Consumer Reports articles from December 2005

Consumer Reports archives from December 2005

Bargaining for lower drug prices.(Medicare drug discount card program)
December 1, 2005... In my compact New York City apartment, there are practical considerations to buying a 12-pack of paper towels, like where will we put the now-displaced vacuum cleaner? So it's rare we get to take advantage of the cost savings of buying in bulk....

An iPod sizzles, a music phone fizzles.(iPod music-management software)(ultra-tiny iPod Nano)
December 1, 2005... Having sold more than 20 million iPods, Apple has predictably made news by replacing its best-selling player and launching its first cell phone. Does the ultra-tiny iPod Nano, which replaces the iPod Mini, live up to its hype? Yes. Not so the...

Holiday lighting handle with care.(SAFETY ALERT)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Candle fires, which peak in December, tripled in the U.S. between 1990 and 2002. In 2002, the most recent year for which figures exist, candles caused 18,000 fires and 130 civilian deaths, says the National Fire Protection Association. Follow...

Cappuccino is a no-no, but the latte is likable.(Bialetti Mukka Express)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Unlike most cappuccino makers, which brew espresso in a pot, froth milk in a separate steamer, and make you put the two together, the Bialetti Mukka Express, $90, does it all at once, on a stovetop. When Mukka's pressure valve pops up, the...

CD investments are looking good.(certificate of deposit)(offering rates are high)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Until recently, putting your cash in certificates of deposit made about as much sense as stashing it in a shoe box. But one-year CD rates have been on a tear, nearly doubling in the past year to an average of more than 3 percent--a four-year...

New but barely improved Air cleaner still emits ozone.(Ionic Breeze with OzoneGuard)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The claim. OzoneGuard is a catalyst recently incorporated in Sharper Image's Ionic Breeze air cleaners. The company claims that Ozone-Guard "instantly converts a significant portion of byproduct and ground-level ozone into oxygen," and says,...

Medicare's new drug plan: the right choice for you?(Medigap policy)
December 1, 2005... On Jan. 1, Medicare beneficiaries can begin using the new drug benefit Congress authorized in 2003. Doing so might sound like a no-brainer. It's not. Coverage won't be provided by the federal government but by hundreds of private insurers...

Trip insurance: beware loopholes.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Hurricanes, terrorist attacks, and airline bankruptcies are leading more travelers to buy insurance for prepaid trips. Such policies can cover losses if your itinerary is ruined by events beyond your control, including illness or a death in...

Battle of the diet cola clones.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)
December 1, 2005... Once upon a time, shortly after dinosaurs roamed the earth, there was one kind of Coke and one kind of Pepsi. And now? Twenty-eight. A recent addition to the lineup, Coca-Cola Zero, is supposed to taste like Coca-Cola Classic and is aimed at...

Product: LeapFrog Fly pentop computer.(first look)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... Calling the Fly a pen is like calling the Batmobile a car. About the size of a small banana, this remarkable educational toy for kids 8 and up not only writes but calculates, schedules, makes and records music, and plays games. And that's just...

Repair or replace it?(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Your repair or replace it timelines in the October issue recommended replacing all malfunctioning major appliances older than eight years, and some as early as two years. Doesn't this seem incredibly wasteful, considering how large and...

Fuel economy.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... I drive a 2003 Toyota Prius. I'm able to equal, and sometimes exceed, the EPA mileage by paying attention to what I'm doing. I've done this with every vehicle I've owned. I consider high mpg a challenge. I do not inflate the tires more than...

Air cleaners.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Your article on air cleaners in the October issue was right on target. I'm a board-certified allergy, asthma, and immunology specialist practicing in a small town in New England. I receive many questions about air cleaners. Much of this is...

Cordless phones.(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Thank you for your October article on cordless phones. As I am a hearing aid user, I have been frustrated by the latest generation of 2.4-GHz and 900-MHz cordless phones. They put out too much interference to use with my telecoil. I have to use...

Help Consumer Reports give an early warning on unsafe products.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)
December 1, 2005... Consumers Union is launching a product-safety initiative to uncover and quickly expose dangers and design flaws in vehicles, appliances, electronics, children's products, and various household goods. And we're calling on all 7 million...

Best gifts.(annual gift guide )
December 1, 2005... Whether you're looking to spend a lot or a little, our annual gift guide can help you get the most for your money. Of the 3,351 products tested during the past 12 months, we chose 191 exceptional ones, from coffeemakers and chocolates to...

Electronics: best places to buy.
December 1, 2005... Retailing powerhouses Best Buy, Circuit City, and Wal-Mart, where much of America shops for electronics, may not be where you should buy electronics. Those chains rated only middling to below average on price, selection, and service,...

HDTVs: the price is right.(High definition television)
December 1, 2005... Sales of TV sets are expected to be brisk this holiday season, and for good reason: Prices are at record lows, so you can buy a lot more screen for the money--or spend a whole lot less--than at this time last year. As enticing as that...

LCD TVs update.(Liquid crystal display Television )
December 1, 2005... CR Quick Recommendations The Ratings list models by performance. Quick Picks highlights models that you might want to consider based not only on how they scored, but also on factors such as price and features. The Guide to the Ratings is...

