The key to being happy with an Oreck is to lower your expectations. They are OK for surface cleaning, tidying up, short pile carpet. Though they will groom your deep pile carpet beautifully, they won't clean it that well.
That said, they have a good niche for the handicapped, and older people that can't handle a large vacuum anymore. I have always said it is better to use a semi-effective machine frequently, than a super effective machine, never.
There are other, more powerful, and in the same price range machines.
What I did for my Oreck fix was shop ebay. $36 total with machine purchase, new brush roll, belt.
