Consumer Reports articles from December 2001

Consumer Reports archives from December 2001

Selling it.(misleading ads, labels)(Humor)(Column)
December 1, 2001... Newsweek 'adverzine'? We've seen magazines with ads from myriad companies, in which it's unlikely that one advertiser could influence all the editorial content. We've seen magazines with an "advertorial," a chunk of pages in which ads and...

Aftershocks: coping with delayed reactions and the stress of uncertainty.(Your Health)
December 1, 2001... Since the shock of the September 11 attacks, many of us have not felt like our old selves. The continuing tension of the conflict has made it difficult to soothe heavy hearts and jangled nerves; hard to speed our reaction time, to concentrate,...

Hard charging: we answer readers' questions about their credit card problems.(Your Money)(Column)
December 1, 2001... The holidays are prime time for plastic. Not only does card usage soar at this time of year, but bank-card companies tempt you with more offers by mail, radio, and TV. To prepare you before your next trip to the mall--virtual or real--we asked...

Recalls: vehicles and equipment; household products.
December 1, 2001... Vehicles and equipment * '95-99 Subaru Legacy sedan, wagon, and Outback and '97-98 Ford Windstar Road salt could cause front coil springs to corrode, break, and flatten tires, resulting in loss of vehicle control or crash. Models:...

Dishwashers: what's new.(Product Updates)
December 1, 2001... More convenience. You'll find silverware slots, extra baskets, and other load-easing features on a growing number of models. You'll often pay more than $800 for that flexibility, though the high-scoring $500 Whirlpool GUI500XTK we tested for...

A holiday shoo-in: Chardonnay.(Wine - Test)
December 1, 2001... Chances are good that the wine you bring to a friend's holiday party or put on the table for your own family gathering this month will be a chardonnay. The right bottle can be a pleasing partner for the richer foods often served at holiday...

The trouble with some Energy Guides.(dishwashers)
December 1, 2001... Carol Pogash was dismayed when she recently took delivery of her new dishwasher. A resident of Orinda, in northern California, where electricity prices have soared in the last two years, she had ordered the Sears Kenmore 1563 sight unseen...

A special responsibility.(Memo To Members)(war and consumerism)
December 1, 2001... In the days following the terrorist attacks of September 11, the staff of Consumers Union responded in much the same way as did Americans across the country. We were stunned, we were angry, and we shared an unimaginable grief. We asked why, we...

Travel: the new realities.
December 1, 2001... The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks led almost overnight to increased security measures at airports, national monuments, and border crossings. The new rules are intended to make travel safer and more secure, though they may cause inconvenience as...

Safety at home: personal security starts with preparedness.
December 1, 2001... Size up your insurance needs Higher insurance premiums for property, casualty, and disability policies are expected to be one effect of the recent terrorist attacks, as insurers pay out up to $100 billion in claims. Premiums for auto...

The pricey picker-upper.(boxed vs. rolls - paper towels)(Evaluation)
December 1, 2001... How do the new Bounty in a Box paper towels compare with their tried-and-true cousins on a roll? The towels in a box are sold for their convenience; they pop up like tissues and so can be kept in rooms where you don't have or want a towel...

Stoking the college account: family finances.(2002 tax changes)
December 1, 2001... Provisions of the new federal tax law that takes effect Jan. 1 may give some help to families saving for college. Bigger education IRAs. The annual contribution limit has been raised to $2,000 per child, and employers can now contribute....

Is it a heart attack?
December 1, 2001... Would you recognize the symptoms of a heart attack? Would you know what to do if you thought you were having one? According to a large trial conducted in 20 U.S. communities in the mid-to-late 1990s and funded by the National Heart, Lung,...

Cooking to a turn.(3 rotisseries - test)(Evaluation)
December 1, 2001... Rotisserie cooking--back in style in restaurants, delis, and au courant kitchens--can turn out a chicken, leg of lamb, or turkey that's crispy on the outside and juicy inside, nicely done burgers, and dandy ribs, steaks, and kabobs. Of the...

New twist on can openers.(test - hands-free battery models)(Evaluation)
December 1, 2001... Black & Decker and Hamilton Beach have come out with small, rechargeable can openers that promise to work practically hands-free. Punch the cutting blade through the lid of a can, and the opener automatically travels around the edge. That has...

Desktop differences: among major brands, fine performance is a given - but design details matter.(computers)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2001... It's very much a buyer's market for computers. Sales are down, profits have evaporated, and HP and Compaq are merging to stay competitive. Strapped as they may be, however, the manufacturers continue to offer plenty of interesting choices. Many...

Readers report: fixing, problem-solving, and buying computers.(desktop microcomputers)
December 1, 2001... Repairs According to our most recent survey of CONSUMER REPORTS readers, 5 percent bought a computer that was completely inoperable within the first month; another 11 percent said they had problems in the first month but the computer was...

Toys, toys, toys.(Toys - Test)
December 1, 2001... Great new ideas in toys are in short supply this holiday season. Most trends, such as microchip-enhanced interactive toys and robotic pets, are several years old. The $23 billion industry also continues to lean heavily on licensing to drive...

TV sets.(Viewer's Choice)(Buyers Guide)(Cover Story)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2001... It's no exaggeration to say that DVD players are driving today's home video market. Sales are climbing steadily, in large part because the picture quality of a DVD player exceeds what you can get from a videocassette recorder VCR or typical...

Televisions - ratings.(Viewer's Choice)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
December 1, 2001... Features at a glance TVs Tested products keyed to the Ratings and a similar model Key Brand & model Price Flat Front A/V no. screen jacks ...

Videocassette recorders: prices fall as alternatives expand.(Viewer's Choice)(Cover Story)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2001... Never has the familiar VCR offered more for less: Models with high-fidelity audio now start at as little as $80, while more expensive S-VHS units--short for "super" VHS--start at about $200 and promise a better picture. Falling sales may...

Digital video recorders: don't throw away your VCR just yet.(Viewer's Choice)(Cover Story)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2001... A DVR is a couch potato's dream come true. These set-top boxes allow you to pause "live" TV broadcasts, grab a sandwich, then pick up where you left off without missing anything, courtesy of an internal hard drive that keeps recording. Their...

Good values in luggage.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2001... The luggage you buy today is likely to look spiffier longer than the suitcases you purchased in the past. Our continuing tests point to better overall quality, durability, and convenience, the result of improved design and manufacturing. ...

Slot machines: toasters are generally better bets for browning bread than toaster-oven/broilers.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2001... Microchip "brains." Heat sensors. Precision shade control. Many toaster makers are touting such build-a-better-mousetrap features. But does browning bread really require "smart" technology? No. We tested 15 toasters priced from $10 to $100...

Toasters - ratings.(Evaluation)
December 1, 2001... Toasters Overall Rating Within types, in performance order BRAND & MODEL PRICE OVERALL SCORE SIMILAR MODELS IN SMALL TYPE P F G VG E TOASTERS ...

Do cookbooks measure up?(flawed recipes)
December 1, 2001... If you've ever blamed yourself when Martha Stewart's "Risotto with porcini" came out decidedly un-porcini or Emeril Lagasse's stuffed flounder wound up with soggy dressing, someone ought to let you in on an unsavory secret of cookbook...