I have 2 Dyson Dc41 animals, both in the closet now. This vacuum cleaner picks up more dirt than I can imagine. I'm tired of cheap plastic parts breaking and having to take them to the shop for repairs several times a year. This vacuum cleaner is heavier and feels solid. It has plastic, but I'm not worried about it breaking anytime soon. Seriously, the Dyson design is way better when it comes to emptying the bin, it's lighter and it has filters. As others have pointed out, changing the canister is frustrating and a hassle. You must remove the filter on each dump. It gets clogged with dirt and hair and I have to brush it out with a brush. But even with the nasty filters, I can't give it less than 5 stars. Let's not forget that this unit is 1/2 the price of 1 Dyson. sorry it hurts I can vacuum a 6 foot area with Dyson and then go over the same area with Solitaire and pick up at least 1/2 cup of dirt. My family likes to use carpet fresheners. We were still using Dyson when we decided to buy a new rug. All this fine dust has accumulated under the carpet for years and we didn't notice it. I know Solitaire is getting an air freshener. When I go to empty the bin, I have to wear gloves and a twilight mask. I need a bagless vacuum because I vacuum a lot. I have 3 dogs and 2 cats. I get professional looking vacuum lines. The accessories don't bother me, so I don't have to store them in the closet. The cord is very long, I can walk up the stairs and vacuum part of the hallway before going downstairs to unplug. I am happy with the purchase. To update. Somehow the plastic housing of the filter was damaged. This cannot be fixed as the part allows the filter to snap onto the machine. I have loved this device for almost 2 years with no problems. I had to downgrade to 2 stars because now it stinks when vacuuming and I will be looking for a new car. Update: Having bought various vacuum cleaners I couldn't find one that cleans as well as this one. . I tied a bungee cord to it and it became my main vacuum again.