Some things just do not need THAT much technology! Some things are crammed so pack of “crap” it is just more apt to break down or somehow go awry!

What ever happened to simplicity? Simplicity works! Simplicity is reliable!

There are so many products out there I could discuss, but thought I would just pick a few to talk about.. cell phones, cars & vacuum cleaners! Wait till you see what I found (for a vacuum cleaner…)

Our world has become so dependent on technology it has lost touch with reality and humanity. The obsession with cell phones is a prime example. “Everyone MUST have one & have it with them at ALL times”. That is absurd. No one is that important, no one needs to be in constant contact 24/7!

Now aside from the insanity of cell phones, how about what cell phones have become? They take photos, they email, they access the internet, they draw blood.. oops sorry not yet, or maybe they do? They are already soul-sucking!

Cars are another great example! I remember looking for a car at the start of the 90’s. I asked a salesman if he had any manual transmission, heck manual everything vehicle? I was at the start of my 20s but knew the more you add the more there is to break. I wanted simplicity! The guy said there is a car behind the building, under a spot light, with the keys in the ignition, just take it. There was such an obsession for power everything even at that time!

When I chose my last vehicle, it was after a long hunt for a “real vehicle”… Not something with velour seats, not carpeting, not every gadget available, not all that crap. I was so thrilled when I found my Honda Element. It is simple, and useful, and because it does not have all those unnecessary things it still looks brand new and heck works like brand now.. even at 6 years of age!

So, we are still keeping our Element..  but looking for a secondary vehicle.. while yes I do think the leather interiors and some of the impressive luxury features are nice, I just can not justify $30k (give or take) for a vehicle. So I broke it down to what I think it is reasonable, and what I would want and what I need. I do want navigation system… we have been here for 4 years now, but still want to find more things (and with out too much difficulty). BUT, when you get a nav system there seems to be a default that it comes with leather, and every bell and whistle available… which is nice, but i just want something cheap & basic for this secondary vehicle. I was thrilled to find it, yet again in a Honda. The cute little Honda Fit, “loaded” for under $20k has the voice activated navigation system.. but still is a basic, economical car.. woo hoo! And though my hubbie does not care for hatchbacks (I adore them).. he is cool with this vehicle (bonus!).

Another quest has been a vacuum cleaner. This sounds like a simple request, right? The LAST “normal” vac I had was, hum, 20 some years ago. It was a Hoover, it was basic, it did this novel thing.. it vacuumed. It was reasonably reliable, and easy to disassemble when I need to fix something.. but it did the job.

More and more vacuums added the “convenience” of on board attachments. This is great in “theory” but painful in execution. The attachments get in the way, fall off, make it more cumbersome and awkward.

The last vacuum we bought was not expensive, and rated decent.. but oh gosh it is a royal pain the tush! (Of course it is the common trend of upright vacuum piled with onboard attachments). To get it to change from carpet to hard-surface takes a crow bar, the “recline” (or whatever it is called, sorry mental blank) you feel like you need a sledge hammer to push that lever! The power button is in an absurd location. And if this thing has “self-propel” I would be shocked! Oh and that novel concept of vacuuming.. yep think they missed the boat there. We have a dog, and our home is a perpetual fur-pile, immediately after you vacuum, there is furry-tumble weed drifting by!

Since our home is 95% hardwood, and with an area rug here or there, everything I have read suggested a canister. The best rated is a neat concept by Kenmore, but I just can not justify the price. It is a neat machine, but again it is no doubt a victim of technology gone amuck! There is a snap out part for hardwood, then you snap in for carpet. Neat.. but when I first saw it, my first thought was.. there is an part that wants to break, and for the price.. I will skip it.

So I have continued my hunt. I want something practical & reliable yet not expensive, and something that will actually vacuum up stuff (something that can tackle our dogs hair!)! I know I am obviously insane.. but these are my requests. I have gone to about every vacuum manufacturer site, every dealer site, and about every review site (plus referring to my trusty Consumer Reports.).

One thing I found fascinating is the number of vacuums that are “specifically made for pets”.. well that is how they advertise anyhow. These vacuums have a common thread, they also are the worst rated vacuums out there. No doubt they are relying on desperate fur-choking pet owners (like us) to say.. ooh it says pet, lets buy it! I have been sadly disappointment when each and every one of these machines turns out to be a painful disappointment to those who have sunk money into them, and it is across the board! Ironically they have a painful price tag on them too!

Nothing is perfect, everything has a give or take, all have their drawbacks. But I know there is a happy medium out there.. and I have been on a quest to find it!

Kenmore’s I know have been ruling the reliability pile, so I have taken a close eye at them. I found some Electrolux (aka Eureka) that I liked, but both of these fall into the, yikes price range. Of course one of the winners for e-gad price is the Miele group.. but oddly don’t rate terribly well. So onto the common brands out there. I found myself on the Hoover site. I knew Hoovers had gone down hill over the years, but I still was curious to see what they had to offer, of course seeing they had a close-out sale I was more intrigued. I saw something that was familiar, but a long-long time ago familiar. I looked closer, than looked up reviews. It is an honest to goodness basic vacuum.. well basic as far as no digital, high tech, plastic encased, gadgety piece of junk. It it is basic canister vac.. that made its debut about 50 years ago! Same exact design just minus a few pounds, but they kept every thing the same, down to the point one person who commented on it had the original one for around 50 years, she was able to use the same attachments from her original one on the new one! Woo hoo! Of course, sadly, it is a close out, so that means we probably won’t see it again for awhile (if ever).. of course, no manufacturer in this country could make something that did not need to be replaced every other year.. gee how could they “thrive” on the concept of making something reliable, right? The ratings for this one were really great, the objections were either misguided, or people who expected more out of this machine or people who are really idiots (one guy used it while doing a dry-wall project, treating it like it was a shop-vac, ugh!).

Alas, I ordered our new.. old design.. vacuum, and I am so excited, I can not wait for it to arrive. Yes, I said that about a vacuum cleaner! bear with, you will see why…

Yep.. it is the OLD Hover-Hoover.. it floats on air. It used the air-output to float the vacuum. It follows you, with out weight, and with out pulling on the machine, which means you don’t wear out that hose either!

Ok so yes, I did opt for some technology.. but it is over from a 1/2 century ago. The tech for cars from a 1/2 century ago is also my preference.

So how is it that this item was not widely advertised? They brought it back around 6-7 years ago. Perhaps it was not a big profit maker for them? The again, it seems the only vacuum company that has been advertising like crazy over the years is Dyson. (Dyson has) Pretty machines, but sad lack of reliability and with a price tag that sends me running! So does Hoover just coast on the fact that it is an old company and people just know the name, and hope they forget the reliability hiccups they have had. I still like Hoovers, and I do hope this find will renew that affection. I grew up with a Hoover, my 1st vac was a Hoover. I am still just over joyed they had brought this neat concept and simplicity back, even though they are removing it.. maybe they will continue bringing back the tried & true??

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