Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from August 2005

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from August 2005

Cost versus quality.(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... Is a higher price a good guide to a better-quality product? This is supposed to be the way markets work, and life would certainly be simpler if there was a straightforward link between quality and cost. But CHOICE readers know that price,...

Prescription drugs and safety.(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... It's estimated around 140,000 people in this country end up hospitalised every year after taking the incorrect medicine or dosage. One of the culprits behind this situation is confusing packaging and labelling. Examples of this are easy to...

Digital photo kiosks on trial.(choice cuts)
August 1, 2005... Digital photo kiosks allow you to preview and edit your digital images in-store before they're printed. CHOICE's sister publication, Computer CHOICE, surveyed more than 50 photo kiosks around Australia to investigate the level of quality you...

Congrats.(choice cuts)(June label carrier promotion winners)
August 1, 2005... Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Lopez of Boambee, NSW, the winners of our June label carrier promotion. They've won a Krups Nespresso 893 machine.

A solution to a sticky problem?(choice cuts)(removing glue from stickers and labels)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... It's so frustrating trying to remove ugly stickers and labels from things, only to leave an even uglier sticky, papery mess behind. Good old eucalyptus oil is often called upon to finish the job, but it doesn't always do the trick. OOMPH...

Jogger strollers.(UPDATE: STROLLER RECALL)(Mountain Buggy 2005 stroller recall)
August 1, 2005... CHOICE, June 2005 MOUNTAIN BUGGY has recalled 2005 Urban singLe strollers (model 1.204-002, serial numbers 000000003342) and 2005 Urban double strollers (model 2204-002, serial numbers 000000-006957). A weakness in the handle mechanism...

Action against wine medal mockery.(choice cuts)(Winemakers' Federation of Australia new code of practice)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... If your knowledge of wine is patchy and you want to avoid picking a dud, it might seem a safe bet to choose a bottle that shows a string of shiny medals --after all, if it won a show award, it's got to have some merit. But bottlers are using...

It's a scam!(choice cuts)(scam details and information)(Australian anti spam and fraud websites)
August 1, 2005... If all the promises that come our way were true, we could easily make big money working from home, turn a small investment into a huge money spinner or lose lots of weight without moving a muscle. But when something sounds too good to be true,...

Stunning outfit.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(electric (non-fatal) shock jacket)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Ireland's Consumer Choice magazine reports on the 'no-contact jacket', developed by DuPont. "It looks like an ordinary and fashionable jacket but an inner layer of conductive fibre carries a tow-amp charge with the capability to deliver an...

Switch off.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(IV-B-Gone switches)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... A potentially popular high-tech gadget attracted the attention of Which? magazine in the UK. The keyring-sized IV-B-Gone switches off virtually any TV by aping the signals of 2000 different makes of remote control. "Peace on earth costs just 9...

When the sun ain't shining.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(home tanning units)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... It seems some Europeans in colder countries would rather risk their health and future good looks than face the world with a naturally pale complexion. Even those who don't want to leave the house can now get a tan using a home tanning unit for...

Charging overseas? Be prepared.(your letters)(voltage conversion and phone chargers for traveling)(accessories needed)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I want to warn consumers about a potential problem with using a mobile phone in the US. After reading your article on mobile phones (CHOICE Jan/Feb 2005) I bought a tri-band NOKIA 3120 especially for use on a trip to the US because I needed to...

Comprehensive con.(your letters)(comprehensive car insurance)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I've comprehensively insured my car with the same high-profile insurer for the last seven years, with full no-claim bonuses throughout. The annual premiums haven't changed much over that time, although the insured value has more than halved. I...

Suncorp Metway.(THUMPS UP!)(customer relations)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... * We hear so much bad press about banks, it's nice to get a good story now and then, and Greg Rutter gives a Thumbs Up to Suncorp Metway. He'd mistakenly overdrawn his cheque account, and was charged a S30 fee He contacted them, pointing...

Remington.(THUMPS UP!)(customer relations)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... * A clean shaven and grateful lan laird thanks REMINGTON for not only fixing his shaver free of change, but taking the time and trouble to explain what he was doing wrong and how to rectify the problem.

Food acids--what are they?(food bites)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Food acids are used to maintain a level of acidity in a food, and also for inhibiting microbial growth. Common ones include acetic acid or vinegar, and citric acid, which is also found in citrus fruit.

The great milk debate.(food bites)(New Zealand Food Safety Authority report)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Choosing a carton of milk isn't a simple task these days-full fat, low fat, high calcium, omega-3, and now A1 or A2... So what are A1 and A2? Milk contains many proteins, one being beta-casein. A1 and A2 are types of beta-casein. Milk...

