The first review on Brita at

http://www.amazon.com/Brita-Replacem...ers-3-Pack/dp/
B00004SU18

gives annoying info: "Do not let the filter dry out. "

But, Bob likes it:

best filter I've found, December 22, 2002
Reviewer: Bob Sacamano "Monk" (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my
reviews
In California the water tends to be very hard. I purchased an under
the sink two stage water filtration system and thought the problem
would be solved. The water still tasted bad so I bought a Brita
pitcher filter. Unbelievable! It tasted so good. I think it's because
each filter has silver oxide particles mixed in with the charcoal and
it softens the water very well. I wish I would have tried this filter
first.

This the reason I don't like pitcher:
http://www0.epinions.com/hmgd-review...395E6108-prod4

"Cons
Takes three times to the faucet before pitcher is completely filled"

One annoyance

You can't fill up the pitcher in one shot. That is, the holding tank
that you pour the water into before it passes through the filter is a
lot smaller than the pitcher itself, so it takes about three fillings
of the holding tank to fill one pitcher.

So no Brita pitcher for me.