Here's the details of a trademark that Dyson has filed for a to-be-launched project, the 'Digital Slim':-

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/tm/t-os/t-find/t-find-number?detailsrequested=C&trademark=2552353

As usual, the trademark covers a multitude of product categories. Personally, I'd reckon the most likely candidate is a 'slim' upright vacuum, with a 'digital' motor. Dyson have used the 'slim' name before - on the DC18. The upright range has long been missing a product with digital motor. I would also be good if by slim, they mean as thin in profile as the DC03 - which could be hung on the wall and take up next to no space inside a storeage cupboard:-

The major downside was it's small, weedy motor. But if replaced with a similar model using a digital motor, it wouldn't have that same issue.

Backing up the previous (since deleted) claim on the Dyson Wikipedia page, the 'Digital Slim' is confirmed as 'DC35'. It's cordless, uses the Dyson Digital Motor, an independently driven brushbar (1,400 RPM, with carbon fibre brushes)... 'the most powerful lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner'... however, I suspect that no-one reckoned it would look quite like this:-

http://www.binglee.com.au/home-appliances/vacuums-floor-care/stick/dyson-dc35-dc35-cordless-vacuum-cleaner

Dyson genius or market failure? They certainly seem ever proud to break from the accepted norm. I guess this could still be classified as a 'stick vac'?

Wow.  What can one say?  A picture is worth a 1000 words and in this case a belly full of laughs.  I wouldn't classify a stick vac by any stretch of the vacuum industry imagination.  No more than I would classify a Kirby a bagless vacuum just becuase it uses an after market retrofitted Keeler bagless dirt bin.  The DC35 is more a hand held vacuum with attachments.  Not a new concept for vacuums in the USA.  Decades ago HOOVER capitalized [or tried to] on the same concept in the 60's and 70's with the Pixie Vac and Handi Sac vacuums [the latter were called stick unless used with attachments in hand held mode].   In fact, GE initiated the concept in the 40's with the GE Tidy Vac.   A small handheld with shoulder strap and attachments including wands.  A number of vacuum makers have come before dyson's DC35 slim whatever it is.  Not sure what the price for this product is/will be but if it follows in the line of other dysons it's sure to be way overpriced.

Carmine D.

armineD wrote:

Sears has gone on the band wagon with this idea too.  If you own a Kenmore can, yoiu can purchase a handheld cleaner to tag on to your existing PN and wandsfor quick-ups without using the main cleaner.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02021000000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=L2

Venson

My Black and Decker mains corded hand held does the exact same thing!

vacmanuk wrote:

Hi vacmanuk,

Though it's for light work, have you found an advantage? 

Venson

Thanks Carmine / Venson – I didn’t know that this arrangement had been tried before. In the Dyson case, it appears to be a standard DC31, a Dyson Motorhead part and a connecting wand. Beyond this, it looks like very little additional product design has gone in to it?

It looks like it’s positioned for quick pickups. I imagine for the moment that the battery life remains the same? When I lived in an apartment with wood laminate floors, I would frequently use a DC16 handheld, to pick up debris that I had swept in to a pile. I can see how this new Dyson might be quicker in this regard. But one point puzzles me; why the powerhead? Surely if used on carpeted floor it will soon fill up the bin – wouldn’t a mid to large-sized canister be more suitable for a powerhead arrangement?

The one bonus I can see is it being cordless and much more approachable for quick clean ups and dumping. Maybe there’s a certain user case for it - it won’t have cost them much to develop and can claim a certain crown of being the most powerful cordless lightweight. I agree that the price (converted from $ASD) does seem too high,  but as said with the Air Multiplier, they’ll always aim a unique product like this, see which way the wind blows and discount if potential buyers act indifferent.

Venson wrote:



Kind of. As you'll see in the picture above, the hand held has one suction pipe in this photo, but in reality it comes with two suction pipes that can be extended making it a suction only floor cleaner. I bought the hand held after my Dirt Devil of 23 years old (the Handy model) gave up one day until I discovered the plastic fan had had enough of its dirty fan system and broke in two. Wasn't really that surprised because the Dirt Devil Handy models are fantastic value but the ones in the UK were too overpriced and the Black and Decker looked a bit better on value and attachments.

The floor tool that is supplied is like a standard suction only pedal floor head that can clear hard floors pretty well. In use it works okay - to a point - the hand part of the vacuum gets too hot too quickly so if you're cleaning a home that hasn't had central heating on for a couple of days, this is one vacuum that will sure warm you up. It works well on stairs as shown though and there is even a blower attachment as well as several tools shown on the box photo here.

Problem with the B&D is that the plastic suction tubes are too thinly made, so it can bend in use and feel liable to split apart  = but in theory it is a great attachment and a good idea. The tubes are smaller than 32 mm so I can't attach Hoover pipes or similar which could give this model a bit more longevity and durability.

If there are two things I do like about this model, then its main crevice tool which you can just pick off the top and lock it into the mouth. Also the bin area is well designed. Flip lock and just angle it into a bin. The cyclonic design is rather unusual - split bin with a plastic permanently fitted top disc that has a sprung "wing" which bends down the moment the bin lid is opened and thus allows the dust to fall out. You can watch the dust spin around and around but it never touches the bottom part of the bin which has a single mesh filter cyclone.

Black & Decker Stick Vac Cordless MSRP $110. Revolving Brush.  Stick version of the the hand held B&D pivot vacuum.  Both these B&D cleaning products are in all the big box retailers and marketed and sold in the states for a number of years.

Not sure of the weight of these products compared to dyson's latest DC35.

Carmine D.

18V Cordless Pivoting Floor Vac

MODEL # PSV1800

The Black & Decker cordless mini canister Flex with MSRP of $79.  Newer to the US market than the pivot stick and held held vacuums, probably just several years of sales and becoming just as pervasive as the B&D pivot hand held and stick with prices starting at $60 [Wal*Mart stores].

Weighs in at less than 4 pounds and has a 4 foot hose and attachments for straight suction cleaning.

Carmine D.

FLEX™ - Cordless Mini Canister Vac

MODEL # FHV1200

M00seUK wrote:

I recently read an article that coined a brilliant phrase for this type of brand maker thinking and action:  "Behavioral economics."  Basically the premise of the writer is that product makers and their loyal customers discount the drawbacks of products they are emotionally in favor of.  Sound like an inventor/brand talked about here?  Before you answer it has nothing to do with vacuums, fans, and hand driers but with wind turbines. 

Carmine D.