Popular Mechanics?? I Expected Better

I've been a subscriber of Popular Mechanics Magazine for years and I've generally been satisfied with the content.  I'm not crazy about the trend to shorter and shorter articles but usually even their info-graphics have been reasonably informative.  The March issue I'm not so sure about.  They did an article on razors comparing what the writer considered to be representative of the state of shaving today.  I now question everything that PM writes.  If this article is an example of the amount of effort and research that goes into PM's various tool reviews and projects then all I can say is wow, do they do any research at all.  Now, I'd never go out and buy a power tool based on a thumb's up in a Popular Mechanics review but I did expect a little more effort than obviously went into this razor review.  Have a look for yourself, this is the entire article:

This guy needs to join DFS.

For someone who claims to have released “a lot of stubble down the drain” to facilitate the writing of this “article” (and let’s face it, this is not an article), the writer took all the shortcuts possible, and then some. Dismal.

For someone who claims to have released “a lot of stubble down the drain” to facilitate the writing of this “article” (and let’s face it, this is not an article), the writer took all the shortcuts possible, and then some. Dismal.

Agreed. It looks more like a printed page infomercial.

For someone who claims to have released “a lot of stubble down the drain” to facilitate the writing of this “article” (and let’s face it, this is not an article), the writer took all the shortcuts possible, and then some. Dismal.

Agreed.  It looks more like a printed page infomercial.

I know, right?! If this publication gives an important, daily task like shaving such short shrift, can we trust anything they write? My subscription is up for renewal and I'm thinking its time to let it go.

Was he paid by Gillette to write that garbage lol?

For someone who claims to have released “a lot of stubble down the drain” to facilitate the writing of this “article” (and let’s face it, this is not an article), the writer took all the shortcuts possible, and then some. Dismal.

Agreed.  It looks more like a printed page infomercial.

I know, right?!  If this publication gives an important, daily task like shaving such short shrift, can we trust anything they write?  My subscription is up for renewal and I'm thinking its time to let it go.

It isn't just Popular Mechanics, Mark. As far as I'm concerned, many magazines have dumbed down. So many things have played a part in that, I guess, not least of which is something like Twitter (which, blissfully, I do not use) where short and not so sweet is in. The problem is, what one gets are short bursts rather than properly thought out commentary.

It's a very oddly written piece. Why would he choose to include a $400 single blade razor and not the Bic single blade disposable? Why even mention straight razors at all if you're going to tout the 2-4 blade systems? He tried way to hard with the 1-2-3-4-5 concept. Perhaps this is really what goes on in the minds of shavers that have not been exposed to traditional wet shaving. Maybe he's right in the middle of the bell curve? If so, then Gillette and Schick have done their jobs well.

It's a very oddly written piece. Why would he choose to include a $400 single blade razor and not the Bic single blade disposable? Why even mention straight razors at all if you're going to tout the 2-4 blade systems? He tried way to hard with the 1-2-3-4-5 concept. Perhaps this is really what goes on in the minds of shavers that have not been exposed to traditional wet shaving. Maybe he's right in the middle of the bell curve? If so, then Gillette and Schick have done their jobs well.

My thoughts exactly

Why not include a Merkur 34HD instead of the Oneblade ripoff..........and then list the price of blades for all of them that it would cost to use for one year?