Review (3/5): Fair for the money
I got this on sale for a pretty good price back in 2007.
Part of the appeal was that it was, loosely, 'Air Force blue'. I'm a blade guy, when I can help it, but sometimes that isn't an option. Like those times when you're truly pinched for time in the morning or your schedule is so hectic you just can't fit a good blade shave in. There are definitely times during Wing Training Assemblies, given the duties I'm usually assigned, that that's the case.
Is this a substitute for a blade? No, not really. It's a substitute for not having shaved at all. That's considered unacceptable in uniform. This won't give you a really clean shave, but with it at least you did shave, whereas if all you had was a blade you'd sometimes have to skip it and hope no one important notices!
I've never replaced the cutter heads. Part of it is that I just never used this enough to worry about the prescribed interval. Thus, four years later, they're not worn out yet. However, Norelco HQ55+ replacements have disappeared from local retailers shelves where I live, so I'd have to order a set from a national retailer if I wanted to do so. In any case, the new heads cost as much or more than I paid for this thing in the first place, which was just shy of $30.
The trimmer works well enough. The cord stays put. The batteries haven't died yet - no batteries, no problem! This is a concern if you're getting it as a backup instead of regular use. It could sit most of the time for three or four years, you use it a handful of times, then the Ni-Cad or whatever rechargeable batteries your shaver uses die and you get to trashcan it just as if you'd used it daily. Not much value there, is there? This isn't exactly silent, but the noise level is tolerable.
You get what you pay for, friends!