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The Dyson DC39 Animal is Dyson’s latest foray into the canister vacuum market.  While the vacuum is still quite new, the data and comments to date indicate they may have a winner on their hands.  It has very powerful suction, yet, due to acoustic dampening, manages to be relatively quiet.  It is reportedly good on carpet and bare floors, and is also quite capable at pulling up pet hair. Like many Dyson vacuums however it is not inexpensive and some folks feel that too much plastic is used in the vacuum construction.  [REF Dyson Vacuum Reviews]

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The Hoover Presto is a combination stick vacuum and handheld vacuum.  The handheld unit detaches from the stick vac and includes several attachments (crevice tool, upholstery tool and dusting brush).  Owners give the Presto good ratings citing its light weight, solid construction and quiet operation.  Folks also like that it is compact and easy to store.  In addition, a motorized brushbar makes this stick vac capable on both carpet and bare floors.  However some consumers report that the unit is difficult to push on carpet and that the dust canister is quite small and in need of frequent emptying.  [REF Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Reviews]

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The Bissell Rewind Premier Pet (model 67F8) is geared towards households with pets and it gets mostly good reviews from owners.  Consumers like the automatic cord rewind feature, the easy assembly and the ability of the vacuum to pull up pet hair.  Most also highlight that the vacuum has great suction and is reasonably priced.  The most significant area of discontent however is the vacuum weight.  A number of owners note that the vacuum is a little heavy and in some instances can be a chore to push.  [REF Bissell Vacuum Cleaner Reviews]

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Eureka now has over 10 different AirSpeed models on the market.  Consumer ratings for the Eureka AirSpeed AS1051A are not bad, but not stellar - owners like that the machine is light, powerful, and maneuverable but some find it a bit loud.  The AS1051A is formally known as the AirSpeed ABS (Advanced Bag System) PET AS1051A and it has a few features that make it popular with pet owners.  The vacuum includes a pet hair brush, a pet hair tool (PET Power Paw) and a HEPA filter with charcoal to remove allergens and help eliminate odors. [REF Eureka Vacuum Reviews]

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Consumer ratings for the Hoover Windtunnel Air UH70400 run the gamut from 5 stars to 1 star.  For some owners the unit’s respectable suction, easy-to-empty dust canister, light weight and maneuverability make it a great fit for their cleaning needs.  But others cite problems with removing and reattaching the hose, limited ability on pet hair, and small vacuum size as issues. This is indeed a fairly compact and light vacuum cleaner and this combination often has both pros and cons.  [REF Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Reviews]

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This is another Shark Navigator vacuum cleaner that is getting great consumer ratings.  Granted that only 21 ratings were found, but they were mostly very good.  The Shark Freestyle cordless stick vacuum (model SV1100) is capable on both carpet and bare floors and is reportedly effective at pulling up the likes of pet hair, dry cat food and kitty litter.  The unit is light, powerful and carries a long charge – a critical feature in a battery operated machine. It is fairly bare bones however and doesn’t include any attachments nor does it convert to a handheld like a number of other stick vacuums.  [REF Euro-Pro Vacuum Reviews]

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This bagged upright is getting very, very good consumer ratings.  At the time of this writing, for example, almost 80% of the Amazon customer reviews have given the Hoover C1404 5 stars out of 5.  However, it is important to understand what you are getting in this machine.  It is a no frills, very basic and somewhat loud commercial vacuum cleaner.  But for the consumer looking for a bare bones unit that simply does what it is supposed to do, it would appear this one delivers.  It is also popular with both commercial and residential users alike.   [REF Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Reviews]

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The Miele Capri is the latest addition to the popular S2 series of canister vacuum cleaners.  It is a step up from the more affordable Olympus as it has both carpet and bare floor tools (as opposed to a combination tool) and it gets very good grades from consumers.  Owners praise its powerful suction and also like that it is lightweight and quiet.  However like all of the machines in the S2 series the power cord is a little short. [REF Miele Vacuum Reviews]