Consumer Reports articles from December 2002

Consumer Reports archives from December 2002

CR gift guide.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2002... When there's an economic crunch, it's easy to feel like the Grinch. More than half of Americans plan to spend less this holiday season than they did last year, according to a poll conducted last summer by Consolidated Credit Counseling...

TV sets.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2002... With high-definition (HD) digital sets proliferating and prices heading steadily downward, the question of what type of TV to buy may loom larger for many shoppers. Should you make the move to HD, which has the potential to offer unmatched...

DVD players.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2002... "Forty-three million sold and climbing." That may sound like an early McDonald's slogan, but it's got nothing to do with burgers. We're talking about DVD players, the fastest-growing product in the history of consumer electronics. In the five...

VCRs: still taping after all these years.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2002... As sure as the sun rising in the east, the DVD player is displacing the VCR as the device of choice for viewing prerecorded movies. Digital recording via a DVD recorder or digital video recorder is another matter for now; the hardware is...

VCR/DVD combos: they save space, but are they worth the compromises?(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2002... Combination products can be a mixed bag. They save space and simplify hooking up equipment, but they often exact their own costs. For example, if one component breaks, you have to send the whole works out for repairs. And the component devices...

Recalls.(2000 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Silverado; GMC Yukon, Sierra; Black & Decker, Sears Craftsman cordless electric lawnmowers; Nikon Coolpix 2000 digital camera; Pioneer DVD recorders, DVD-R/RW drives)
December 1, 2002... * '00 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and Silverado; GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, and Sierra Air bags may not deploy in a frontal crash. Models: 525,254 vehicles made 2/99 to 2/00. What to do: Have dealer recalibrate air bag sensing-diagnostic...

Computing in a buyer's market: expect great deals and good looks. But technical support may be spotty.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2002... Once heady from double-digit growth in the 1990s, computer makers are now reeling with the economy. Last year, they sold consumers 20 percent fewer computers than the year before; sales probably won't rise much this year. Whatever desperation...

Which blade? Top-notch kitchen knives can cost hundreds, but we found two CR Best Buys that have the edge for value.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2002... Whether you routinely whip up gourmet meals or rarely rise above making sandwiches, good knives are essential kitchen equipment. With them, you can work more efficiently and safely. Without them, even slicing a tomato can be tricky. To...

Wines on the rise.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2002... To call them overnight sensations would be a stretch, since their history goes back a long way. But syrah and pinot grigio have swiftly risen from relative obscurity in the U.S. to become the hot wines of the moment. In supermarkets alone,...

Opening gambits: corkscrew choices are multiplying. We tested 19 models to find those that are easiest to use.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2002... The quest to create the perfect corkscrew--one that would eliminate the tugging, teeth-gnashing, and cork crumbling often involved in opening a bottle--has gone on for centuries, yielding an array of implements that vary widely in design,...

The brew crew: some coffeemakers are a lot easier to live with than others, we found. .(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2002... Some coffeemakers claim "enhanced," "innovative," even "ingenious" systems that ensure superior flavor. But our experience testing automatic drip coffeemakers suggests that in some respects those claims are--well, full of beans. All the...

Picks of the pots and pans: the cost of cookware doesn't have to leave you fried. We found a very good 10-piece set for $125.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2002... Butter burns more quickly than margarine, skim milk won't whip, and a watched pot boils faster when covered. Some cooks are just as sure that with pots and pans, you get what you pay for. No wonder high-end products flourish. In some stores,...

Playmates.(toys )(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2002... Sure, your child's wish list will be your guide this holiday. But we encourage you to stray from the page. "Hot" toys that are heavily advertised to kids often amount to flashes in the pan. Toys that engage children--those they go back to time...

Picking the right battery.
December 1, 2002... The dreaded words "Batteries not included" could add to your decision dilemmas this holiday season. Choices for disposable batteries include two kinds of alkaline cells as well as lithium models. Opt for rechargeable batteries, and the list...

Fuel economy: stalled in traffic.(includes related article on electric vehicles)
December 1, 2002... Over most of the last decade, consumer concern for fuel economy seemed to rise and fall with the prices at the pump. However, that's changing. Two years ago, J.D. Power and Associates, a marketing information-services firm that regularly polls...

Shades of green.(Honda Civic Hybrid; Volkswagen Jetta TDI)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2002... When looking for good fuel economy, there's more to consider than simply how much you pay at the pump. Currently, the most fuel-efficient vehicles are those powered by a gas/electric hybrid powertrain or by diesel fuel. The most notable...

Best in snow: all-wheel drive or winter tires? .(tire buying tips)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2002... Go-anywhere grip is a major part of America's love affair with sport-utility vehicles. Automakers are capitalizing on that passion for all-wheel drive by offering it on a growing number of sedans, wagons, and minivans. More than 20 non-SUV...