Quote from Carmine_Difazio on 01/17/07 at 1:39pm:

 
And once again today on the View.  Electrolux and Lowe's are appealing to women with this vacuum cleaner and TV ad.  Something that Lowe's has done better than HOME DEPOT and other big box stores.  For example, Lowe's advertises the weight and cord length of all its vacuum cleaners.  This is an excellent marketing strategy and appeals to female customers.  All retailers should do the same in their vacuum advertisements.  
 
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=43484-73823-EL5020A&lpage=none 
 
The Lowe's site above gives the specifications and features of the Intensity.  Comes with a full bag indicator AND an automatic shut off when the bag is full.  It's nice to see these features in a bagged vacuum for $298.  
 
Within the next weeks and months, I expect to see the Intensity in all the big box retail stores including Bed Bath and Beyond and Linens-N-Things.  Plus BEST BUY stores which recently re-introed the Electrolux line after a short hiatus.
 
Carmine D.

Quote from Carmine_Difazio on 01/18/07 at 1:50pm:

 
FYI: From BEST BUY website:
 
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7879833&type=product&productCategoryId=cat05040&id=1149040489046
 
Carmine D.

Isn't the size of the bag/container basically a way of telling the consumer how much dirt it's going to pick up? And is it considered"full" at about half capacity?  
 

Hi earthworm,
 
No call for amazement here.  It's very easy to sell a vacuum with a one-quart disposable bag -- and nary an attachment -- to a dumbed-down public.  As the consumer's sense of porportion has been left to tilt nearly as much off-kilter as the Tower of Pizza, lots of suction, little bag doesn't always register totally in the mind without some thinking when the intent is to tantalize buyers with sexy terminology having to do with "power".  Even the best of vacuums with a multitude of meritable features are sold mainly on the basis of power -- perceived or real.  "My Brand-Whatever vacuum can lift three times the bowling ball the other popular brad can . . ."
 
Ad writers are, after all, trying to make a living and to do so must say just about anything to make you think you're going to have a swell time once you lay your money down.  Despite the streetwalker mentality, I can't fault the writers of the mess we're expected to take hook, line and sinker since they are only doing what their client, the manufacturer wants.  I'd like to think the public is still too big for fairytales but looking at the level of sales of what I see as mediocre product, apparently it does.
 
I'm no great fan of Nancy Reagan, but in this instance by all means consumers should, "Just say no."
 
Venson

Hello Tiger21:
 
In addition to the lights you mentioned which are on the rear base of the vacuum (for easy view while in use), there are 3 on-off finger tip controls.  I believe on the base of the handle and/or the fork of the vacuum (its been about a month and I can't recall with certainty.  The touch controls may even be closer to the handle grip).  The 3 touch controls are power on-off, carpets, and barefloors.  (This set up is similar to the Eureka Optima series which uses a rocker switch with the same 3 settings).  
 
The Intensity barefloors touch control shuts off the brush roll and uses straight suction.  The Intensity brush roll could be a tad better for my liking and the dust bag is a tad on the small size.  I would compare the size of the bag to the dust bag of the HOOVER Swingette/Porta Power from the late 60's and early 70's (which are still made and sold today for many commercial applications by home and business cleaning).  The Intensity is being sold as a lightweight both in size and use.  In fact, its not.  It's a middleweight.  Not a full sized vacuum for everyday heavy duty cleaning but certainly it could be if necessary at least for carpet cleaning.  Hence the lack of tools on board.  It also has the cord rewind, a nice feature, and the fold down handle for easy storage.  I was impressed with its carpet cleaning for a lightweight.  But with the lack of a rug height adjustment, the Intensity is going to challenging for users on high pile carpets.  Another reason for its claim as a fast and quick interim daily user.
 
Also, if I'm not mistaken the Electrolux Intensity is assembled in Mexico.
 
Carmine D.