Consumer Reports articles from August 2005

Consumer Reports archives from August 2005

Grassroots advocacy is still in style.(Consumers Union)
August 1, 2005... "Dear Mr. Jones, When you joined CU several years ago, you wrote us that you were tired of being played for a sucker by high-pressure salesmen; you said you were finally doing something about it: joining CU... But when you say in your...

Beware of these home loans.(mortgage brokers and lenders are luring the borrowers to accept more risk)
August 1, 2005... These days, it can be easy to get a mortgage even for a home that seems financially out of reach. And homeowners can tap home-equity loans to finance everything from a Lexus to a trip to Las Vegas. But this is not such a good thing. Many...

Another good mosquito repellent.(Mosquito repellent with oil of lemon eucalyptus)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Mosquito repellent with oil of lemon eucalyptus, a plant-based ingredient, was recommended as effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after we had completed tests for our July repellent report. So we tested again, pitting...

The scoop on a new Haagen-Dazs.(Light ice cream)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... The claim: Haagen-Dazs Light ice cream, introduced nationally in June, has "all the great taste and creamy texture of classic Haagen-Dazs ice cream with only half the fat." Regular Haagen-Dazs has consistently rated very high in our past tests....

A better pill bottle from target.(Target Pharmacy introduced an improved prescription-medicine bottle)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Recently, Target Pharmacy introduced an improved prescription-medicine bottle. A clever designer flipped the standard bottle on its head and flattened it, then organized information so it's easy to read. One shortcoming is that there's no bar...

Self-heating coffee, canned wine.(Wolfgang Puck's latte coffees)(Neibaum-Coppola Winery's white wine )(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Two new packaging ideas for coffee and wine offer solutions in search of a problem. Coffee. Wolfgang Puck's latte coffees, $9 per four-pack of espresso, mocha, caramel, or French vanilla flavors, come in self-heating cans that you activate...

Inexpensive luggage.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... The deals seem amazing: Luggage from $48 to $110 for three-, four-, and five-pieces sets. They look substantial, too. But our tests of sets from Kohl's, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart, and E-bags, an online retailer, show that none could likely...

Not ready for prime time: TV on your cell phone.(Sprint PCS's Sprint tv)(Verizon's Verizon Vcast VERIZON VCAST)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... TV for cell phones is a new and highly hyped service. Most of these video clips aren't live; still, the service is aimed at news nuts. We tested video services in New York and New Orleans from two major cell-phone providers, Sprint PCS and...

First look.(Toyota Avalon )(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Product: Toyota Avalon Full report: September 2005 A good example of a traditional American sedan is none other than the Toyota Avalon. We are now testing the redesigned Avalon. The previous version was rated very good overall,...

We found two excellent models.(OneTouch UltraSmart tops the ratings of glucose monitors)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Two-thirds of Americans with the most common type of diabetes don't have their blood sugar under control, meaning they face increased risks of blindness and other problems, a recent study found. Careful monitoring of blood-glucose levels at...

How to buy a mattress.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Thanks for your June mattress article. Many, like me, suffer from arthritic problems. I've tried every sleeping surface, but the only mattress that supports me well and provides a restful night's sleep is one I purchased from a foam rubber...

Rating the diets.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... It was great to see the diets article in June. I have been obese for 98 percent of my life; dieting just never worked. In 2002, a friend told me about Weight Watchers. I took the plunge. I have lost 86 pounds and have another 39 to go. Weight...

Filtering software.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Your June report on filtering software was useful, but your recommendation of AOL can give parents a false sense of security After removing the shortcut to Internet Explorer from his desktop, I thought my 8-year-old would access sites only...

Lawn mowers.(usage)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Your ratings don't tell how heavy a mower is. As a woman mowing in the hills of Kentucky, I can assure you that there's a large untapped market for a light, self-propelled mower with back wheels that really grip instead of spinning uselessly...

Living wills.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Concerning your piece on living wills in June, I tell my patients and their loved ones with durable power of attorney to make copies of these documents and spread them around liberally. Keep at least one set in your purse or wallet, have a few...

New bankruptcy rules.(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... In your June CR Money page on bankruptcy rules, you didn't point out the good guys in the credit counseling industry. It is important for consumers to know that professionals in reputable credit counseling agencies are trained and ready to...

Be careful out there.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... It is with a shudder that I read in the June issue your advice to home renovators regarding prepping wood for painting. In homes built before 1978, lead-safe practices must be followed. Two useful Web sites are www.hud.gov/offices/lead and...

Apple iBook and PowerBook computer batteries pose fire risk.(Apple Computer Inc., Lithium-ion batteries)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Apple is warning iBook and PowerBook owners about fire hazard associated with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries designed for use with the notebook computers. In a worldwide alert involving 225,000 batteries, 128,000 in the U.S., the company...

Battle of the brands: which store brands beat the big names?(Evaluating generic products that are just as good as their name brand counterparts)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... Is Bounty really "the quicker picker upper"? Which food-storage bag is sturdier, Ziploc or Wal-Mart? Is Dannon tops in low-fat strawberry yogurt? The answers might surprise you. Three store-brand paper towels absorbed just at fast as the...

Credit scores: what you don't know can be held against you.(CR INVESTIGATES)
August 1, 2005... Your mortgage, your car loan, your insurance premiums, where you live, who employs you--all of these life staples can depend on your credit score and the credit report on which it's based. Lenders have long used credit scores and reports to...

