I like them
I am sure the villagers will be chasing me with torches soon, but I like the Oreck.
Recently I bought a Refurbished Oreck Edge. I am very impressed with this little vacuum.
The first thing you will notice with the Edge is that it has a metal frame up the back that connects the handle to the nozzle part of the vacuum. The bag slides up and down on the frame. Most other Orecks handle attaches to the fill tube, which tends to wear and wobble over time, giving the vacuum a more flimsy feel.
The addition of the frame adds weight, so the Edge is not an 8lb vacuum, more like 13lbs, but sturdy and well balanced.
The other thing that is noticed with the Edge is it has a light duty hose attached. This is one of the only if not the only Oreck upright that I know of with a hose. The hose comes with a crevice tool permanently attached it activates when the handle is in the upright, locked position. Suction is not great through the hose, but it does serve "light duty" to clean base boards and edges.
Another thing that I noticed with the Edge was it is much quieter than previous Orecks I have used. It almost has the Electrolux power nozzle buzz/hum. I am surmising that this comes from the long life belt this unit uses.
Very bright LED headlights, and a nice bag system rounds out the vacuum. With a stiffer brush roll for better grooming and cleaning. There is also a multi-speed motor that you can step through about four steps from fastest to slowest. This is a bagged machine with a HEPA/Charcoal bag that is very large, expensive, but large.
A Kirby or Electrolux it is not, but this Oreck, like the other light weight machines serve the purpose of being easier to handle, maneuver, and maintain than attachment laden heavier vacuums on the market. True they still do better on lower pile carpeting, or bare floors, but I have always maintained: A light weight vacuum that is used often, is more effective than a heavy machine that sits in the closet.
So prepare yourself, Villagers, light your torches. Orecks are not that bad of a vacuum.