I have two long haired cat , two dog , three kid , and a husband . I need a vacuum that do what it be suppose to - suck up dirt . before purchase this vacuum , I have a Dyson that I have a love\/hate relationship with . when it work , it work well , when it do not it be terrible . after have it repair twice and need to repair it yet again , I decide it be time to throw in the towel . be I ever glad I do !!! this thing be hand down a better vacuum than the Dyson ever think about be . my search start with look for a vacuum that would work on both hard wood floor and rug . this vacuum switch back and forth with the easy flick of a switch conveniently located on the handle of the vacuum near the spot where you place you hand to push it back and forth . the on off button be located just above where it be easy to reach with the flick of a finger but not so easy as to accidentally turn the thing off . this vacuum pick up everything !! it be so nice to finally have all the pet fur off the rug and I no longer get frustrated go over and over the same spot hope that this time the vacuum will pick it up . the front of the vacuum have a dial for adjust the height and suction level . it be so easy to switch from floor to vacuum off the crumb from the table cloth . when switch to use the vacuum on my table cloth , the vacuum do not suck in the table cloth material at all but do a fine job of get all those crumb off . the cord be long enough to almost vacuum my entire house from one centrally located outlet . I find the length of the hose sufficient to get the cobweb out of upper corner on my ceiling . I have not have the vacuum fall over on my yet when stretch the hose to reach a object I be try to vacuum . while I be not specifically look for a vacuum that have bag instead of a bagless canister , I do find that it be much nicer to switch out a bag without gunk fall out all over the place and get my hand messy try to clean up filter and gunk out of the bagless canister . there be a few quirk on this vacuum but very livable to I . the cord be easily tangle with the hose when pull the hose out . it be a little inconvenient to have to pull the cord out of the way to get the hose out but not so troublesome as to dislike the vacuum . as other reviewer have note , the wand be metal so you do have to attach one of the tool if you be use it on a surface that may scratch easily . for whatever reason , I find the attachment to be difficult to put back into place as they need to be position just right . again a minor inconvenience . also , the swivel must be lock in place -lrb- do by put the vacuum firmly in the upright position -rrb- or it will swivel and fall when use the hose . finally , I be a bit concerned about the weight of the vacuum when read other poster review but decide not to let it deter I from order this vacuum . I be so glad I do not . the vacuum almost seem to propel itself forward but the pull back be not effortless . however , I do not find this to be a problem for I . overall , I love this vacuum and find it a pleasure -lrb- almost theraputic -rrb- to vacuum again . as far as I be concerned , I will never buy anything but a Miele and I expect this to last a very long time .