Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from August 2004

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from August 2004

Set-top boxes.(Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... CHOICE, April 2004 It appears the DIGITAL VIEW DSD-103 set-top box we tested was faulty. We sent it to the distributor, Control Dynamics, for repairs and when retested, its performance in the 'fall off the cliff' part of the test improved....

Pool sanitiser.(Update)(Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority took action against some sanitizers)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... CHOICE, June 2004 In June Choice Cuts we reported on new advice from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to not rely solely on silver and copper-based water sanitising systems for your pool or spa. The...

Fair trade products.(choice cuts)(fair trade initiative in Australia and New Zealand )
August 1, 2004... Early last year we told you Australia was lagging far behind as far as the availability of fair trade products and labelling are concerned. At the time, only a few types of product (typically coffee, tea, spices, handicrafts and artefacts) were...

Inkjet printers.(choice cuts)
August 1, 2004... The July/August 2004 issue of Computer CHOICE tested 21 inkjet printers, looking at print quality, ease of use, ink usage costs, construction and versatility. While some printers can produce very high-quality photos, they're usually the ones...

Bright bikers.(choice cuts)
August 1, 2004... Motorbike riders can reduce their chances of a crash-related injury by taking a few simple precautions, reports the July/August issue of CHOICE Health Reader. New Zealand researchers compared motorbike riders who'd had accidents to a group of...

Cat and dog fur imports banned.(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Overwhelming public response to the Humane Society International's (HSI) call last year for an import ban on products made from cat and dog fur has paid off. In May the Federal Government announced it would ban the import of products made from...

Congratulations.(choice cuts)
August 1, 2004... Congratulations to Alan Bainbridge of Chisholm, ACT, the winner of our June label carrier promotion. He's won a CANON digital camera.

Children's cosmetics.(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Cosmetics are a popular gift for children, but they can pack a hidden punch if your child has an allergy. All cosmetics--children's included--are legally required to be labelled with a full list of their ingredients, either on the product or...

Product snapshot: Delonghi Pastamore PMC 110.(choice cuts)
August 1, 2004... The DELONGHI Pastamore pasta cooker boasts al dente pasta at the press of a button. Just fill the bowl with water, add salt, and put the pasta in the basket. The pasta is automatically lowered into the water when it boils, is stirred to prevent...

More power to you.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... One weekend a salesperson knocked on my door claiming to offer discounts on my energy bills. After a cursory introduction of herself and her company (EnergyAustralia) she proceeded to probe my current supply arrangements. Her offer of $100 off...

Thumbs up!(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... Shelagh Jelinek of Merredin, WA, awards a thumbs-up to RM Williams in Perth, WA. Having bought two pairs of boots two years ago she found she barely wore them because they were uncomfortable. When she recently mentioned this to the store they...

Not so Choice!(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... We recently received a letter from 'Choice Industry Research'. Both my wife and I thought that CHOICE magazine, as part of your ongoing research, had sent it to us. However it wasn't clear how or why CHOICE had selected us for the opportunity...

Liquid gold? We give you the verdict on 29 extra-virgin olive oils available in supermarkets.(Test: extra-virgin olive oil)
August 1, 2004... Whether it's drizzled over roasted vegetables, tossed through a fresh green salad, or sloshed in a frypan to saute salmon, a good olive oil can greatly enhance a meal. Judging by the amount of olive oil we get through, Australians are avid...

Gourmet coffee at home: can you make coffee at home that's anything like the 'real thing' from a cafe?(Test: espresso machines)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * On test: 12 pump espresso machines ranging in price from around $200 to a little under $1000. * The cheapest in the test was among the best, the most expensive the worst. * Don't let gimmicks fool you. With a bit...

Coffee grinders: of the eight coffee grinders on test, only half produced a grind fine enough for a good espresco.(Test: coffee grinders)
August 1, 2004... Grinding your own coffee is a must if you're after that perfect cup--a good espresso machine alone won't do the trick. So, to complement our test of espresso makers (pages 13-17), we bought eight coffee grinders ranging in price from $38 to...

