I have a tiny Samsung airtrack that has really impressed me - super "sucky", easy to empty and bendy not breaky pipe 2 years on! My maid has gone through quite a few other appliances, but this one is a toughie. :) Happy hunting though coz there never seems to be the same model twice in the shops. Oh another tip, get one you can carry in one hand as you walk - extends the pipe lifespan coz you're not constantly tugging on the pipe.
I got a Dyson and I am very happy with it. It cleans really well. It is great to remove cat's fur from rugs/sofa. I use it on tiles and got a special attachement for rugs. I was lucky I got it really cheap through Dubbizle ( 2 years ) and spent some money buying attachements on e bay.