Consumer Reports articles from October 2004

Consumer Reports archives from October 2004

Drug trials show but no one tells.(have you heard?)
October 1, 2004... Do you use drugs? No, not that kind. I mean prescription drugs OK'd by the Food and Drug Administration and prescribed by your doctor. As patients, we put trust in both to keep us healthy But when it comes to drugs, they may not have all the...

Making sure that your electronic vote will be counted.(Election Alert)
October 1, 2004... Next month, nearly one-third of voters will be able to cast their ballots on a computer touch screen--a highly controversial development, Some surveys show that people trust electronic voting, but the prospect alarms some computer scientists...

Making their mark when left uncovered.(Claim Check)(testing markers left without cap)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The claim. Some markers won't dry out when an absent-minded person leaves the cap off. We bought three at Staples and put them to the test. The Colorific Retractable Marker ($4 for six) is supposed to write when left open for up to three days;...

How to get a good tan without the sun.(Up front: news / trends / advice)
October 1, 2004... Sunless tanning cream isn't the oxymoron you might think. Our tests of seven tanners show that they can make you look as if you've been basking at the beach without the worry about skin damage or the expense of a trip to the tropics. How...

Child-safe car windows: new initiatives may bring better designs.(Upfront: news / trends / advice)
October 1, 2004... Cars can be dangerous places for kids. This year alone, at least 19 children left in hot cars have died, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and backovers have killed more than 40. A smaller but potent threat is...

First look.(Up front: news / trends / advise)(Dell Dimension 8400 with PCI Express)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Product: Dell Dimension 8400 with PCI Express Full report: December 2004 In June, computer chipmaker Intel introduced PCI Express, a faster set of motherboard chips that promise a significant boost in computer performance, especially...

Watches with lots to learn.(Up front: news / trends / advice)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Even the humble wristwatch has gone online. The digital watches shown here are the first products to use Microsoft's SPOT, or Smart Personal Objects Technology which pushes in formation to the watch over an FM radio network. The system's...

Best in class cargo & MPG.(Up front: news / trends / advise)(minivans ans sport utility vehicles)
October 1, 2004... Hauling lots of luggage or cargo often means that the car burns more gasoline. However, a number of minivans, SUVs, and wagons offer a reasonable combination of fuel economy and cargo room. The 18 we list here are the best in their categories....

Chocolate chit-chat.(talk The talk)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... To the surprise of no chocoholic, part of the cacao tree's botanical name, Theobroma, means "food of the gods." For anyone sweet on confectionery, here's a guide to chocolate terms: Cacao (or cocoa) beans, They come from cacao tree pods and...

Custom kitchens for less.(your letter)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... In the August cover report, "Make Over Your Kitchen for Thousands Less," you missed a good opportunity to save your readers thousands of dollars more. When I remodeled my kitchen last fall, I simply changed the door and drawer fronts on my...

Fuel economy.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... In your August report, "The Most Bang for Your Gasoline Buck," you failed to discuss the ability of diesel-engined vehicles to lower fuel costs. When gas sold for $2.20-plus per gallon here, diesel could be had for $1.69. Recent improvements in...

Substitute checks.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... In "So Long to Canceled Checks," in August, you note that many banks will no longer send account owners canceled checks but rather copies of checks. You recommend that account owners request "substitute checks." But you don't really explain...

Spray-on pantyhose.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I ran right out and bought a can of Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs after reading your recommendation in the August issue to "pitch the pantyhose." What were you thinking? It does look like pantyhose. And perhaps if I had gone naked into my...

Corrections.(your letters)(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2004... * In our July hotel report, "Travel Sites vs. Hotels," we incorrectly stated that hotels quoted us a better room rate than travel Web sites three out of four times. A hotel gave us a better rate than a travel site half the time: hotels and...

GM recalls all Saturn Vue SUVs for suspension failure.(recalls & safety alerts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... As this issue went to press, General Motors Corp, recalled all the Saturn Vue sport-utility vehicles it had ever made-nearly a quarter million vehicles-because of a suspension failure that turned up in a government safety test. The left...

New for 2005.(what's new / 2005 Cars)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2004... Here is where reality meets the road, as CONSUMER REPORTS' auto experts cut through the hype surrounding new and redesigned vehicles for the 2005 model year. We provide insights on this year's major trends and on nearly 30 new or redesigned...

Fueling the future.(what's new / 2005 Cars)
October 1, 2004... High gasoline prices have sparked a lot of interest among consumers in vehicles that can stretch their fuel dollars. Concern about air pollution, carbon-dioxide emissions, and U.S. dependence on imported oil is also driving research into...

Backup systems.(what's new / 2005 Cars)(parking aids)
October 1, 2004... Consumers can choose from a wider range of aftermarket vehicle-backup systems since our report last year, including new and improved designs. All such systems are intended to help drivers detect objects within the blind spot behind the...

