well I do not have technical knowledge about vacuum , spec and all that , but as the owner of a long-haired white german shepherd , I know a thing or two about hair and dust . I get the s7210 vacuum on this site several month ago , and it be the bomb . my last vacuum be a $ 600 dollar Dyson Animal -lrb- special for pet and allergy -rrb- and the Miele leave the Dyson in the dust . I have also own Oreck , and it be ok but I think it be so overpriced and overhyped . my housekeeper agree that this be better than anything she be ever use , so that be the view from a woman who know . pro : solid construction , include the cord . I always resist bag , but with the prevalence of dust in this town , the canister of the Dyson create a disgusting mess every time I empty it . the bag just work better , in my opinion , and they hold quite a bit . and of course it use a hepa filter -lrb- but you have to buy the filter separately . it be not much , but I forget what it cost . -rrb- the profile of the Miele be lower than the Dyson 's , make it easier to vacuum under couch and low-sitting chair . the vacuum swivel -lrb- Dyson do not -rrb- and I can not believe how much easier it be to use with this feature . the bag and filter be really easy to change -lrb- and the filter be washable -rrb- . the power be adjustable -lrb- high , low , medium etc -rrb- whereas the Dyson literally ruin rug because it suck so hard on the fiber . -lrb- and I do not notice greater cleaning with the Dyson , just ruin area rug . -rrb- in addition to a adjustable height dial , there be a simple flip switch when clean `` carpet '' or `` floor . '' this and the power switch be position on the front of the handle , so there be no root around for the power switch . the height dial be just below those switch , so it be all very practical to use . all in all Miele work great , and if you have to do house chore , it be actually kind of fun to use . oh , and the color be really pretty -lrb- not that this be important . -rrb- neutral : it be a little heavy , probably due to solid construction , but because I be small I do not love carry it the the second floor . this may not matter to other , and it do not prevent I carry it ; I feel the same way about the Dyson . con : you have to buy bag -lrb- as say , they hold alot though -rrb- , and I be not in love with the cord windup . sometimes I want to cover a small area -lrb- like the den where the dog hang out -rrb- . it be not practical to unwind and use only part of the cord because it keep unwinding\/falling from the cord holder so you end up have to unwind then rewind the whole -lrb- pretty log -rrb- cord . not a big deal , I would just rather not have to go through that whole routine every time . finally , it be not cheap . however , in my experience cheap vacuum do not last or work as well as some higher dollar model . and I have my pricy Dyson just two year before it stop work well consistently , plus I be sick of deal with the nasty canister cleaning . a model as expensive as that Dyson should not need to be replace after 2 year . I be single , plus the dog , so it be not as though it be use constantly or have heavy workout . the Miele seem worth the price tag as compare to both low and high dollar competitor . though it be too soon to evaluate the lasting power of the Miele , in every other respect it be better than anything I have ever have . Hope this help , and happy cleaning !