Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from December 2005

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from December 2005

'Tis the season ...(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... ... to be jolly, but 'merry' might be a more appropriate word for this issue of CHOICE, which includes our taste test of 75 red wines in time for the party season. This year we tested popular red varietals--shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and...

Storing coffee: CHOICE, August 2005.(UPDATES)
December 1, 2005... In our article on automatic espresso machines (CHOICE, August 2005) we reported our coffee-tasting experts as saying that coffee beans should be stored "... where it's cool and dry, at room temperature--not in the fridge or freezer." ...

Cordless phones test.(choicecuts)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Cordless phones are a popular Christmas present, so we were aiming to publish this year's test report in the December issue. However, we also wanted to include some recently released models, which meant the testing couldn't be finished in...

Would you like warranties with that?(choicecuts)
December 1, 2005... When you're shopping for Christmas presents or hitting the January sales, you'll probably be asked time and time again whether you'd like to take out an extended warranty. What should your answer be? CHOICE Money & Rights reports in its...

Broadband the winner in satisfaction stakes.(choicecuts)
December 1, 2005... An ADSL broadband connection is the way to go to avoid frustration with your internet service, according to the latest Computer CHOICE survey. The magazine surveyed 3418 readers in July 2005 about their satisfaction with their internet service...

Alarm alert.(choicecuts)
December 1, 2005... While it's important we have smoke alarms, we shouldn't rely too heavily on them, reports the October issue of CHOICE Health Reader. Psychologists at Victoria University found that the usual noise made by Australian smoke alarms--a relatively...

Inverter air conditioners.(CORRECTION)(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2005... CHOICE, October 2005 The figures for yearly running costs published in the table on page 43 were based on rated power consumption for heating rather than the consumption we measured. None of our scores is affected by this. Here are the...

Miraculously misleading health claims.(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Have you ever been sceptical or outraged at an advertisement's claim about miracle weight loss, unheard-of health benefits or the like? If so, you can complain about it. The Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code Council (TGACC) exists to stop ads...

CDMA roaming.(UPDATE)
December 1, 2005... CHOICE, November 2005 In our test report on CDMA phones (CHOICE, October 2005), we said that New Zealand was the only overseas country where you can use your CDMA phone. TELSTRA has since established roaming agreements with a number of...

SABCO Mops, choice cuts, October 2005.(CORRECTION)(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2005... The SABCO Super Swish Xtra cleaning system doesn't require disposable wipes, as we implied in the caption to the photo that accompanied our article on disposable cleaning wipes. The refills referred to are for the SABCO Smart Mop. According to...

Thumps up!(services)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... * Donald Smith of Dalkeith, WA, reckons VALE PAINTS deserves a 'Thumbs up' for its prompt response, after a $7 can of the brand's paint exploded, spraying his kitchen with brown paint. VALE PAINTS agreed to foot the bill to repaint the entire...

Unfit policies?(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... While searching the Yellow Pages for gyms in my area, I came across FITNESS FIRST. I rang them to find out how much an annual membership was. They refused to give me any information until I'd given them my name and telephone number, which I...

More dodgy deals.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... The letter about salespeople with unscrupulous tactics (CHOICE, October 2005) has prompted me to write to mention my experience of the ruthless sales practices of some telemarketing personnel. As the Nurse Manager in a small nursing home,...

Letter of the month.(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... We want to hear from you--your experiences help our research and often let other readers know about scares and rip-offs. Positive outcomes you've had to a complaint you took to a manufacturer, retailer, importer or tradesperson interest us,...

Backyard barbie: can these gas barbecues cook up a storm to impress your guests?(TEST: Gas barbecues)
December 1, 2005... A barbecue used to be a simple structure--a block of bricks with a grate over it, fuelled by newspaper and broken bits of wood; or the three-legged kettle variety, invariably knocked over by the family dog in the middle of cooking. The fare...

The latest thing: they're all the rage--but do you have to pay thousands for a good LCD TV?(TEST: 66 cm LCD TVs)
December 1, 2005... Walk into any electrical appliance showroom and you'll notice the most prominently displayed TVs are the fancy LCD (liquid crystal display) and plasma models. With their impressive wide screens, sharp picture quality and sleek flat-panel...

Straight reds: four wine experts taste 75 popular single-grape red wines: shiraz, cabernet, sauvignon and merlot.(TEST: Red wine)
December 1, 2005... It's not so long ago that white wine clearly dominated the Australian market, with over 80% of bottled table wine sales in the mid eighties. Whether due to changing tastes or increasing eagerness to reap red wine's widely reported health...

