Talk to me about vacuums, I'm confused!

[MyNameIsSuz]

I've had my Dyson for about 8 years and it's pretty much given up the ghost. A filter clean and complete de-furring of the brushes has helped a little but it still doesn't really suck much up any more and after a vigorous hovering the floor still looks kind of grubby. I think it's time to buy a new one.

I've just had a look at Dysons as I like ours so would quite like another one, and within the roughly £200 range there are a few options. What I don't get it what is the difference between a big one and the digital slim handheld one? Can that be used as a proper hoover or is it more for small clean-ups? We're currently in a flat with no storage so it lives in the hallway, so a little one would be nice if it's just as good, but I'm hoping to move soon and as I have a cat, a toddler and a hairy husband a powerful vacuum is more important.

So would a slimline one be a mistake, and are there any others as good as the Dysons I should look at?

The cordless vacs are good for bare floors and quick pick ups, but they don't generate the same suction as a full sized cleaner - it's just not physically possible.

Have a look at the DC40 & DC50. Both are full powered uprights but smaller in size and lighter than the bigger Dyson's.

Ahh thank you, I thought it would be something like that just wasn't sure if I was missing something. I was considering the dc40 as it's currently on sale. Thank you!