Insurance in name only: home warranty insurance is mandatory, but in most states many consumer protection measures have been whittled away over the years.(Report: home warranty in insurance)
August 1, 2004... If you've built a home or renovated in recent years, you're probably aware of the problems that have surrounded home warranty insurance. If you haven't, and you're planning to do so in the near future, you need to know about it. Home...

Convenience herbs.(foodbites)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Are ready-to-use herbs as good as fresh? To find out we took a snapshot look at two types of GOURMET GARDEN and FRESHSHOT convenience herbs, garlic and coriander, using a taste test to compare them with fresh herbs and the leading brands of...

Did you know?(foodbites)(quality of raw sugar)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Raw sugar may be less refined, but that doesn't make it a healthier, 'wholemeal' alternative to white sugar. In fact, nutritionally there's little difference between the two. The size of the granules and the amount of molasses remaining on...

The milky way.(foodbites)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The focus of this month's National Healthy Bones Week (August 1-7) is the growing problem of teenage girls not getting enough calcium in their diet. Teen girls are encouraged to have a glass of milk every morning to help build stronger...

To b(undle), or not to b(undle)? Is 'bundling' your phone, internet access and/or pay TV the right choice for you?(Report: phone/internet/pay TV packages)
August 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Despite the discounts, bundling may not be the cheapest option --compare the phone costs in particular with other services to find out. * If you make a lot of international calls, call rate caps to certain countries...

Who's winning the appliance Olympics? It's the gold standard we're all looking for: brands with a good track record and appliances that won't break down.(Survey: appliance reliability)
August 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * You can save yourself a lot of hassle by choosing a brand with a good reliability record. * Reliability is only part of the picture --performance and after-sales service count for a lot as well. It can be the last...

Safe sleeping: we tested baby monitors to find the ones most likely to provide peace of mind.(Test: baby monitors)
August 1, 2004... You've finally got your baby to sleep, giving you some precious moments to get something else done--clean that pile of dishes in the sink, hang washing on the line or perhaps even relax with a cuppa and chat on the phone with friends. You make...

Goodbye and good riddance: if you have acne, you don't have to put up with it--effective treatments are available.(Report: Acne treatments)
August 1, 2004... Zit-man washes his face twice a day with a popular medicated face wash--one that claims to fight acne. But the pimples keep coming and the unfortunate teenager is stuck with his cruel nickname. There could be several reasons for the...

Reader car reviews: shopping for a family car? Here's what our readers thought of three popular models.(Report: cars)
August 1, 2004... The motoring press and especially the internet (for example, the 'cars' section on www.choice.com.au) offer a wide range of information when you're buying a car, such as road tests, crash test results and repair costs, but most of it doesn't...

Mid-price vacuum cleaners: we put 11 machines through their paces.(Test: vacuum cleaners)
August 1, 2004... Judging by the results of this test, spending a bit more on a vacuum cleaner might give you better dirt removal than choosing a cheap alternative. But previous tests have also shown that you can probably spend too much on a vacuum cleaner....

Can you help?(hip pocket)
August 1, 2004... IDENTITY FRAUD Have you been a victim of identity fraud? Has the security of your personal information been violated? CHOICE Money& Rights is looking into identity fraud and would like to hear from you if you've had an experience you'd...

Incentive to go green.(hip pocket)(MECU (Members and Education Credit Union) and environmental group GREENFLEET make partnership to promote enviromental protection)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Credit union MECU (Members and Education Credit Union) and environmental group GREENFLEET have joined forces to create the goGreen Car Loan. They're offering cheaper loans to customers who buy fuel-efficient cars. MECU has switched its...

Flick your bank.(hip pocket)
August 1, 2004... Are you tired of paying high fees and earning next to no interest in return? It might be time to give your everyday bank transaction account the flick. CHOICE Money & Rights has found you may be able to make big savings by switching. Many...

Our baby.(Consumer Bookshelf)
August 1, 2004... Capture your baby's great moments in this beautiful hardcover book. From birth to three years, each page has room to add your own information, pictures or other finishing touches. Some of the many things you can record: * That special...

Recalls & bans.
August 1, 2004... Nowadays there ore so many product recalls we may not be able to print all of them in CHOICE. For comprehensive recall information go to the Federal Treasury website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Consumer Safety...