Consumer Reports articles from February 2002

Consumer Reports archives from February 2002

Be very afraid.(Selling It)(questionable anti-bioterrorism products)(Column)
February 1, 2002... In mid-November, the Federal Trade Commission sent about 40 e-mails to web-site operators demanding that they take down information claiming that nostrums such as oregano oil can prevent or treat anthrax and other bioterrors. The FTC said that...

Sept. 11.(Selling It)(questionable products)(Column)
February 1, 2002... We've all heard that truth is the first casualty of war. Still, it was surprising how fast the victim expired after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. By the 12th, Internet watchdogs were already warning against online frauds. Soon, gas...

Ripping & burning: where to go for digital audio.(Tech Life)(Column)
February 1, 2002... We've gone from 45-rpm vinyl platters to 450-Kbps digital downloads of the music we want to hear. Music in many digital formats and in every genre is out there somewhere on the Internet. Here's where to find the music and how to play it on your...

Sedans with sixes.(Family Sedans)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... The Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima received major redesigns for 2002. The Camry, which was America's best-selling car from 1997 through 2000 and one of our top-rated sedans, got fresh styling, more interior space, additional safety features,...

Toyota Camry.(Family Sedans)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... The Camry, especially in the XLE trim, exudes the quality and refinement of a luxury car. The well-rounded package includes a polished powertrain; smooth, quiet ride; capable handling and braking; and generous accommodations. THE DRIVING...

Nissan Altima.(Family Sedans)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... With its clean, contemporary styling, high horsepower, and airy interior, the redesigned Altima is a major improvement over its predecessor. On the road it's quick and capable, with excellent brakes. The overall package, though, lacks...

Dodge Intrepid.(Family Sedans)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... The Intrepid competes at the large end of the midsized category, but its cavernous cabin provides less-than-ideal accommodations and access. Interior materials aren't impressive, but the car handles well and offers a supple ride. THE...

Pontiac Grand Prix.(Family Sedans)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... With its stiff suspension, heavy steering, and prominent exhaust sound, the Grand Prix presents a sporty veneer that comes up a little short in substance. The powertrain is responsive enough but lacks polish. Handling is secure but not agile on...

'Selling It,' the book.(Memo To Members)(Editorial)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2002... On the back of editor Leslie Ware's office door hangs a severed steering wheel. Locked on to the steering wheel is The Club. That's the antitheft device that's supposed to make it difficult for thieves to steal your vehicle. "If you want to...

Got soy?(Taste Test)(soy milk)(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2002... No grocery aisle is more confusing than the milk aisle, even if you know all about the myriad kinds of cow's milk. Now, soy milk shares the shelf space. You may have thought about drinking soy milk, made from a protein-rich legume that can...

A new twist on bank fees.(check-cashing fees for noncustomers)
February 1, 2002... You can understand a bank refusing to cash a bad check. But what's up when big banks won't honor a valid check drawn against good funds on deposit in their own vaults? Increasingly, banks will pay up only if the bearer of the check pays a...

GameCube vs. PlayStation 2 vs. Xbox: video games.(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2002... If you have video-game buffs at home, you'll face the questions sooner or later: Should you replace your video-game console with one of the newer enhanced systems? Which is best: GameCube, PlayStation 2, or Xbox? The following shopping...

Is it a cold - or something worse? Winter health assessment.
February 1, 2002... This year, you may react to any flulike symptoms with more than the usual concern. It's not easy to distinguish influenza from deadlier diseases such as anthrax and from milder afflictions like the common cold. Many symptoms overlap. The...

Love at first bite.(Chocolates - Test)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... Bestowing bonbons on your beloved for Valentine's Day may be unoriginal, but the chocolates needn't be. Thanks in part to the Internet, your choices in chocolates have expanded far beyond the well-known brand names found on your local store...

First look: 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche.(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... New for 2002, the Chevrolet Avalanche is one of the latest models in a move toward five-passenger crew-cab pickups that include four regular doors and two full rows of seats. Some crew cabs have been dubbed "SUV/pickup hybrids," a marketing...

