Review (4/5): Good trims, flimsy parts
I read all the reviews and decided to take a chance, based on the past good performance of an older Norelco trimmer.
The good news is that this trimmer works as well as the old Norelco and its small mustache trimmer attachment is much better than the one-size-fits-all blade of earlier models.
The charging and battery indicator systems are also very much improved.
The vacuum feature, which I did not expect to be perfect, is adequate, but as others have said, don't buy just for that. It appears to catch more than half the mess, which is helpful.
My only complaint is the parts you need to work with every time you use the trimmer. The detachable comb/accu-trim guide is not flimsy per se, but the tracks it fits into are and it requires careful attention to align it properly to put it back on the trimmer. I fear that one of these days I may put it on outside the track and snap the plastic runners that go into the tracks.
The internal pieces of the cutter mechanisms -- main and mustache trimmer -- are downright flimsy. The first time I removed the main blade it felt like something snapped, but I couldn't see anything wrong. When I put it back on after using the mustache trimmer, the device ran at about half RPM and sounded like it was straining. Sure enough, the force required to remove the main blade had resulted in its inner row of teeth coming out of the little track it runs in, back and forth, to cut hair, and I had to play jeweler as I squinted to carefully coax it back into place.
Not having owned any other brand, I don't know if they cut any better -- I doubt it. But the older Norelco was less fragile.
I plan to keep this one, unless it breaks during the 60-day trial. If I could rate it at 3.5 stars I would.
UPDATE Feb. 21: nothing has broken; the "problem" parts are wearing in so they come apart much more easily and I am definitely going to keep this trimmer.