I had a DC14 Full Access (Best Buy version) and was amazed at the amount of stuff that came out of my carpet when I first used it. My mom loved it so much that I gave it to her. So I now have a DC17 Animal (also got this one at Best Buy for around $500) and wouldn't have anything other than a Dyson in my house!
You can compare all the Dyson models & find out where to purchase them at
http://www.dyson.com . They also tell you the suggested retail price. Lots of times, you'll find them on sale at Best Buy. I used a double point rewards coupon at Best Buy when I bought mine to go onto my Reward Zone card...I racked up! About a month later, I got a $20 gift certificate because of that purchase.