Consumer Reports articles from November 2005

Consumer Reports archives from November 2005

<T>By the numbers.(consumer survey report)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 1, 2005... TIRES Tire-miles driven in tread-wear testing 518,400 CREDIT CARDS Card offers evealuted by CardWeb.com for our report 10,200 CABLE VS. SATELLITE Respondent to survey ...

After the hurricane: answers now and in the future.(Have You Heard?)
November 1, 2005... As we go to press, the flood waters from Hurricane Katrina are being pumped out of New Orleans and, for tens of thousands of people, shock is giving way to a new reality. Part of that reality is the enormous challenge they face in...

Great hotel deals not written in the stars.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)(General Motors Hummer H3)
November 1, 2005... Anyone who has booked a hotel room after checking with the American Automobile Association, Mobil Travel Guides, or an online site is familiar with the one-to-five rating system. The more diamonds, stars, or smiley faces (for Travelocity's...

Fancy mixers: you may need one if you knead.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... Big, pricey stand mixers stand up to dough better and work faster than hand mixers or even less-expensive stand mixers. But our tests still showed differences in how well they perform. They work in different ways, too. Some use two...

Two childproofing devices not acceptable.(SAFETY ALERT)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... Childproofing a home could prevent many of the household accidents that injure or kill about 2.5 million children in the U.S. each year. But our tests of 29 childproofing products in a lab and at home, with the help of child-development...

Calls, photos, music: a Sony that does it all well.(up front: News / Trends / Advice)(Sony Ericsson W800)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... Cell phones that take pictures and play MP3s generally perform those tasks less capably than stand-alone cameras and music players. But the S500 Sony Ericsson W800 Walkman Phone adeptly combines a cell phone, 2-megapixel camera, FM radio, and...

Shout vs. Spray 'n Wash.(CLAIM CHECK)(Shout Laundry Stain Remover)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... The claim: "Better than Shout," says an ad for Spray 'n Wash Dual Power. "Combines 2 Powerful Ingredients to Clean More Stains better!" Shout Laundry Stain Remover's counterclaim: "Spray 'n Wash Dual runs! Triple-Acting Shout clings to the...

Selling it.(Your Letters)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2005... Your staff listed my business in the Selling It column in the September issue (see "Does Stephen King Know About This?"). The implication is that what I advertise is not true. I feel you owe me an apology. I am the only tour operator in...

Fire and scalding hazards prompt recalls of various coffeemakers.(Recalls & Safety Alerts )(Bunn-O-Matic Corp., KitchenAid, West Bend Co.)
November 1, 2005... Bunn-O-Matic, KitchenAid, and West Bend have issued alerts involving some 2.3 million automatic-drip coffeemakers for hazards including overheating, fire, and broken carafe handles that could lead to shattered glass and skin burns from...

Credit cards: they really are out to get you.(CR INVESTIGATES)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... Ruth Owens' troubles began when she stopped using her Discover card. The Cleveland woman, who was on Social Security disability, had just passed her $1,900 balance limit. Over the next six years, she made $3,492 in payments but never...

Digital cameras: take your best shot.(ELECTRONICS: GET THE PICTURE)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... Choosing a digital camera isn't just about getting the most megapixels for your money. Even basic cameras--those costing about $200--now offer all the resolution many photographers need. Indeed, most of the cameras we tested, including...

Camcorders update.(ELECTRONICS: GET THE PICTURE)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... Digital camcorders, now the majority of the market, deliver consistent quality regardless of recording speed. The major decision is whether you want to record on tape (D8 or MiniDV) or on a DVD. (Some JVC models record to a hard disk.)...

Cable vs. satellite: customers weigh in.(ELECTRONICS: GET THE PICTURE)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... Satellite TV still earns higher scores from viewers than either type of cable, but digital cable has come on strong. In our recent national survey of more than 1,750 cable and satellite television subscribers, satellite continued to lead...

High-definition TV: a hit with viewers.(ELECTRONICS: GET THE PICTURE)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... Experts are all but unanimous in their praise of high-definition television, the digital TV format that is gradually supplanting standard-definition TV. At its best, HD offers sharper, more detailed images than standard television and a...

LCD TVs: slim sets go big-time.(ELECTRONICS: GET THE PICTURE)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... LCD televisions are growing up. Once available only as midsized sets, these thin TVs now sport screens measuring 32, 37, even 46 inches--sizes suitable for use as a primary TV. Prices of LCD TVs have dropped over the past year, making...

