Quote from VacOMatic on 12/04/06 at 12:07am:Tried out the dc16 at Linens and Things yesterday. Somewhat disappointing. Didn't move all that much air compared to some of the other newer (16 - 18 volt black and deckers) .....
Then again, it's a first-gen model, and perhaps it will get some revisions next year.
Here's a 2 generation B&D called the "Pivot Vacuum" for $69 with a 2 year warranty and pivoting head. It's new (vice the corded AND cordless B&D versions which have been on the market for several years) and is on sale at most of the large retailers:
http://www.blackanddecker.com/productguide/product-details.aspx?productid=14069&toolview=2#details
If you click on the "view product demo" icon under the picture and then click on "video" on the menu bar you can view a video of the B&D "Pivot Vacuum" hand held. It has audio too so turn on the speakers. The B&D has a feature for the user to clean the filter, like the Euro-Pro Shark uprights, by hand turning a wheel and not touching the dirt. Marketed primarily for cars and home use, men/women It is ONE of dyson's biggest competitors in the hand held vacuum market at half the dyson price.
Folds up nicely too, with a pouch for storage, built in crevice tool in the pivot nozzle (vice the add on of earlier B&D models like the cyclonic hand held vacuum) lighter, quicker, and easier to use than the DC16. The B&D doesn't have the rugged "Tim the Tool Time Man" look of the dyson which makes the B&D appealing to a larger user market, not just a "niche." At half the dyson price, same warranty as dyson, longer cleaning time, and comparable if not larger dirt container canister (11.8 ounces) than the dyson DC16, the B&D Pivot Vacuum hand held is the better buy (IMHO). Two for the price of one: One for the home and one for the garage. TARGET has the B&D Pivot Vacuum for a regular price of $59.
Carmine D.