Consumer Reports articles from December 2004

Consumer Reports archives from December 2004

Your all-consuming passions.(have you heard?)(Consumer Reports)
December 1, 2004... Next summer, dozens and dozens of golf balls will land in our offices. You're responsible, if you're among the 18 percent of our readers who play golf regularly. You persuaded us that rating golf balls (a first for us) in CONSUMER REPORTS...

Pocket bikes: hot and dangerous wheels.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
December 1, 2004... Miniature motorcycles, aka pocket bikes, have become the rage among teenagers and young adults with a need for speed. The bikes also have some government officials scrambling to get them off the streets. Some European pocket bikes can...

An online tool to size up charities.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
December 1, 2004... The holidays bring a flood of appeals from charities and nonprofit organizations. This year, it's easier than ever to size up those charities before you write a check. The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance recently launched a...

Tiny speakers soaked in alcohol deliver intoxicating sound.(Claim Check)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The claim: The JVC EX-A1 micro system, $500, offers "high sound propagation and high internal loss that result in improved frequency response that is remarkable for its natural sound across the sonic spectrum." Translation: Listening to the...

Obnoxious, yes, but a winner?(Claim Check)
December 1, 2004... Robosapien, $99, a remote-controlled robot, is one of several hot holiday toys we're testing this season. It walks, dances, karate-chops, picks up object, and even belches and passes gas. But does it have staying power? See the results in the...

A performance rollback from Wal-Mart's laptop.(Claim Check)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Wal-Mart's new, full-sized laptop for only S585 got our attention. Unfortunately, the ECS Elitegroup A535 is remarkable only for its price. Among the many shortcomings we found in our tests: * Lackluster performance from its 1.1-gigahertz...

Steer clear of the cashmere bargain bin.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
December 1, 2004... Cashmere is going from class to mass. Chains like Costco now carry cashmere sweaters priced at about $50. But the cheap garments aren't doing much to enhance cashmere's cachet. Some manufacturers are using less cashmere, often in lower...

We give a goose egg to long-term car loans.(Up front: news / trends / advice)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... General Motors and Ford found a sure way to lure more people into showrooms: six-year, zero-percent auto loans, offered in late September on most 2004 models still left on lots. Industry experts say that six-year loans are here to stay. ...

Pay to play: charges for online games are no fantasy.(Up front: news / trends / advice)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... High-tech games are becoming the gifts that keep on taking. Subscription fees and extra charges on top of the initial purchase price are commonplace. Games are no longer limited to the computer or the game console. Even some...

Shopping online? Sales tax is a definite maybe.(Up front: news / trends / advice)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... If you shop online and the seller doesn't include sales tax, does that mean you don't have to pay it? Not quite. Most online retailers have managed to avoid asking for sales tax by leaning on a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that a state...

Low-priced blender gives pricey ones a whipping.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
December 1, 2004... The $50 Braun PowerMax MX2050, top-rated in our July 2003 report, was as good as or better than 15 pricier blenders in all our major tests. Most of the pricey blenders come from companies synonymous with high-end kitchen gear, such as...

Correction.(your letters)(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2004... In the November report on plasma TVs, Samsung models SP-P4231 and SP-P4251 were scored incorrectly on some measures, and their overall scores and rankings in the Ratings should have been higher. The correct information is included in the...

With Vioxx off the market, what alternatives do patients have?(recalls & safety alerts)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Merck & Co.'s Sept. 30 decision to pull the pain reliever Vioxx off the market has millions of patients looking for new treatments--and the choice isn't simple. Vioxx (rofecoxib) is a selective COX-2 inhibitor, a class of drugs that may be...

AC adapters for Dell notebook computers Could overheat, catch fire, and pose shock hazard.(Electronics)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Products: 990,000 adapters sold separately 9/98 to 2/02 through Dell's Web site and customer-service center for $30 to $70, and with Dell Latitude, Inspiron, and Precision notebook computers. Adapters came with these models: Latitude CP, CPi,...

'98-00 Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth minivans.(Vehicles And Equipment)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Driver's side air bag could fail. Products: 955,000 minivans including Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, and Plymouth Voyager and Grand Voyager. Recall also includes 246,000 more of the vehicles, most of which were...

