in a series of six trades from a framed gold Elvis record to a powerboat.
While we might not all have the skills to trade up for more valuable items, barter is definitely a useful tool for business owners looking to stretch their budget. In this tough economy, barter has boomed, and online barter exchanges that help you find items to barter for are mushrooming.

How can entrepreneurs barter for what they want without spending a dime, even if they don’t have an item of equal value to trade? Here are seven tips from McHugh and Palazzola:

3 Strategies for Getting Into Lending Shape

There comes a time for virtually every small business when the need to secure outside financing arises. Whether it’s to fund day-to-day operations, invest in new equipment and resources, or simply have enough cash on hand to get through slower seasons, many business owners rely on outside financing.

But while funding opportunities abound, convincing a lender of your need and viability as a business can often be the biggest hurdle. It’s a stressful, complex, time-consuming process. Here are three categories a small business owner should keep in mind in order to get in and stay in lending shape and increase your chance of approval.