Bathroom makeovers: relaxing retreats for less.
August 1, 2005... The same remodeling boom that has turned kitchens into living rooms is transforming bathrooms into spas. Nearly 30 percent of the 121 million adults who recently completed a home-improvement project were involved in a bathroom remodel. Yet...

Countertops: stylish and strong.(HOME: BATHROOM MAKEOVERS)
August 1, 2005... Lower prices are moving limestone, marble, and other natural materials into the bathroom. You'll also see more concrete, granite, and--yes--stainless steel as kitchen preferences migrate. Home Depot, Lowe's, and other major retailers now...

Sinks: beyond plain old white.(HOME: BATHROOM MAKEOVERS)
August 1, 2005... Move over, porcelain: Glass and even stainless steel are among the new materials that are changing the style and shape of bathroom sinks. Vessel sinks like the one at right are the latest option. Unlike undermount sinks, these above-mount...

Whirlpool tubs: first-class economy.(HOME: BATHROOM MAKEOVERS)
August 1, 2005... The ability to turn a bath into a massage has given whirlpool tubs a starring role in new and renovated bathrooms. Roughly 25 percent of high-end bath remodels include one, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, a trade group....

Showerheads: go for the flow.(HOME: BATHROOM MAKEOVERS)
August 1, 2005... For a quick rinse, any old showerhead will do the job. But if you want a pounding stream of water to jump-start your morning or a gentle spray to help you unwind at day's end, the right showerhead is a must. With literally hundreds of...

Toilets: comfortable and efficient.(HOME: BATHROOM MAKEOVERS)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... Even the utilitarian commode is getting a revamp as toilet manufacturers strive to make this most basic of bathroom elements more accommodating. Trends include more comfort-height models, which raise the rim from the usual 14 inches to as...

Sheets: wake-up call.
August 1, 2005... Silk pillowcases that shred in the wash? Linen sheets so wrinkly after laundering that you might as well not bother making the bed? Sky-high thread counts based on creative calculating? Note to the makers of sheets in our tests: Stop sleeping...

Which alternative treatments work?(Alternative medicine)
August 1, 2005... Alternative medicine has come of age Nearly half of the 34,000 readers that we surveyed nationally for this report had tried some form of nontraditional treatment during the past two years, and their doctors were likely to have approved of it...

Circular saws: plug them in.(Corded saws offer more value than cordless saws)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... After drills, circular saws are the most common power tool in a home workshop. Battery-powered saws offer go-anywhere convenience, but there's a reason you aren't likely to see professional carpenters using them: Plug-in saws are far more...

Social security: what's on the table.(Social Security Administration on the future of social security)
August 1, 2005... Make no mistake: If you are a baby boomer or younger, in the future you will probably pay more in Social Security taxes than you do now You will likely also receive smaller benefits than current retirees, regardless of which of the many Social...

Rebound risk: aspirin and statin withdrawal.(heart-protective drugs)
August 1, 2005... Stopping daily low-dose aspirin or other heart-protective drugs, such as cholesterol-lowering statins and possibly the beta-blockers used to lower blood pressure, can sharply increase your risk of heart attack and stroke--the very conditions...

Sludge: jumping through hoops to make a case.(Automobile industry working to provide sludge protective engines)
August 1, 2005... A killer named sludge may live in your engine and can choke the life from your car, regardless of maintenance or mileage And the automakers whose engines are susceptible to sludge still aren't always eager to help. Sludge often forms when...

Not easy being green.(Sport utility vehicles are the more effeicient)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... SMALL SUVs * FIVE TRUCKS TRY TO BEAT THE BIG BOYS IN FUEL EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY. Three years ago, it would cost the average driver about $20 a week to power a midsized SUV like the Ford Explorer. Today, it costs about $31. Consumers...

You shouldn't pay for digital-TV transition.(digital television legislation)
August 1, 2005... Congress may soon pass legislation that could soon make your TV screen go blank. Digital broadcasts offer higher picture and sound quality than their conventional analog counterparts. Broadcasters currently use both a digital and an analog...

Speak up, Abe.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
August 1, 2005... With the mini-presidents sold by Toypresidents.com, the copy says, you get "an individually numbered certificate of authenticity" (individually numbered? an authentic toy?) plus "voice clips in the presidents own voice!!!" We can understand how...

Something's fishy.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
August 1, 2005... And on Saturday and Sunday, you'll need to fast.

Hey, that is unique.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
August 1, 2005... Yes, "attention" must be paid. How many people can say they own a pair of pants in which they can't sit down?

Life's too short.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
August 1, 2005... Wondering why Best Buy included the last item, below, with a Dyson vacuum cleaner, one reader was dismayed to think that he'd have to vacuum in the afterlife. Another surmised that his heirs might need a second filter upon inheriting the Dyson....

What a deal.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
August 1, 2005... One question about this offer, from a miniature-golf course in Connecticut: Is there a return policy if the kids keep missing the putt that goes through the little windmill?

What are you suggesting?(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
August 1, 2005... We know what the people at Evans Funeral Chapel mean, but geez.

Stop! Really!(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... This is not what readers from California (Mr. Please) and Washington (Ms. Her) had in mind when they asked to stop receiving unsolicited mail. No Junk Mail Nevada City, CA DO NOT MAIL ANYTHING TO HER PUYALLUP WA