Consumer Reports articles from August 2007

Consumer Reports archives from August 2007

Have you heard? Don't believe the hype.(sub-zero refrigerators)(full-body CAT scans)(variable annuity investments)
August 1, 2007... The real-estate section of the Sunday New York Times includes a page with large color photos of homes on the market. The text describes the house or apartment and lists the pros and cons. A recent entry for a Manhattan co-op noted that the...

Blenders to quench a summer thirst.(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2007... For $400 you can get a blender that makes a smooth smoothie, crushes ice, and turns out a pina colada that would make a bartender pleased as punch. For $80 you can get a blender that makes a smooth smoothie, crushes ice, and turns out a pina...

47- tO 52-inch LCDs and plasmas.(liquid-crystal and plasma television sets)(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2007... Flat-panel TVs with LCD technology continue to improve in quality and selection, but plasma still offers the most screen for the money. This fall, prices for all flat panels are likely to drop further. Here's our take on five new models that...

Lens Doctor gets a black eye.(scratch-repair system for eyeglasses)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The claim. "Lens Doctor glides on silky smooth, instantly filling surface imperfections" and "dries to an invisible, clear finish!" There's "no replacing glasses for one minor scratch!" Cleaning solution, cloth, and treatment solution cost...

Not chock-full of chocolate.(Quaker Life Chocolate Oat Crunch and Kellogg's Special K Chocolatey Delight, breakfast cereals)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Since chocolate has been found not to be a complete health villain, it has popped up in the oddest places, including Life and Special K cereals. To see how chocolatey they taste, we had three testers try them, dry and with milk. Quaker...

Easy, tasty cookies.(refrigerated and frozen cookie dough)(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2007... Good news for the time-pressed: Chocolate-chip cookies made with store-bought dough can taste almost homemade. Our trained panelists tasted cookies made from seven preformed cookie doughs, frozen or refrigerated, and cookies made from...

A self-parking Lexus.(automobile Lexus LS 460's Advanced Parking Guidance System)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The claim. The Web site for the Lexus LS460 sedan says that the optional $1,200 Advanced Parking Guidance System will let you "watch your Lexus park." It works like this: You pull in front of the parking spot you want, put the car in reverse,...

Two new GE washers not recommended.(GE WCVH6600H and GE WBVH5100H, washing machines)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... In tests reported in June 2007, we found that some top-loading washers left stain-soaked swatches nearly as dirty as before washing. Now our tests have revealed that two models in a new line of high-capacity, high-efficiency General Electric...

Beware of add-ons.(online information on consumer credit ratings)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Every U.S. consumer is entitled to a free yearly credit report from each of the three major credit-reporting bureaus--Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The official Web site to distribute those reports is AnnualCredit-Report.com, created as a...

Practice golf balls that fit to a tee.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... In years past, golf balls designed to fly a short distance during backyard practice were often subpar. A newer generation of practice balls comes closer to the real deal. We asked seven avid golfers--three women and four men--to warm up...

Rating the diets.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2007... I looked over the companies you rated in "Rating the Diets" (June 2007) and was surprised not to see the largest diet in the world, Herbalife. As a public company that reported earnings for 2006 of $3 billion, it's by far the biggest diet...

Laptops & desktops.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2007... In your computer report in June, you mention a feature of the Mac OS X Leopard called Boot Camp, which allows one to dual boot Mac Intel Core 2 Duo machines, and thus run either Mac OS X or Windows Vista. A much better way to go is through...

E-mail printer.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2007... Your June article about the HP A10 Printing Mailbox and Presto service missed one point entirely. The service is for the technologically impaired and for our most senior citizens. We bought one for our 93-year-old father who is now in an...

Wireless backup camera.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2007... Last fall I purchased the VR3 wireless backup camera featured in the May issue. I then bought a second one and gave another as a Christmas gift. Even though we were extremely cautious when cleaning them, the lens in all three easily scratched...

Washing performance.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2007... The June report "Washers & Dryers" left me confused. Are the latest conventional top-loading washing machines any worse at washing than in previous years if the same water temperature is used? You allude to worse performance due in part to the...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
August 1, 2007... The May report "Growing Great Grass" should have recommended 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. The percentage of nitrogen in a fertilizer is indicated by the first number on the bag. So with a 20-10-10 fertilizer (20 percent nitrogen),...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
August 1, 2007... In the June report "Paints & Stains," the correct amounts of bleach and water to use when removing mildew were reversed. You should use one part bleach to three parts water.

