Consumer Reports articles from November 2003

Consumer Reports archives from November 2003

Web-site roulette.(Have you heard?)
November 1, 2003... Out of curiosity, I plugged my name into some Internet search engines recently. It's a pretty common name, especially since I used "Jim" and not "James," so I didn't expect to find myself first on the results list. But I did expect other people...

Best deals on camera batteries.(Up front: news/trends/advice)
November 1, 2003... The digital cameras covered on page 12 run the gamut of size, shape, and price. But they share one trait--a thirst for power that makes the choice of battery critical. Our tests point to rechargeable batteries as the clear, cost-effective...

These paints stick on plastics.(Up front: news/trends/advice)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... One of the toughest materials to paint is plastic. Paint often peels and flakes right off the plastic's slick surface. Krylon Fusion, a much-ballyhooed new spray paint, claims to be specifically formulated for plastic, to stick in one coat...

Claim check.(Up front: news/trends/advice)(Dawn POwer Dissolver)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The claim: Dawn Power Dissolver, the ad says, will let you "forget scrubbing, forget soaking" even with "the toughest burnt-on grease." You spray it on dirty pans, wait (up to 30 minutes), wipe, rinse, and voila-no grunge. It costs $2.79. ...

Automatic tire-pressure checks.(Up front: news/trends/advice)
November 1, 2003... Some new cars and trucks have begun offering tire-pressure monitoring systems. But these important new safety features aren't limited to new vehicles. We tested four effective systems that can be mounted in any vehicle. How do they work?...

Online rental-car shopping: how low can you go?(Up Front: news/trends/advice)
November 1, 2003... Which Web sites show you the best rental-car deals? Orbitz.com and Travelocity .com led the field, according to a new study pitting seven leading sites against one another in 150 trials. The study was conducted in midyear by Consumer WebWatch,...

Did you want fries with that trans fat?(Up Front: news/trends/advice)
November 1, 2003... When we reported on the "bad" fat content of 30 top-selling foods in March, we omitted fast-food fries because McDonald's had announced it would reduce its fries' trams fat by using a new oil. But those changes have yet to materialize, and...

Radios for power outages.(Home front)
November 1, 2003... How do you get essential news when a blackout, storm, or tornado pulls the plug on power for more than a few hours? There are a number of AM/FM radios available that draw power not only from batteries but also from hand-cranking and solar...

Laptop computers.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... As a longtime Macintosh user, I feel that your evaluation of PC and Apple laptops in the September issue is not quite comparing apples to apples. While Apple laptops get less than stellar ratings in expansion, the reason is they come well...

Suzuki vs. CU.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... Jim Guest's column in September regarding the lawsuit being pursued by Suzuki has prompted some of your readers to write General Motors, blaming us for the lawsuit and vowing not to purchase GM products. We think and certainly hope this is an...

Supermarket showdown.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... In the "Tale of Two Shoppers" story with your September supermarkets report, Big Spender could save $30.80 and Savvy Shopper $11.90 by not buying the sugary, starchy, overprepared last four items on their lists. Here's what I look for in a...

Saving $$$ and the planet.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... In your September report "Save Your Money Save the Planet," I was surprised you didn't mention that you can save money by using regular fuel in lieu of premium. One tankful of 20 gallons can be a savings of $4 each time you fill up. GORDON...

Finance books.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... I was much amused by your report in the September issue regarding finance books, "Whose Book Is Best?" Your own (probably out-of-print) text was excluded. I bought the Consumer Reports Money Book some years ago, and I found it most...

Cell-phone service.(Your Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... Regarding the Viewpoint page in September, "Calling for Better Cell Phone Service," here's a tip that may provide leverage against telecommunications companies: Charge your monthly bill to a credit card so you can dispute improper charges under...

Clarification.(Your Letters)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2003... In the October report on air cleaners, the caption accompanying a graph of air-cleaning speed should have specified that the particles being measured were respirable smoke pollutants.

Ford to fix more than 1.5 million SUVs.(recalls & safety alerts)
November 1, 2003... Potential problems with cruise control and seat recliners have prompted Ford to recall more than 1.5 million Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers. One action involves about 500,000 vehicles with cruise control that may not disengage...

Digital cameras: more pixels, more choices.
November 1, 2003... Today you can expect to get high-quality Prints--even 8x10 glossies--from an inexpensive digital camera. That's the kind of performance that wows first-time users and continues to propel digital-camera sales. By year's end, 30 percent of...

Camcorders: picture perfect?
November 1, 2003... Digital camcorders, which raised picture quality to a new level, now dominate the market. Reflecting the prevalence of DVD) technology, some digitals now record directly onto a disk instead of tape; they cost less than $1,000. Indeed, camcorder...

Do you need long-term-care insurance?(CR Investigates)
November 1, 2003... If you can't take care of yourself when you're old, there are plenty of resources from which to choose: home-health services, adult day-care centers, assisted-living facilities, or nursing homes. Finding the money to pay for such help, however,...

Surround sound.(Special Home Entertainment Section)
November 1, 2003... YOUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE STARTS HERE: Multichannel audio has migrated from movie theaters to family rooms on the coattails of DVDs. Is it right for you? * Page 26 Should you go for surround sound? * Page 27 How much sound do you...

