Consumer Reports articles from March 2005

Consumer Reports archives from March 2005

By the numbers.
March 1, 2005... TVs What we paid to buy all rated models $210,600+ DISHWASHERS Number of dishes, glasses, and utensils 13,560 we washed DETERGENTS Tons of hard water 2.5 used in our tests SUGARLESS GUM Total...

Tough words for telecom companies.(Have You Heard?)
March 1, 2005... The TVs in this issue aren't the only things getting bigger. So are the bills that consumers have to pay to watch anything on those huge screens, the companies that produce the programs that bump up the bills, and the hassles consumers face...

Crib safety: trade group departs from government recommendations.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
March 1, 2005... Pediatricians and child-safety experts have long urged parents to clear cribs of stuffed animals, pillows, comforters, and other soft or loose material to prevent infant deaths. But the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), a...

A bright safety idea.(Claim Check)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... The claim: Amphipod Full Visibility High Brilliance Reflective Vest says it has more reflective coverage than other running vests. Runners, cyclists, dog-walkers, and others who venture out after sundown need to be noticed: Each year, motor...

Gum: the bedpost contest.(Up front: news / trends / advice)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Considering that early chewing gums consisted of tree resin, we should be glad that today's gum has any flavor at all and stop asking it to hang around for hours or, as the old song goes, on the bedpost overnight. But with gums making claims...

Digital camera Quick Picks.(Hot Product)
March 1, 2005... We test cameras continuously to keep pace with an insatiable demand for basic and advanced models. Here are the latest Quick Picks from our Ratings, listed alphabetically within groups. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BEST VALUES FOR SIMPLE...

Medical tests can trigger radiation detector's alarm.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
March 1, 2005... Travelers may now face a new security problem. They could set off radiation detectors meant to detect smuggled nuclear-bomb material but that also sense the small amounts of radioactive elements used in exercise stress tests and other...

Cold stone: ice cream with attitude added.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
March 1, 2005... Cold Stone is hot. Founded in 1988, the ice-cream chain now has more than 900 stores, where you choose a flavor, pick from among more than 40 toppings and mix-ins, and watch while a server creates your concoction on a cold granite slab. The...

The dangers in phone batteries.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
March 1, 2005... When Verizon Wireless recalled 50,000 counterfeit LG phone batteries last June, it seemed to be an isolated event. Then Kyocera recalled as many as a million fakes four months later. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has investigated...

Getting in shape.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I closely read your article in January on elliptical exercisers, "Indoor Exercise," having just looked at them at a sporting goods store. After trying a few, my knee hurt. My legs were too far apart for natural movement; they looked splayed...

Calcium supplements.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Thank you for your report "Calcium: More Than Just a Bone Builder" in the January issue. I should think many people who take supplemental calcium are older, so I was sorry you did not include any AARP brand products in your list. KAY...

Animal feed.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... Kudos to CONSUMER REPORTS and your January article "You Are What They Eat" for shedding so much light on the meat industry. I loved your balanced coverage; at the same time, it's sad that the only interview sources who defend the rendering...

Road tests.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I received my January CONSUMER REPORTS and Motor Trend magazines the same day. Motor Trend gave the new Chrysler 300C its Car of the Year award, while CR rated it just in the middle of the pack for tested large sedans. A completely different...

Bathing baby.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... In "New Baby Bath Seat Presents a Hazard," in the January Up Front section, your suggestion that these seats should be banned because kids can drown if parents don't watch them makes about as much sense as banning cars because people get killed...

Retiring in the black.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... In your January report "Retire in the Black," the part featuring "The Hypotheticals" and their retirement planning was of little use. What 55-year-old couple is dumb enough to have a $200,000 mortgage on a $300,000 house, plus $8,000 in...

Clarifications.(Your Letters)(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2005... * In the February issue, the condoms Ratings chart on page 35 should have noted that when models had the same overall test score, they were listed in alphabetical order. This was the case with models 1 through 7 and 9 through 13. And a...

Suspension problems in Dodge pickup trucks and SUVs.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... DaimlerChrysler has recalled some 600,000 Dodge Durango and Dakota trucks and sport-utility vehicles. Suspension components could corrode and wear prematurely, causing front-end noise or uneven tire wear. The corrosion could cause the wheels to...

Vehicles and equipment.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... '02-04 Ford Escape Throttle may stick and not decelerate as expected when foot is removed from accelerator pedal. Models: 474,000 sport-utility vehicles with 3.0-liter V6 engines (the entire production run). What to do: Have dealer...

Children's products.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Energie brand hooded youth sweaters Drawstrings pose strangulation hazard to child. Products: 157,300 sweaters sold 7/04 to 11/04 at retail stores nationwide for $15 to $25. Sweaters came in various colors in youth sizes S, M, L, and XL. They...

House & yard.(Recalls & Safety Alerts)
March 1, 2005... Bertby glass-door wall cabinets sold at Ikea stores Came with wrong-size screws, which could allow cabinet to fall off of wall and injure anyone nearby. Products: 25,000 cabinets, measuring about 67 inches tall, sold 1/02 to 9/9/04 for...

Big-screen TVs: step-by-step guide to buying a high-definition television.(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... Sky-high costs may have scared you away from large-screen high-definition (HD) TVs until now, but prices have dropped sharply and could hit new lows in coming months. For many consumers, this will be the year to think big. Even with prices...

Beware loan gotchas.(Dollars & sense: the inside scoop on financing, warranties, and installation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... In an effort to drive sales of higher-priced TVs and other electronics, some retailers now offer zero-interest loans for up to two years. Be sure you keep up with payments. Most retailers make you sign up for a credit card that carries a high...