Corrections.(Correction notice)
August 1, 2007... In the July report "Best Hotels for Any Budget," we should have said that 33 percent of surveyed readers, not 16 percent, encountered at least one problem during their hotel visits, and that Howard Johnson, not Holiday Inn, drew far more...

2.5 million GE-built dishwashers pose risk of fire.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... General Electric has recalled 2.5 million built-in dishwashers sold as the brands Eterna, GE, GE Profile, GE Monogram, Hotpoint, and Sears-Kenmore. The liquid rinse-aid in those machines can leak from the dispenser onto the dishwasher's...

How to bid smart & play safe.(online auctions)
August 1, 2007... With 100 million items for sale--everything from a 99-cent fruitcake recipe to a $235,000 Ferrari--eBay is the king of online auctions. But almost half of eBay buyers surveyed by the Consumer Reports National Research Center said they'd...

Countering counterfeits.(online offering of counterfeit products)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Five percent of survey respondents said they had bid on or bought counterfeit goods. That would come as no surprise to Tiffany & Co., which has sued 50 sellers and eBay itself, alleging the company was complicit in allowing the sellers to...

How to sell successfully.(online auctions)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Sellers have more control than buyers: They set auction ground rules, specify payment methods, and say who covers shipping. Sixty-four percent of the 700 survey respondents who sold on eBay in the past year were highly satisfied with their...

Many cars don't protect against whiplash injuries; How to save your neck in a rear-end crash.
August 1, 2007... A rear-end crash occurs every 17 seconds in the U.S. But a surprising number of vehicles offer inadequate protection from the whiplash injuries that can result, according to crash-test data and our own analysis. Many whiplash injuries...

Great KITCHENS for less: 10 most-hyped products and what to buy instead.
August 1, 2007... Whether you're updating your appliances or planning a full remodel, seeing past the hype can be tough when everything looks so good. Mistakes can be costly as well as disappointing, because the most loudly hawked products are often the most...

How to pick perfect kitchen cabinets.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Their style might catch your eye, but it's the construction features you can't see that will keep your cabinets looking good year after year. Most manufacturers offer a similar range of door styles whether they sell ready-made, semicustom, or...

The hottest rocks.(materials for kitchen countertops)
August 1, 2007... The kitchen countertop has evolved from utilitarian work surface to stylish focal point. Despite granite's glamour, quartz is better when it comes to resisting spills, scrapes, and heat. Replacing a countertop is a relatively easy and...

Don't neglect backsplashes and edges.(kitchen countertops)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Small details can make a big style statement. Backsplashes, the wall area between the top of the counter and the bottom of wall cabinets, can be a great place to add contrast and texture--or more storage--to your kitchen design. And special...

Installation and upkeep are critical.(kitchen countertops)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Choose your contractor with care. To ensure that the contractor's counters stand the test of time, check references from jobs completed a year or two ago. This is especially critical for concrete counters, because most are made from scratch....

Latest isn't greatest.(flooring for kitchens)
August 1, 2007... Brazilian cherry, bamboo, and cork are among this year's esoteric options as manufacturers push faraway names and "greener" claims. But you might want to stick with conventional hardwoods and other familiar flooring to fend off kitchen scrapes...

'Pro' doesn't deliver.(ranges, cooktops, and ovens)(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2007... Outsized stainless ranges from Thermador and Viking aren't the only pro-style appliances these days. Even wall ovens are moving upscale as other brands and gear climb the social ladder. But "pro" isn't necessarily a step up. Kenmore's Pro...

Plan for proper venting.(kitchen ventilation equipment)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Even the best-venting over-the-range microwave oven can't exhaust cooking smoke and fumes nearly as well as a good range hood. Two CR Best Buys from our tests: the $225 under-cabinet Kenmore 5234 and the $525 wall-chimney Kenmore 5030. If...

Refrigerators: cool choices that work.(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2007... Keeping the milk cold and the Tater Tots frozen apparently isn't enough. Makers are betting consumers will pay more for models that also keep them entertained. But six CR Best Buys do better at delivering the cooling that counts. Samsung's...

Dishwashers: models that carry the load.(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2007... High-priced dishwashers offer stylish features such as stainless steel exteriors, hidden controls, and digital displays. But to get clean dishes, you don't have to spend big. First-rate wash performance starts at less than $500. The...

Features that count: these elements help enhance style, convenience, and performance.(dishwashers)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Adjustable racks and tines. These move up or down or fold to make room for larger dishes, pots, and pans. Most tested models have adjustable racks and movable tines on at least one rack. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stainless-steel or...

