Consumer Reports articles from July 2005

Consumer Reports archives from July 2005

Being green just got a lot easier.(Have You Heard?)
July 1, 2005... Kermit was wrong; it is easy being green. At least it's easier than it used to be. Though they might not consider themselves environmentalists, 90 percent of the respondents to a nationwide survey told us that they base their buying...

This new mosquito repellent is a match for the standby.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)
July 1, 2005... Up to now, the most effective mosquito repellents have contained deet. Deet (short for N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) has been safely used for decades. But some people don't like deet's smell or its feel on the skin; it poses a rare risk of...

Protect yourself when you buy online.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Amazon.com, eBay, and Yahoo Shopping have become virtual bazaars, homes to hundreds of independent vendors. For example, third-party sellers accounted for one-fourth of all the items sold on Amazon.com in the first quarter of this year. ...

Testing gloves for work.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)
July 1, 2005... Work gloves have gone modern, with new materials and designs that provide fit, flexibility, and versatility Spandex and artificial leather yield gloves that can be washed without getting stiff; spandex also makes it possible to create a truly...

Sunglass savvy.(talk THE talk)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... There's no disputing the need for shades: Ultraviolet rays can increase your risk of developing problems such as cataracts. But effective sunglasses don't have to be expensive, our tests have shown. And you can choose almost any color lens...

You can have a ball with this ice-cream maker.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2005... One of the most entertaining products we've tested in a while is the UCO Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker. It makes about a pint of ice cream in 20 minutes or so, providing some fun in the process. You fill a metal cylinder in the middle of...

Strollers first-class transport at coach prices.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)
July 1, 2005... For $700 and up, you can buy the Bugaboo Frog or Stokke Xplory, strollers that are long on cachet. But we found two strollers priced at $100 or less that performed as well as or better than the expensive ones. Our testing covered six...

First look.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2005... Product: Jeep Grand Cherokee Full report: November 2005 Redesigning the Grand Cherokee gave Jeep planners a dilemma: how to keep up with the growing number of car-based competitors without losing jeep's reputation for off-road...

Goodbye to onion-scented ice cubes?(CLAIM CHECK)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The claim: Most refrigerators have one evaporator. This device pulls air from the refrigerator and freezer compartments, cools it, and sends it back. Some refrigerators from Samsung, GE, and Sub-Zero have separate evaporators for freezer and...

Cell-phone complaints: a sorry picture for Cingular/AT&T.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Complaint data obtained by Consumers Union, publisher of CONSUMER REPORTS and ConsumerReports.org, from the Federal Communications Commission show that Cingular and AT&T, which combined last year to form the nation's largest wireless phone...

Fitness company fined for concealing product flaws and injuries.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... For the third time this year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has fined a major manufacturer for failing to report safety defects as required by law. Nautilus of Vancouver, Wash., maker of Bowflex exercise equipment, agreed in...

'05 Buick Lacross and Allure.(VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT)
July 1, 2005... Clip that secures brake push rod to pedal arm may be bent. If it comes off, brakes could fail. Models: 69,037 cars; the Allure was sold in Canada. What to do: Have dealer install new brake-pedal push rod bushing and retaining clip....

'04 Buick Rendezvous and Pontiac Aztek.(VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Faulty ignition relay could cause engine to stall intermittently or fail to start. Models: 39,078 SUVs. What to do: Have dealer replace the ignition relay. For more information, call 866-608-8080 (Buick) or 800-620-7668 (Pontiac).

'00-01 Chevrolet and GMC SUVs.(VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Fuel-pump wires could overheat, causing engine to stall or fail to start. Models: 332,2021500 Series Suburban and Yukon XL What to do: Have dealer install new fuel pump. For more information, call 800-222-1020 (Chevrolet) or...

'99-05 Chevrolet and GMC pickups.(VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Friction could make parking brake ineffective. Models: 142,585 '99-021500 Series Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra; '01-05 2500 and 3500 Series Silverado and Sierra with manual transmission. What to do: Have dealer install low-force...

'03-05 GMC full-sized SUVs and crew-cab pickups.(VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT)
July 1, 2005... Center-rear safety belt may have been misrouted. Models: 1.5 million Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab, Suburban, Tahoe, and Avalanche; Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; OMC Sierra Crew Cab, Yukon XL, and Yukon; and 2004 and...

'02-04 Saturn L-Series wagons.(VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Center and passenger-side rear safety-belt anchors don't meet safety standards. Models: 22,115 wagons. What to do: Have dealer install center-belt anchor reinforcement plate. For information, call 800-972-8876.

Bratz Stylin' Scooter.(BABY & CHILD)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Wheels could break or become damaged, causing rider to fall. Products: 297,000 scooters sold 9/03 to 11/04 at toy and discount stores for about $30. Product is non-motorized, two-wheel folding scooter with adjustable handlebar. Recall is...

Sears Craftsman table saw rip fence.(POWER TOOLS)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Rip fence could come loose, causing material being cut to kick back and injure operator. Products: 41,800 units sold 8/02 to 11/04 at Sears stores. The complete table saw, model 137.21830, sold for about $400; the rip fence sold...

Picture perfect: how to get the results you want in digital photography.(DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY > CAMERAS > EDITING > ORGANIZING > PRINTING)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2005... NOW THAT DIGITAL has moved from gee-whiz innovation into the mainstream, you have an unprecedented range of options for shooting, saving, and printing your images. You can exert as much control--or as little--over the photos and printing as...

