Consumer Reports articles from August 2001

Consumer Reports archives from August 2001

Selling it.(deceptive advertising, etc.)(Column)
August 1, 2001... What's wrong with these pictures? (1) The Charmin Cuddly Bear ($3.99 with purchase) is enveloping a four-pack of toilet paper in its furry paws. But don't try this at home. As that little smudge of type by the bear's shoulder reveals,...

Bear necessities: here are the right ways to shore up your finances for rougher times.(Your Money)(Column)
August 1, 2001... If the long economic expansion lulled you into some free-spending ways, you need look no further than the losses on your most recent retirement-fund statement to know that the freewheeling good times have hit a rocky patch. It's hard to predict...

Room for five, with a bed: pickups for the entire family.(Compact Crew-Cab Pickups - test)(Evaluation)
August 1, 2001... In the last few years, almost every major automaker has introduced a compact crew-cab truck--a four-door pickup, with full-sized rear doors and two rows of seats, that can comfortably seat five people. Full-sized crew cabs have been used in the...

Free lemon-aid for computer owners.(Memo To Members)(Editorial)
August 1, 2001... If the computer you buy turns out to be a lemon, you shouldn't be stuck with the bill--or a huge hassle trying to get it fixed. As one reader put it, in a letter to the maker of his computer, "This is the saga of a disappointed customer who...

Health - pour it on.(daily water intake - formula)
August 1, 2001... Most people don't drink enough water, according to our sister publication, Consumer Reports on Health. Resulting problems can include everything from muscle cramps, headaches, and fatigue (especially at the end of the day) to constipation,...

Backpacks on a roll.(wheeled school backpacks)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2001... Backpacks on wheels are pitched as a solution to the heavy load of textbooks many kids carry to and from school. More than 3,400 children ages 5 to 14 visited emergency rooms with backpack-related injuries in 1999, the latest year for which...

Dueling doughnuts.(Dunkin Donuts vs. Krispy Kreme)
August 1, 2001... A taste tester's life is not easy. But someone had to decide, once and for all, who makes a better doughnut--Dunkin' Donuts or its fast-growing rival, Krispy Kreme. We asked a panel of trained taste testers to sample yeast-raised glazed...

A wrench with limits: tool test.(Sqeeze Wrench)(Evaluation)
August 1, 2001... The Squeeze Wrench promises to go where other tools can't. Unlike conventional combination or socket wrenches, which need about 30-degrees clearance to loosen and tighten nuts and bolts, the Squeeze Wrench stays put. Each small squeeze of the...

Which brew for you? 'Millercoorweiser' still rules the market, but imports are on the rise. Our taste tests make you wonder why.(Buyers Guide)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
August 1, 2001... Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors brew four of every five beers that Americans hoist. The only serious challengers to the big three are imports, whose market share has more than doubled since 1993. Indeed, imports now account for one bottle of...

Recalls: vehicles and equipment; household products.
August 1, 2001... Vehicles and equipment * '00 Ford Focus Left rear wheel and brake drum could come off. Automatic speed control could become stuck and prevent car from decelerating. Models: 232,500 cars made 3/99 to 5/00. What to do: For...

Vaccines: an issue of trust - misinformation and government foot-dragging are fanning fears.(part 1 of 2)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2001... This is the season of the shots, when parents scramble for appointments to bring their kids' immunizations up to date in time for school openings. The annual ritual is becoming anything but routine for growing numbers of parents who feel...

The 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Limited: not acceptable - SUV tips severely in our emergency avoidance-maneuver test.(Auto Safety - Test & Report; includes Mitsubishi rebuttal)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
August 1, 2001... We had high expectations when we started track testing the redesigned 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Limited. Since buying a new model in August 2000,we'd put almost 7,000 miles on the vehicle and our evaluations had been mostly positive. In a brief...

The real energy savers: washing machines.(Test)(Buyers Guide)(Evaluation)
August 1, 2001... Looking for the biggest energy savings? Washing machines are where you'll find it. Based on our new energy gauge, the most frugal washer we tested will slice the laundry portion of a typical energy bill by $60 more per year compared with the...

Dryers - ratings.(Buyers Guide)(Evaluation)
August 1, 2001... Clothes dryers display fewer performance and energy differences than washers. All 18 full-sized models we tested dried a variety of fabrics well. And all have a moisture sensor, which saves energy and your clothes by stopping the dryer more...

Machines for tight spots.(stacking washer-dryers)(Buyers Guide)(Evaluation)
August 1, 2001... Stacking a washer and dryer is a space-saving option for apartments and small houses. But as with other machines, more efficiency tends to cost more up front. * Laundry centers, which combine a washer and dryer in one unit, can be a...

Small boxes, big sound.(loudspeakers)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2001... If you want superlative sound from your audio system but don't want speakers that could do justice to Stonehenge dominating your room, this should be music to your ears: Bookshelf speakers and three-piece systems performed just as well as--and...

Your home wiring: is it safe?(Special Section: Home Fire Safety)
August 1, 2001... When you plugged in your new refrigerator, cranked up the air conditioner, or turned on the light to read this article, you probably didn't give a lot of thought to the wires carrying the electricity. Few people do. After all, your home's...

Where there's smoke ... smoke alarms can sniff out smoke or flame, but few excel at detecting both.(Special Section: Home Fire Safety)
August 1, 2001... Smoke alarms can cut your chances of dying in an electrical or other house fire roughly in half. Yet our tests show that neither of the two major alarm types--ionization and photoelectric--provides complete protection. And even the few...

Vacuum cleaners.(Product Updates)(Evaluation)
August 1, 2001... WHAT'S NEW More bagless uprights. The market is expanding for bagless models, which capture dirt and dust in plastic bins. But most bins hold less than bags, and they can stir up dust and allergens when emptied. And as with some vacs with...