I love my panasonic mc-v5725, they came out with a new model that lowers and turns the brushes off to do hardwood, or tile, and if mine weren't still alive and kicking, I would get it. They are about 300 in Fenton, but when I go back home to alma, they are 225. You can't get them at the big chain store, you can get them at the local vacuum places, there is one on leroy st in fenton. It has enough suction to pull the dust bunnies from aobut 2 ft away with the hose. All on board attachments, foot action release, just pull to get the hose unattached to use it.
The down sides... does not lay down flat as some do. I use it on stairs but it is a little harder than some to use on stairs. The hose is a bit short for my husbands liking. The air exhaust comes out pretty powerful and points down a little so it will blow a dust bunny away from you if you are on hard surfaces.
I am thinking that the new model that is designed for hardwood has taken care of a few of the drawbacks as well, but I have used oreck, rainbow, bissell and dirtdevil, and this is the only brand that I will ever buy again, because I HATE to vacuum and I never have to go over hte same space twice.