- The razor head is wider, covering more of the face with every stroke. That's neither here nor there, really. It just is.
- The head connects to the handle in the middle, whereas the Mach3 connects at the bottom. Not sure about this feature, since the bottom-hinged Mach 3 seems better suited for delicate maneuvers.
Thinking about seemingly trivial details such as these encouraged me to think about the amount of thinking that goes into a prosaic product that has already evolved through uncounted generations. More to the point, it shines a light on a hidden benefit of mass production--lack of pretension.
Most of us, myself included, like nicer things. I've worn Thom McAn shoes and I've worn Eccos. I can tell you that I like the Eccos better. The problems start when you keep asking yourself if you should have something better. Or, more properly, the problems start when you start believing you must have something better.
Taken to its extreme, this belief leads to companies like Porsche. Let's say you've finally made it and can at last afford the car of your dreams, the veritable 911. Congratulations: you will have the privilege of owning a truly fine automobile. That will be $84,300.
But, oh, you don't really want the base 911, do you? No, sir. A sharp gentleman like you should settle for no less than the $98,900 Carrera S or, better yet, the $105,630 Carrera 4S. How about wheels in black for an extra $1,635? You really should have the ceramic composite brakes for a measly $8,520 more, should you? And how about BOSE audio for $2,120? No Herbert Von Karajan-conducted symphony would sound quite right without it.
When you start demanding better, marketers will always find something better to sell you, even if it really isn't any better. However, when you accept the basic, you often find out how well basic works. You armor yourself against pretention.
At least until Schick issues the Quattro with ceramic compound brakes.
Most of us, myself included, like nicer things. I've worn Thom McAn shoes and I've worn Eccos. I can tell you that I like the Eccos better. The problems start when you keep asking yourself if you should have something better. Or, more properly, the problems start when you start believing you must have something better.
Taken to its extreme, this belief leads to companies like Porsche. Let's say you've finally made it and can at last afford the car of your dreams, the veritable 911. Congratulations: you will have the privilege of owning a truly fine automobile. That will be $84,300.
But, oh, you don't really want the base 911, do you? No, sir. A sharp gentleman like you should settle for no less than the $98,900 Carrera S or, better yet, the $105,630 Carrera 4S. How about wheels in black for an extra $1,635? You really should have the ceramic composite brakes for a measly $8,520 more, should you? And how about BOSE audio for $2,120? No Herbert Von Karajan-conducted symphony would sound quite right without it.
When you start demanding better, marketers will always find something better to sell you, even if it really isn't any better. However, when you accept the basic, you often find out how well basic works. You armor yourself against pretention.
At least until Schick issues the Quattro with ceramic compound brakes.
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