apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Where do I get my dusty hands on one of these- Mel

no kidding, mel. very nifty.

Gregory, you could be the only one who thinks the way you do re. the Dyson. I haven't heard anyone complain about the dc-15. I purchased one & I really like it a lot. In fact, if I did it over again, I'd purchase the same machine no question about it. It sucks the living beejesus out of my wall to wall carpets in a way no previous vacuum cleaner has. Somehow I get the feeling you're thinking more along the lines of what's fashionable. Nothing wrong with that of course. The Japanese can be pretty hyper-trendy.

Duncan: First off, I'm glad you like your vacuum! We should all hope for regret-free purchases. My post was admittedly posted based upon my own personal inspection of the Dyson vacuums.

As a designer myself, I was excited when I first saw these vacuums in early press. But in real life, I found some of the construction not as impressive up close. There was some shoddily connected parts, and soon after, I read a few reviews and user comments that support the assertion that this is an overpriced unit.

"The Japanese can be pretty hyper-trendy."

True, but a statement that could easily be applied to the Dyson vacuums, especially considering the boutique prices and the marketing of the machines as design objects. Personally, if price was no issue, I'd be cleaning with a Miele. For now, I use a horrible, college era purchased Dust Devil upright, while considering importing a Japanese vacuum or the domestically available Electrolux models.

Duncan, there are actually a lot of views less flattering to the Dyson out there, from actual owners as well as reviews such as Consumer Reports (which gave a Hoover model top marks over the Dyson).

In my own experience, over the course around 4 years of use I have had quite a few parts break off the Dyson; most of the time they snapped back, but combined with the ravages of time performance has DEFINITELY declined. The weight and size of the Dyson has also always been an issue for me.

Overall, I did find the Dyson to be much better than the vacuums I've had in the past, but it also cost at least twice as much as those vacuums. I will need to get a replacement vacuum this year and am definitely looking at alternatives from Miele, etc.

does anyone have a strong opinion about a great vacuum that picks up stubborn pug hair?? my electroluxe just kicked the bucket and i am confused by all of the mixed feelings towards the dyson. i'm willing to spend $$ if it is for an excellent product. help!

I bought the cheapest Miele out there, the Sirius, (but it still was $350 with the HEPA filter) and adore it. I love how it swivels so I can easily vacuum under the bed every weekend. We have two cats and hardwood floors. One sheds a lot. The Miele sucks up all the cat hair (and dust, and dust bunnies) on the econo setting (there are about 6 settings from low to super sucky high). We change the bag about once a month. I love how the lid slides closed over the bag when you remove it so you have no chance of stirring up any dust into the air.

Don't the Japanese models draw a different voltage? Even using a transformer, the stuff we have from Singapore always ends up blowing out (of course it could be that it's just too old, we're talking electric toothbrush and fax machine).

regards,
trillium

I was given the Dyson Animal as a gift when it first came out and expected to never need another vacuum again given the publicity and reviews about its suction power. Because of the size and bulk, however, it didn't do a thorough job of picking up hair (both dog and human) in corners and around furniture and wasn't too practical for everyday use (I'm wimpy) - so a few months ago, I gave in and bought another vacuum - this time a Miele Galaxy vacuum. It is amazing! It's light, compact, quiet and very strong but not so strong that it pulls the fibers off of my woven rugs. Personally, I think its pretty as well so I leave it out - which makes me vacuum more often! Although the Miele vacuums are pricier - the other vacuums that I've had (I was fooled into getting an "electrolux" a few years back - which, by the way was not the same electrolux brand/quality that my mom had - the company that now produces the red electrolux canister is the same one that also produces the Eureka brand products) haven't lasted very long. The miele vacuums ARE quite expensive but I got tired of buying a new vacuum every 2-3 years, so I caved in and invested in a good quality vacuum that should last me at least a decade.

--- oh, and that vacuum IS rather snazzy and I definitely dig the orange color. Maybe its just me...but I think it looks a bit...um...phallic, no? Perhaps that's what makes it so artistic...

@trillium: japan uses the same voltage and plug as here.

i've been waiting for this thing to come out for over a year. the "buy" button on the linked page doesn't work. where'd the $243 price come from?

I was at bed bath & beyond over the weekend. The vacuum specialist seemed to really know her stuff-- and she said Dysons are very large, very heavy and very expensive, and she gets more complaints about them than any other make. For the record-- she recommended the Oreck as an upright, and the Miele as a cannister.

ansel: Converted the yen price to dollars from a japanese online retailer (still haven't found one that will ship to the US):

http://www.webo-kobe.com/items/electric/uzu/cyclone.html

Most of these foreign vacuum brands are ridiculously overpriced and not terribly reliable, based on what I've read at Consumer Reports. The Miele's are the only ones I've seriously considered, as they do tend to be substantially quieter than other brands, but you pay a huge price for that.

I think Sears is still your best bet for buying a vacuum. Their Kenmore models consistently perform well in the ratings, are reliable, and you can occasionally get a great deal on them. My mom had a big Kenmore canister back in the '80s, and it's still the best vacuum I've ever used.

The Germans and the Japanese might say that most foreign vacuums are hideously ugly and horrendously loud. Also, Kenmore vacuums are, and have for a while been, made by Panasonic.

gregory: Whenever you find a source for the Metaphys, please let us know (even though i'm currently very happy with my Samsung compact canister, which I'd recommend to anyone for an apartment-sized vacuum).

I have both a Dyson and a Miele and they are both fab

Purple: Before I read the caption, I thought it was some high tech dildo.