The Shaver works, but needs improvement

I bought and used this shaver for a few days and while it shaves fairly close(albeit not as close as my Braun machines)I have to give it a mixed review.

The shaver itself works well doing it's primary job of removing hair from your face, it is fairly quiet, very ergonomic and the cleaning is very easy, in fact the method of removal of the foil from the head is very easy as compared to a Braun. The machine is also light-or feels light to me-which can be a more subjective impression that varies by user. I also liked the fact that it is easy to clean using running water and liquid soap and the price which was $38.88.

However, this machine has some problems that begin right at the bottom where the power comes in. First, the charger is a unit that MUST be plugged into an electrical outlet with the shaver attached to it in a preferably vertical position, which means that if you have an outlet with a medicine cabinet or an obstruction less than 8 inches or about 40cm from it, you cannot plug the shaver to recharge. Second, even if you could get a corded charger, the shaver will NOT work while it is being charged. That is an even bigger inconvenience if you travel a lot or electrical power is an issue and you do not wish to deplete your power reserve by using the shaver with a cord attached(provided that Panasonic makes such an adaptor).

Another problem is that it is difficult to insert and extract the shaver from the plug in adaptor and that could eventually break or damage the contact points in either the shaver itself or the adaptor. I also dropped the shaver on the floor when I pulled it out and had to wiggle it using an upward and outward motion. That can also have an effect on the durabilty of the shaver, specially if it falls and damages the foil.

And last but not least, when I tested the shaver for battery charge life, I found that the Braun machines after I shave my face will run without loosing power for about 45 minutes afterwards, the Panasonic will do so for about 25 or 30, which tells me that it has less reserve capacity in its batteries.

Basically, this shaver would be ok for a person who does not travel and has a convenient electrical outlet with enough room to plug the charger and the shaver. But if you travel at all or plan on using this shaver outside of of a fixed locale either in an office, a hotel room or just traveling, then it is much better to look for another shaver.

If Panasonic would fix this machine so that it would run while being plugged and have an electric adaptor with a cord instead of the setup that they have, they would have a very appealing product. As it stands now, it is a good shaver limited by the constraint of it's power supply delivery system and setup.