Keith Barry

Panasonic's latest entrant into the crowded mid-range upright bagless vacuum segment is the MC-UL427 JetForce, a 14 pound, $149 vacuum with an all new hourglass-shaped dirt holder that's supposed to channel heavier debris out of the way to avoid clogs.

Easily maneuverable, compact and only $99, the Dirt Devil Swerve may end up being a solid entry-level bagless upright when it goes on sale this fall. As soon as a production model is available, we're hoping to get one in our testing lab for a thorough scientific evaluation.

Cuisinart is marketing the All-Foods Roll Away as a second grill for big backyards or a primary grill for small ones. With an included stand, 15,000 BTU burner, stainless exterior and an MSRP of $229, it certainly promises to be competitive with other grills in the compact segment. We're looking forward to testing one in our labs to find out for sure.

We've made some changes that reflect ever-evolving cooking technology.

The Hoover MultiCyclonic SH40060 is lightweight, in more ways than one. Although easy to handle and maneuver, its high-pile carpet cleaning performance is a disappointment.

The SuctionSeal still does a great job getting dirt out of short pile carpet, but it's also totally ineffective on hardwood floors. It's also about as easy to handle as a greased raccoon.

Features add flash, but come at a price. The Kenmore 28014 is for people who value style over substance. It's performance is lacking.

Performance-wise, Samsung's first canister vacuum will run with any other product out there. A few bizarre design choices saw us scratching our heads—and wood floors.