Weigh warranty costs.(Dollars & sense: the inside scoop on financing, warranties, and installation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... For most products, extended warranties aren't worth it. Appliances and electronic gear such as conventional TVs, camcorders, and digital cameras aren't likely to break down during the warranty period. And even if they do, the typical repair...

Have a pro install it.(Dollars & sense: the inside scoop on financing, warranties, and installation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... If you're daunted by the idea of moving a huge TV and connecting it to all your gear, pay a pro to do the job for you. Large retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City, and Sears offer several levels of in-home installation. Prices start at $100 to...

Projection TVs: a really big show.(CR's Guide To Big-Screen TVs)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... With prices dropping, slimmer sets proliferating, and more models offering fine picture quality, rear-projection TVs have emerged as serious candidates for anyone who wants a high-definition television with a jumbo screen. Here's a look at...

Plasma TVs update.(CR's Guide To Big-Screen TVs)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... Plasma TVs display bright, colorful images that are eye-catching, especially in high definition (HD). No matter how big the screen, they're only 4 to 6 inches thick. With prices expected to fall sharply this year, these flat-panel sets could...

LCD TV's update.(CR's Guide To Big-Screen TVs)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... Once available only with small screens, the LCD TV has been something of a little brother to plasma television, the other flat-panel technology. But bigger screens and lower prices could give LCD sets a boost this year. While plasma TVs...

Conventional TVs update.(CR's Guide To Big-Screen TVs)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... Big-screen suitors may be winning over more TV buyers, but the tubby and dependable picture-tube TV is still a sensible, if somewhat stodgy, choice for many buyers. These sets offer great performance and proven reliability at a comparatively...

DVD players & recorders: a range of choices.(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... There are at least six types of DVD hardware competing for your dollar. Plain players dominate, but various types of player-recorders are gaining, including some that accept both videotape and discs. Our tests show that some players come close...

70 all-weather winners: stock mutual funds.(CR Investigates)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... It happens all the time: While reading the newspaper or watching a finance program on TV, you learn about a mutual fund whose returns are zooming upward. You check it out and learn that it outpaced the Standard & Poor's 500 Index not only in...

Dishwashers: power at a price.(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... Turbo power isn't just for Saabs and Volvos anymore. The latest machines to add some turbo kick: dishwashers Frigidaire promises clean dishes in half the time when you press the higher-pressure Turbo Boost option on some Gallery models....

Dish detergents: enzymes rule.(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... The secret to a successful dishwasher detergent isn't a well-known name or cleaner packed into a gel pac of rolled into a power ball. Rather it's enzymes that make the difference between an outstanding detergent and one that's as dull as...

Computers: laptops go multimedia.
March 1, 2005... The next time you watch a movie, you may be reaching for a mouse instead of a remote. Computer makers are placing less emphasis on processor performance and more on their products' abilities to handle multimedia. Some new desktop...

Mini-tillers: more power, less effort.(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... Mini-tillers aren't just for ardent gardeners, The best of these machines can handle more pedestrian chores such as tearing away crabgrass and whisking away weeds far more quickly and easily than a spade of hoe. Several new models add...

Rx drugs: get the best for less.(CR Health)
March 1, 2005... The newest, and most heavily advertised, prescription medications are more expensive but not necessarily more effective than older drugs in their class. And, by definition, new drugs have a shorter safety record than older ones, which have...

Alcohol and drugs: mixing can be risky.(drugwise)
March 1, 2005... Drinking alcohol while taking medication--including aspirin and allergy drugs--can be dangerous. Alcohol interacts with many drugs and disrupts enzymes necessary for the digestion of both substances. That can compound the intoxicating effect of...

Travel search engines: new routes to deals: the lowest prices on plane tickets, hotels, and rental cars are now closer at hand.(CR Money)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The launch last year of two new travel search engines, Kayak and Mobissimo, increases your odds of finding the absolute lowest prices on airfares, hotels, and rental cars. Like SideStep, a travel search engine introduced in 2000, these...

Minivans: the best models are refined, luxurious, and loaded with features.(Growing Up)
March 1, 2005... The redesigned 2005 Honda Odyssey regained the top spot in our minivan ratings by edging out the excellent Toyota Sienna, our previous top pick. The Odyssey and Sienna are leading an evolution in the minivan category In addition to being...

Pass legislation to force disclosure of drug info.(Viewpoint: the consumers union perspective)
March 1, 2005... Many consumers are still reeling from the recent run of frightening news about the safety of prescription drugs in the U.S. The parents of children taking the antidepressant Paxil were stunned last year to learn not only that the medication...

Tilling tools.(then & now)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... In the summer of 1952, we first tested the wheel hoe and praised its simplicity. Priced at less than $10, the wheel hoe was easier to handle than a garden tractor, required little storage space, and was ready on a moment's notice. ...

Is politics your bag?(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... When we received a copy of the bilingual label below, we thought it might be a fake, doctored by a disgruntled Democrat. (For those whose French/English dictionary is inaccessible, the tag translates the washing instructions into French, then...

Uneasy rider.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... In our December issue (page 6), we wrote about the hazards of mini motorcycles, which are the rage among teenagers and young adults but don't meet current federal safety standards for street-legal vehicles. Here, an image from an ad that...

A brush-off.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Behold Burma-Shave, a venerable name that's still being used. Here, it showed up in a catalog from The Vermont Country Store, to sell a bristle brush and soap. Problem is, the original Burma-Shave was a cream and was sold as an improvement over...