My daughter got this vac for her little clean ups and RAVED about it...so I got it for my sewing room and I am now RAVING about it!
It is electric, so there is a cord, but it is long enough for me and probably the reason it works well. It is a stick vacuum so light and easy to handle...has a removable foot...can be a hand vac like a dust buster and I forget what the 3rd is.
I don't have carpet, so can't share about that. Good news is I got it at Walmart for under $15.
It does have a little catcher like all dustbuster types, but it picks up pretty big scraps...just clean it out after each use and keep it handy.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bissell-3-...38B1K/16439796