During the next 6 weeks, I’ll have to use an electric shaver (instead of my usual disposable razors) and hope that you will have one to recommend.
The biggest requirement is that the shaver doesn’t irritate the skin.
Price Range: up to $180.
I’m also interested. I’m not happy with my fancy, expensive Braun.
Which model do you havr, beowulff?
(I’m leaning toward the Braun Pulsonic System 9595 (if I feel I can abide the inevtiable wifely tirade 
).
It’s at
For a decent shave without much skin irritation I’ve always found Braun to be a good choice.
However, if skin irritation is the #1 consideration, I’d go with Norelco.
It’s an “Activator”, but I don’t know the exact model number. It came with a self-cleaning stand, which broke just out of waranty :smack:
I’ve been using it without the stand, and cleaning it by hand, and it “works”, but I find that it takes a long time to get a close shave, and tends to leave my face a bit irritated.
My wife bought it as a present, and said it was expensive, so I’m reluctant to throw it away, at least not until i know there is something better.
Norelco makes several different models, some of which may excel at being non-irritating. But I’d say it’s hard to go wrong with any Norelco.
The problem is that changing from one shaving method to another is very likely to lead to skin irritation, almost regardless of the type of shaver you decide. It’s going to depend very heavily on your skin. All the electric shaver manuals I’ve see contain some language along the lines of “allow 4-6 weeks for your skin to adjust to the new shaving method, partyicularly if you’r echanging from blades to electric” for this very reason.
I’ve used electrics for pretty much my entire shaving life - the skin irritation I have gotten from blade attempts weren’t worth it.
For the longest time I used various Brauns - they were pricey, well-engineered German instruments - what’s not to love?
Then I finally tried a triple-head Norelco - it is much better. I feel like a guy who swore by Hondas who finally test-drove a Buick and thought “whoa.” Norelco’s have their own issues: it takes a while to figure out how to maneuver the three heads, etc. - but the improvement over the Braun thin-metal-foil head design was obvious and has been consistent across the Norelco’s I have owned in the ensuing years…
So, yeah, I agree with the previous posters who recommend Norelco.
That hasn’t been my experience. I use a blade two or three times a week, and a Norelco the remainder of the time. I have had no irritation with the Norelco. I will note that it’s important to keep it clean and replace the cutting blades when they get worn.
I’ve shaved with a blade exactly ONCE in my entire life, and that was to remove a beard that I had to shave for a job. Didn’t like how that all worked out. My parents bought me my first electric razor when I was 15. Have never really had any problems with them. I do have a full beard now, but I still shave my neck beneath the jaw line, the space under my lower lip and my upper cheeks. Only about twice a week.
For any longer growth, I recommend using the beard trimmer to take the bulk of it off, reducing it to a bare stubble before going to the rotary blades. This reduces the nasty “long hair gets tweaked by machine” problem.
LOL. Well, what do I do now?
This might be a good excuse for not shaving for 6 weeks. 
Then you get all sixteen weeks’ worth of “transition irritation” at once. Good luck with that!
As to the question asked, I’ve had very good experiences with Panasonics. The ability to clean them out under a faucet is nice as well.
I’ve had Norelcos, but they left bristly bits. The best electric I ever had was a Panasonic wet dry-I shave in the shower whenever possible. It died, and lacking the $ to replace it, I’m back to blades.
I switched to electric in 1997 after my girlfriend got tired of a chapped face from kissing me. Braun foil was just the ticket: baby smooth and vastly fewer razor bumps. I hate to say it but unless it’s administered by an expert barber, shaving with a razor is simply barbaric. I remember having to dry-shave with a little pink Bic before inspection. Damn.
Now I’ve got the foil Clean-n-Shave 7526. Been through one cutting block and one head. Great shave, plus the cleaning thing keeps it lemon fresh and shaving well. When I had facial hair I found the foil shaver (cylindrical head) excellent for tight work.
One thing: the cleaning base is cheap as hell. Mine broke after the warranty period so now I have to use rubber bands to keep the shaver locked into the base. I figure I’ll order a replacement next time I’m shopping at Amazon.
I highly recommend a product called Williams Lectric Shave, a pre-shave gel that makes things go much more smoothly.
I use a Norelco razor, but I haven’t used any other brands so I can’t say which is best.
That Lectric Shave has ben around for a long time. I used it light years ago with some electric shaver I had and it really worked as advertised.
BTW, I bought the Braun Pulsonic System 9595 (see Post #3) at amazon early this morning. Then, I get to the oncologist later in the a.m.and he allows that an electric shaver ain’t all that necessary. But the literature the hospital hands out doesn’t say that.