If you have pets, the purple Dyson for pets is the way to go. I have a Miele which is supposed to have the best suction going, and swept my carpet. I swept right after with the Dyson and you would think i had never swept my carpet with the amount of dirt, hair and carpet fuzz that came up. It filled the canister! No bags, easy to empty because you have no bags and you don't have to touch the stuff you swept up out of the carpet. It does great on upholstery too. I have a springer spaniel and a Maine Coon, and they shed a lot. I have also had mine for 5 years and it is as good as the day I bought it. it doesn't have all of the belts, etc. that other vacuums have that you end up having to replace.