Digital cameras.(Product Updates)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... WHAT'S NEW Your choices expand. The major manufacturers have introduced nearly 30 new cameras in the past few months. Some of the newest cameras are at the low end, with sufficient resolution to make small snapshots or create images you...

Masks: clearing the air.(industrial masks and anthrax)(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2002... Sold at home centers and hardware stores, industrial masks can protect you while using pesticides, glues, and other everyday substances that can damage lungs and irritate eyes and nasal passages. But they aren't meant for biothreats, even...

The complete cell-phone guide: 1 - service shortcomings.(Special Section)(Cover Story)(Industry Overview)
February 1, 2002... Even if you have a cell phone, you may be thinking about a new one--or a new carrier. Each year one in four users "churn," or jump to a new carrier, looking for lower rates, better service, fewer billing problems--or all of those quealities....

The distraction factor: studies show that cell phones and driving don't mix.(Guide To Cell Phones)(part 2)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2002... Studies show that cell phones and driving don't mix. But will cell-phone legislation solve the problem? Common sense suggests that talking on a phone can distract a driver from the all-important task of driving safely. And research seems to...

Cost controls: how to find the right calling plan and the right phone.(Guide To Cell Phones)(part 3)(Cover Story)(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2002... No matter how slick the phone you use, the service plan will absorb the bulk of your cellular budget. And, since the carrier you choose also determines which handsets you can use, you should always defer phone shopping until you have found the...

Key features; ratings: cell phones.(Guide To Cell Phones)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... Here are the key features on the tested phones and similar models. Tri-mode is the most versatile type of cell phone and the ones we recommend for national and regional plans offered by AT&T, Cingular, and Verizon. They connect digitally in...

Should you bank online?(Online Banking - Test)(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2002... Despite all that U.S. banks have been offering online--quick electronic money transfer, bill payment, and automated record keeping--only 22 percent of American households had given up checking for clicking. Until last fall's anthrax scare, that...

What's cookin'?(Ranges - Test)(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2002... Check out any cooking show or glossy magazine spread and you're bound to see a high-powered, stainless-steel stove that sells for thousands of dollars. You'd probably assume that any luxury-priced range would trounce run-of-the mill stoves in a...

Ranges - ratings.(electric and gas stoves)(Ranges - Test)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... The tests behind the Ratings Overall score is based on cooktop speed and simmer performance, plus oven capacity and baking, broiling, and self-cleaning performance. Speed reflects how fast the most powerful burner could heat up about 6...

Recalls.(Product Information)(Directory)
February 1, 2002... Vehicles and equipment. '00-01 Dodge Ram van Road salt, water, or other debris could cause electrical short in power-seat connector beneath driver's seat, posing fire hazard. Models: 98,000 vans and wagons made 8/99 to 3/01 and not...

Vacuum cleaners.(Clearing The Air)(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2002... Which type of vacuum to buy used to be a no-brainer: Uprights were best for carpets, canisters for bare floors. That dichotomy still holds for readers we surveyed, who preferred an upright for carpets and a canister for everything else. But the...

Vacuum cleaners: ratings.(Clearing The Air)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... Vacuum cleaners Upright or canister? Uprights are generally lighter, less expensive, and easier to store. A few are also better at deep-cleaning carpets. Canisters are typically quieter and more adept at cleaning on stairs and in...

Portable room air cleaners.(Clearing The Air)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... A room air cleaner can help you act locally against airborne dust and smoke when lack of a central air-conditioning or forced-air heating system makes a more global solution impossible. The best can trap the fine particles most irritating to...

Whole-house air cleaners.(Clearing The Air)(Evaluation)
February 1, 2002... Cleaner air is relatively easy to come by in homes with a forced-air central heating or cooling system: Simply replace the panel-style filter in the return duct with one that filters more finely. Most drop into place and allow the system to...