5 tips for buying that new car: expert advice from David Champion, Director of Auto Testing and The Consumer Reports New Car Price Service.
October 1, 2004... 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...

Drugs vs. talk therapy: 3,079 readers rate their care for depression and anxiety.(CR Investigates Antidepressants)
October 1, 2004... Where people turn for help to combat depression and anxiety can make a critical difference in the type of care they receive and how completely they recover. That's an important finding of a new survey, one of the largest of its kind, of...

Pedometers: walking by the numbers.
October 1, 2004... According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, programs promoting step goals--such as walking 10,000 steps per day--can encourage people to exercise enough to reap health benefits. The aim, the CDC says, is 30...

How to choose shoes: the fit you need, the features to look for.(shop smart)
October 1, 2004... Sales of walking shoes nave slowed, possibly because consumers ere choosing cross-trainers and comfort shoes instead. To get walking shoes back in the running, manufacturers have been looking for mew designs and technologies. Changes include...

Humidifiers: indoor comfort.
October 1, 2004... Choosing a humidifier involves tradeoffs among efficiency, cost, noise, and convenience. Our tests also show that you can't tell how web a humidifier will work based on claims. Who needs a humidifier? Anyone who suffers from uncomfortably...

Snow throwers: faster and easier.
October 1, 2004... Some of the newest snow throwers are larger and more capable, yet easier to control. Many also cost less, thanks to price pressure from major retailers such as Home Depot, Lowe's, and Sears, which now account for 60 percent of sales. ...

Cordless phones: sound distinctions.
October 1, 2004... Cordless phones seem to be bucking the pervasive "digital is better" trend. In our tests, phones using analog transmission had the best voice quality. Many analog phones have another important edge over most digitals, we have found: They aren't...

Doors materials matters.
October 1, 2004... When it comes to security and weather-resistance, our tests show that a $135 steel front door can be the equal of one in fiberglass or solid wood costing up to five times as much. But that doesn't mean the steel door is a better bet in the long...

Brain workouts boost mental prowess.(health)
October 1, 2004... Not long ago, scientists considered cognitive decline an inevitable result of aging. But growing evidence indicates that rather than sinking passively into foggy old age, you can take steps to help keep your brain sharp. Exercising the mind at...

Back-sparing leaf rakes: one size does not fit all.(home)
October 1, 2004... The Ames Ergo Concept ($15) and the Smart Handle Adjustable Rake by Delta ($30) promise relatively painless raking, courtesy of their curved handles, which the companies claim reduce bending and stooping compared with using a conventional rake....

How to stay ahead of rising interest rates.(money)
October 1, 2004... The heady days of cheap money and near undetectable inflation may be coming to an end. Since the Federal Reserve raised rates a quarter of one percent in June, everyone, including your uncle Bob, has been predicting that the trend is now...

Thinking smaller: the best models blend comfort, interior versatility, and good fuel economy.(Small SUVs)
October 1, 2004... The Toyota RAV4 topped this month's test and finished second overall among 16 small SUVs we've tested (see the Ratings chart on the facing page). Though not the largest, fastest, or latest design here--the RAV4 was last redesigned for 2001--it...

Hospital infections: consumers drive a movement.(The Consumers Union Perspective)
October 1, 2004... Two Missouri residents are the latest examples of the power of consumers when they band together, in this case to work with Consumers Union's campaign for the public disclosure of hospital-acquired infections. Ray Wagner never planned to...

Come to our annual meeting and tours.(The Consumers Union Perspective)
October 1, 2004... Visit our labs and meet our experts on Saturday, Oct. 16, during our annual meeting and tours at our National Testing and Research Center, 101 Truman Ave., Yonkers, NY. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. If you'll be coming for a tour only, please...

His end was near.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(advertising)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Poor guy. He must have taken a turn for the worse. The ad above comes from a Hemorrhoid Relief Center with offices in several states. The one at right suggests that people who place an obituary in The Arizona Republic use a Web site to...

And straight-A students are nominated for sainthood.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(marketing Nation Dean's List book to drop-outs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... "Your hard work has no doubt been recognized by school, community, and family," said a letter notifying a young man named Andrew of his nomination to The National Dean's List. "Now you have gained state, even national attention," it continued,...

Two left feet.(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(photograph of a catalog model)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... For reasons that are beyond us, the front of this catalog model's left foot, from the outer sandal strap forward, has been magically appended onto her right foot. Maybe she was having a bad toe day.

Eureka!(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(advertising satire)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The boast below, a reader points out, opens up a new world of advertising copy. She anticipates: * More fuel efficient than less fuel efficient models. * Safer for your family than less safe models. * More reliable than less...

Convenient for whom?(Selling it: goofs / glitches / gotchas)(Californians can renue vehicle registration online for $4)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Californians renewing their vehicle registration will find it convenient, simple, and easy to do so online, this mailer says. "No lines, no stamps, and no waiting!" Sure, registrants will save a stamp, but they won't save money. Not far from...