I recommend a Dyson too! I've got one now, which is superb (an upright) and had one back home in the UK. My mum has 2 (one for upstairs and one for downstairs) and wouldn't consider anything else.

Like the others have said - it's amazing what they pick up, and creeps you out a little bit when you see what's in the cylinder.

We got ours from Harvey Norman for about $450 as it was an ex-demonstrator. Came with a lot of demo extras too!

Another point to add is that Dyson Customer Service are THE BEST!!! I was vacuuming one day and managed to knock the "wand cap" off - searched high and low for about 2 months and couldn't find it anywhere! Called Dyson and they sent me a whole replacement wand for free. As soon as it arrived, I put on my dressing gown and found the cap in the pocket - It had flipped off into there!