Consumer Reports articles from September 2001

Consumer Reports archives from September 2001

Selling It.(deceptive and/or funny product advertising)(Humor)(Column)
September 1, 2001... Time out Wait a minute. That's a nice testimonial from Bill, a "satisfied" user of TechnoScout's Atomic Digital Watch. But can you guess what the bit of type at lower right says? "Results not typical." Vanishing cream The 4-ounce...

Where to park your cash.(Your Money)(Column)
September 1, 2001... For many people, managing cash investments has meant letting their money idle in a passbook savings account paying 1.5 percent a year. But there are dozens of other options worth exploring, from certificates of deposit (CDs) and U.S. government...

Milk: got proof?(industry ad claims)(Your Health)(Column)(Industry Overview)
September 1, 2001... In those ubiquitous dairy-industry ads, milk-mustached celebrities say a lot more than just "Got milk?" Teen idol Britney Spears tells teenagers to drink "four glasses of milk every day," singer Marc Anthony says milk can "help prevent...

Recalls: vehicles and equipment; household products.(Column)
September 1, 2001... Vehicles and Equipment * '01 Ford Focus Front seatbacks could unexpectedly recline, causing driver to lose control of vehicle. Models: 8,500 cars made 3/01. What to do: Have dealer replace driver and passenger seatback...

Core competitors.(sport-utility vehicles - test)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
September 1, 2001... Midsized, midpriced models like the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee are still the best-selling SUVs on the planet. But they could face a tough road as their long-time appeal is challenged by growing pressure for higher fuel-economy...

Car seat/strollers.(Product Update)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2001... WHAT'S NEW Safety recall. Century Products has recalled 650,000 multi-use strollers. Some are travel systems: an infant carrier, car seat, and stroller. A car-seat adapter could detach or the stroller could collapse, dropping baby to the...

Personal digital assistants.(Product Update)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2001... WHAT'S NEW Price cuts. New-product introductions, a sales slowdown, and an oversupply have all helped bring down prices, especially for Palm and Handspring models. Rebates and deals abound. A combo product. The Kyocera Smart-phone...

Leaf blowers.(Product Update)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2001... WHAT'S NEW Easier handling. Among handheld gas-powered blowers--the most common type--the newly tested Stihl BG45 and BG55 are the easiest-handling models we've ever tested. But handheld, plug-in electric models are easier to handle...

The latest wrinkle in irons.(steam irons)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2001... Just a few years ago, your iron probably languished in the closet most of the time. But more of us have hung up our business suits and dresses in favor of casual attire, often made of natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, and washable silk....

TV: the digital decision - cable and satellite: report and survey.(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2001... If you're a cable-TV subscriber, the odds are your cable company is trying to sell you on digital cable. A supplement to your regular (analog) service, this would provide 50 or more additional channels that promise a superior picture and sound....

Talking turkey (and ham and bologna).(Lunchmeats - Test)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2001... If you're like most Americans, you'll be eating at least one sandwich this week. And there's a good chance that it will be made with ham, bologna, or turkey, America's favorite lunchmeats. Manufacturers have created so many versions of those...

Come visit us.(Consumers Union open house, Oct 20, 2001)(Editorial)
September 1, 2001... From air conditioners to automobiles, from ranges to restaurant chains, we've rated 'em and you've read about them. Now we invite you to see our labs and meet our experts on Saturday, Oct. 20, during our annual meeting and tours at our National...

SUV's and safety.(Memo To Members)(Editorial)
September 1, 2001... Consumers Union has provided the public with objective information about cars since 1936. One of the most frequently asked questions from our readers is still: How do I buy the safest car for my family? Last month, CONSUMER REPORTS rated...

A room with electricity? You may pay more.(Frontlines)(Travel)(Column)
September 1, 2001... Check into a hotel these days and you may be told that your bill will include an "energy surcharge" that nobody mentioned when you booked the room. Throughout the country, hotels are imposing room surcharges of $1.50 to $5 per day to help...

Credit-card jabberwocky.(Frontlines)(Column)
September 1, 2001... Puzzling over the words in a credit-card offer may leave you feeling like Alice in Wonderland talking with the Mad Hatter and March Hare. "You should say what you mean," the Hare advises. "I do," Alice replies. "At least I mean what I...

Wheels of progress.(John Deere Spin-Steer SST16 mower)(Front Lines)(First Look)(Evaluation)
September 1, 2001... Up to now, if you wanted a tight-turning riding mower or tractor, you lived with two awkward steering levers. The John Deere Spin-Steer SST16 is the first "zero-turn-radius" tractor that uses a steering wheel to control its rear-wheel steering...

Cutting-edge clippers: gardening.(Front Lines)(Evaluation)
September 1, 2001... Whether you have a hedge to prune or just a single shrub to groom, manual hedge clippers should be basic gardening equipment. The more trimming you do, the more important it is for them to be comfortable and convenient to use. We tested...

Sorry, wrong number: product recalls.(Front Lines)
September 1, 2001... Nearly one in five recall notices issued by children's products manufacturers and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) contain consumer hotline numbers that don't work, according to the Consumer Federation of America. These include...

You've got...choices!(Internet providers)(Buyers Guide)(Industry Overview)
September 1, 2001... Barely five years ago, we published "Cyberspace 101," a beginner's guide to what was then the unfamiliar new world of the Internet. Today, some 100 million Americans regularly use the Internet (mainly the World Wide Web), making entities like...

Make over or buy new?(Home Computing)(Cover Story)(Evaluation)
September 1, 2001... Computer makers, ever competitive, are outdoing themselves to boost flagging sales. Dell has cut prices and added a CD burner, printer, or similar extras to its packages. Gateway has said it will beat any major competitor's price. Compaq is...

Computing in comfort.(Home Computing)(Furniture)(Cover Story)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2001... You don't have to be in your office, hunched over a keyboard day in, day out, to wind up with a computer-related ailment. Even if you're surfing the web in your family room, you can strain your neck, shoulders, wrists, and more if you're...

Essential extras.(Home Computing)(Peripherals)(Cover Story)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2001... Now that digital photography, home-video editing, gaming, and desktop publishing are becoming commonplace, adding a scanner or a larger monitor to your computer setup lets you take full advantage of those applications. Here are the key...

Update - computer printers.(Home Computing)(Cover Story)(Buyers Guide)
September 1, 2001... Upgrading a computer system often means changing printers, too. Newer versions of Windows or the Macintosh operating system may not support an old printer. If you've upgraded the computer to handle digital-image files or desktop publishing,...