Consumer Reports articles from June 2007

Consumer Reports archives from June 2007

Too little money to do their jobs.(Have You Heard?)(Editorial)
June 1, 2007... Pretty much everyone in my household has had to forgo a favorite food recently--even our dog, Charley. Spinach, peanut butter, and dog food have all been recalled in the past several months for some type of contamination. This raises the...

Buying jewelry? Don't get bling-boozled.(Up Front)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... If April showers and May flowers lead to thoughts of jewels in June, beware. Jewelry is a tricky buy, especially if you can't tell a carat from a karat. Here, 10 tips on choosing a gem of a jewel: * Know your karats. The price of gold...

How to receive e-mail without a computer.(up front)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Computer owners, take note: You can now send e-mail--whether photos, invitations, or family gossip--to people who don't own a computer. (And computerphobes: You can receive e-mail without buying a computer.) HP's A10 Printing Mailbox, $150,...

Nonstick pans are ok in new tests.(up front)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Researchers have long known that very high temperatures can break down the coating in nonstick pans, creating fumes that can kill pet birds and possibly causing flulike symptoms in people. Whether other emissions are a problem even at moderate...

Click here for perfect jeans?(CLAIM CHECK)(Zafu.com)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The claim. A new Web site, Zafu.com, says women can answer eight questions about their shape, typical size, and preferences in fit and brand, and presto! They'll receive a free list of recommended pairs from Zafu's database of 90 brands, plus...

What to do after a fender bender.(QUICK TIPS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Whatever your reactions after a car accident (cursing might be the first), it's vital to keep a clear head. These five steps could reduce the risk of further damage or injury, prevent hassles, and save you money later on. (You might want to...

Global warming: unwelcome changes at national parks.(up front)(Report)
June 1, 2007... If you're hoping to see glaciers at Montana's Glacier National Park, don't wait too long, or you might miss them. "Climate change is happening," the National Park Service says in a new brochure for visitors at parks across the U.S. Among the...

Ads say real men don't eat tofu.(up front)
June 1, 2007... Call them "manvertisements": ads suggesting that men shun healthful foods--or that men must have meat, and lots of it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In a Hungry Man ad seen on TV at press time, a self-professed "hungry man" says, "Basically,...

How to get a good tan without the sun.(up front)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... It's not often that the best products are the cheapest, but that proved the case with tanning sprays and lotions. We paid up to $150 for sprays that were difficult to use and less than $10 for a couple of creams that most of our 14 panelists...

Top-pick autos.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... Once again your April auto issue appears to be prejudiced against domestic auto companies. No one disputes the quality of cars from Toyota and Honda, but GM makes some great cars that seem to be ignored or "played down." For example, you...

Made in America.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... In your article "Global Game," in the April issue, you suggest that the Toyota Tacoma is made only in Mexico and the Toyota Corolla in Canada and somewhere else. Both are built for Toyota in Fremont, California, by New United Motor...

Car ratings and profiles.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... I think you need to revise the criteria you use to "recommend" a car. The April issue says that the Dodge Durango is recommended, but it has a test score of 52, average reliability and accident avoidance, and below-average owner satisfaction....

Considering disabilities.(Your Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... I'm glad you covered safety issues so thoroughly in your April issue, but I couldn't find any information on accessibility and comfort for the disabled. I was very surprised that with an aging baby boomer population, you didn't address these...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
June 1, 2007... In the May report "How Our Car Seat Tests Went Wrong," we incorrectly identified Lorrie Walker. She is the technical adviser for Safe Kids Buckle Up; she does not run the program. In the March report on vacuum cleaners, the upright Kirby...

270,000 washing machines pose potential fire hazard.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)
June 1, 2007... The risk of fire has caused Maytag and Samsung to voluntarily recall many of their front-loading washers. If water leaks onto the electrical connections to the washing machine's thermal sensor, it could cause an electrical short and ignite a...

'04-06 Dodge Durango.(VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Integrated circuit in instrument cluster that controls interior lighting may overheat and cause instrument panel fire. Models: 328,424 SUVs. What to do: Dealers will inspect cluster for damage and replace it free of charge. Contact...

'05-06 Acura RL, TL, TSX and Honda Accord, Odyssey, Ridgeline.(VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Coil wire inside fuel pump relay may break, causing fuel pump to lose power. If this happens while driving, engine could stall and a crash could occur. Models: 166,561 vehicles, including '05 Acura RL, TL, TSX, Honda Accord, Odyssey, and...

Infantino SlingRider infant sling carriers.(CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The plastic slider on the fabric strap can break, causing strap supporting carrier to release and infant to fall out of the carrier. Products: 100,000 Infantino SlingRider infant carriers sold from 7/06 through 2/07 at Target, Babies "R"...

