One reason why you may end up buying the wrong Hoover vacuum is simply because you might not understand the difference between utility and user experience.
If you were told to choose between a gold coin and a gold-tinted plastic coin, which would you choose?
Most likely the gold coin; and that’s the difference between utility and user experience: the first offers real value and the latter just enhances the already existing value.
So, why don’t we take a look at two of Hoover’s upright vacuums and determine the best out of the two, simply based on these 2 proportions.
The most basic and critical components are considered utility features of a vacuum.
Air Steerable Utility Features:
- Exclusive WindTunnel 3 technology.
- Multi-Cyclonic technology which reduces dirt that gets on filters, by filtering the dirt from air.
- Multi-floor brushroll on/off- HEPA filter.
WindTunnel 2 Utility Features:
- Exclusive WindTunnel 2 Technology offering 2 channels of suction.
- Filter made with carbon and HEPA media.
- Dual-Cyclonic technology.
Already, the Air Steerable seems like the clear winner, with one extra utility feature over the WindTunnel, but it’s still too early to tell…
Features That Combine User Experience and Utility
These are features that offer certain user experience aspects, although they may be part of the utility/core components of a vacuum.
Air Steerable Features:
- Reusable easy-rinse filter – A filter is a key component, although re-usability adds the user experience aspect of usability.
- AllergenBlock technology – Although a key component, it’s an additional feature to the HEPA filter.
- 2-in-1 crevice tool.
- Removable D-grip handle wand.
- Quick fit hose.
WindTunnel 2 Features:
- Reusable easy-rinse filter.
- Pet turbo tool.
- Pet upholstery tool.
- Crevice tool.
The two vacuums seem tied on this score, but the Air Steerable would still be ahead, based on the previous ranking…
Mainly User Experience Features
These are features that offer user experience aspects of usability, desirability, find-ability, accessibility and credibility, as described in Usability.gov. Without such features, you would still have a good vacuum and would be able to use it, but it wouldn’t be much fun.
Features of The Air Steerable:
- Light weight.
- Steerable technology – Enables swiveling for extra maneuverability.
- Convenient, bottom-release dust bin cup.
- Low profile.
- Extension wand.
- 5 year limited warranty.
Features of the WindTunnel 2:
- Convenient, bottom-release, high-capacity dirt cup
- 5-position height adjustment
- Extension wand
- 2 year limited warranty
Although the outright winner on this score – with nearly double the features – is the Air Steerable, it might seem more like a hollow win, because these are features that add “fun” – not real substantial value. So the overall winner is….
The Best Hoover Vacuum
The Air Steerable comes off as having so many more features. Apparently, most of these features largely enhance user experience – not utility. Therefore, if you aren’t too keen on fancy add-ons, you can just as easily go with the WindTunnel 2 and save a few dollars.
*User experience here refers to 5 aspects: usability, desirability, findability, accessibility and credibility.
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