'01-05 Chrysler PT Cruiser.(Vehicles And Equipment)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Power-steering fluid could leak and, in presence of ignition source, cause fire under the hood. Models: 438,391 cars with 2.4-liter nonturbo engine and automatic transmission made 1/00 to 4/04. What to do: Have dealer inspect,...

'99-00 Kia.(Vehicles And Equipment)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Front safety-belt buckles might wrongly appear properly latched, increasing risk of injury in crash. Models: 262,636 cars and sport-utility vehicles including '99-00 Sephia and Sportage, and '00 Spectra. Buckle may emit "click" sound...

Hasbro Super Soaker Monster Rocket.(Children's Products)(Hasbro Consumer Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Cap on water tank can unexpectedly and forcibly come off, possibly injuring users or bystanders. Products: 230,000 seven-foot inflatable Mylar rockets with plastic and foam fin section sold 1/04 through 8/04 at stores nationwide for...

Boston Billows and Theraline "Big V" maternity and nursing pillows.(Children's Products)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Infant pillow and cushions are banned under federal law because of suffocation risks. Products: 9,000 infant pillows including the following: 8,000 Boston Billows pillows sold 2/00 to 12/03 at hospitals and specialty stores for $34 to...

Best gifts.
December 1, 2004... Whether you plan on spending A few dollars or e few hundred, our annual holiday gift guide takes the guesswork out of giving. We've selected the very best of more then 2,800 products that we put to the test this post year, as well as a few...

Where to shop for electronics.
December 1, 2004... Buying electronics should be as easy as finding hay in a haystack. They're in almost every store you visit, from local merchants to giant discounters, not to mention a mountain of Web sites. Even stores known for stocking pens and paper...

Where to buy computers.(Shopping)
December 1, 2004... Q. How are desktop computers different from almost all other electronics? A. You can customize them. All buying choices flow from the decision whether or not to customize--in computer lingo," configure." Though you can customize...

DVD Players: reliability in the mix.(Video)
December 1, 2004... For years, we said you could take fine performance of DVD players as a given and buy by price and features. We now have reliability data on 10 brands, which can help you choose from among a wide range of excellent performers. This year's...

DVD recorders: capturing TV on a disc.(Video)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2004... Having all but vanquished the videotape from the prerecorded-video market, the DVD now wants to be your TV recording medium as well. You should seriously entertain the offer. Prices for DVD recorders have fallen from more than $500 a year...

DVD Portables: go-anywhere video.(Video)
December 1, 2004... Portable DVD players give new meaning to the phrase "Taking the show on the road." The ability to play a movie anytime, anywhere can help you survive a long flight or forestall backseat tantrums. Portable DVD players have come down...

Conventional TVs: prime choices.(Video)
December 1, 2004... For the highest picture quality with the widest viewing angle at the lowest price, stick with a conventional (picture-tube) TV. The best of these sets still have a clear advantage over the largest, slimmest, and priciest newcomers on the...

LCD TV update: flat panelists.(Video)
December 1, 2004... Larger screens, lower prices, and better performance are making LCD TVs one of the fastest-growing categories in the television market. The Ratings in this Update feature 36 models, including 12 that arrived too late to test for last...

Plasma TVs update: big-screen celebrities.(Video)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2004... Plasma TVs are hot, in every sense of the word. These large flat panels display bright, sharp images, especially in high definition, In this Update, you'll find Ratings of 18 plasma TVs, 7 of which arrived too late to be included in our...

Receivers: home-theater hub.(Audio)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2004... Digital receivers--the in multichannel descendants of the plain stereo receiver-are better equipped than ever to serve as the heart of a home theater. Receivers have perfected the art of multitasking. They provide AM and FM radio tuners,...

Computer shiny apple:.(Computing)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2004... Since 2001, our surveys have shown, satisfaction with technical support for desktop computers has sunk, making it one of the lowest-rated services we evaluate. (Our most recent survey for laptops, in 2003, also yielded low satisfaction...

Coffee: in search of great grounds.
December 1, 2004... Is coffee quality swirling down the drain? It would seem so, based on our latest tests. We found a far lower percentage of very good or excellent coffees than when we last reported, in 2000, even though we tried many of the same brands....

