Mow your lawn with your cell phone?
Posted on April 7th, 2008 – 8:57 AMBy Randy A. Salas
Of all the come-on lines I’ve received in press releases, “Mow your lawn with your cell phone…What?” has to be one of the best. The explanation:
“The LawnBott 3500 is the newest and most sophisticated lawnmower on the planet, featuring Bluetooth compatibility that allows it to be conveniently programmed and controlled by any Bluetooth enabled device, including cell phones and PDAs.”
Cool! Basically, maker Kyodo America has added Bluetooth 
control to its innovative mower, which came out last year. The LawnBott does for your lawn what Roomba does for your floor. It mows your lawn automatically, using perimeter wire that you set up to avoid flower beds and mark the edges. After it’s done or when it’s low on juice, the LawnBott returns to a docking station to recharge. You can program it and change settings using a Bluetooth device — perhaps while sipping lemonade on the veranda. The new LawnBott has enhanced security features that stop the blade and sound an alarm when it hits something or is picked up. There’s more:
“LawnBott uses $7 to $10 worth of electricity a year and because gas or oil is not required, they are eco-friendly with no pollution and zero emissions. … LawnBott is also quiet enough for a late night or early morning cut without disturbing neighbors, or yourself, while it mows. LawnBott also comes equipped with a rain sensor, which allows it to cut during light rain but stops once it senses too much water, immediately returning to its docking station.”
How could anyone not want this thing? Well, for me, it became a no-go when I saw the retail price: $3,249.
Now I know what they meant by the “What?” in the press release come-on. Actually, I’d add an exclamation mark, as in “What?!”
I could have a lawn service mow my lawn for nearly five years for that price — seriously. Yes, a service is not as good for the environment, but being eco-friendly sure is expensive. I would bet most people think the same way.
Maybe the best eco-friendly device to mow your lawn is a goat. On the other hand, I do not believe there is one that is Bluetooth-capable.
Would you pay more than $3000 for the LawnBott 3500?
8 Responses to "Mow your lawn with your cell phone?"
only if the advert models are included
I prefer the Flymo Version, but that is even more expensive.
As usual, the marketing propaganda for this product is misleading. According to the US Dept of energy approximately - 1.3 lbs of CO2 is released for every 1KWh used. Anything that gets power from a typical wall socket is not eco-friendly.
I can’t help suggest that you buy a reel mower to meet your eco-friendly needs and to get some exercise. If you are capable of a fast walk you can also use a reel mower. No electricity, no gas, just the satisfaction of being virtuous (and maybe a little more tired).
Eco-friendly creepo friendly. Oh Gawd I am getting sick of the holier than thou ‘Greens’. Um, by the way, when you plug in something to the wall for electricity that electricity has to come from somewhere and most of ours comes from coal or natural gas which both have emmissions (which are much cleaner burning today than 20-30yrs ago), so yes it does produce emmissions. The Nuclear portion of its electricity needs is the only part that has no emmissions.
Rebelpushmower says:
April 7th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I can’t help suggest that you buy a reel mower to meet your eco-friendly needs and to get some exercise. If you are capable of a fast walk you can also use a reel mower. No electricity, no gas, just the satisfaction of being virtuous (and maybe a little more tired).
Exactly what I mean…Virtuous? Oh Pahleeze!
CO2 is as essential to plants as Oxygen is to humans. The current concentrations in the the atmosphere are relatively low when compared to geologic earth. If there were no CO2 plants would die and so would life on earth as we know it. Your typical greenhouse garden infuses CO2 at a rate about 10 times what you would get outside. To tell me CO2 is a pollutant and a danger in its current concentration is foolish nonsense. Hyped up psuedo-science. Ridiculous.
Ha ha….goat. Good one
