Consumer Reports articles from May 2002

Consumer Reports archives from May 2002

Why Enron matters.(Memo To Members)(Column)
May 1, 2002... When you think about the fallout from Enron, the fact that it's an energy company trips a certain set of switches. Consumers may feel some of its effects in what they pay for electricity, in their ability to choose a supplier, even in energy...

Spandex snafus: clothing care.
May 1, 2002... With many clothes--from pants to shirts to kids' wear--you now have a choice: Do you buy the kind with a little spandex (Lycra) or not? Spandex can make clothing, especially close-fitting designs cut from woven fabrics, more comfortable to...

Be wary of health discount cards.(Front Lines)(Consumer Alert)
May 1, 2002... At a time when Americans are looking harder than ever for ways to save money on their health-care bills, along comes this idea: medical discount cards. You pay a monthly fee, which can range from $10 to $120 depending on the plan, and you're...

Moist toilet paper.(New Products)(Front Lines)(Product Information)
May 1, 2002... Here's a product that solves a problem you didn't know you had, costs far more than the alternative, and can't be great for the environment. It's moist toilet paper. We tested Charmin Fresh Mates, Cottonelle Fresh Rollwipes, Quilted Northern...

Crib safety: basic is best.(Front Lines)
May 1, 2002... Cribs are often advertised with all the trimmings: bumper guards, quilts, pillows, and stuffed toys. Trouble is, soft bedding can suffocate infants. Some 900 die that way each year in cribs, play yards, and the like, the Consumer Product Safety...

Fewer flights mean better service; flying dos and don'ts.(Special Travel Update)
May 1, 2002... Airport security checkpoints have longer lines these days, but overall airline service has improved dramatically since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The main reason: fewer flights, not fewer passengers on flights, according to our sister...

New rules for special-needs travelers.(Special Travel Update)(airports)
May 1, 2002... Air travelers who rely on medicines, pacemakers, wheelchairs, and such face stricter security at the airport. Here's a rundown. MEDICATIONS Bring a copy of the prescription or a note from your doctor. Most airlines strongly recommend...

Calling home from abroad.(Special Travel Update)
May 1, 2002... These days, staying in touch with friends or family when you vacation overseas means more than sending a postcard. You may need to call or send an e-mail to keep tabs on an ailing parent or to check with the neighbors watching your house....

To foil a thief: break-in protection.
May 1, 2002... Homeowners have never had it so good, at least according to the Department of Justice's most recent survey of crime victims. Break-ins have dropped from 110 per 1,000 households in 1973, when the surveys began, to fewer than 32 per 1,000 in...

50 ways to save money.(household economics)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2002... Cost cutting is nothing new. But the recent economic downturn has made the homely virtue of thrift that much more compelling. The jobless rate still has been hovering above 5 percent, and many families are wallowing in a swamp of credit-card...

Sole survivors: running shoes - test.(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... You'd think it would be a snap to buy a pair of what used to be called sneakers. But if you've shopped for running shoes lately, you know it can be an exercise in confusion. What does a $100-plus shoe give you that its less expensive...

Fit to be tied.(running shoes - fitting)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2002... TO IMPROVE YOUR ODDS of buying the right shoe, start by assessing your gait. Running shoes are designed for varying degrees of pronation, a natural inward rolling from the outside back of the heel to the inside forefoot. As pronation occurs,...

A better butter? New research shows peanut butter is good for you. (Don't tell the kids).(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... Peanut butter can be many things to many people, but low fat isn't one of them. Whether creamy or crunchy, peanut butter needs its considerable fat content to taste very good. That's about 21 to 27 grams per 3-tablespoon serving, slightly more...

Less nutty butters.(peanut butter alternatives)
May 1, 2002... Plain peanuts not your thing? You now have a choice of other butters, including apple, berry, and two other types we tested--chocolate peanut butter and soynut butter. Chocolate peanut butter. Skippy Doubly Delicious with Nestle's Toll...

Recalls: vehicles and equipment.(Product Information)(Column)
May 1, 2002... * '00-01 Nissan Sentra Engine could stall out suddenly and unexpectedly, possibly resulting in crash. Also, "Service Engine Soon" warning light could come on or engine could suffer loss of power, which could increase risk of accident as...

