The Dyson DC25 Animal Ball is a variant of the company’s regular DC-25 – but aimed at pet owners. People with pets that shed have great need for a good vacuum, and the DC25 fits that bill.

The only problem is that there doesn’t seem to be much different from the regular version. Differences between the two DC25 vacuums made by Dyson are small, if they exist at all. The only real unique feature we could find of the Animal is that it includes a mini turbine head, which is great for sucking pet hair off furniture.

The Animal does represent a reasonable value if you want the mini turbine head, as the attachment costs $70 by itself, but the Animal vacuum costs only $5o more than the regular Dyson DC25.

If you have pets that shed, you know how hard it is to keep the carpets clean. The Dyson DC-25 is a strong performer, perfect for this situation. If you also want to clean hair and dirt off upholstered furniture – the Animal variation is a good buy. You can check out its pricing at Amazon or eBay, or read our regular Dyson DC-25 Ball vacuum review.

For more information about Roombas in general, read our Roomba 560 review.

This Roomba runs approximately half the price of the high-end Roomba 560, and I feel it is an excellent value. The largest downside to this model is that it is from an earlier generation, meaning that iRobot had additional time to learn from past mistakes and make updates for the newer Roombas. Despite this, the 410 performs very well.

In addition to it being an older model, the Roomba 410 has a slower charging battery, does not have a home base to which it can automatically return, and it includes one less virtual wall.

None of these issues are major downsides. Most users will probably charge their robotic vacuums overnight, so the battery is not a huge issue. The “return to home feature” is very problematic on all of the Roomba’s – so it’s best not to plan on relying on that anyway. Finally, doorways are easy to block with obstacles, so there is not much need for more than one virtual wall (it’s only really necessary for confining Roomba to one half of a large room).

With it’s good performance and attractive price, the Roomba 410 is a great choice for anyone that wants a robotic vacuum on a budget. Check out the current pricing at Amazon and eBay.

Featuring a futuristic looking design and a high quality filter, the Dyson is definitely a premium vacuum – whether its worth the premium will really depend how you use your handheld vac.

Dyson advertises the incredible power of the DC16. The vacuum is strong, but whether it provides a large advantage over most handheld vacuums in normal use is doubtful. Additionally, like most vacuums of this type, a battery charge lasts for a very short amount of time.

Despite the downsides, the DC16 Root 6 is a good choice for anyone willing to pay for a premium portable vac. It is easy to empty, charges very quickly, and cleans well. For more information, or to get pricing details, check out its page at Amazon or eBay.

As a canister vacuum, the Hoover WindTunnel benefits from the usual easy manipulation of the nozzle. You are also able to attach a smaller nozzle, for powerful suction on surfaces other than the floor.

Speaking of powerful suction, the S3765 is a very capable device. It is near-universally praised for the cleaning ability provided by its 12 amp motor. There are also controls for degree of suction and the level at which the agitators run. This fine-tuning allows you to vacuum anything from a hard surface to an area rug.

The WindTunnel canister is also a well designed piece. It features large wheels, making it easy to roll from place to place. The vacuum features a one year warranty.

If you are in the market for a canister vacuum, the Hoover WindTunnel is one to consider – check out it’s current pricing at Amazon and eBay.

Retailing for ~$60 as of the time of this post, the 4700D has an attractive price tag. Whether it represents a good value depends on what you want in a vacuum.

The Eureka Maxima is a bagless, canister-style vacuum. It features a 12 amp motor and weighs a reasonably svelte 14 pounds. Onboard tools include a dusting brush, crevice tool, and extension wand.

For someone vacuuming only on carpet, without extraordinarily high standards, the Eureka is a great value. If you don’t fit this category, or have a few more dollars to spend, the Hoover U5140 is close in cost but has significantly better performance. The Eureka 4700D’s  biggest downfall is that air exits near the front of the vacuum, blowing dust around as you attempt to pick it up. This is frustrating, but if you are on carpet that is not too dirty, it may not be noticeable.

For details and pricing information, check out the Eureka’s page at Amazon and eBay.

iRobot’s line of Roomba vacuum cleaners were some of the first and are the most famous robotic vacuums available. They promise freedom from vacuuming, an appealing proposition.

For someone with the right type of home, a Roomba might largely make good on its promise – if you have a huge house, however, even this fanciest of Roombas may not be the best choice.

To use Roomba, you turn it on and the robot automatically drives around the room vacuuming. It does not learn the shape of your room, but uses an algorithm to automatically navigate and guess when it has covered the entire space. The most surprising thing is that in most normal rooms, it works really well. Roomba will cover the entire area, even driving under furniture and getting fairly close in the corners (despite its round shape). It’s actual vacuuming/suction ability is on par with most decent vacuums, and it handles very dirty or animal hair covered floors with aplomb.

Despite its usefulness, Roomba has a number of limitations. First, it has a small dustbin and limited battery life. I find it can usually only finish one or two rooms before its battery dies. If you don’t run it very often, those one or two rooms will also completely fill up its dustbin. The second problem with Roomba is that it cannot find its way all over your house and clean. It will work in the room or two that you put it in, and then stop when finished (and would run out of batteries long before cleaning a large home).

So is a Roomba worthwhile? I recommend it for people living in small, one or two bedroom places. It will only take a couple runs for Roomba to clean your house, and it is wonderful watching the little robot run around doing your chores for you. If you own a larger home, Roomba is great entertainment and can be nice to clean a room or two, but it’s overambitious to expect the little guy to cover your whole place.

The 560 is the highest end Roomba, including 2 virtual walls (use infrared light to keep Roomba in a particular room), and is able to automatically return to its charging station (although the reliability of this feature is a bit suspect). You can find pricing on the Roomba 560 at both Amazon and eBay.

The DC-25 features an 11 amp motor powering Dyson’s Cyclone technology. This Cyclone tech is responsible for the powerful suction that does not become clogged or dimished as you use the vacuum.

Designed for all surfaces, the DC-25 can clean carpets, rugs, and hard floors. There is a motorized brushbar which can be activated for areas that need rougher cleaning, and then turned off for more delicate areas (rugs!). The Dyson also includes a 16 foot telescoping wand, allowing you to easily clean stairs and crevices.

Another unique feature built into most upright Dyson vacuums is the “ball.” If you look at the picture, there is a round yellow object at the base of the vacuum. This large ball serves as a swivel, allowing the vacuum to rotate and turn more easily. You don’t need to go forward and backward to move the vacuum to the side – the ball allows you to make a simple turn.

In addition to the above, the Dyson DC-25 a high quality HEPA air filter, and is certified by the Asthma and Allergy Association of America. The unit features a 24 foot cord and weighs 16 pounds.

Although Dyson vacuums command a premium price, there is a reason they have been best sellers. If you are tired of old vacuums losing power and cleaning ability, a vacuum such as the DC-25 can be a revelation. For more info and to check prices – visit the vacuum’s page at Amazon and eBay.

The Hoover U5140-900 is an extremely popular vacuum, holding a top spot on Amazon’s best seller list for years. This is a bagged, upright vacuum with a headlight. It has a 15″ cleaning width, and includes a deluxe set of attachments including a dusting brush, furniture nozzle, crevice tool, and two extension wands.