Dyson DC01 (Dyson DC01)

Member Name: polydeuces

Product:	Dyson DC01
Date:	07/08/08 (133 review reads)
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There is something quintessentially English about the way we support the underdog. We love to see Goliath brought crashing to earth by a David. We even seem to prefer the plucky Brit gets heroically beaten story to one of domination by a another sportsman.

So the story of James Dyson's attempts to take on the worlds vacuum cleaner manufacturers with his bagless cleaner is one that fits nicely into the national psyche. When Dyson managed to get through all the obstacles put in his way and managed to launch his revolutionary (literally and metaphorically) cleaner he had with a certain amount of public sympathy. This meant that as his cleaner went into the shops there was an element of public support willing his venture to succeed. The public were ready to buy the product and wanted, willed, almost the cleaner to work and be successful. Marketing at its best.
To examine the success of the Duson you have to look at the existing market BD - Before Dyson. All vacuum cleaners were the same, they worked on the same principle, had broadly the same design with the vacuumed particles going into a bag, consequently they all had the same problems. The main problem was always one of lost suction due to the air flowing into the bag which then progressively blocked and the differential negative pressure was lost. No negative pressure equals no vacuum.

The Dyson design did away with that by using a similar vacuum system but the vacuumed dust was collected through a cyclone system similar to those used in industry where powders or granules are transported. Having determined that was the system he would use, Dyson perfected it and then set about the design of the cleaner to further differentiate it from the existing market.
The use of pigmented plastics in bright tones achieved this in conjunction with the clear barrel to see the machine physically working.

Our experience to the DC01 model we have has been generally favourable. Our main complaint with previous vacuum cleaners has been their lack of robustness. They did not seem to last longer than 2 years at most before they started to break. Generally vacuums we have had before the Dyson were just not strong enough. We have had the DC01 for 3 years and it is still solid and with no damage or deterioration in its structure. In terms of performance it is generally as good as it has ever been. This means it is measurably better than previous cleaners we have had.
One slight problem is its tendency to block between the brush roller and the upward tube. We have had to take the bottom section of the cleaner off a few times now to clear the obstruction which is usually nothing other than compacted dust. This in itself though is a sign of the power of the suction of the cleaner and that this high suction continues longer despite a progressive blockage.

The Dyson is an excellent cleaner and we would certainly have another. The problem for Mr Dyson is that the cleaners last so much longer now we buy a vacuum a lot less frequently. But if that is a minor problem for Dyson it is a huge one for his competitors.

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