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By les scammell, July 30, 2009 3:47 pm

Panasonic has been making massage chairs for about 30 years. They have a full range of massage chairs at many different price points. We are going to review the EP1273 which is in the 2 to 3 thousand dollar price range. We make a comprehensive review by rating a massage chair in five important categories where it can get up to twenty points. The sum of the points then yields the chair’s overall rating out of 100 possible points. Here is our evaluation of the Panasonic EP 1273 massage chair recliner.

Warranty Coverage & Customer Service: We start with the dry subject of warranty coverage. It is less glamorous than going through the wonderful features on this massage chair, but nonetheless, it is important. Warranty coverage is like insurance. It protects you from disaster-just in case. With large ticket items, you want some protection for shelling out your hard earned money. Panasonic gives you rather light coverage on parts and labor which is covered for only 1 year. Other chairs in this range are longer from the factory. The best coverage which exceeds the norm is one year coverage for field service. Customer service is OK. Overall, we give the EP 1273 a 16 in warranty coverage.

Comfort & Ergonomics: We have this category because with the increasing number of features, some functions are not easily accessible or hard to reach. Also, we have tried massage chars that were simply not comfortable to sit after a few minutes. Panasonic has designed the EP 1273 to be comfortable to relax in. The materials are soft to the touch and it comes with a pillow to support your head. The remote control is laid out well and easy to understand. This model rates an 18 for this key area.

Ease of Use: As technology advances, we are seeing that more features are being added at incrementally lower costs. That is an excellent trend for consumers. On the other side of this is for manufacturers to keep the use of their equipment simple and easy to use. Luckily, Panasonic is an expert in this field. The EP 1273 is no exception. You can master the controls very quickly and easily. We give this massage chair an 18 for ease of use.

Key Features: The key features of the EP1273 are the dual use ottoman and the 8 manual massage techniques. This massage recliner has a dual-use air ottoman system. Use the air system to knead and relieve tightness in the calves. Raise the ottoman and place your feet on it for a soothing and relieving foot massage. The second use of the ottoman is the built in stretch function. Hit the button and the ottoman will at first rise up and then it will lower in 20 degree increments. This will stretch out the lower body and provide gentle relief to aching muscles. This recliner also has 8 manual massage techniques. The 8 techniques include: Shiatsu, Swedish, Hawaiian, tapping, rolling, kneading, compression and percussion. This is a great variety for a mid range massage chair. We give the EP-1273 an 18 for key features.

Massage Therapy: The EP1273 gives you a choice of four automatic programs. Select Shiatsu, Deep, Gentle and Refresh at the touch of a button for 15 minutes of relaxing massage therapy. You can also select from 3 manual courses covering the back. You have many choices of manual massages. An interesting feature in the EP 1273 is the back rollers. The back rollers have four firm rubber massage heads which make up the Swede-Atsu massage. The Swede-Atsu massage replicates the stroking with the palm of the hand and the pressing with the heel of the hand. You can also feel the mechanical thumbs apply firm pressure. The kneading massage is firm with the rubber massage heads feeling like strong pressure with the thumbs. You also get a thorough calf and foot massage with the leg ottoman of the EP-1273. We rate the massage therapy of the Panasonic EP-1273 an 18.

We rate the EP 1273 an 88/100 in our overall rating. The EP-1273 is packed with some great massage techniques. This full body massage chair provides the most massage techniques in its price category. You get a thorough arsenal of massage treatments. The stretch function is a great addition and provides an effective method to relieve tight muscles in the legs. The warranty on this model is less than we would like to see. If you are looking for a full body massage chair, the EP1273 certainly provides solid massage therapy compared to massage chairs in its class.

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By les scammell, July 28, 2009 4:21 am

Human Touch offers a diverse range of massage chairs. This product review will focus on the HT 1650 massage recliner. This is a high end, luxury massage chair from by Human Touch. Our review will evaluate the chair in 5 separate categories ranging from warranty coverage to ease of use to massage therapy. We then provide an overall rating, so that it is easy to compare between other massage recliners. Here is our evaluation of the HT-1650 massage chair recliner.

Warranty & Customer Service: Your long term product protection is a function of the length and breadth of the warranty on the product you buy. Big ticket items like a massage chair need to have adequate coverage to offset the money you are paying. The HT 1650 comes with the following warranty coverage: you get 5 years on the structure; you 3 years of parts; you get 1 years of labor (factory service) and in field service is covered for 90 days. The warranty coverage provided by Human Touch for this luxury massage recliner is fairly good. Customer service is through a national call center and they are pretty responsive. We give the HT1650 a 17 in warranty coverage and customer service.

Comfort & Ergonomics: It is particularly important for a massage chair to be comfortable and fit your body. You need to be able to relax. The HT 1650 is both a recliner and a massage chair. When not being used as a massage chair, it looks just like a regular leather recliner chair. It has soft, luxurious leather which is a big plus. The layout of the massage recliner and its functions are well designed and thought out. The controller fits in a side pocket, so there is not remote stand. We rate the comfort and ergonomics of the HT 1650 a 19.

