Well, this is my SAD saga regarding vacuum cleaners! I was married 50 years when my husband passed away last summer, so I have seen A LOT of vacuum cleaners! The one I remember very well is a Sears canister over 20 years ago that cost me at that time about $400.00. It was nothing but trouble. So bad, in fact, that it went in the trash. My Mom also purchased one and so did my best friend. Both of those shortly went in the trash, also. Then came the Hoover Dimension 1000 canister vacuum. I brought it with me in 1988 when we moved to a new location, where we still are now. And the Dimension 1000 still runs! That's nearly 30 years! But the hose desperately needs replacement (as the wiring runs through it to run the power head) but I doubt I can still get the parts. I should have replaced it at the time, when it cost $100.00, but I had no idea how these vacuums were going to go downhill. I have it all taped up with electrical tape, but I'm afraid to use it. So it's sitting in the basement. I still have an older Hoover Windtunnel upright with the "Dirt Finder" that actually works! The entire vacuum works well but it's extremely heavy to push. I found that with the newer ones, the "Dirt Finder" doesn't work--I was actually told that in a Hoover store--and the rest of the machine doesn't work, either. Again, I was told in a vacuum store that the newer Hoovers are no good. Well, that vacuum was sold in my last garage sale for $5.00 and I was glad to be rid of it. Now, to the present time...I purchased a Dyson DC 41 for $600.00 about three years ago and it just quit on me. I hemmed and hawed about what I should get to replace it and I wish I had seen this forum before making a purchase. Believe it or not, I bought another DC 41 because WHEN it worked, it was great! Fortunately, since it now is an older model, it was somewhat less expensive. Now I'm hoping I will have better luck with this one. I also decided it was time to replace my heavy, aging Hoover Windtunnel, and I purchased a Shark Rotator Powered Lift Away (the pet model) for upstairs because I love the ease in which I can get under the bed. This set me back about $350.00, which I didn't think was bad, because I LOVE this vacuum. And I have 7 cats in the house (yes, seven) so I'm glad I got the pet models in both. But I have it less than a month, so only time will tell. Had I seen this forum, I would have looked into the Tacony products, a Simplicity or Riccar. After all, I spent enough money that I could have considered one of those. And there is a vacuum store right up the road from me.

Oh good for you!! I know it is so easy to move it around, in the commercial she is dancing around the living room swerving around things, I am not dancing but it does get around! There is only one PRO version of this particular one, It is the Shark Navigator Lift away PRO, it is a white vacuum the regular model that is not PRO is purple. Shark has many vacuums however so being sure it is this particular one is important. This is it on amazon.(there is not much difference in the purple and white in price or in function but the white pro does have a larger debris container, some places have them both for the same price) Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Vacuum - Model NV356 you may see a different number than the NV356 if you are buying at walmart or some other store that has their own specific codes. Mine is from walmart so the number is slightly different. Not sure if BBB has a different number. QVC might since theirs does come with added accessories. The suction on this vacuum is amazing. I have a large rug in my living room, that thing will suck down onto that rug and you can not move it, my cleaing lady said oh no what now, well there is a collar that you can turn that allows some air into the suction so that it "lightens up" and then you can move it. So if you find you are stuck LOL that is how to use it on rugs and stuff like that. I have noticed that when I use that sprinkle stuff on my carpets it tends to really get in the foam filter that is where the lift off part connects, I try to remember to clean my filters regularly as they suggest. I am so glad those of you with it are happy. I know I am. here is the official page it probably lists the differences between the pro and regular here the Navigator⢠Lift-Awayî

as to the reviews I did many many google searches online and read all the real people/user reviews on sites like epionions, amazon, and other sites that have user reviews, I saw a dramatic difference in the responses for navigator and pool vac ultra which also surprised me as I too had heard they were virtually identical, lots of negatives for navigator as opposed to lots of positives for the pool vac ultra. But really if they were identical why would a company continue to put out 2 products when they could simply eliminate one and have the productions costs savings of only one unit? I did ask at my local pool place that works on mine and they did say there were some differences but did not elaborate. My friend got her navigator the same time I got my pool vac ultra and she has had lots of problems with the unit itself in fact she told me recently they were going to get a new pool cleaner unit because they just could not put up with it any more. I really have no idea what the differences are but I personally can say my pool vac ultra has been an excellent product for us. I would suggest you do as I did and read the reviews, it made me decide to go with the pool vac ultra. I have looked at those cleaners that you plug into the electrical outlet and drop the cleaner in the pool but man it just goes against my good sense to put an electrical appliance in the pool ya know. I can not seem to get past that LOL

Susan- do you still love your Shark now that you've had it for a while? Since I gave my little kitchen Sanyo vacuum to my DD I need to replace it and I went to BB&B to compare the Shark and the Dyson Animal. Obviously the biggest difference is price - but I'm willing to pay for a quality machine that can handle the dog hair. While I still use my Kenmore canister in the rest of the house I want a bagless in the kitchen so that I can easily empty the bin and not have dog hair sitting in a vacuum bag and giving off a stale, doggy smell. But I was surprised at how difficult it was to push the Dyson. The ball feature works great and it does turn easily but the overall weight of the Dyson made me decide against it. And that was just pushing it on the bare floor, it would be harder on carpet. I'm accustomed to my ultra lightweight Sanyo and even my Kenmore canister is easier. So then I tried the Shark and while it is lighter and easier to maneuver than the Dyson I was still surprised at the amount of effort it took to push. Certainly much less than the Dyson but that's when it occurred to me that the reason is the weight distribution. On the Kenmore the weight is resting on the floor - either in the power head or the canister that I'm pulling. With the Shark there's more weight along the handle than I'm used to. So now I plan on going back to BB&B and trying the Shark again and then trying a stick vacuum. The arthritis in my hand makes me more aware of the need for a vacuum that doesn't put too much strain on it.