According to Braun, the latest and greatest-thing-since-sliced-bread is going to be the new
"Braun 360 Complete", which in the eyes of this shaver-site webmaster looks…okay.
Believe me, I would love nothing more than to jump up and down to the tune of the collective chants of Braun shaver users regarding this model, but the simple fact remains-don't try to dazzle me with BS. We (the shaver industry) remember all too well just how impressive the Norelco Quadra razors were going to be when they first came out. The fizzle of those insanely mismatched head configurations fluttered across the faces of Norelco users, leaving nothing but perplexed looks and more than a few missed hairs.
Thinking that Braun would learn from Norelco's mistakes (who did by the way, redeem themselves with later models like Spectra and Speed-XL), one would think that a few extra gimmicks on an already good shaver like Activator would do nothing but aggravate those who would run out to buy the latest and greatest in shaving technology. I myself would be one of them.
So what has Braun done? They have taken that previously mentioned Activator system and changed that little useless clipper between the two foil heads (the smart foil) to something called the "Power Comb". They have also changed the design of the blades themselves-now calling them "Precision Comfort Blades".
Theoretically, the Power Comb is supposed to have some sort of movement action that will grab hold of longer hairs down by the neck area and other problem areas, and ensure that they are sheared off by the new cutters. The cutters have been redesigned with a funky angle that is supposed to cut the hair closer to the skin with fewer strokes. Oooooooo! Sweet…I hope. Maybe the changes will be fantazamagorical...maybe.
As nice as all of this sounds, to be perfectly honest, that stupid little clipper never did anything on the Activator and it was (is) a great shaver regardless. It seems that Braun is looking for a way to compete with the Remington ES-1000; a shaver that is designed specifically for reducing the occurrence of ingrown hairs and razor bumps. The cutter re-design can only be examined under speculation-but heaven help this series if there is no discernable effect.
The shaver manufacturers had better begin learning from mistakes of the past if they expect consumers to continue paying the steadily rising price points for these new machines. A couple of fancied-up, flashy commercial pushed whiz-bangs and do-dads hardly warrant another $200 out of pocket from Joe American. Give us something substantial or get back to basics. "New" does not always mean "improved".
Believe me, I would love nothing more than to jump up and down to the tune of the collective chants of Braun shaver users regarding this model, but the simple fact remains-don't try to dazzle me with BS. We (the shaver industry) remember all too well just how impressive the Norelco Quadra razors were going to be when they first came out. The fizzle of those insanely mismatched head configurations fluttered across the faces of Norelco users, leaving nothing but perplexed looks and more than a few missed hairs.
Thinking that Braun would learn from Norelco's mistakes (who did by the way, redeem themselves with later models like Spectra and Speed-XL), one would think that a few extra gimmicks on an already good shaver like Activator would do nothing but aggravate those who would run out to buy the latest and greatest in shaving technology. I myself would be one of them.
So what has Braun done? They have taken that previously mentioned Activator system and changed that little useless clipper between the two foil heads (the smart foil) to something called the "Power Comb". They have also changed the design of the blades themselves-now calling them "Precision Comfort Blades".
Theoretically, the Power Comb is supposed to have some sort of movement action that will grab hold of longer hairs down by the neck area and other problem areas, and ensure that they are sheared off by the new cutters. The cutters have been redesigned with a funky angle that is supposed to cut the hair closer to the skin with fewer strokes. Oooooooo! Sweet…I hope. Maybe the changes will be fantazamagorical...maybe.
As nice as all of this sounds, to be perfectly honest, that stupid little clipper never did anything on the Activator and it was (is) a great shaver regardless. It seems that Braun is looking for a way to compete with the Remington ES-1000; a shaver that is designed specifically for reducing the occurrence of ingrown hairs and razor bumps. The cutter re-design can only be examined under speculation-but heaven help this series if there is no discernable effect.
The shaver manufacturers had better begin learning from mistakes of the past if they expect consumers to continue paying the steadily rising price points for these new machines. A couple of fancied-up, flashy commercial pushed whiz-bangs and do-dads hardly warrant another $200 out of pocket from Joe American. Give us something substantial or get back to basics. "New" does not always mean "improved".
