I'm happy enough with my roomba.

Alan and I walked in to a vacuum dealer to check out a Miele for our NYC apartment -- we walked out with 2 Sebos!

They are the best.

http://www.sebo-vacuums.com/

I love my low end Dyson. Quite simply, it works and does a great job. My husband, the Bull in the China Shop, has managed to break 2 attachments and Dyson has replaced them free of charge. My old Kenmore canister was a pain in the neck to haul around and maintain. I'll never go back to a bag vacuum.

i actually (and surprisingly) love my new ergorapido and for whatever reason, i've always been a fan of shop vacs. i am pretty sure that when i go shopping for another high end vacuum, it won't be another dyson.

Recently switched from a Kirby to a Miele--much lighter and practical, especially as time marches on. I have to say the power from both is pretty equal and in a dog family this is an important feature...

I heart my Bosch. it is a little canister vac that is perfect for my almost 600 sq ft apartment. I voted for Miele for German solidarity. My mom has a Miele and it is the Roles Royce of vacuums, I aspire to have a Miele.

i have said it before and i will say it again - if i weren't already married i would marry my miele! with 2 cats and a dog in a 2 bedroom apartment i don't think i could manage without it. it is hands down the best purchase i have ever made!

I have a 25 year old Electrolux canister, a gift for college graduation. and it is a MARVEL. Incredibly strong engine, incredible dust/pollen filters, and an incredible rug attachment. This machine can receive a tune up from Electrolux every couple of years, and emerge as good as new. And I have an older friend with an equally amazing Electrolux cannister that is almost 40 years old--same story.

Previously, I owned a couple of ordinary vacs, and they all lost their suction quickly. I'm sure some of these others are probably decent, but time will tell whether they last 20-40 years.

I didn't participate in the poll because I haven't tried any of the vacuums on the list. I have one of the cheaper brands (can't remember which right now) and it seems to work fine. With hardwood floors, I wouldn't think it would make a difference. But you're all making me question my assumption.

I picked out a low-end Dyson, and I love it. My wife calls it "the magical machine that makes my husband want to vacuum."

Which is all well and good, but she doesn't like how hard it is to take from upright to hose attachments, so she rarely uses it. If I had it to do over again, I'd let her pick out the vacuum.

roomba fan here.

Would never ever buy anything other than a Miele though my guess is that my Miele vacuum will last my lifetime. Best $600. I ever spent.

my miele rocks... and i swear you have to mop less, it does such a good job. my mom bought it for me as an apartment-warming present... that is a GOOD gift! (b/c I don't think i would have sprung for it on my own).

Real women use shop vacs... ;P

I've only had an old Panasonic or something, and now my Dyson Slim that I was able to get for $70 because I had a ton of Amazon vouchers. While I'm sure I'd love a Miele, I couldn't commit that much money to a vacuum. I love my Dyson, though. It grosses me out to see how much it picks up!

you would have to pry away my animal dyson from my cold dead hands.. best.vacuum.ever.

I've never had a vacuum that doesn't have a removable bag, my last one, an Electrolux (quite similar to the one pictured above), had even a mechanism to seal off the bag entirely before tossing it. No mess at all. And a filter too.

I've never seen anything else than canisters in action. With an upright model, do you have to "pour" the stuff into a trash can or what? How do you empty for example a Dyson? And another thing I've been wondering is, how you can fit something like the Dyson Ball under furniture?

My belief that the only reason why Electrolux is behind in this poll, is that not that many people own Electrolux vacuums.

Electrolux is awesome. I have the Harmony canister, and it's so impressive my sister and my friend also endedup buying one.

Running on 5 years now and still awesome. It's light, it's quiet, and the bag is easy to take out and put in. The HEPA filter is excellent and keeps a lid on my indoor allergies. It has a nozzle for vacuuming parquet/hardwood floors that is not as hard on the flooring.

When I bought it at Sears, I also checked out the cheaper Kenmore canister, but quelle difference. Completely heavy and outrageously noisy. Really clunky in the design.

The only other vacuum I would like as much is a Miele, and those easily run $100-200 more.

I haven't tried the new Dyson canister. I'm sure it's just as powerful and well-engineered, but the Electrolux Harmony is so much cuter. Anyone who appreciates simple, streamlined, modern design should be into this.

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/electrolux-vacuum-cleaners-harmony.html

When I lived in South Florida in a huge house with lots of carpet (ugh, I know) - I had a rainbow. After 10 years I sold it on eBay for more than half of what I paid originally (900.00) Wow that thing was the bomb! uses water instead of bags. I see them on ebay getting bid up through the roof so people must still love them. Probably not the best choice for an apartment.

I now own a dyson and its 'ok'. I have a cleaning service once a week so I don't use it that often and everytime I do, I forget how the dang things comes apart and goes back together. Plus the long hose came off which wasn't too expensive to order.

My next will be a canister me thinks of looking into the Miele . . but wait - it has bags?

My Dyson Animal model is starting its 5th year of service. It replaced 4 vacuums we had over 4 years preceding. We have a German Shepherd who sheds like it's his job and we burned through vacuum after vacuum until we spent the $500 on the Dyson. It's seriously one of the most "worth-it" purchases we have ever made. If it broke today I would get in my car and drive and by another immediately, without hesitation. But, knock wood, we've never had so much as a hiccup with it, the thing is amazing. All Hail Dyson!

We're an Oreck family. We've had their vacuum for a number of years and also the air purifier. They may look a tad old fashioned, but man do they suck the dog hair right up! The yearly tune-ups included with their vacuums make all the difference.