Get in the mix: Benchtop mixers give kitchen kudos--at a price.(TEST: Benchtop mixers)
December 1, 2005... A benchtop mixer is the latest must-have for the kitchen. Available in retro designs and colours to match all decors, it's tempting to buy on looks alone. But cost is an important consideration--while the cheapest mixers are good, spending $350...

Too many preservatives.(food bites)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Preservatives are on the agenda again, in particular sulphites and benzoates, used in the food industry to prevent the growth of bacteria and moulds and lengthen the shelf-life of foods. Sulphites are likely to be in foods such as sausages,...

Preserving the packet instead of the food.(food bites)
December 1, 2005... Talking of artificial preservatives (see above), most of us would choose to eat food without them if it was the only consideration, but in fact most of us also demand processed food that's convenient, cheap and free of bugs that can make us...

Calling all foodies.(food bites)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Have you ever wanted to tell the government what you think about what goes into food and how food products should be labelled? If so, the independent agency responsible for setting food regulations, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ),...

School backpacks: an ergonomically designed school backpack can reduce back and neck pain in school students, but only if they carry it correctly.(REPORT: School backpacks)
December 1, 2005... Textbooks, notepads, pencil case, lunchbox, water bottle. Perhaps a laptop, sports gear, music or project work--the stuff high-school students carry around some days can certainly add up. That's where a good, versatile backpack comes in. It'll...

Buzz off! we put 12 insect repellents, both natural and synthetic, to the test to find out which are best at keeping mozzies at bay.(TEST: Personal mosquito repellents)
December 1, 2005... Nothing spoils a balmy summer evening quite like the buzz and bite of mosquitoes. Swollen, itchy bites are bad enough, but mozzies can do even worse. They can carry diseases, particularly in tropical areas: malaria, encephalitis, Ross River...

Shop till you drop: your basic shopping rights--in time for the upcoming shopping reason.(REPORT: Your shopping rights)
December 1, 2005... Can you get a refund for a gift that isn't working, even without the receipt? Do you have to accept a credit note for the electronic gadget that's faulty? And what should you know when choosing a lay-by? With the Christmas gift-buying season in...

Car rental blues.(hip pocket)
December 1, 2005... Stuart West from the Sunshine Coast recently rented a car for a week's holiday in the Yarra Valley with his wife. As is usually recommended, he asked for an inspection of the car when returning it to the rental company. "The guy was...

The quest for independent advice.(hip pocket)
December 1, 2005... According to Brett Walker, a consultant to fund managers and financial planners, consumers look for someone they can trust when they go for financial advice, and independence is one quick way to remove most potential conflicts of interest from...

Lower super tax, higher super contributions.(hip pocket)
December 1, 2005... The scrapping of the super surcharge (an additional tax of up to 15% on high income earners' extra super contributions) means making additional contributions to super will be a much more attractive proposition for high earners (those in the top...

Over the limit? Can you rely on a personal breathalyser to tell when you're over the legal limit?(TEST: Personal breathalysers)
December 1, 2005... Most people are well aware of the danger of drinking alcohol and driving. But if you've had just a couple of drinks you might wonder if you're still safe to drive. How do you know whether you're over the legal limit of 0.05 g per 100 mL of...

Could view better: small camcorders come at a price: their picture quality generally isn't great and their sound quality is getting worse.(TEST: Digital camcorders)
December 1, 2005... Since our last test in early 2005, digital camcorders have generally become more affordable (there are nine models under $1000 in this test) and lighter (almost all models weigh under 600 g). There's also a new recording system: two of the...

Recalls & bans.
December 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 Product Recalls Australia website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Product...

About choice.
December 1, 2005... Australian Consumers Association is a non-profit, is a non-profit, non-party-political organisation, established in 1959 to provide consumers with information and advice on goods, services, health and personal finances, and to help maintain and...

Choice index: January/February 2005--December 2005.
December 1, 2005... HOW TO USE THIS INDEX Bold type indicates a test, survey or trial report, normal type indicates other articles. * indicates an update of a previous report, additions or corrections to reports, small follow-up items, letters or recalls....

Don't forget to use protection.(hard word)
December 1, 2005... This one's mystified several readers over the years: what exactly does the Orphea Fabric Protector protect fabric from? Despite several mentions of protection, nowhere on the packaging does it spell out the menace it's addressing. Water? Mould?...

25% more confusing.(hard word)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... We found these original and "new larger size" CUDDLY concentrate packets puzzling on several counts. First, you get 300 mL of concentrate, instead of 250 mL. But that's only 20% more--we're not quite sure where "25% more softening" comes into...

Growing up fast?(hard word)
December 1, 2005... What's the point of a 'pram pillow' that's not suitable for babies under three? If you're older than three you're unlikely to be using a pram. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE HELP? The prize for the best entry goes to D. Limn, Thanks also to t...