Review (4/5): Good product
I have owned earlier Oral B's and a Sonicare. This product is superior, IMO, to both.
I stopped using my Sonicare some time ago because my teeth just did not feel that clean after I finished - particularly in back. I thought it was just me until I switched back to manual brushing and found my teeth to be far more clean. At that time I assumed that I was not using the Sonicare correctly, which may have been the case. Recent studies suggest, however, that the Sonicare does no more for cleaning than a standard toothbrush and only those using a rotating action actually remove more plaque - albeit a marginal difference.
This sold me on the Oral B. So far, the brush seems to clean very well. The speed is good without being punishing. The brush head size is comfortable to reach the back teeth. A slimmer shaft would be nice like the newer Sonicare.
My only complaint in the product's operation is that I cannot feel or hear the difference when the pulsating action stops due to excessive pressure. I would like to have a better idea of the sweet-spot, as it were, for pressure. Without this feedback, which the documentation indicates should be obvious, I am unsure as to the effectiveness or functioning of the pulsating action. The 2 minute timer is great and I like that it does not shut off after the 2 minutes has been reached. I always felt like I was racing against the clock with the Sonicare.
A carrying case would have also been nice and the charging indicator is like having a airport landing beacon in your bathroom.
The Oral B seems like the best product out there right now to me. I would encourage anyone thinking of spending the $$$ to do some research regarding the effectiveness of these products to develop a realistic expectation of their advantages over regular brushing.