Thread: Gillette's New Toy - Magazine Nails it.

Editorial in Macleans magazine in Canada tells it like it is.
Introducing the Gillette OctoBlade with built-in WiFi

I didn't read about the WiFi, where's the WiFi? And for that matter, I want GPS tracking in my razor to map the contours of my face.

He nailed it alright. With a big spike! What a shame on the Gillette name. I cherish my old three piece Gillette DE. It feeds my nostalgia and brings back images of my father shaving with a similar razor when I use mine.

I wasn't there when my father passed. My two older, non sentimental brothers immediately settled his effects and I never got the chance to get his razor - the only one I think he ever owned. I looked at over 2000 images of Gillette DE's before I found one that came the closest that I can remember his looking like. On the days I feel a little shaky (mentally) in my eighth decade I reach for my DE and am transported back in time, watching my father shave.

Shame on you, Gillette - Proctor & Gamble. I hope you are happy stripping the unaware of their money.

I still keep a ProFusion around for shaves when I'm pressed for time. A straight shave only takes me eight minutes at most, but there are mornings when I don't even have that much time for a shave. Using the techniques I've learned from straight shaving and the ProFusion, I get fine, close shaves without ingrown hairs or razor burn. I plan to buy the new version as soon as I can find it. I've never understood why liking one thing, like straight razors, means that I have to "hate" others. I get fine shaves with either implement.

That is a funny article. Haven't used a cart in over 2 years, got sick of paying extortion prices for them. I can't see how they can justify the cost. For example, 4 profusion carts down here is $33, about $26 US.

I can't afford to use a Gillette anymore....makes me so sad that I will not be able to buy one........sniff
Cool gadget though...

My Comments:

1. I've got flexball technology on all my razors--it's called a wrist. It's really quite a marvel of design. Despite particularly heavy usage in my teenage years and daily usage since, it still works like a champ. I only wish my hair, eyes, ears, and most other body parts had aged as well as my flexball technology has.

2. Yes, Gillette has already nailed it starting with the Old Style Single Ring in 1908 and again in 1959 with the Fat Boy. So what's the problem? You can't sell DE blades for $4 each.

3. I'm reminded of the two blade variant when the moisturizing strip came out. Naturally the cost of such an exhaustive R&D effort was passed on to the consumer.

4. As others have said, this is just a gimmick to justfy higher prices (read increased profits). I think they've figured out that simply adding a blade and jacking up the price was begining to look a little ridiculous. As if one blade, two blades or three blades weren't getting the job done.

5. I've not used a cart since leaving the military in 2005. Mornings when I oversleep or am otherwise hurried I pull out a DE or a shavette. My only regret is not taking up real shaving years earlier than I did. Even though I shaved with cartridges for over half my life, it was only a means to an end, a chore that needed to be done, nothing enjoyable or cool. I'm sure I'll never go back. In fact, if all they have in heaven is plastic crap, I'll need to come back for some proper shaving gear.

I finally found the new ProFusion Flexball and will shave with it tonight. I was going to strop up the 19/16 W&B that worked so well last night, but I can't miss the opportunity to try this bad boy out. I have to see if I still have some Canned Goo to make it the perfect contrarian experience. If I'm out of Goo, I'll just skip the lather step completely like I often do.

I picked one up on a whim and shaved with it and you know what? I got the best shave of my life. This is with using their canned foam too. So now I was able to sell off all my straights and brushes and soaps and next week will be doing a commercial for Gillette. This thing is so wonderful I can't tell...oh wait what is that thing down my hallway? Why it looks like that creature from Alien.

Oh it was all a dream or nightmare really. Hmm I wonder what that creature wanted.

I'm not sure you're taking this very seriously. A highly esteemed (at least in his own mind) forum member tries a cutting edge shaving product, essentially putting his face on the line, taking one for the team, as it were, and gets no respect. Does straight razor shaving result in the termination of learning? Actually, the shave, using the techniques I've learned using straights, was quite good.