purpose of purchase : clean cat litter around cat box , cat hair on chair , occasional spill ; some dust -lrb- ceiling fan , behind tv 's -rrb- . also , we need cordless vac to take out to the parking lot to clean the car . I ask Santa for the Dyson handheld as a Christmas gift because we have a Dyson canister vac that we buy back in 2006 that really impress we with how well it work . it remain the best vacuum we have ever own , but it cost a pretty penny - $ 500 at the time . however , it just really blow we away performance-wise , and prove the old adage of get what one pay for . base on that experience , and because we be disgruntle with the performance of we ancient , messy , cord handvac , we decide that dish out the big buck on a Dyson hand vac would be the way to go . on Christmas morning , I open up the Dyson , turn it on and go about clean everything in the living room but be disappoint with the lack of `` wow factor '' : it seem sort of average , and certainly do not live up to my expectation . so , I go onto Amazon to do more research , put a lot of think into what I would be use it for ; and decide to pick up and try out the B&D; model before make any hasty decision to return the Dyson . have the two unit at home , I test they both over the next two day on my ceiling fan , around the cat box , kitchen drawer , etc. - often simultaneously use they side by side , switch hand frequently so as not to favor one particular vacuum . when do , I empty the contents of each onto a piece of paper to examine the quantity of contents the dust bin . I be shock by how much more debris be in the B&D; and can only surmise that it be due to the inferior physical design of the Dyson -lrb- the angle issue - see below -rrb- in re . to how well it make contact with the surface that I would be attempt to clean . also , the B&D; come with a nifty pet hair cleaning attachment , which I use on one half of a cat-hair-covered chair -lrb- use the Dyson with it be normal attachment for the other -rrb- and , in general , there be many area in different room that I simply could not reach with the Dyson that I could with the B&D; due to its elongate , flexible wand . cost : Dyson handheld - $ 176 -lrb- obviously a great bargain -rrb- at best buy ; B&D; Flex , $ 56 at Walmart . each be price at about half off the original msrp . Battery Life : much longer on Dyson -lrb- about twice as long -rrb- charge time : much faster on Dyson -lrb- 3 hour vs. 20 hour -rrb- design : Dyson look cooler but functionally , the design of the B&D; model make it more effective at get into tight spot . also , even though the Dyson weigh in at only 2.92 lb , and the B&D; weigh about a lb to 1.5 lb more -lrb- I could not find actual weight and when compare spec on amazon\/internet - Dyson list actual unit weight and b&d; list ship weight -rrb- due to the angle in which one need to hold the Dyson in relation to the object be clean , and the fact that one must always push the `` on '' button on the Dyson where it be grip -lrb- a power saving but at time annoying feature -rrb- it be actually much more tire to use the Dyson - and I be a total wimp who initially be excite about the lighter weight of the Dyson , and almost do not do this experiment after realize that most of the other hand vac out there weigh considerably more than the Dyson . Performance : due to the difficulty in get the angle right while hold the Dyson , even though it obviously have more suction power than the B&D; model , as prove by oh-so scientifically attach to each vac to the palm my hand then try to lift they off the ground via suction power , I find that I be able to clean up more dirt with the B&D; . that really surprised I because , at best , I expect they to clean up about the same amount , but actually go into the experiment assume the Dyson would outperform the cheaper model . when try to clean my ceiling fan , the awkward position of the Dyson make it so that it offer no benefit over lug out my canister vac . but due to the flexibility of the hose on the B&D; , I be able to clean in all of its nook and cranny . both unit have a two year warranty . my previous experience with Dyson 's customer service be excellent -lrb- on my canister vac -rrb- while previous experience with b&d; -lrb- many year ago for a power tool -rrb- be just so-so , maybe a little frustrating if memory serve . I be a little concerned about the poor customer service reviewer have note with black and Decker model , but even still , I expect that if anything go wrong with the B&D; , I can get they to honor they warranty , even if it be not a terrific experience . we be return the Dyson because , for we particular need , the B&D; work just as well or better , and cost a whopping $ 120 less ! there be just no way to justify that kind of cost discrepancy . so , for all of you out there who wish you could afford the Dyson , but actually only have $ 60 , do not feel like you be lose out . there may be some aspect of the Dyson that be nicer -lrb- longer battery life , shorter charge time -rrb- but for clean around the cat box and under the car seat , the $ 56 B&D; model more than meet we need . if each of the unit have cost the exact same amount , I would probably give each of they 4 star . however , since money be important to I , Dyson get two star for its awkward-to-hold design , and for overprice the unit , while the B&D; get 5 star for be such a bargain in comparison - and , of course , easier to use . as a last thought , if my need be different - i.e. , I need to get out the hand vac several time a day to use for 20 minute or more each time and have a very specific purpose for it , I \* MAY \* have go with the Dyson , especially if pet hair be not a issue .