Speakers: sound investment.
November 1, 2003... Good speakers are a sound investment in every sense of the word. They generally last a long time and are less likely to become outmoded than other equipment in a home-theater setup. You can add to a sound system piece by piece, so a speaker you...

Receivers: homes-theater hub.
November 1, 2003... The receiver plays a pivotal role in a home theater. It connects the audio and video components and relays signals between them. Most new receivers power at least six speakers and support Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS, the most commonly used...

Home theater: all in one box.
November 1, 2003... A home-theater-in-a-box system is the easiest and usually the cheapest path to surround sound with prices starting below $300. All these systems include a receiver and six speakers, plus wiring and instruction that make setup a relative snap....

Vacuum cleaners: when more isn't better.
November 1, 2003... Folding handles and front-mounted hoses are among the features you'll find as manufacturers compete in a tough market. Companies are also pushing low prices; nearly half of all vacs purchased last year cost less than $100, compared with 34...

Generators: power in a pinch.(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2003... The blackout of August 2003 helped generators join candles, flashlights, and bottled water on many homeowners" must-have lists. Home Depot and Lowes shipped thousands of extra generators to stores in affected areas within days after power was...

Solving the 529 puzzle. Money.
November 1, 2003... Those 529 college-savings plans are coming soon to a brokerage near you. And that's not good news. Created several years ago, the state-sponsored plans allow parents, grandparents, and others, starting with as little as $25, to set up accounts...

Bounce protection costs.(Did You Know?)(overdraught protection )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... "You now can start writing checks before you get paid without the worry of returned checks with... Overdraft Privilege!" a bank proclaims on its Web site. That privilege, however, which is included automatically in accounts at an...

More choices for avoiding the flu this winter.(Health)
November 1, 2003... This season, it will be easier than ever to protect yourself from the flu, which kills 20,000 to 40.000 Americans every year. Vaccine supplies are abundant, in contrast to the shortages of previous years, so "anyone who wants a vaccination...

Did you know?(weekends and obesity)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Weekends are a danger zone for weight gain, according to a study, published in the August issue of Obesity Research, that analyzed the food consumption of thousands of Americans. The average 19- to 50-year-old consumes 115 more calories a day...

Can Dr. Scholl's relieve your foot and back pain?(Names&claims)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... "Clinically proven pain relief" for the heel, arch, ball of foot, and lower back is the claim on Dr. Scholl's Tri-Comfort orthotic shoe inserts. The three-quarter-length inserts are designed to "provide support even in tight-fitting or...

High-performance tires: better by design.
November 1, 2003... Tougher government standards, more capable vehicles, and a competitive market are making high-performance tires the norm on cars you're likelier to see at the mall than on a racetrack. Mainstream cars like the Buick Park Avenue Ultra, Ford...

Car batteries: power vs. promises.
November 1, 2003... Many batteries deliver less than their labels imply, at least when it comes to cold-cranking amps. This often-touted measure of starting current at 0[degrees]F is important in frigid climes, where thickened engine oil and reduced battery...

A question of balance: five no-compromise models with premium prices and different characters.
November 1, 2003... For most people, it's hard to rationalize spending $70,000 to $80,000 for a car. In terms of the basics, sedans that cost half that much, such as the V6-powered Volkswagen Passat, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry have scored higher overall in our...

Safety alert: the quality of nursing-home care.(View point: the consumers union perspective)
November 1, 2003... In July, an 81-year-old Arkansas woman was beaten at a nursing home by two of the facility's employees, who police say used brass knuckles to inflict fatal injuries. While her death may have been more gruesome than most among the nation's 1.5...

Amateur auteurs.(then & now)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2003... Filmmakers faced stiff competition at the 1957 Oscars: "12 Angry Men," "Peyton Place," "The Bridge on the River Kwai" Far from Hollywood, consumers, too, were making Movies--the from kind. Home-movie cameras, $50 to $150, were powered by a...

Does it cure disbelief?(Selling it: goofs/glitches/rip-offs)(Tedco Miracle II)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Ever wondered what happens when the feds cotton on to one of those cures that sound too good to be true? They fire off a warning letter like the one excerpted below, sent last July It tickled our funny bone--though, we're quick to add, it...

Through a glass, darkly.(Selling it: goofs/glitches/rip-offs)
November 1, 2003... We're afraid the guy in this catalog ad for a Tasco Night Vision device won't "clearly SEE" anything and will remain in "pitchblack darkness!" until he takes that lens cap off.

Ready, world?(Selling it: goofs/glitches/rip-offs)(natural diamonds)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... "Natural Diamonds infused with human cremated remains," said the subject line in the e-mail, and how could we keep from reading on? Turns out there's a Canadian company that will inject 5 grams of a loved one into an inclusion, or slight flaw,...

Of dogs and men.(Selling it: goofs/glitches/rip-offs)
November 1, 2003... We're glad to see that the folks at the Wal-Mart Outdoor Living Buyer's Guide (unfriendly dog) and Procter & Gamble (manly body wash) have a sense of humor.

Black hole award.(Selling it: goofs/glitches/rip-offs)
November 1, 2003... "Okay, okay." a New York reader writes, "1 caved to the pleading of our five-year-old daughter, who has been bombarded by commercials for Yummy Bubbles." When the reader opened the package, she was the one who was frothing. "See the...