Ease of Use: I don’t know about you, but I have always struggled trying to program my VCR. Thank goodness Tivo has finally saved me. We are critically concerned with the ease of use with massage chairs. These chairs increase in features and functionalities every year. The challenge is to keep it simple. We are happy to announce that the HT1650 has managed this. It has a remote that uses two different faces for buttons. This keeps it small and easy to hide in the side pocket. We give the 1650 19 of the 20 for ease of use.

Key Features: One of the unique features and a patented one at that is the hidden calf and foot massager. When not in use, you cannot see the calf and foot massage. When you want to use it, you simply flip it over and it exposes the calf wells. This is a great feature in that the massage chair looks like a regular leather upholstery recliner. The other interesting feature is the acupoint detection system. This can be used prior to using a manual massage function. When activated, it will scan your back and determine the almost 100 trigger points. It records their location and then prioritizes them when the massage begins. This acupoint detection enables the chair to zero in on these points to provide you full body relaxation. We give the key features of the HT-1650 an 18.

Massage Therapy: The moment of truth with any massage is chair is how effective is the massage therapy. We were very skeptical with this chair because it does not look like your traditional massage chair. In fact, it looks like your traditional leather recliner. However, Human Touch manages to squeeze in 8 automatic pre-programs. These range in intensity and vigor depending on the one selected. There are also manual techniques. Four in all. This give you quite a selection to meet many needs you may have. Do not forget that the hidden calf massager works both for your feet and your calves. The HT 1650 gets a 17 in this category.

The HT-1650 is definitely a one of a kind massage chair or should we say leather recliner? Overall it gets a 90/100 points. This recliner comes with a solid warranty giving you long term protection. It has the unique flipping ottoman which enables you to put the chair in most rooms. The massage therapy is effective and comes with an excellent selection of treatments to choose from. If you do not want the traditional massage chair look, then you can have the traditional leather recliner look and have the best of both worlds.

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By les scammell, July 10, 2009 3:56 am

We are going to present a review of the Panasonic EP-1273KL shiatsu massage chair. The EP-1273 is a midrange model offered by Panasonic, who has a broad range of massage chairs. We systematically review massage chairs in 5 different categories and give a rating for each category. The scores are added up for a total possible score of 100 points. Let us take a look at the mid-level Panasonic EP-1273KL which is in the $2,000 to $3,000 price range.

Warranty Coverage & Customer Service: The first area we like to cover is the warranty coverage for massage chairs. This is an important long-term consideration. Massage chairs have many moving parts and complex electronics. You want to make sure you are adequately protected. Let us look at the warranty of the Panasonic EP-1273KL massage chair. The EP-1273 comes with the following warranty coverage: 1 year parts, 1 year labor, 1 year shipping and 1 year in-home service. This is a fair warranty for a mid-level. Although, you may want to consider getting an extended warranty for additional protection. Customer service for Panasonic is fair. Overall, we rate the warranty and customer service a 16.

Comfort & Ergonomics: Let us take a look at the EP-1273 from a comfort perspective. The chair back is well padded. You get a pillow to support your head that can accommodate the size of different users. The chair tends to fit the body well and support the back. The materials selected add to the comfort of the chair. The remote is simple for the amount of functions. Panasonic has thought through the design well and earns an 18 for the EP1273.

Ease of Use: Panasonic has designed a fairly intuitive and easy to use remote. Everything is labeled clearly. Adjustments can be made without having to push a number of buttons to get what you want the chair to do. Adjustments are easy to make to the chair. You can switch from automatic programs to manual programs easily. We give the EP 1273 an 18 in ease of use.

Key Features: There are quite a few important features, but we will narrow it down to two. The two key features are the 8 manual massage treatments and the Swede-Atsu massage mechanism. Panasonic incorporates an amazing array of eight manual techniques. The manual techniques include Shiatsu, Swedish, Hawaiian, tapping, rolling, kneading, compression and percussion. There is a massage therapy for virtually every need. The other key feature is the Swede-Atsu massage mechanism. This is a mechanical feature that is designed to replicate the feel of the use of thumbs and the palm of the hand. The mechanics were patterned after real hand movements and then built into the massage chair. These advance features rate an 18 in our book.

Massage Therapy: The EP 1273 comes with the most variety of massage treatments for a massage chair in its class. You have a choice of automatic and manual programs. You can select from 4 automatic and 8 manual massage techniques. The automatic programs run the entire chair, including the air massage system. The 8 manual massage techniques are specifically for the back. Furthermore, there are 3 massage courses that target specific areas of the back. You can also vary the roller width and the intensity settings of the massages. The leg rest comes with an air compression massage for the feet and calves. This is a nice package of thorough massage therapies for a mid range massage chair. The EP-1273 is rated an 18 for massage therapy.

We rate the EP 1273 an 88/100 in our overall rating. The EP-1273 is packed with some great massage techniques. This full body massage chair provides the most massage techniques in its price category. You get a thorough arsenal of massage treatments. The stretch function is a great addition and provides an effective method to relieve tight muscles in the legs. The warranty on this model is less than we would like to see. If you are looking for a full body massage chair, the EP1273 certainly provides solid massage therapy compared to massage chairs in its class.