Coffeemakers: basic brewers stand out.
December 1, 2004... Twenty dollars won't get you a coffeemaker with lots of neat features, nor one of the new single-serving "pod" (think coffee-filled tea bag) machines that manufacturers would love people to use as a substitute for Starbucks. But it will buy a...

Cordless kits: more tools for less.
December 1, 2004... Rising performance makes cordless kits an even more appealing way to give handy homeowners on your gift list four tools for the price of two. Most of these tool kits include a rechargeable drill, a circular and reciprocating saw, and a...

Kids' cough drugs may not work.(health)
December 1, 2004... Americans shelled out more than $270 million in 2003 on over-the-counter cough syrups, at least some of it for their children. But recent evidence suggests that OTC cough suppressants don't work in kids. In a study published in the July...

Can antiviral tissues prevent the spread of colds?(names & claims)
December 1, 2004... "Kills 99.9 percent of cold and flu viruses," claims the packaging on the new Kleenex Anti-Viral tissues. The manufacturer says the three-ply tissues help prevent the spread of colds and flu with a "moisture-activated" middle layer containing...

Holiday tipping: what people really give.(money)
December 1, 2004... Angst over tipping the service providers in your life--the newspaper carrier, your housekeeper, the hairdresser--ratchets up around the holidays. "Most people know to leave a waitress a 15 percent to 20 percent gratuity," says Michael...

Extended family: wagons and car-based SUVs: a wider range of choices provides something for everyone.
December 1, 2004... Only a few years ago wagons were an endangered species. As SUVs and minivans evolved into the new family haulers, the number of wagons on the market dwindled from 34 models in 1980 to only 13 in 1997. But the fide has turned again. In...

Toyota highlander.(Recommended)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... HIGHS/Powertrain, access, ride, controls, reliability, standard stability control, optional third-row seat, crash-test results. LOWS/Agility. The well-rounded Highlander is one of our top-rated SUVs. For 2004, the Highlander received...

Subaru Outback.(Recommended)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... HIGHS | Steering, ride, fit and finish, controls, crash-test results. LOWS | Acceleration, braking, at-the-limit handling. The Outback is a raised, AWD wagon that is a good alternative to an SUV. The redesigned 2005 model has a rich,...

Mazda6.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... HIGHS | Handling, interior room. LOWS | Unresponsive transmission, turning circle. The Mazda6 ranks behind only the Volkswagen Passat and Subaru Outback among all wagons we've tested. It is nimble, delivers a comfortable ride, and is...

BMW X3.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... HIGHS | Handling, engine and transmission. LOWS | Ride, acceleration, fuel economy, pricey options. Although based on the excellent 3 Series, the X3 has several flaws. The 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine is smooth, but provides lackluster...

Volvo V50.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... HIGHS | Turning circle, available integrated child-booster seats. LOWS | Stiff ride, road noise, tight rear seat, small cargo capacity. The V50 is the smallest vehicle in this group, but its efficient interior makes full use of its space....

Dodge Magnum.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... HIGHS | Rear seat room. LOWS | Visibility, braking, turning circle, modest cargo area. The bold styling of the Magnum has drawn a lot of attention, but the car didn't stand out in our testing. On the positive side, the 3.5-liter V6...

Compare: performance / specifications / safety.(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2004... TOYOTA HIGHLANDER VERSION TESTED TRIM LINE Limited PRICE: BASE/TESTED $31,380/$35,867 ...

New Web site offers help for your telecom woes.(viewpoint: the consumers union perspective)
December 1, 2004... The communications revolution has arrived. Some people can watch TV news on their cell phones. Others are doing their shopping online. Kids are "ripping" music from CDs and sharing songs with their friends. And what's this about making...

Return of the station wagon.(then & now)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... As suburbia grew, so did the station wagon's popularity. In 1954 we said that a station wagon was the children's delight, the camper's friend, and the small-business owner's standby. Earlier station wagons had resembled domesticated buses....

Surprise: no prize.(selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)
December 1, 2004... This missive from the Sweepstakes Prize Reporting Network (S.P.R.N.) to an Ohio reader named Barbara sure looks like a sweepstakes. It even talks like one, with the kind of silly sentences that are a sure bet when it comes to contests: *...