Recalls: household products.(Product Information)(Column)
May 1, 2002... * Baby Buzz'r interactive infant toy Red, green, and blue button covers can come off and pose choking hazard to small child. Products: 8,800 toys sold 6/01 to 9/01 at juvenile specialty stores, by catalog, and via the Internet for...

The long view: binoculars cut distance. We cut the jargon.(Product Information)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2002... Tens of millions of birdwatchers find decent binoculars indispensable. So do hikers, hunters, boaters, and spectators of sports and the performing arts. You can spend less than $20 on a pair of binoculars or more than $1,500, and you have more...

Binoculars - ratings.(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... Ratings Know the choices. Low-power binoculars are light and easy to handle. Higher-powered models give you range, but they're heavy and can be hard to hold steady. An 8x40 pair of binoculars is a good all-around choice. Bushnell and Tasco...

Super scrubbers: excellent cleaning - without rinsing first - will cost you just a few hundred dollars. For all the bells and whistles, figure $500 to $900.(dishwashers)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2002... It's time we gave dishwashers a little credit for doing what they're designed to do: wash dishes--and wash them well--without a helping hand from us. Yet two out of three consumers still rinse dishes in the sink before loading them into the...

Dishwashers - ratings.(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... Ratings Overall Ratings In performance order KEY BRAND & MODEL PRICE OVERALL SCORE NO. SIMILAR MODELS IN SMALL TYPE P F G VG E ...

Weed patrol.(string trimmers)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2002... String trimmers are America' s bestselling outdoor power tool for good reason. They can whisk away grass and weeds that grow around trees and fence posts, against the house, and in other spots your mower can't reach. Turn them on their sides,...

String trimmers - ratings.(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... String Trimmers Test Overall Ratings Within types, in performance order KEY BRAND & MODEL PRICE WEIGHT NO. SIMILAR MODELS IN SMALL TYPE GASOLINE MODELS These combine performance and mobility ...

Tractors that turn on a dime, but cost a pretty penny.(Product Updates - lawn tractors)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... WHAT'S NEW More tight-turning machines. Tractors from John Deere and Yard-Man are the latest "zero-turn-radius" models, which can turn 360-degree circles in one place and squeeze into spots only slightly larger than the space they occupy....

Portable MP3 players.(Product Updates)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... WHAT'S NEW * Prices fall. MP3 players are getting cheaper. Unlike portable CD players, MP3 players--handheld, battery-operated devices--store and play digital music that you've organized on, and downloaded from, a computer. Standard-sized...

Selling it.(deceptive and humorous ads or labels)(Column)
May 1, 2002... 1. So we guess that couldn't be a steering wheel next to Panasonic's All-In-One Mobile DVD. 2. This Rubbermaid deck box looks like a cozy place to sit, but given the instructions, this woman must be standing with her knees bent. 3. The...

Bridging the gap.(Small SUVs - Road Test)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... All sport-utility vehicles offer similar advantages. A high driving position can help you see farther down the road in traffic. Folding rear seats provide flexibility in loading cargo. And, when equipped with four- or all-wheel drive, there's...

Honda CR-V.(Small SUVs - Road Test)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... Honda CR-V The Honda CR-V's redesign yielded big improvements. The four-cylinder engine is smooth and spirited yet economical. The interior is roomier, and fit and finish are very good. The CR-V was the top-scoring vehicle in this group as...

Saturn VUE.(Small SUVs - Road Test)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... The new-for-2002 VUE is basically well designed but not as refined or well rounded as the best in this class. It has plenty of power and a spacious interior, but we found the seats uncomfortable and interior materials flimsy. Like Saturn cars,...

Land Rover Freelander.(Small SUVs - Road Test)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... The Freelander has a distinctive, offbeat character. It handles capably on the road and is the first car-based SUV we've tested that excels off-road. However, it's slow, noisy, and thirsty, and was by far the most expensive of the group. ...

Suzuki XL-7.(Small SUVs - Road Test)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... Based on Suzuki's Vitara, the XL-7 is the only small SUV with seven seats. But it has a stiff ride and handles clumsily, though securely. For about the same price, a Honda Odyssey minivan seats seven more comfortably and is much nicer to drive....

Jeep Liberty.(Small SUVs - Road Test)(Evaluation)
May 1, 2002... The Liberty is a step forward for Jeep but doesn't break new ground for the category. Acceleration is strong and braking is sound. But the ride is jittery and fuel economy is poor. Off-roading is the Liberty's strong suit. In contrast to...