We just bought the "Shark Rocket DuoClean Corded Stick Vacuum with Self-Cleaning Brushroll" from
Costco.com and we love it. It is (apparently) known for doing well on hard surfaces and especially pet hair, but we don't have pets so we cannot confirm that. Consumer Reports seems to love Shark vacuum cleaners (rated among the highest) and CR also advises against battery powered so we chose corded. Here is the CR official stance on their site re: cordless. "Consumer Reports does not currently recommend any cordless stick vacuums because of the generally high incidence of problems reported by our members. The problems can include batteries that diminish in power over time or die completely. Such problems are particularly acute by the fifth year of ownership."