Consumer Reports articles from February 2008

Consumer Reports archives from February 2008

Seen the ad? Check out the facts.(Have You Heard?)
February 1, 2008... As a kid, I was captivated by comic-book ads for model airplanes that promised "all the thrills of real jet flight."A few years later, I was only slightly more skeptical about the exercise programs that would transform me from a sand-in-my-face...

Snack smackdown.(Trends)(Product/service evaluation)(Table)
February 1, 2008... To see whether chips and cheese crunchies, those quintessential Super Bowl snacks, can lose their fat but keep their taste,we compared regular versions with some lower-calorie, lower-fat, or multigrain cousins. We also dipped the tortilla chips...

Can this Sony snap when you smile?(claim check)(Sony DSC-T70 )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The claim. "Imagine a camera smart enough to catch every smile," says literature for Sony Cyber-shot cameras with face-detection technology. Their Smile Shutter mode "can automatically trip the shutter at just the right instant to catch the...

Top 12 gas savers.(Brief article)(List)
February 1, 2008... The list below, based on our real-world tests, shows that some new subcompacts and a sporty car come close to the stingiest hybrids. Cars have manual transmission unless noted. MODEL OVERALL CITY HIGHWAY ...

Choicest chocolates.(Trends)(Table)
February 1, 2008... Retailers predict robust chocolate sales for this Valentine's Day, and if you wonder why, take a look at the calendar. When February 14 falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday (as in 2008), sales of chocolate increase, says Susan Fussell, a...

Can you curl up with a good e-book reader?(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... When Amazon launched its new electronic-book reader, the Kindle, consumers snapped it up. (It sold out before the holidays.) And Sony has revamped its own e-book reader. Is it time for you to kick the hardcover habit and go digital? ...

A 'humidicleaner'.(CLAIM CHECK)(Venta-Airwasher)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The claim. The Venta-Airwasher, a "humidifier & purifier--two in one," claims to trap "even the very finest particles as small as 10 microns" while adding moisture to the air. Here's how it works: Plastic discs are mounted on an axle that...

Carbon conundrum.(Table)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Our goal sounded simple: Determine the "greenest" way to travel. So we went to Web sites that help consumers calculate carbon output. Problem was, the sites' calculations for emissions, or "footprints," for the same trip varied from a...

The TV angle.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... In your December 2007 article about LCD HDTVs, you say viewing angle is an issue. Do your viewing angle scores indicate the picture quality from a specific angle? And are the problems worse when the angle is vertical versus horizontal? ...

Here's the drill.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... In "Cordless Drills" (December 2007) you say that most impact drivers can handle car-wheel lug nuts. In fact, none of the ones that you list should be used to tighten caror truck-wheel lug nuts because they are all only 3/8-inch drivers, which...

Lead safety.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... Thank you for your December 2007 article "New Worries Over Lead."Your findings underscore the importance of pediatric blood-lead testing. Early identification of elevated lead levels is key to mitigating the potentially devastating effects. In...

Tipping the teacher.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... On the CR Money page ("Holiday Tips," December 2007) you listed teacher as a service provider.This perpetuates the misconception that teachers are not highly educated, valuable resources who carry a great responsibility to educate future...

Ensuring drug safety.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... I just read "Winning a Fight for Stronger Drug-Safety Laws" (Viewpoint, December 2007). Pharmaceutical companies are popular targets for people who want to save money, but medications are not M&M's. The FDA, big pharma, and other research...

Going into orbit.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2008... Of course the hydrogen-fuel rocket on the December 2007 Selling It page can be launched into orbit--an earth-intersecting orbit, but an orbit nonetheless.The company that makes these rockets was a significant part of many childhoods (including...

Correction.(Correction notice)
February 1, 2008... In Chrysler minivans with Swivel 'n Go seating, child car seats must not be used when the Swivel 'n Go seats are in their rear-facing position.We incorrectly said otherwise in our January report.

Fluorescent shop lights pose risk of electric shock.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)(Metalux fluorescent shop lights )(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Cooper Lighting has recalled 274,000 Metalux fluorescent shop lights because of the possibility of electric shock if the two prongs on the plug are touched at the same time as the lamp is being handled or installed. The company has already...

More ground beef recalled for contamination.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Cargill has recalled almost 1.1 million pounds of ground beef products because they might be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. (We reported on a Topps Meat Company recall of 22 million pounds for the same reason in December 2007.) The USDA's...

'07 Chevrolet Equinox/Pontiac Torrent.(VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Vehicles without optional roof rail air bags or sunroof don't comply with federal safety standards and pose increased risk of head injury in a crash. Models: 57,100 '07 Equinox and Torrent. What to do: Have dealer install...

'02, '05-06 Nissan Altima and Sentra.(VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... On vehicles with 2.5L engine, crankshaft position sensor might overheat and cause brief interruption in signal output. If interruption is so brief that electronic control module (ECM) doesn't have time to diagnose condition, engine might stop...

Jetmax international wooden storage rack.(CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Rack can tip over, which poses an entrapment and suffocation hazard to young children. Products: 36,000 storage racks sold at Wal-Mart from 8/04 through 7/05 and Ollie's stores from 7/06 through 6/07 for $40. Racks have three levels with...

