In terms of modern machines, I don't think you can go wrong with Sebo's. They're so solid and reliable - certainly more so than anything else on the market at the moment with the exception of Kirby's, but then again, the Kirby's are 8 times more expensive. Sebo have also been known to last as long, if not longer, than Kirby's. There are still Sebo 350's from 1978/79 still in use and X1's from 1991.