Consumer Reports articles from September 2007

Consumer Reports archives from September 2007

Have you heard? Raise your voice on health care.(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... I often tell you a story in this column. Now I'd like you to tell me one. You might feel better if you get it off your chest, and it'll be a great help to us as we continue working toward better health care for all consumers. This issue...

Energy drinks: behind the buzz.(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... You drink them cold, but energy drinks are hot. U.S. conAsumers spent $744 million on those caffeinated beverages during the year ending June 17, 2007, a 34 percent increase over the previous year, says Information Resources, a...

First look should you buy an iPhone?(Apple iPhone)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... With the initial clamor about Apple's first cell phone now over, non-Apple aficionados can ponAder whether to pony up $499 or $599 for the device, which combines a phone with an MP3 player, Web browser, camera, and PDA functions. Our...

New MPG figures to reflect real-world conditions.(automotive fuel efficiency testing standards)
September 1, 2007... Starting this fall, the governAment's miles-per-gallon estiAmates for 2008 cars will be based on a more realistic method. The bad news is that the numbers will almost cerAtainly be lower. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made the...

The Dyson Slim vac.(vacuum cleaner)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... The claim. Dyson says that its 15.8-pound Slim DC18 upright vacuum cleaner, $470, is "the most powerful lightweight vacuum" and "doesn't lose suction." The company credits "cyclone technology" that uses "centrifugal force to spin dust out of...

Dark chocolate Which bars are best?(dark chocolate bars)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... You might not hear "Take two candy bars and call me in the morning," but chocolate, especially the dark kind, can do more than make you smile. Dark chocolate is especially high in polyphenols, antioxidants that have been linked to...

Funny money: don't cash that check.(mail fraud)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... What could be better than opening your mail and finding a check for thousands of dollars? Lots of things, if the check is like the ones at right. Unsolicited mail with seemingly valid checks has been showing up in increasing numbers around...

It's not easy buying green.(production standards and marketing of green products)
September 1, 2007... Sales of "green" household cleaners and recycled consumer goods grew to roughly $4.3 billion in 2005, up 11 perAcent from 2004, according to the EnAvironmental Business Journal, which tracks the industry. Products that make environmental...

Counterfeit toothpaste poses poison hazard.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Counterfeit toothpaste labeled "Colgate" has been found in discount stores in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. According to the Food and Drug Administration, some of the toothpaste does not contain fluoride, and...

Sneakiest consumer scams: how do bad guys try to defraud thee? Let us count the ways.
September 1, 2007... OK, so you're savvy and smart and have steered clear of many frauds that cost Americans bilAlions of dollars a year. But you might not be aware of some new twists that crooks use to snare suspecting consumers. For example,...

Are you really covered? Why 4 in 10 Americans can't depend on their health insurance.
September 1, 2007... You might think you don't have to worry about paying for medical care if you have health insurance. But you would be wrong. From escalating medical debt to postAponed retirement, our exclusive national survey of working-age adults shows...

Rating the health plans: 37,000 readers pick the best HMOs & PPOs.
September 1, 2007... Most health insurance will suit you just fine-until you get sick and really need it. When health plans are put under the microscope, the complaints from consumers begin to pile up. That is a key finding from a new Consumer Reports...

Facial cleaners: choices abound.(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... For the simple task of washing your face, your dizzying options include foaming and fizzing liquids, creams, lotions, mousses, pads, cloths, pillows, and those old standbys, bars. Our tests help take some of the mystery out of what to...

Popcorn: which kernels are king?(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... Popcorn is one of those rare snacks that's not only beloved (on average, Americans eat about a quart a week) but also healthful. It's whole grain, high in fiber, low in calories and fat, and bulky, so it may fill you up faster than other...

Net threats: Why going online remains risky.(Internet fraud prevention)
September 1, 2007... How cyber Fake Web sites like these deceive millions of users into sharing personal information, which is then used to defraud them. Victims lost an average of $200 each over the past two years, according to our 2007 State of the Net...

Best security software: some suites now offer superb one-stop protection.(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... The days of installing a hodgepodge of stand-alone programs to protect your computer from online threats might be ending. More tools to zap spam, viruses, and other threats are being built into operating systems, e-mail programs, and other...

Best computers: Laptop battery life & Wi-Fi get a boost.(laptop computers, hard disk drives, and flash memory)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... Looking for a laptop? Then you may have heard the hype about Intel's new Centrino Duo mobile technology. Our tests showed that it lives up to some claims but falls short on others. The new chipset provides longer battery life and faster...

Power blowers: more punch for plug-ins.(leaf blowers)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... The best handheld electric blowers have long beaten their gasoline-fueled competitors with comparable power and less weight and noise. This year's electrics are an even better value. Three new Toro corded electric blower-vacs outperformed...

Scratch removers: they don't go deep.(automotive scratch removers)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... Many people would assume a product called a "scratch remover" would remove all scratches from a car's paint. But after testing seven do-it-yourself scratch removers, we found they have their limits. All can remove very light scratches...

Investing: a bargain alternative to mutuals.(exchange-traded funds)
September 1, 2007... Few financial products have created as big a stir in recent years as exchange traded funds, or ETFs. Much like the more familiar index mutual funds, ETFs are portfolios of stocks or bonds that track particular market indexes. Unlike...

Working out 10 extra health perks.
September 1, 2007... Exercise may be the closest thing to a fountain of youth. Not only does regular activity strengthen your muscles and improve heart and lung function, but it can also slash your risk of major diseases, stimulate the growth of new brain cells,...

Did you know?(whole grain products may decrease risk of developing inflammatory diseases)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Whole grains cut inflammatory disease risk People who eat lots of whole grains are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and other inflammatory conditions, researchers reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition...

Headache drug lacks evidence.(HeadOn)(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... "Apply directly to the forehead," commands a TV commercial for HeadOn, a headache pain reliever. The product, which costs about $8 in pharmacies, is not a conventional over-the-counter analgesic. HeadOn is a topically applied remedy...

No Horsin' around: full-sized pickups redesigns trotted out by Toyota and Chevrolet set the pace for serious trucks.(Product/service evaluation)
September 1, 2007... The Toyota Tundra and Chevrolet Silverado placed first and second in our comparison of large, half-ton pickups. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Tundra, formerly a smaller, refined truck with carlike ride and handling, now goes...

Families need clarity on financing college.
September 1, 2007... Financing a house or a car can be confusing. But it's nothing compared with trying to finance a college education. In college-loan documents, disclosures about rates and terms are often paltry. That's especially rough for the 17-year-olds...