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By les scammell, March 21, 2009 6:53 am

For a product reviews to be effective, it should cover the salient aspects of the purchase. This helps buyers to better know their options. We created a structured approach using 5 categories. Each category can earn 0 to 20 points. The categories we rate are as follows: Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. We then add up the total to give an overall rating. In this massage chair review we analyze the M-2 Orion Massage Chair from Omega Massage. This entry level lounger is in the price range of $1,500 and under.

Warranty & Customer Service: Warranty and customer service comes from the manufacturer of the massage chair. Warranty is important, since it protects the customer in the workmanship of the product. The other side of this is customer service. Customer service must solve issues one may have. With the M-2 Orion, Omega Massage covers 1 year on the frame, 6 months on parts, and 6 months labor and shipping for 6 months. For an entry level massage chair, Omega provides the most comprehensive warranty and exceeds the other manufacturers in this category. With the M-2 Orion, Omega provides strong warranty coverage. Now on the customer service side, Omega overall is responsive and competent. They have quick turnaround times when issues do arise. The M-2 Orion is an 18 in Warranty & Customer.

Comfort & Ergonomics: A massage chair needs to be designed to fit the body and provide comfort. The chair is a place of relaxation. One does not want to be pre-occupied with non-intuitive functions. Let us take a look at the Orion. The Orion has a remote control holder under the armrest which is very convenient. You can recline the chair from 115 degrees to 170 degrees. There is the calf massage built into the footrest. The leg rest can be extended 4 extra inches. This allows the calf massager to be adjusted to where you like. The Orion is pretty comfortable with fully padded side armrests, extra seat cushion. You also get a plush back pad with a detachable shoulder pillow. The M-2 earns a 17 in this category.

Ease of Use: How easy and intuitive is the use of a given product is another important area. Products need to be designed with the user in mind. The M-2 Orion shiatsu massage has a pretty simple controller. Just push the main power and select the auto massage to enjoy a massage. The M-2 comes with manual controls for the backrest and the footrest. The backrest and footrest are attached to a manual piston. When released, it raises the footrest or raises the chair back. The M-2 does the heavy lifting for you. The remote has 3 automatic programs and 3 manual programs with 3 back courses. The remote also controls the calf massage, seat vibration and seat massage. Omega creates a chair with features of a higher end massage chair while still providing an easy to use recliner. Our rating in this category is 19.

Key Features: What are the key features of the Orion M-2 massage chair? This chair comes with the very relaxing sway massage which is based on Hawaiian massage. Hawaiian massage is known for its flowing strokes and swaying motion. There is thorough back coverage with the back massage. The Sway massage penetrates deeper and deeper around the back. This massage chair recliner comes with an eight massage head system for the buttocks and thighs. These eight massage heads provide an invigorating massage. An extra seat cushion is provided to moderate the penetration of the seat massage. Coupled with vibration therapy in the seat, the M-2 has a very good seat massage. The Omega M-2 Orion earns an 18 for key features.

Massage Therapy: The massage therapy is what a massage chair is all about. How does the M-2 Orion rate? Let us find out. There are both automatic and manual massages to choose from. Select from 3 timed automatic massages of 5, 10 or 15 minutes in duration. There are 3 back course and 3 manual massages for your back. Manual massages performed by the Orion are Kneading, Swaying and Finger Press. The seat with its eight rotary massage heads really delivers thorough massage to the thighs and buttocks. If you do a lot of sitting, this chair relieves those aches and pains. The adjustable leg rest allows great targeting of the legs with the mechanical rollers. Adjust them to exactly where you need relief. We rate the M-2 an 18 for its massage therapy.

Overall, we are very impressed with the Omega M-2 Orion. Let us sum up all the categories. The M-2 scores an impressive 90/100. Some unique features are the Sway Massage and the full seat therapy. These are therapeutic and relieving massages that can penetrate deeply to relieve soreness. The manual controls are good. The hydraulic assist that omega uses to lift the leg rest and chair back work effectively. With Omega, the M-2 has terrific warranty coverage. If you are looking for a great entry level massage chair, the M-2 is one of your best bets. The Orion gives a full body massage that is thorough and invigorating.

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By les scammell, March 10, 2009 6:52 am

It has always been told that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Well, that might be valid, but for several girls their makeup is their best friend.

There are so many various types of cosmetics out there, but one has started to get more and more concern. Benefit is a kitschy and pleasant makeup line that provides to women of all ages.

Benefit was created by the Ford twins in 1976. Their goal with the makeup line was to make it fun and functional.

They began specializing in effective quick fixes for every day beauty dilemmas that brought with them a great sense of playfulness. Today the Benefit cosmetic line has grown to be sold in over twenty-five different countries across the globe.

Perhaps the product which Benefit is familiar for the most is their lip and cheek stain called “Benetint.” It was in fact developed back in 1977, and is still one of their highest sellers. Yet, it brings with it an insane story about how it was first created.

Basically, the Ford twins designed “Benetint” to be used by kinky dancers. The dancers used it to make their nipples look beautiful while they were presenting. The Ford twins had no purpose that it would be that brand that would shoot Benefit cosmetics into the realm of a global sense.