Plasma TVs update.(Best gifts)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... CR Quick Recommendations The Ratings list models by performance. Quick Picks highlights models that you might want to consider based not only on how they scored but also on factors such as price and features. The Guide to the Ratings is on...

Rear-projection TVs update.(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... CR Quick Recommendations The Ratings list models by performance. Quick Picks highlights models that you might want to consider based not only on how they scored, but also on factors such as price and features. With DLP sets, make sure...

Picture-tube TVs update.(Television Ratings)
December 1, 2005... CR Quick Recommendations The Ratings list models by performance. Quick Picks highlights models that you might want to consider based not only on how they scored, but also on factors such as price and features. The Guide to the Ratings is...

Watch for consumer reports on TV.
December 1, 2005... Did you know local TV stations air reports featuring Consumer Reports testing and unbiased product Ratings? Watch newscasts in markets listed below in order to see the testing that's going on at Consumer Reports National Testing and Research...

Computer stores: shop smart, step by step.
December 1, 2005... Shopping for a computer can be trickier than buying other electronics. Price is closely related to the essential components of processor speed, memory, graphics, and drives. So for every price quote, you must check multiple specs to make sure...

Computers: multimedia unleashed .
December 1, 2005... Growing sales of digital cameras, MP3 players, and digital video gear have turned many home computers into a repository for digital photos, music, and video. To tap into all that content, manufacturers are making personal computers and the...

Canada Extra: information from Consumer Reports[R] for Canadian readers.
December 1, 2005... canada EXTRA INFORMATION FROM CONSUMER REPORTS[R] FOR CANADIAN READERS How to use the Canada Extra section Every month, Canada Extra provides Canadian pricing and availability information about products tested for that issue. The Ratings...

Wine: excellence can cost only $10.
December 1, 2005... Pinot noir was ready for its close-up and got it in the past year with the hit movie "Sideways." Sales of the up-and-coming varietal surged, and some California vineyards became instant tourist lures after Miles, the neurotic protagonist, waxed...

Cookware: top picks in pans.(Best gifts)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2005... Will a $300 set of cookware, possibly bearing the name of a well-known chef, make your meals twice as tasty as a $150 set? Not according to our tests of nonstick and uncoated cookware. We found that many of the lower-priced sets we tested...

Cordless drills: lean, mean, and loud.
December 1, 2005... You're likely to hear about impact drivers this holiday season as manufacturers hawk their ability to drive and loosen long or difficult bolts. But so far, no one is shouting about the fact that these new cordless tools are loud enough to...

Heating: stay warm without getting fleeced.
December 1, 2005... Record prices for heating oil and natural gas could make this winter brutal, regardless of the weather. Worst off are natural-gas homeowners in the Midwest, where costs could increase 70 percent, according to the Federal Energy Information...

Returns: watch out this holiday season.(Money)
December 1, 2005... You may chuckle now over the ugly holiday sweater your Aunt Edna sends you each year, but you could be in for a rude surprise when you try to take it back to the store, even if you've been shopping there for years. "Each year at holiday...

Flu 2005: essential info for staying safe.(Health)
December 1, 2005... The specter of bird flu has been hogging the headlines lately, but regular flu is still as debilitating and potentially deadly as ever. As we went to press, there seemed to be sufficient flu-vaccine supplies. Here's what else you need to know...

Sporty coupes: four sleek-looking cars with reasonable fuel economy.(Chevrolet Cobalt)(Acura RSX)(Scion tC)(Mitsubishi Eclipse)(Product/Service Evaluation)
December 1, 2005... The four sporty coupes in this month's test group are based upon ordinary sedans and are not very sporty as a group. They are, however, affordable cars that emphasize style over practicality and happen to get relatively good fuel economy,...

Protections needed for disaster victims.(View point: THE CONSUMERS UNION PERSPECTIVE)
December 1, 2005... The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina revealed significant shortcomings in our country's ability to deal effectively with a national disaster. The obvious and immediate needs were for the basics of life: food, water, and shelter. Now the focus...

Movin' and groovin'.(then & now)(iPod Nano)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... You see them everywhere--the simultaneously tuned-in, tuned-out people. You'll recognize them by their enigmatic smile and faraway look as they jog, skate, commute, or wander the aisles of the supermarket. When answering questions, they use an...

Patriot games.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
December 1, 2005... [1] PatriotMedia, a cable company, sent a New Jersey reader an "I Love America" gift package for Independence Day, with a flag decal, a recipe for apple crisp, and other holiday items. But something struck him about the Patriot Crayons that...

What a difference 'AR' makes.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
December 1, 2005... This helpful bag comes courtesy of a hotel in the Dominican Republic. Now, if you've lost your mind, you'll know where to find it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Look! Look! Open me!(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
December 1, 2005... Apparently, the senders of this envelope couldn't decide which direct-mail folderol to use, so they tried it all. What was inside? An offer to save $750 on vinyl siding or other home improvements. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

I do. Now go away.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
December 1, 2005... If he's attractive, can you rent to own? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Ho, ho, ho, salmonella.(raw eggs usage )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The name of this recipe, from a 2004 catalog, seemed infelicitous, if not infectious. Raw eggs aren't the risk they used to be, but you might think twice about serving 18 of them to guests. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Tough love.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
December 1, 2005... We think they mean "el amor." That is, unless Mom is an armadillo. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]