Assisted living: how much assistance can you really count on?(CR INVESTIGATES)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... Since they started to dot the U.S. landscape in the early 1980s, assisted-living facilities have become the best hope of America's seniors for avoiding confinement in a nursing home. Instead of a hospital environment, assisted living promised...

Probiotics: are enough in your diet?(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... Yogurt has a reputation as a health food for a reason: It contains "friendly" bacteria that take up residence in your intestines, where they may help relieve symptoms of common digestive disorders, rev up the immune system, and perhaps...

Refrigerators: opening new doors.(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... New refrigerator configurations and updated designs give you more ways to chill out. Here are some trends that might affect your buying decisions: New door style goes mainstream. French-door refrigerators are coming on strong. These...

Air conditioners: cool values.(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... The latest room air conditioners we tested are more energy-efficient, more feature-laden, quieter, and a better value than ever. Our Ratings of 35 units yielded CR Best Buys in all sizes. This year's CR Best Buy for small units is $130,...

Patio furniture: the look of luxury.(HOME: Your patio)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2005... The humble patio has become an "outdoor room" for eating and entertaining, and people spend freely to furnish it with sumptuous chairs, tables, and chaise longues. But we've found that you can get well-made, stylish outdoor furniture without...

Deck treatments: what lasts longest.(HOME: You patio)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... Real-wood decks need protective treatment every few years. Our tests show that the longest-lasting treatments are opaque. They hide wood grain the way a coat of paint does. Next best are semitransparent treatments, which contain a small...

Pressure washers: quicker cleaning for less.(HOME: Your patio)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... Professional cleaning at a do-it-yourself price has helped move pressure washers beyond the tool-rental shop and into your local home center. Pressure washers use a gas engine or electric motor, pump, and concentrating nozzle to boost...

Family tents: camping in comfort.(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... Tents are big: Every year, about 42 million Americans go tent-camping. That's more than the number who fitness-walk or play golf. Nevertheless, some tents aren't big enough, literally. Based on our tests of 24 tents in various shapes and...

Wireless broadband: what it takes to go public.(Technology)
July 1, 2005... The wireless technology known as Wi-Fi has already widened Internet access through "hot spots" at businesses such as Starbucks and at airports. Now it's enabling cities to create public broadband networks that turn entire neighborhoods into...

Remodeling: secrets of success.(Home)
July 1, 2005... Americans spent some $25 million dollars last summer sprucing up their homes. We asked more than 1,500 subscribers about their experiences with four big home projects: finishing an attic or basement and adding an enclosed porch or a room....

Traveler alert: new rules for paying with plastic.(Money)
July 1, 2005... Not too long ago, charging your way through a vacation abroad was the way to go. That's because credit cards have more favorable exchange rates and fees than banks and exchange bureaus. But new markups have made the charge-it strategy...

Vitamin E pills: now it's thumbs-down.(Health)
July 1, 2005... Once acclaimed for everything from treating kitchen burns to preventing heart disease, Alzheimer's, and cancer, the value of vitamin E supplements has not stood up to serious study In two clinical trials testing topical vitamin E for burns...

Pom: the new juice in town.(names & claims)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... "More naturally occurring antioxidants than any other drink," claims a magazine advertisement for Pom 100% Pomegranate Juice. The ads call the juice a "superpower" and tout its ability to inhibit potentially damaging oxidation in the body's...

Compact pickups: the new Honda Ridgeline marks a giant leap forward in the evolution of the workaday truck.(NATURAL SELECTION)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
July 1, 2005... The new-for-2006 Ridgeline is Honda's first pickup truck sold in the United States and our new top-rated pickup. It features a combined cab and bed, all-wheel drive, a fully independent suspension, and a full-sized trunk. It has a carlike...

Contact info.(Directory)
July 1, 2005... PHONE NUMBERS & WEB SITES A cumulative listing of manufacturer phone numbers and Web addresses is available free in browsable form at our Web site, www.ConsumerReports.org. AIR CONDITIONERS Amana: 800-843-0304; www.amana.com....

Make 'nonprofit' health insurers do their duty.(View point: THE CONSUMERS UNION PERSPECTIVE)
July 1, 2005... As the cost of health insurance has risen, the number of employers offering health care to their workers has fallen. As of 2003, nearly 45 million Americans under age 65 were uninsured, more than 5 million more than in 2000. Yet at some...

Ready, world?(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The PotatOH! has an "oven-baked taste and texture" when microwaved in its plastic wrapping, according to the Web site of its manufacturer, Farm Fresh Direct. We paid 79 cents for large PotatOH!s, slightly more than for comparable small-p,...

Fooled you twice.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Not only did Kellogg shrink the amount of cereal in its Shredded Wheat Miniatures variety-pack box; it made the box bigger. A Kellogg consumer-affairs rep said the company conducted a "package consolidation process" that made it less likely...

Huh?(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)(Illustration)
July 1, 2005... 1. The fallout from the 2000 election continues, in a warning from an IBM ThinkPad about performing procedures during certain times. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2. Calling all exorcists, or at least a good cleaning service. ...

Spend some scratch, buy an itch.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)
July 1, 2005... "I used Google to find out what the medical term 'pruritic' means," wrote a Georgia reader, "and was linked to MedicineNet.com, where I learned that the word means 'itchy.'" But the offer he saw on that site left him scratching his head. It...