Airmuscle Technology

[vintagehoover]

The new, long-rumoured 'self-propelled' Dyson DC28. Actually, the emphasis doesn't seem to be on true self-propulsion in the Hoover/Kirby sense, but more on enhanced deep-cleaning performance without the sacrifice of 'glideability'...

It looks far too complicated and expensive for the UK market, but I guess we'll see...it's pricing would doubtless put it in TOL Miele S7 territory, but the S7 is not selling well over here right now. Too heavy, and too expensive in this economy.

I wonder if this new, more active carpet height set-up is what's needed for a Dyson to finally pass CR's tests with flying colours?

http://www.dyson.com/technology/airMuscle.asp

 

[vintagehoover]

The catchily-named 'Floor Type Selector' close-up...

 

[williamr1248]

airmuscle technology

Jack,
I don't get it. The reason I had to return my Dyson canister was because it ruined my rug with the too aggressivge brush roll. Will this machine lose the floating head with the different adjustment by carpet type?
After the rug was ruined I tried my old Hoover 28 on the same rug. It ran in the same spot for a long time with no hint of damage to the rug.This rug had been regularly cleaned by my Kirby Legend ll with no damage either. The Hoover Anniversary Convertible did not pull the threads but it did "fuzz" the rug fibers with it's harsh brush roll.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Is this what they are doing instead of self propelled? I was hoping for a true self propelled. This mechanism looks way too complicated... I forsee lots of problems! At least they are doing true height adjust instead of just a pivoting sole plate.

 

[williamr1248]

airmuscle technology

Jack,
What is the most popular Dyson in the UK? It was my understanding that the UK prefers the canister style sweepers. I wonder why Dyson does not have lighting on their high end machines.
My new Oreck XL Platinum has very effective lighting that helps when cleaning my dark halls and when going under beds,sofa's and chairs. Besides it just looks cool.

 

[turbo500]

Actually, I'd say upright Dyson's are more popular. Out of all the people I know with a Dyson, only 2 of them are cylinders.

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi Rob, the best-selling Dyson in the UK at the moment is the DC14, although I'm not sure which DC14-variant is the most popular.

As in the US, uprights continue to outsell canisters in the UK, due to the abundance of wall-to-wall carpeting in most homes. However, this is not true for the rest of Europe, where, as you say, canisters are more popular, since tiled floors are much more common.

Another contributing factor is the fact that the UK market lacks canister machines equipped with powernozzles. As far as I can see, the only powernozzle models currently on sale are the high-end Mieles, Sebos, and Dysons. Far more popular are turboheads - most ranges of canisters usually include at least one turbohead model. That said, there are plenty of families in fully-carpeted homes in the UK who rely on suction-only canisters alone.

Putting down laminate flooring in a few rooms is a continuing trend in the UK, but consumers continue to choose uprights rather than canisters. Therefore, with the latest generation of upright cleaners, we're seeing a large number of models where the brush-roll can be switched off for more effective cleaning of hard floors; uprights have had to adapt to this new dual-purpose function.

As for the headlights, they're not an essential feature, and they're not common on any UK cleaners, even among the most expensive models. They haven't been since the last of the Hoover Turbomasters and Turbopower 1s. Argos are one of Britain's biggest retailers, and looking through their current catalogue, the only upright cleaners - spread over 12 pages - to feature headlights are the Vax Mach-series, which are just slightly-adapted American Hoover models! Dyson will only add what they consider necessary to compete with their rivals, and headlights aren't in big enough demand to warrant being added.

You may find that if there's big enough demand for them in the US, you eventually see some sort of headlamp on future US-exclusive models, but they won't just stick a lightbulb on the front. You'll see some sort of LED design with a high-tech lens which spreads a consistant wall of bright light in front of the cleaner or something...Dyson always have to go one step futher than the competition (and arguably, one step too far!)

 

[turbo500]

Thinking about it, a cylinder that includes both a powerhead and a hard floor brush would be ideal for UK homes. If Miele chucked the Parquet twister brush in with the revolution, it would completely eliminate the need for both an upright and a cylinder vacuum. The only problem is the price. Which is why I'm suprised that cylinder's are not more popular in the UK.

 

[vintagehoover]

Well cylinders aren't for everyone. I personally have great difficulty getting on with them. Miele I can just about stand, but I hate having to drag something behind me the whole time. I'm just not a cylinder person, and I know many people who feel the same - they'd always go for an upright, no matter how convenient or efficient a particular cylinder was.

Likewise, there are people who do not like uprights at all, and would only ever go for a cylinder.

 

[williamr1248]

airmuscle technology

Thanks Jack and Chris. Interesting learning more about your vacs in the UK. Interesting to watch people use a tank or a upright machine. Most vacuum so differently.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Uprights versus cylinders

Uprights do a far better job of carpet cleaning, especially where pet hair and deeply embedded grit are concerned.

Also, as Jack mentioned, an awful lot of people hate dragging around a cylinder machine. I dislike them even more now than I used to, since Hoover discarded their double-stretch hoses which I found to be far more useful than today's short plastiflex hoses.

 

[vintagehoover]

Hi again everyone!

With regards to the UK floorcare market, I've done a little research (never tell me I don't put the work in!!)

UK Vacuum Cleaner Market Value Figures for April 2007 - March 2008:

Sales of upright cleaners: £241.05 M (46% of total sales)
Sales of canister/cylinder cleaners: £201.72 M (39% of total sales)

Total UK floorcare market value: £520.18 M

Hope this helps!