Dyson DC08 Origin Review

Good Points
Extremely durable. Twenty minutes of rough use every second day for three and a half years and it still functions as new. The hoses and attachments have sturdy, smooth clips with nice big buttons for release that can be used by toddlers and middle-aged men alike! (A triumph of engineering!) No broken parts, deals with pet hair/allergies exceptionally well. _IF_ I ever need to replace this vacuum cleaner, I'd buy another Dyson without question.

Bad Points
Dyson vacuums come in all sorts of fun colours according to their catalogue pictures so I wanted a lime green one. Turns out you don't get to pick the colour, as it indicates the model (the DC08 is a grey body with purple and yellow highlights, for example).Don't get your heart set on a pink one.
The only other bad point is one of caution: Do NOT lend your Dyson DC08 to anyone for any reason. You won't get it back and you'll have to buy another.
So the only two bad points are that you'll find it difficult to coordinate your outfits to match the appliance, and someone may take a shine to your vacuum and steal it. Very reasonable :)

General Comments
My Dyson DC08 is so well loved here that we've given him a name, Sam. Sam is fantastic. Light weight and easy to lift with Dyson's fantastic handle designs in very handy (logical!) places, I find that taking Sam for a lap of the house is a pleasure. Not bulky at all, the hose fits around the main unit neatly and the well-placed top handle means that lifting it into a cupboard or taking it up stairs no longer leaves me off-balance with a sore arm.
No bags to empty - a simple bucket style dust catcher easily pops open to empty and is just as easily closed again. Dyson's designs make me wonder why other vacuums use bags at all.
I've owned this model for three and a half years now. I have not had a single complaint with this model or brand in that time, and even if I did I still have a year and a half left on my five year warranty. Above the power cord outlet, there is a service sticker with free-call phone numbers for Dyson customer service centres on three continents if you ever get stuck.
The suction, accessories/tools, cord retraction, hose quality and performance, all wheels, all clips, all... well, EVERYTHING on this vacuum cleaner is still absolutely perfect after three and a half years of heavy use (used every second day to suck up tremendous amounts of cat hair).
All hail the Dyson DC08! My little Sam puts all other vacuums to shame!