Consumer Reports articles from February 2009

Consumer Reports archives from February 2009

Small loan, big problem.(VIEWPOINT)(online lending)
February 1, 2009... ANDREA FELTS had money troubles after her divorce. To cover expenses, the high school principal from Albuquerque, N.M., took out a $400 loan from an online lender, which charged her an additional $120 to borrow the money for just 16 days....

My Top 10 list.(FROM OUR PRESIDENT)
February 1, 2009... If I had just 10 minutes with the new president, after the formalities were over and we had patted the puppy, I'd present Consumers Union's Top 10 wish list on behalf of American consumers: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1 Lower the cost of...

New ... but improved?(Letter to the editor)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... In "LCD & Plasma TVs" (December 2008), I did not find an answer to my question: If I buy a 40-inch high-definition LCD TV but don't have HD cable, will the picture be as good as that of my current analog TV on regular cable? Scott Way...

Making the grade.(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... "Do You Need Premium Gas?" (Up Front, December 2008) doesn't talk about octane numbers. I checked my owner's manual, and it says to use 87 octane. Where I live, 87 octane is plus (midgrade) gas, whereas in most of the country 87 octane is...

Fill in the blanks.(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... "Zyrtec or Zantac? Beware of Medication Mix-Ups" (Up Front, December 2008) didn't mention an insidious one: The auto-complete function on the pharmacy computer. Two years ago, a prescription for the antibiotic Amoxicillin was filled for us as...

Change of heart.(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... "Let the Patient Decide" (Health, December 2008), left out the most vital choice: lifestyle change. I had angina and a heart attack at age 46. I was told that I would need bypass surgery and be on medication the rest of my life. With the help...

Off the map.(GPS navigators)(Letter to the editor)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... In the article on GPS navigators (December 2008), the sidebar states that owners rated Garmin and TomTom slightly above Magellan. Why don't the Ratings or article mention any Magellan models? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Steve Shendelman ...

Free to charge.(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... Kudos to you on the December "Selling It" item, "Smile & Pay." There is almost no offer on TV that includes "free" additional items, since all the products are packaged and advertised together, and there are almost always additional shipping...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
February 1, 2009... To receive a digital TV signal, use a UHF/VHF antenna. An editor's note on the January 2009 Letters page was incomplete. Global Pharmacy Canada, an online drug seller included in December's Selling It page, makes it clear that the drugs it...

Ask our experts.(Letter to the editor)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... How can I get rid of the stinky, moldy smell in my front-loading washer? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Renee Simon Simpsonville, SC LG recommends cleaning the washer by running a special hot cycle with bleach; Sears warns against using...

Battle of the beers.(UP FRONT)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... If you've seen the recent ads for Miller's MGD 64, you know that it has 64 calories per 12 ounces, far fewer than most other beers. (In a typical pitch, a woman asks a bartender for "64 calories of Michelob Ultra." He responds by pouring out...

How often do Americans take risks?(UP FRONT)
February 1, 2009... Sure, your inner Grandma tells you to wear a helmet while biking and sunscreen when you're outdoors all day. But how many of us pay attention? To find out, the Consumer Reports National Research Center recently asked 1,000 Americans how often...

Digital decisions: what you'll need for free TV.(UP FRONT)
February 1, 2009... On Feb. 17, TV stations must discontinue analog over-the-air broadcasts, and all free TV sent over the airwaves to an antenna (in other words, network broadcasts like CBS) will be digital. Here's what you need to know during the conversion. For...

What it takes to work off a snack.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Haagen-Dazs Sticky Toffee Pudding, 1/2 cup 300 calories = 55 minutes of golf, carrying clubs [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Haagen-Dazs Fat-Free Raspberry Sorbet, 1/2 cup 120 calories = 22 minutes of golf, carrying clubs [ILLUSTRATION...

Troubling reasons for changing credit rates.
February 1, 2009... Credit-card companies have long raised interest rates and reduced credit lines for customers who carry too much debt, miss payments, or have their credit score lowered. Now, some companies are punishing customers for more questionable reasons....

Chocolates to sigh for.(UP FRONT)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2009... For anyone who wants to splurge on Valentine's Day, our expert tasters suggest nine excellent boxed chocolates. We also found three very good choices that cost far less. By "splurge," we mean that those nine fancy candies cost from $44 for...