Mercury in fish ... again.(food bites)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... In the past few years we've passed on warnings from health authorities about watching our consumption of certain species of fish, due to the risk of mercury poisoning. The warning is especially targeted at pregnant women, I women considering...

Coffee break: they may look fabulous, but spending good money on an upmarket espresso machine won't guarantee you a great-tasting coffee.(TEST: Espresso machines)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2005... If you're someone who can't function in the morning without a jolt of coffee, you might've considered getting an automatic espresso machine. Think how easy it'd be--stagger into the kitchen bleary-eyed, press a button, and hey presto! Espresso....

Multipurpose ladders--ups and downs: in our last ladder test in 1997 we could recommend only one multipurpose ladder. Have they improved since then?(TEST: Multipurpose ladders)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Ladders are an almost essential tool for trade work, home maintenance and gardening. You're entitled to expect your ladder to provide a good, stable work platform while you clean the gutters or paint the ceiling. So even though the Australian...

Low-carb--but highly processed: low-carb processed foods are no healthier than their conventional equivalents--but can cost a lot more.(REPORT: Low-carb foods)
August 1, 2005... A survey last year found that one in five adult Australians said they'd tried, or intended to try, a low-carbohydrate diet. Most of us have at least heard of the Atkins diet (or some other form of low-carb diet) and worldwide the Atkins diet...

Ease your knees: if you're buying glucosamine to treat your arthritis you want to be sure the brand you buy contains an effective dose.(TEST: Glucosamine)
August 1, 2005... Arthritis affects around three million Australians--around 15% of the population--and is the leading cause of pain and disability among older people. Osteoarthritis, its most common form, is a degenerative joint condition that affects...

Outsourced pet care: there's a lot to consider when choosing a pet care service to mind your animal when you can't be there.(REPORT: Commercial pet care services)
August 1, 2005... Holiday time, yay! So you've planned your holiday, researched your destination, booked the tickets and hotels, obtained visas, learnt a little local language, arranged airport transfers and car rental, sorted out access to currency, redirected...

Straight to the point: sleek, salon-straight hair can be yours everyday--for a price.(USER TRIAL: Hair straighteners)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... Gone are the days when curls, kinks and waves are ironed out, head on the ironing board, at risk of singeing and burns, all for the sake of smooth, straight hair. Nor do you have to fork out a fortune for harsh, chemical straightening at the...

The more things change ... recording to disc may give a clearer picture, but are DVD recorders easy to use?(TEST: DVD recorders)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... The humble VCR remains with us, but if yours is getting tired, or you're looking to upgrade, the swap to a DVD recorder is looking more affordable. DVDs take up a lot less space than VHS cassettes and some DVD recorders have features like...

Is duty-free worth it? As much a holiday tradition as cocktails by the pool, does duty-free still offer good value?(REPORT: Duty-free shopping)
August 1, 2005... For years duty-free shopping was one of the perks of travelling overseas and substantial discounts could be had on a range of luxury goods from alcohol to watches to perfume. But on 1 July 2000, when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was brought...

It's a gas! Cooking's a breeze with these cooktops.(TEST: Gas cooktops)(Product/Service Evaluation)
August 1, 2005... These cooktops look pretty flash with their shiny stainless steel surfaces, five burners and cast iron or enamel trivets. They look like they're straight out of a commercial kitchen or Jamie Oliver's abode--and most cook as well as they look....

Income protection loopholes.(hip pocket)(income protection insurance policies)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Depending on your circumstances it can be difficult to make a claim under an income protection insurance policy. In 1997, concerned about being unable to support his family should something happen to him, Nick Laurie, a farmer from...

Super tips for women.(hip pocket)(superannuation)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Women generally have less in their super accounts than men. Reasons include the time women take out of the workforce as carers and the fact they have lower average earnings than men. However, women can generally expect to live longer than...

Moneyworks: a concise no-nonsense guide to managing your money better.(NEW TO CHOICE ... OTHER PUBLISHERS' TITLES)(book)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... Peter Cerexhe You don't have to make a lot of money to live well. You simply need to manage your money better and make it work for you. Moneyworks covers all the basics, from credit cards to super, to show you how to take control of...

Great Myth Conceptions.(NEW TO CHOICE ... OTHER PUBLISHERS' TITLES)(book)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
August 1, 2005... Dr Karl Kruszelnicki Dr Karl examines life's myths and absurdities. Have you ever wondered... Is the toilet seat cleaner than the office desk? Did Man really land on the Moon? Is the Black Box black? Does a soul weigh 21 grams at the...

Recalls & bans.(information)(Australian Federal Treasury website: www.recalls.gov.au)(Directory)
August 1, 2005... Nowadays there are 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...