The drying game.(dishwashers)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Designed to dry better, Sahara Dry on Frigidaire's Professional PLD4555RF[C], $710, provided excellent drying, especially with plastic. (It increased energy use a bit and extended drying time by 20 minutes.) But you can find less-pricey models...

Readers report on more than 131,000 dishwashers.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The graph at right shows the percentage of the following 14 brands of dishwasher bought between 2002 and 2006 that either have ever been repaired or had a serious problem. Differences among brands of less than 3 points are not meaningful. ...

Sinks & faucets: money down the drain?(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2007... What do you get when you pay top dollar for a sink or a faucet? Less money to spend on the rest of your kitchen. Our tests found that despite the hype, sink and faucet prices have little to do with performance. We compared thick stainless...

First things first: match style to your space, needs, and budget.(kitchen sinks)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... TOP-MOUNT (DROP-IN, SELF-RIMMING) Best for a tight budget. It sits directly on top of the counter. Top-mounts work with any countertop material and are the simplest to install. But grime builds up around the lip of the sink. Top-mounts...

Hands-free at home.(Danze Parma faucet)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Unlike the models you may have fumbled with in public rest rooms, Danze's Parma hands-free faucet was surprisingly easy to use. Its motion sensor is in the base of the spout and easily detected our hands and the pots we needed filled. A second...

Appliance stores: price vs. selection.
August 1, 2007... You buy monster packages of pasta, gallon jars of mayonnaise, best-selling books, and even tires at Costco. But should you consider buying a refrigerator there? Yes, our readers say. For price and product quality, Costco registered higher...

Just say no to extended warranties.(appliances)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... It's no surprise that appliance and electronics salespeople push extended warranties. Their stores make more percentagewise on the individual warranty sold than they make on the appliance. By one industry estimate, retailers make a 50 percent...

Contractors: home centers vs. independents.
August 1, 2007... Damaged goods, trampled deadlines, and unexpected expenses are some of the remodeling hassles people hope to minimize by using Home Depot or Lowe's to screen and supervise contractors. But our new survey found that readers who went that route...

Kitchen remodeling by the numbers.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The readers whose experiences contributed to this report comprised a diverse bunch in terms of cost, duration, and scope of the work done. The majority stuck with their existing floor plan, which tends to spare the additional expense of redoing...

Remodeling best ways to pay for it now.(financing home-remodeling projects)
August 1, 2007... If you're planning to borrow against the value of your home to finance a major remodeling project anytime soon, you might be in for a shock. Even if you have a stellar credit record, you could face far more scrutiny than you would have in years...

Celebrex new ad, with questionable claims.(medication)
August 1, 2007... After a two-year hiatus, Pfizer is again advertising its pain reliever celecoxib (Celebrex) with a direct-to-consumer TV ad. The company had voluntarily suspended such advertising of Celebrex in December 2004 after evidence suggested that the...

Free drug samples have hidden drawbacks.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Getting free samples of prescription medications from your doctor might sound like a great deal, but it's a potentially risky practice for several reasons. You might not get printed instructions. In general, free samples don't show the...

Fish oil lubricates the brain.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... Omega-3 fatty acids in fish and fish oil, already known to reduce heart risk, might also help preserve thinking ability, two observational studies have found. The studies, which involved 2,250 middle-aged people and 210 older people, suggest...

Saturn rising; Midsized SUVs GM's roomy new entry rates among the best.(sport-utility vehicles)(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2007... The new Saturn Outlook is the best American SUV we've tested, and ranks among the top vehicles in both our midsized and large SUV ratings. Its overall test score is behind only the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Honda Pilot among midsized SUVs...

Ford Expedition EL.(sport-utility vehicle)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... HIGHS Roomy second- and third-row seats, cargo and towing capacity. LOWS Driving position; braking; noisy, strained engine; fuel economy; turning circle; no rear-view camera; instrument legibility; fit and finish. Ford's Expedition EL...

Chevrolet Suburban.(sport-utility vehicle)(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2007... HIGHS | Ride, cargo and towing capacity. LOWS | Handling, braking, turning circle, driving position, no flat-folding third-row seat, fuel economy, slow backup camera. The huge Suburban might not be politically correct, but it has been...

Laws have a chilling effect on identity theft.
August 1, 2007... Every day, some 27,000 Americans have their identities stolen. In about a third of those cases, crooks use the information to open new accounts in their victim's name. Armed with just your name and Social Security number, a thief can open...