Panasonic Pro Curve ES 7035SC Electric Shaver

I'm going to start by qualifying myself; I have a "medium thick" beard – thicker than my Asian friends, not as thick as my Italian and Middle Eastern friends – what you would expect from a U.S. Euro-Mongrel. I have been using electric shavers almost exclusively for 28 years, and have had a variety of Braun and Remington models, most of which have performed well.

Unfortunately, my last two, one a Braun and one a Remington, both double-headers, have broken within 2 years. Seeing this as a significant failure of that corporation on the quality-control front, I thought I'd give Panasonic a try; what the heck, they've done so many other things well that I've used a long time – phones, turntables, electronics – how could they goof on this one? Well, they did. Despite all the amenities - 10,000 rpm motor, wet/dry usage and cleaning, quietness, and fast-charge if you get stuck with a dead battery, two things in particular warrant a quick fire sale, and a re-design cycle.

First, it's dull. This may be better for ultra-sensitive skin, but it will take you 2-3 times longer to get the job done with this shaver, because you have to go over and over an area to get everything. Despite their "sharpest blade angle at 30 degree for ultimate shaving precision" claim, this is one of the dullest electric shavers I have ever used, with the exception of my "starter" shaver – a 1980 single-head Remington. (Oh - and none of those rotaries have ever worked for me). Remington, and now their subsidiary Braun, have absolutely superior sharpness in even their mid-range shavers, perhaps too sharp; I've bloodied my neck up when pressing too hard with a fresh blade/foil.

Side note: pre-electric shave lotion is an absolute must with any electric shaver, and the quality of it makes a big difference in the closeness and smoothness of a shave. I find that the original Mennen pre-electric shave lotion – the clear liquid version, not the creamy stuff – does the best job for me, on any shaver, and that was true on this shaver, too. It allows me to push the shaver head into my skin a little harder and still allow for smooth, lubricated movement, and a close shave. Um, guys, don't get any ideas about using it for anything else... I'm astounded at how few choices of this essential prerequisite there are in the stores; makes me wonder if there's a conspiracy with the Blade Manufacturers to push the Electric Shaver manufacturers out of business…just a thought.

Another fatal design flaw: the pop-up trimmer is an all-around failure. For starters, it's horribly positioned: you can't see what you're trying to shave, because it hides on the other side of the shaver when in use. Next, it just doesn't trim well at all; scraggly hairs are left behind on every pass. For finishers, it becomes a "pop-down" trimmer the moment you slide it up. There's no locking mechanism, and the little bugger just folds closed all the time.

So, all the good stuff – decent battery life, quietness, easy cleaning, pivoting head – is a good start. Honestly, I'm used to using a dry electric, so the only benefit of being waterproof for me is to make cleaning more thorough. Panasonic, please fix the rest, and make a shaver for me that shaves better, and with a pop-up trimmer that stays up, is visible, and trims better.

For the moment, I will try to live with the shortcomings; chances are, Panasonic has designed a lousy shaver with superior quality, capable of poor performance for many years to come. We'll see how long I can stand it.