Elite Operations toy sets sold at Toys 'R' Us.(CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... These toys contain high levels of lead in the paint, which is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. The toys also have sharp points, which pose a laceration hazard. Products: 128,700 "Elite Operations"...

Children's necklaces sold at Claire's stores.(CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Necklaces contain high levels of lead, which is toxic if ingested by young children. Products: 58,000 children's necklaces with metal pendants shaped as monkeys, dolphins, and frogs holding colored marbles, fleur de lis painted in various...

Venmar heat recovery ventilators.(HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Motors in units can overheat, posing fire hazard. Products: 75,000 units sold from January 1991 through December 2001 for between $700 and $2,500 at heating, plumbing, and building supply distributors nationwide. These products are designed...

New diet winners: we rate the diet books and plans. Plus: 8 strategies that work.(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... Americans don't give up easily. Those hoping to lose weight have put a whole new crop of diet books on the best-seller list. The science-laden "You on a Diet," the wine lover's "Sonoma Diet," the manly "Abs Diet," and the kinder, gentler,...

The best laptops & desktops.(SPECIAL COMPUTER SECTION)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... If you're buying a computer, it will most likely come with Windows Vista, the latest version of Microsoft's operating system. To find out how Vista compares with its predecessor, Windows XP, we tested 17 laptops and desktops. [ILLUSTRATION...

Monitors.(SPECIAL COMPUTER SECTION)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... More new LCD monitors have screens 19 inches or larger, many of them wide screens. Those displays don't cost much more than 17-inch LCDs with squarish screens, and you'll appreciate the extra space if you watch videos, edit photos, or keep...

Guerrilla guide to tech support: tips from 23,000 computer users.(SPECIAL COMPUTER SECTION)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2007... You've seen the ads. Swarms of geeks parachute in to rescue desperate victims of computer disasters. Our new survey shows that these hired guns usually succeed in their mission, but their help does not come cheap. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Go digital: turn LPs, tapes, photos, and home movies into CDs, DVDs, or computer files.
June 1, 2007... They're analog artifacts in a digital world: the LPs, cassettes, and videotapes you accumulated during the last century. You cherish them, even if you don't play them anymore. This report helps you turn analog recordings into easier-to-use...

Gas grills: more features, higher prices.(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... Low prices and year-round grilling have spawned record grill sales as patios and decks morph into outdoor-living space. But rising costs for raw materials such as stainless steel could mean higher prices this year. Overseas manufacturing,...

Paints & stains: look beyond the brand.(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... Some 85 percent of homeowners use the same brand of house paint over and over again without even considering other brands. Sound familiar? Yet our tests of exterior paints and stains show that you could be selling your home short. ...

Miter & table saws: making the cut.(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... If you've ever sawed molding or flooring by hand, you know how hard it can be to eyeball angles and keep a firm grip on the job. Portable miter and table saws are trimming away more of that guesswork and elbow grease as they move from...

Washers & dryers: dirty laundry.(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... Not so long ago you could count on most washers to get your clothes very clean. Not anymore. Our latest tests found huge performance differences among machines. Some left our stain-soaked swatches nearly as dirty as they were before washing....

Off-label drugs question your doctor.(CR Health)
June 1, 2007... When your doctor prescribes a medication, you assume that the Food and Drug Administration has deemed it safe and effective for what ails you. That's not always the case. More than 20 percent of the drugs prescribed are for "off-label"...

Online brokers better prices, more services.(CR Money)(Product/service evaluation)
June 1, 2007... Online brokerage firms have had a hard time living down the tech-stock bubble of the late 1990s and the overblown expectations they seemed to encourage. A memorable TV ad of that era featured a fictitious tow-truck driver whose stock gambles...

Run-flat tires safety benefits outweigh problems.(CR Cars)
June 1, 2007... Tires that can be driven on for 50 miles or more with no air in them enable drivers to get to a mechanic without having to change the tire after a puncture. Run-flat tires are more than just a convenience; they can add a measure of security by...

Upscale sedans: the redesigned and sporty Infiniti G35 tops a class of great variety.(SPECIAL BLEND)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... The sporty Infiniti G35 and the luxurious Lexus ES350 are two very different cars, yet both have found their way to the top of our upscale sedans Ratings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sedans in the $30,000 to $40,000 range have varying...

High costs for changing your cell service.(THE CONSUMERS UNION PERSPECTIVE)
June 1, 2007... Thinking about buying a different cell phone? Increasing your minutes? Adding a number? Even minor changes can cause a two-year contract to morph into three, four, or more. That's the biggest complaint CONSUMER REPORTS subscribers have about...

Monitor makeover.(Then & Now)(Photograph)
June 1, 2007... When we reported on "video display monitors" in 1983, we tested only monochrome models. Color monitors were available, but they were much more expensive and geared to gamers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Today's...

Information from Consumer Reports[R] for Canadian readers.(Canada Extra)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2007... 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...