Re Cost: $180 at Bestbuy

Re: Pet hairs, works great. It works as a dry vacuum for before you do the wet cleaning. The pet hairs that you don't pick up during the dry vac you are able to get during the wet vacuum run. It does a much better job and the swiffer, which I love.

Re hardwood: I would be a little concerned about using is on hardwood floors. Even though our floors are only about 10 years old, some seams have developed between the "planks", especially during the winter when it is very dry. Water and wood don't go together that well, and I don't think that you could prevent some water from getting between the "planks".

Even if it is just for ceramic tile or vinyl and not the hardwood floors, it's worth the $.

Check a site called www.epinions.com. There a bunch of testimonials, both good and bad (mostly good)

JCD