negatives are the lightweight construction where it would probably explode if dropped from counter?
the vacuum feature, which i was actually pretty skeptical about, works extremely well: there are only a few clippings that fall to the sink or countertop requiring cleanup after trimming.
i have one very minor quibble, which is that the attachments and other removable parts all seem to be constructed in a way that requires a counterintuitive touch.
sure, some bean counter some place decided that if they didn't have an inventory of spare parts, they could save money.
no longer do i need to devote an additional 3 minutes to cleaning out the sink and counter after trimming my beard.
i tried using the hydraclean hygienic cleaning system a couple of times, but it took up too much space on the counter around my sink and it didn't really seem to do anything necessary, so i stopped
it still delivers a very close shave and the base has a small footprint on my bathroom counter.
the whole unit takes up a fair amount amount of counter space, and unless you are a sound sleeper, don't run the cleaning cycle while you are trying to sleep; it is noisy.
i've never used the cleaner because it's a rather large unit that just doesn't fit well on my bathroom counter.
last braun was a model with the self-cleaning system; it had multiple breakdowns, including overflowing flammable cleaning solution all over our bathroom counter.
i tried every over-the-counter shave product, tend skin, the art of shaving products, dermatologist suggested creams, you name it!
the only real complaints are cost - it's the most expensive shaver we've ever purchased and the base takes up counter space.
the pulsonic cleaning system is handy, although it takes up a lot of room on the counter, and there's the extra cost of buying cleaning cartridges.
there is an on/off button that glows blue when the shaver is on, a tiny recessed reset button that can be pressed with a paperclip that resets the blade change counter, a button labeled "release"
one tip, after you rinse the head, let it sit on the counter until it's completely dry - don't stick it in the base wet.
after rinsing out the razor, it simply lays on the counter, dripping all over the place.
i no longer spend $10 every two months buying the cleaning solution and my wife appreciates not having the "spaceship" taking up room on the counter.
every time i shave the counter is scattered with little hairs.
counter space is at a premium anyway, and this model travels easier.
i also note no evidence the speed head design has contributed much of anything to the shaving action versus its older counterparts.
no fancy "cleaning station" to take up yet more real estate on my bathroom counter - also less bulky for travel, and i can handle cleaning under the tap and with a brush anyway.
cons: takes up space on the counter.
cons: you need counter space (about 5" square minimum near an outlet) for the cleaning devise.
to counter the cleaning cartridge cost of one every 30 days or $60 per year, i have only used the cleaning system when i need to recharge.
my wife used to mention how much room the charging base takes up on the counter when i first got the shaver, but she has either given up or just accepted it.
we replace the cartridges when it says to replace them, clean the shaver regularly and it even sits on the counter where children might be tempted to drop it off the counter or push buttons.
one drawback is that the entire unit (cleaning/charging base) takes up quite a bit of counter space.
pros: the shaver is sleek and does not take up too much counter space in its holder/recharging/cleaning unit.
i have found that it's best to put a small trash can on the counter and shake or brush the hairs out into there.
it sort of counteracts the pain of the tweezers, which really isn't even that bad.
the other huge plusses with this is that there is no recharger stand to have to find space on your bathroom counter for.
my old shaver pooped these out all over the sink and countertop, and i had to brush and blow it out all the time, and it still wasn't nearly as clean as this shaver is daily.
the only downside to the cleaner is that it takes up a fair bit of the counter space on my smallish bathroom counter.
the footprint of the charger itself is relatively large - nearly 5" in diameter - it will fit nicely on a sink with a long countertop.
i think the shave counter is annoying in that it should only count shaves of 2 minutes or more as shaves.
looks great, though it does take up a bit of space on the bathroom counter.
this unit is 149.00 plus tax, the 8109 is 105.00 at drugstore.com and the 8101 is 70.00 at amazon (with out the cleaner) i do not believe i need an extra item on my master bath counter and do not see
the panasonic es8228s is the shaver on my counter and the one i use everyday.
i really like the charger/cleaning stand which has a smaller countertop footprint than the braun, a consideration for limited space.
this kit takes up a lot of space if you leave it on your counter, but stows easily in a drawer.
it comes in a great case that sits neatly on the counter.
- bikini trimmer has a travel bag, but this has a cheap plastic stand that is intended to sit on your bathroom countertop.
others have a separate re-charger with a long cord and no place to have it on you bathroom counter.
no charger base to take up space on the counter.
the only possible improvement would be to add a clippings catcher, so the bits of beard don't wind up all over the countertop.
it holds a very long charge so i do not have to have the large charger on my sink counter.
i didn't want the model with the cleaning cartridge thing (that's what soap and water are for) or a large charging station taking up valuable counter space in my bathroom.
stands upright on counter without need of a base.
it takes up a good bit of room on the counter and the 'dock' is rather big.
not too stainless-steel-black-marble-countertop in looks, and not too soft, either.
i like the fact that to complement the hydraclean cartridge, only regular tap water is needed, rather than the alcohol-based system used by the braun counterpart.
counter space wise you're looking at a 4x4 inch space for it.
no more getting hairs all over the counter cleaning my shaver.
the self cleaning is worth the counter space it takes up.
cons: the cleaning/charging base isn't small, about 4.5" in diameter, so it does take up some counter space.
while the self-cleaning unit gets the job done it is large and bulky, too big to store on a bathroom countertop of limited size.
he just threw that away and plugs the cord directly in to the shaver to recharge and lays it on the bathroom counter as always.
don't have to deal with little brushes, or having to blow on the thing sending little "hair dust" all over the place, and having to clean the sink, the counter, etc.
i like the stand -- reduces bathroom counter clutter.
norelco looks better on the counter.
for a better price i bought waterproof shaver ( norelco) which has a better recharger (heavier and stays more stable on the counter)
you don't have to use the charging stand if your don't want more stuff stacked up on the counters - the cord that fits the stand also fits the shaver.
my only complaint would be that if it isn't emptied regularly the powdery wiskers dusk the counter in the bathroom.
my solution: leave the charger in a draw, keep the stand on my countertop to hold the razer all the time, and then just get the charger out (and plug it into the stand) when the razer actually needs
newer brauns have self-cleaning system, but i'd rather not spend extra $$$ on the cartridges and save space on the bathroom counter.
it holds a charge for over a week, and recharges quickly, so that is one less thing to leave out on the counter.
it is easy to clean and the lady friend likes the extra counter space.
it turned on by itself while resting on the counter.
and the narrow end of the 8043 makes it extremely unstable standing on the counter among the other appliances when not plugged in.
- many electric razors sold in the us are crippled of their multivoltage capability; counterpart models sold in other continents often do have multivoltage capability
there is only one "best" and this is it!it is also visually a nice model and looks good left out on the bathroom counter.
want whisker droppings all over the counter and sink when shaving dry?
it is prone to spilling if it is moved so unless you want to leave the shaver always on the counter (something my wife said no to) you won't be abe to use the cleaning system.
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