Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Three months ago, our 16 months old LG compressor vacuum cleaner powered brush stopped working, and I told my wife let's just get a Dyson this time. Fortunately, we had protection plan and got a full refund, and we were on a mission to find the best vacuum cleaner. We also considered Miele and Sebo, but decided on Dyson because of its bag-less feature and also the price difference. Unfortunately, the only model available in March was DC41, which is a great vacuum, but there were some news from UK regarding the new modified line which included the DC50 and the smaller canister DC47; sadly, these new models were not available any time soon for us living in the States. Therefore, we decided to get a small Hoover vacuum and wait patiently until these new models become available. DC47 or DC50? Animal or Multi-floor Dilemma After much anticipation, last night we finally got our DC50 Animal. Although we don't have any pets, we chose Animal version because my wife has long hairs. Compared to other versions, Dyson Animal vacuum cleaners are a bit more expensive, and they come with special attachments for picking up hairs. Both DC47 and DC50 Animal come with a tangle free turbine head that retails for about $70, but it is much cheaper on Amazon. You have the option to get a Dyson multi-floor vacuum and buy this tool separately. We compared DC47 and DC50 in the store, and found out that the brush head on DC47 is turbine head while DC50 has powered brush. We also found out that DC50 has a larger and better designed dustbin with 0.21 gallons over DC47's 0.15 gallons dustbin. The handle to hold DC47's dustbin over the trashcan is very small and user-enemy. The button for opening the dustbin lid in DC47 is on the side of the dustbin in an awkward place, while DC50's is right at the top. In our observations, the only good things about DC47 were the compact size and the retractable cord, and although Dyson's website indicates DC47 has more suction power than DC50, these were not enough reasons to sway our vote toward DC47, and we ended up getting the DC50. Unpacking and Setup You will be surprised by how small the retail package really is! It may be a little bigger than a gym bag, and it has a handle to carry around. Opening the package was a bit rough, but assembly was really easy and quick. The assembly took less than 5 minutes, and because the box had some really hard glue, I actually spent more time on opening the box than the setup itself. Anyway, we were up and running in less than 10 minutes. One quick tip: install the attachments holder before you put the cord back, since it blocks the slot. Test Drive and Cleaning All I can say is WOW! The suction is amazing, and the motor is very quiet. We have never seen our carpet look so new and bright since we moved in. The suction if not better is as good as the LG Compressor that we really liked, and overall it seems this Dyson has better built. My wife has long hairs and cleaning the brush is a breeze with our new Dyson compared to our previous LG, Hoover, and Samsung vacuums. We live in a 2-level apartment of about 1100sq.ft, and we had to empty the dustbin twice--once for upper level, and once for lower level. The dustbin bottom lid is attached to the base with a small plastic tab that is a little bit flimsy, so I hope it does not break anytime soon. Good news is, Dyson has a 5 years parts and labor warranty so we are covered. This vacuum is a bit pricy, but it seems unavoidable with today's trends. Conclusion Unfortunately, quality appliances are getting more expensive. We considered Miele and Sebo before Dyson, and we found out that they both are even more expensive than Dyson. It is true they may be better on the long run, but they are not bag-less and therefore less green. This Dyson is not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Although we are very satisfied with the purchase, it wouldn't hurt if this wonderful vacuum cleaner was a tad cheaper. Pros: - Powerful Suction - Easy to Clean: both the brush head and the dustbin - Lightweight - Very Quiet Operation - Thoughtful Attachments: including Dyson Tangle Free Turbine - 5 Years Parts and Labor Warranty Cons: - No Retractable Cord - Flimsy Plastic Tab on the Dustbin - Small Dustbin - Price Update: July 2013 After a month of use, we are happy to report everything works fine, and vacuum suction continues to amaze us. I had one incident with one of the small red handles that open the brush-head when I wanted to remove some tangled hairs, and it suddenly came off. I thought it was broken, but it just was popped out, and I could easily put it back on its place. You know, although some parts of this vacuum feel flimsy at times, they are actually not that flimsy!