Electric and reel mowers also don't stink, so you can smell they yummy grass while you're cutting it.

I had the Black and Decker corded electric mower. It worked *great*, even on my lumpy, long, tough "grass" (it was a reclaimed pasture). A reel mower wasn't an option, but if I ever again live where I have to cut the grass, I'll use either a reel mower or an electric one. I hate the noise and stink of gas powered mowers.

I just got the Fiskars mower. I have zoysia grass and it was pretty long in some spots - up to about 8 inches. The mower took it all down in a few passes. I had to start on the 4" setting and then down to 3" finally 2" to get it even all over.

well worth it, and only $199 from Lowes instead of the $249 that everyone else wants!

save you a search:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_317736-1078-6201_0_?productId=3168445&Ntt=fiskars&Ntk=i_products&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?newSearch=true$Ntt=fiskars$y=0$x=0

I have the Black and Decker two years ago and have had constant problems and frustrations with it since day one. The handle broke soon after purchasing. It does not cut well. The battery does not stay charged. It's heavy and difficult to push. I was so excited to purchase...

I would instead recommend the Neutron mower:http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07160036000P?vName=Lawn%20&%20Garden&cName=Walk-BehindLawnMowers&sName=Cordless%20Rechargeable%20Mowers&sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=07160036000P

We are new homeowners and just bought the Black & Decker CM1936 and are pretty pleased with it. The lift-out battery is great! My husband was a little hesitant at first to go electric, but has warmed up to it. At 23, he still enjoys mowing the lawn and thought this may be a subpar mower. It works beautifully--and we were borrowing my sister's gas mower for the first month, so the comparison is nearly direct. The mower sounds like a vacuum, doesn't have the emissions and obviously doesn't blow fumes.
The only downside is that the battery doesn't hold a charge for our half acre lot. He lets it charge for 1 or 2 hours and finishes up the last few minutes of mowing.
I plan to expand flowerbeds, add wildflowers at the back of our lot and start a vegetable garden, so hopefully it will make it through once we've scaped a bit.

Also, when checking out Reel Mowers (which I still plan to do) I read that the Brill runs forever without maintenance and almost bought one. I did find a review, though, that says they are limited in the cutting height department. "Golfcourse short" was the phrase, I believe. So if you don't want to keep a close crop, you may want to avoid Brills.

I've referred to this site a lot:
http://www.reelmowerguide.com/

and this one--which also sells display models at lower pricing:
http://www.ecomowers.com/Default.asp

But this is the most helpful (and actually helped me pick the B&D electric mower):
http://www.consumersearch.com/lawn-mower-reviews/reel-lawn-mowers

I have the Fiskars reel mower and used it all season last year - it ROCKS! We have a half acre lot and its mostly flat. This thing is not hard to push at all! If you allow your grass to grow to your ankles before cutting then yes, it will be harder to push. At the height of the summer when the grass was growing like crazy we mowed once a week and the clippings were cut up so small you cant see them. I have to say its a nice workout. I can't begin to explain the satisfaction and pleasure I got using a man powered mower that doesnt polute the air with noise and fumes. Also since the noise wasnt an issue and I didn't have to fuss w/ getting it started - I found myself actually wanting to mow.