Marvel Toys Curious George plush doll.(CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Lead in paint on doll's face and hat violates federal lead paint standard. Products: 175,000 Curious George 12-inch plush dolls sold at toy and discount department stores from 12/05 through 8/07 for $15. Dolls were sold with a story or...

Iceberg Enterprises plastic folding chairs.(HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Chair could collapse while in use, posing fall hazard. Products: 75,000 plastic folding chairs sold at office supply retailers from 8/05 through 7/07 for $30. The chair's metal support is charcoal and the seat and back are beige. The...

Nike football helmets.(OUTDOORS & RECREATION)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Chin strap's plastic cup can break on contact, and player risks facial or head injuries. Products: 235,000 Nike football helmet chin straps sold separately from helmet in sporting goods stores and at www.nike.com from 4/06 through 10/07...

Air security: why you're as safe as you think.(CR INVESTIGATES)
February 1, 2008... One Sunday evening last March, a baggage handler was loading up an Airbus jet when he noticed that a passenger's bag was burning. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Officials halted the flight, found the passenger, and told him they were taking...

12 money mistakes that could cost you $1,000,000: the Consumer Reports Money Lab puts a price tag on some common financial blunders and explains the best ways to avoid them.(SPECIAL FINANCE SECTION)
February 1, 2008... 1 Investing too conservatively during retirement COST: $360,000 to $750,000 Conventional wisdom has long suggested that as retirees age, they should shift money out of stocks and into more stable investments, such as bonds. But the problem...

Retire right: in a surprising new survey, 6,700 retired readers share their dos and don'ts.(SPECIAL FINANCE SECTION)
February 1, 2008... What's the secret to a successful retirement? Our retired readers turned out to be a good group to ask. In a recent survey, a stunning 93 percent of them told us they were satisfied overall with their retirement, with 32 percent saying they...

Exercise devices: we put amazing claims to the test.(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2008... Want to blast away belly fat? Lose one size in 10 days? Tone every body part all at once? Claims like those continue to crowd the airwaves 11 years after the actor Chuck Norris brought the Total Gym into living rooms everywhere. In a market...

Treadmills & ellipticals: the right choice makes workouts less tedious.
February 1, 2008... Exercise hardly tops most people's list of favorite activities. Our latest Ratings of 33 treadmills and elliptical trainers include several that can help you make it less of a chore and--dare we say it?--more fun. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Health clubs: which to join and what to look out for.
February 1, 2008... You can pay up to $95 a month and get "the latest state-of-the-art equipment and hundreds of fun classes" or "great amenities to keep your workouts challenging and fun," but our survey of more than 10,000 subscribers to ConsumerReports.org...

Internet, Tv, Phone: bundling can cut bills.(Table)
February 1, 2008... Are you bombarded with pitches to receive your cable TV, Internet, and phone service from one provider? Don't dismiss them too quickly. So-called bundles or triple-play packages might save you enough money to be worth the disruption of...

Cooking gear: ranges & microwaves.(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2008... If it's been a while since you shopped for a range or microwave oven, you'll find that they're becoming more and more alike. Some ranges now have a second, upper oven designed for pizzas and snacks, and microwaves continue to move beyond...

Washers & dryers: performance for less.(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2008... What a difference a year makes. Our latest tests found budget-friendly washers, including a $400 top-loader, that cleaned as well as the $1,500 front-loader at the top of our Ratings. That's in stark contrast to the top-loading washers we...

Tax breaks find all you have coming.(CR Money)
February 1, 2008... Much as we all enjoy a good tax break, a lot of us seem to miss out on one or more of them. For example, when the IRS offered a one-time refund worth $30 to $60 per household last tax season to virtually anyone with a phone, nearly a third of...

Staph infections the important facts.(CR Health)
February 1, 2008... Just a few years ago, a painful skin infection like a boil could be quickly wiped out with an antibiotic, such as amoxicillin. But today, there's a form of staph, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), that has become resistant to...

Medtronic heart implants.(names&claims)
February 1, 2008... "10,000 kisses... 532 candlelight dinners... 687 walks in the rain... 996 bedtime stories... and one more thing... peace of mind," claims an ad for Medtronic implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICDs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

CPR without mouth-to-mouth.(Did you know?)(cardiopulmonary resuscitation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Only about one in three victims of cardiac arrest receives cardiopulmonary resuscitation from bystanders, studies suggest. Passersby might be reluctant to provide mouth-to-mouth resuscitation because they're afraid of catching a disease. Since...

In the spotlight: The accord no longer gets top billing, but it remains a star.(SEDANS)(Honda Accord)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2008... The Honda Accord, redesigned for 2008, has been a standout among family sedans and easily outperforms the other cars in this month's group. But the V6 version scored one point lower than the previous version, allowing the Nissan Altima to...

Activists help reduce hospital infections.(THE CONSUMERS UNION PERSPECTIVE)(Staphylococcus aureus)
February 1, 2008... It's been four years since Sandi Grello of Allentown, Pa., had hip surgery. Her hip joint healed just fine, but the antibiotic-resistant staph infection she got in the hospital still affects her life. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A few days...

Then & now nuking it.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... We tested the Amana Radarange, at left, the first countertop microwave oven, for our November 1968 issue. "Almost any cook would be interested in an oven that could speed up cooking time enough to do a baked potato in four minutes," we said....