Save with common cleaners.
February 1, 2009... These cheaper alternatives to name-brand products might be in your kitchen right now. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ammonia. Add 1 pint of rubbing alcohol to 1/2 cup of soapy ammonia, then add enough water to make a gallon. Pour into spray...

Helping tires get a grip.(Tyre Grip)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The claims. Tyre Grip creates a "better grip on snow, ice, and slush" by providing "an adhesive surface that grips the roads." You spray it on tires, and it's supposed to work for up to 50 miles per application. We bought a can for $24.95...

Planning a trip? 10 ways to save.(MONEY)
February 1, 2009... THESE DAYS, airlines, hotel chains, and other travel businesses are struggling to attract customers, so opportunities to travel cheaply abound for those who know how to search for deals. Here are our best tips: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Communication is good medicine.(5-MINUTE CONSULT)(Essay)
February 1, 2009... I OFTEN THINK ABOUT the doctor who took care of me from my teenage years until my late 20s, a kind man who always treated me as if I were the most important person in the world. Even when I was a medical student and sure I had every disease I...

Drug coupons don't always save money.(DRUG WISE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... A full-page newspaper ad in The Washington Post in November 2008 offered a free 30-day-trial supply of type 2 diabetes drug Januvia (sitagliptin). But you'd save $2,254 during the first year if your physician prescribed generic metformin--a...

Report card for Detroit: some American-made cars get as, but most need improvement.(Ford Motor Co., and General Motors Corp.)
February 1, 2009... AMERICAN AUTOMAKERS are struggling for many reasons, including the credit crunch, poor management, and decades of producing mediocre cars. Experts agree that building the right vehicles is a key to a successful turnaround and to the automakers'...

Rebuild your nest egg: 17 moves to secure your future now.(investment and retirement planning)
February 1, 2009... WHEN BAD INVESTMENTS happen to good people, there's only one thing to do short of weeping: Turn to Plan B. That's where most of us are now. We're viewing the shards of our broken nest eggs and making choices we'd hoped to avoid. We might have...

Save a bundle: Internet, phone, and TV packages can pay off, but some have snags.(telecommunication services)
February 1, 2009... IF HARD ECONOMIC TIMES have you scrambling to trim expenses, relief might be as close as your Internet, phone, and television services. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Intense competition for cable and satellite customers between AT&T U-verse...

Dieting on a budget: plus the secrets of thin people, based on our survey of 21,000 readers.
February 1, 2009... WITH JOBS BEING CUT and retirement accounts seemingly shrinking by the day, it's too bad our waistlines aren't dwindling, too. We can't rectify that cosmic injustice, but in this issue we aim to help you figure out the most effective, least...

Downturn diet: healthful eating on a budget.(FEATURE)
February 1, 2009... It's sad but true: Healthful foods such as fruits and vegetables can be more expensive, serving for serving, than potato chips and candy bars. But that doesn't mean you have to resign yourself to getting fat in lean times. We invited our...

Get fit? Get real: some infomercial fitness machines can boost your workout. Others are duds.(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2009... SEXIER ABS! GREAT LEGS! Super fun! TV and Internet infomercials for fitness machines promise that you'll get the body you've always wanted quickly and with less effort or strain. Some ads feature models with rippling muscles, a pounding techno...

Home gym for under $100.(fitness equipment)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Dumbbells Cost: about $6 to $60 a pair Lifting dumbbells will tone your muscles. Consider getting at least two sets, one that's the weight you usually use and one that's a bit more challenging. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Elastic...

Canada Extra.(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2009... 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 in this section are based on this month's reports, but they narrow your...

Exercise equipment: tests of 40 machines include 6 CR Best Buys.(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... THINKING ABOUT CANCELING that gym membership and working out at home? You're not alone. Industry analysts say that gym memberships peaked at 42.7 million in 2006, have slipped slightly since, and are expected by some to decline further in these...

LED backlight makes TVs shine.(Lab tests)(Samsung LN55A950)(Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... OUR LATEST TESTS have turned up two LCD TVs with impressive black levels, the best we've seen from an LCD display. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 55-inch Samsung LN55A950, $4,200, and the 46-inch Sony Bravia KDL-46XBR8, $5,000, rival...

