Having two different Eureka Optima's break within a six month period, I figured it was a sign to maybe try a different make and model. Then I saw this Hoover and figured I'd give it a try. I'll admit I was a little unsure at first because it was a little too big, especially for my apartment. But wow, was I surprised by it's performance and features. Setup was a breeze, took five minutes and a phillips screwdriver. The retractable cord is an awesome feature, but by far my favorite feature has to be how you release the dust cup. It's just common sense, but took forever for someone to realize "Hmmm, let's make it easy and prevent dirt going everywhere by having the cup release from the BOTTOM!" And you can do so one handed, with the flick of your thumb. Storage is the same as my old Optima, it's just a little taller, but I can tell this badboy is going to be around for a long long time. Five stars all the ways!