Plasma TVs: bigger and better.(ELECTRONICS: GET THE PICTURE)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... The brilliant images on a big-screen plasma TV are eye-catching, especially in high definition (HD). With screens growing and prices shrinking even for the largest sizes, these sleek flat panels look more attractive than ever. Just six...

Rear projection TVS: big screens for less.(ELECTRONICS: GET THE PICTURE)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... With larger LCD and plasma TVs available and front projectors coming down in price, you have more big-screen TV options than ever. But rear-projection sets still offer the most for the money. The venerable CRT-based models that started...

Front projectors: bring the theater home.(ELECTRONICS: GET THE PICTURE)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... For a truly theater-like experience, you can't beat a front projector paired with a screen that stretches 100 inches or more diagonally. The image quality rivals the best a plasma TV can offer, at a comparable price: $3,000 to $3,500 for an...

Digital video recording: DVD vs. hard drive.(ELECTRONICS: GET THE PICTURE)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... DVDs have replaced videotapes as the medium of choice for prerecorded video, and many households are also recording on DVD. Prices for DVD recorders have dropped below $200 and are still falling, and sales are expected to rise by about 50...

Kitchen knives: cutting-edge performance.(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... Cooks seeking knives sharp enough not to smush tomatoes and comfortable to hold are turning to new types of knives from lesser-known brands. Japanese companies and designs are beneficiaries of this trend. Celebrity TV chefs including...

What's hot: ranges, cooktops & wall ovens.(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2005... New features, finishes, and ways to cook--including induction, which heats the pan, not the cooktop--are some of what you'll find among the nearly 100 models we've rated in our latest tests. Induction cooktops, which cook via...

Coffee vs. tea: benefits and risks.(Health)
November 1, 2005... While tea lovers revel in tea's likely health benefits, coffee drinkers worry that anything as deliciously stimulating as java must be unhealthful. But research shows that coffee is generally safe in moderate amounts and might have surprising...

Mileage-award credit cards: our top picks.
November 1, 2005... Some credit cards promise free tickets on any airline without blackout dates or mileage-award seat limitations. Others hook you with thousands of sign-up bonus miles or double or triple miles for charging routine purchases such as groceries....

5 tips for buying that new car: expert advice from David Champion, Director of Auto Testing, and the Consumer Reports New Car Price Service.
November 1, 2005... [1] Learn the lowest cost Get the Consumer Reports Wholesale Price Here's the real key to your deal: you must find out what the dealer paid for the car so you can negotiate the price you'll pay for it. You have to find out this...

Auto batteries: some go the distance.
November 1, 2005... Batteries may look alike on the shelf, but under your hood it's a different story. Our tests show that some are far more likely than others to last longer and provide more cranking power. Longer life is especially critical if you take...

Tires: all-season & winter.
November 1, 2005... Until now, you had to trust the tread-wear ratings on the sidewalls and a tire's tread-wear warranty to tell you how long your tires would last. Our new tests show that claims don't always meet reality. Some tire makers vastly overstate...

Uphill climb: despite premium price tags, these models fall short of the best in class.(Jeep Grand Cherokee)(Mercedes-Benz ML350)(Land Rover LR3)(Subaru B9 Tribeca)(Nissan Pathfinder)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2005... Midsized SUVs make up the core of the sport-utility market. Like others in this class, the five vehicles we tested for this issue provide more interior room and better engine performance than smaller models, and the best provide better...

Rights that credit-card users deserve now.(Credit card industry)
November 1, 2005... More than 5 billion credit-card offers bombarded Americans last year, burying them in paper and, in many cases, debt. Families who carry a credit-card balance now owe, on average, $9,312. Credit cards come with a cost far higher to...

Extreme remote control.(Zenith FlashMatic Tuning form Zenith Electronics Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... If in 1956 you'd had enouGh of Arthur Godfrey's ukulele but were reluctant to leave your easy chair, a remote control was just what you needed. The most novel was the wireless Zenith FlashMatic Tuning, at left. By aiming the beam at...

Bogus bills.(selling it: Goofs / Glitches / Gotchas)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... (1) This sheet, from a company that submits domain names to search engines, has specifics on how to pay: "Please make checks payable to Internet Listing Service Corp. Please write your customer number," and so on. But a look at the flip side...

Black hole award.(Mucinex box)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... This Mucinex box is nearly roomy enough for two bottles. And look how much cotton the bottle spit out, along with a moisture-absorbing capsule. Oh, well, it is an expectorant.

Better than rubber chicken.
November 1, 2005... "Makes you wonder," an Alabama reader writes, "what they have been serving."

Do you need a prescription?
November 1, 2005... Speaking of brain clever, what an ingenious idea: a flashlight and nutritional supplement in one!