Fridges lose their Energy Star.(LAB TESTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... For the first time, some refrigerators have been suspended from the federal Energy Star program, under a November 2008 agreement between South Korean manufacturer LG and the Department of Energy. Made by LG and sold under the LG and Kenmore...

GPS takes a hike.(LAB TESTS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... GPS navigation isn't just for motorists. Handheld units for hikers can help guide you from point A to point B in the woods. And some help even more with a topographical map pinpointing your location on the local terrain. [ILLUSTRATION...

2 play yards pose a risk.(LAB TESTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Some play yards, once known as playpens, come with an attachable changing table, including safety straps, to make baby care more convenient. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But in our recent safety tests, two play yards, the Baby Trend Orange...

Top TV converters.(LAB TESTS)(Product/service evaluation)(Table)
February 1, 2009... As the Feb. 17 digital-TV switchover approaches, we have found nine digital TV converter boxes that produce picture quality for over-the-air signals that rival those of a DVD. (For more on the digital-TV conversion, go to the DTV hub at...

First look: BlackBerry Storm rumbles in.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The BlackBerry Storm is the first BlackBerry with a touch screen. It also breaks new ground on a pesky touch-screen problem: sensitivity. It's easier to make mistakes on other phones with virtual keyboards. Pluses. You firmly press on the...

Microwave ovens: the best of these 'second ovens' are faster and friendlier, and start at less than $150.(LAB TESTS)(Buyers guide)
February 1, 2009... ANY MICROWAVE can serve up popcorn and other snacks on Super Bowl Sunday. The latest also promise to make cooking main meals about as simple as nuking your favorite snacks. Our tests of more than 60 models include nine CR Best Buys. Even...

These add convenience and performance.(FEATURES THAT COUNT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Child lock. Makes controls inoperable when engaged. Found on all tested models except the Apollo (A7). Convection mode. Helps brown and crisp food with circulating heated air. Usually found on pricier microwaves, as shown in the Ratings,...

Washers: we find CR Best Buys for as little as $400.(LAB TESTS)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... CLEANING ABILITY has little to do with price, according to our latest washing-machine tests, which revealed great values among top- and front-loaders. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Three top-loaders, from Estate, GE, and Maytag, wash well and...

Our Prius hybrid gets plugged in.(NEWS)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES of today's gas/electric hybrids is that they don't need to be plugged in to recharge their batteries. So why is there so much buzz about automakers over the next few years introducing plug-in hybrids, such as the Chevrolet...

Upscale sedans: Hyundai Genesis tops 5 rich offerings at bargain prices.(CARS)(Product/service evaluation)
February 1, 2009... THE HYUNDAI GENESIS outscores this month's field of upscale sedans and is now our highest rated vehicle in the category, just outscoring the Lexus ES. That accomplishment by the South Korean automaker solidifies its reputation as a builder of...

Turn emerald-green with envy.(SELLING IT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... We're used to outrageous claims, but this ad, for a "perfect man-made diamond simulant," seemed a marquise cut above the rest. "Spoiled rotten is what they'll whisper when they catch a glimpse of this swanky Beverly Hills inspired treasure,"...

Two questions.(SELLING IT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... * Do nonleading brands clean better? And do other leading brands clean just as well?

Dear JetBlue airways.(SELLING IT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... This e-mail you sent a friend of ours? We don't think you miss him all that much. (JetBlue sent a follow-up 2 hours later, citing a technical issue with its database and asking forgiveness "for this error and any offense it may have caused.")...

Thick and thicker.(SELLING IT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Hardee's Little Thick Cheeseburger, left, and 1/4 Lb. Little Thickburger, right, sound alike, and both consist of a quarter-pound of Angus beef, cheese, ketchup, mustard, and pickles on a sesame seed bun. But Hardee's charges $1.99 for the...

Businesses beware.(SELLING IT)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... A reader said it took him two or three tries to discover that this sheet, sent to businesses by the Board of Business Compliance, was not a demand for payment of $125 to comply with a government rule. The Board has a rating of "F" on the Better...

Rover? You ok?(SELLING IT)(Brief article)(Photograph)
February 1, 2009... The position of this pup led a North Carolina reader to wonder whether the product eliminated the dog along with its fleas. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]