Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from November 2005

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from November 2005

Decisions, decisions.
November 1, 2005... Starting in this issue with a comparison of LCD and plasma TVs (page 8), CHOICE is allocating more of its resources to testing electronic leisure products, particularly televisions. The falling prices and increasing popularity of LCD and plasma...

DVD recorders.(CORRECTION)(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2005... CHOICE, August 2005 The BENQJH300 DVD recorder in our test has progressive scan, as noted in the table on page 39, but only when playing discs recorded in NTSC format. Australia uses PAL format, so it won't be much use unless you regularly...

Strollers: are toddler seats safe?(choice cuts)
November 1, 2005... If you've got a toddler and a baby but just one single-seat stroller, a quick and cheap solution is to convert it into a twin stroller by attaching a toddler seat. But how safe are they? We bought three seat attachments: the CHILDCARE Trio...

Petrol pricing explained.(choice cuts)
November 1, 2005... We'd all have some idea why petrol tends to be more expensive in the country than in a large coastal city, but why some of us pay more for petrol on a Thursday than a Tuesday can be more baffling. To help people understand the many issues...

Subscribers go behind the scenes.(choice cuts)
November 1, 2005... Thanks to all of you who entered the competition in July to be a guest at CHOICE for two days, to celebrate our 45th birthday. We were inundated with responses from subscribers keen to win a tour of CHOICE. In September our three winners (and...

Hitting the road--and your wallet.(choice cuts)(fuel prices)
November 1, 2005... If you're hankering for a trip round Australia in a four-wheel drive, rising fuel prices might be making you think again. In its Oct/Nov 2005 issue CHOICE Money & Rights took a look at what it could cost you, taking into account all running...

Nannies.(Can you help?)
November 1, 2005... Many parents use nanny agencies to help them find the perfect cater for their children. If you've ever hired a nanny through an agency, we'd like to hear about your experiences--good, bad or just interesting. For example, how long did it...

Free-range pork?(choice cuts)
November 1, 2005... The welfare of farm animals can arouse strong passions among farmers and animal welfare enthusiasts alike. As consumers, it's always good to be offered a choice--even if it means paying extra for meat that's been produced by more humane...

More benefits of exercise.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... If you have trouble sleeping, exercise can help, but doing it at the right time of day can be crucial, reports the US Consumer Reports on Health. A year-long study looking at women who exercised found that those who worked out in the morning...

Time's money.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(physicians)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Also from Consumer Reports on Health comes some interesting information about the time patients in the US get to see their doctor. Research there has shown that on average patients get to spend only 16 minutes face-to-face with a primary care...

Happy 2nd birthday, three-year-old!(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)
November 1, 2005... A beautiful children's birthday card with a bright, colourful, feathery character on top in the shape of a two--sure to impress a two year-old. But stop: according to the manufacturer, it isn't suitable for children under three, report Which?...

Clocking up power use.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... I have a comment to make on the article Microwaves for a small household (CHOICE, July 2005). The review included a model with a dial rather than touch controls (PANASONIC NN-MX21WF). Under the 'bad points' heading 'no clock' was included. ...

Bottled water rip-off.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... For 21 years I was an engineer with a major metropolitan water company and can add to your comments that buying bottled water is a waste of money (CHOICE, July 2005). We always advised customers to simply put water from the tap into a wide,...

Postage puzzle.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... Australia has a system of two types of postage stamps: one for domestic consumption and the other for posting letters and articles overseas. The stamps for international use have the words 'International POST' printed on a blue strip on the...

Dyson.(THUMBS UP!)
November 1, 2005... When Shirley Sinclair's out-of-warranty vacuum cleaner developed a problem with one of its seals, her expectations were exceeded when DYSON sent her a replacement part within 72 hours and at no cost.

Panasonic.(THUMBS UP!)
November 1, 2005... Yvonne Danson has a PANASONIC LCD monitor that started to fade two years into a three--year warranty. Trouble was, she no longer had the purchase receipt. PANACONIC confirmed the production date from the serial number and repaired it under...

LCD vs plasma: in terms of picture quality, is there much difference?(TEST: Televisions)(Product/Service Evaluation)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * Judge a TV screen on its performance rather than its type--we found quality differences between models regardless of whether they were LCD or plasma. * On any one set, picture quality may differ with different inputs...

A burning issue: are solarium operators risking our safety for the sake of a sale?(REPORT: Solariums)
November 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * Some solarium operators are misinforming customers about the safety and supposed benefits of tanning and solarium use. * Standards for solarium operators are intended to make indoor tanning as safe as possible for...

Venerable vinegar: balsamic vinegar can add class to your condiments collection.(TEST: Balsamic vinegar)
November 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * On test: 28 balsamic vinegars from $1.50 to $55.65 for 250 mL. * In general you get what you pay for. Our experts judged the majority of cheaper balsamics to be just OK. But we found at least one good-quality balsamic...

Used car safety: choosing a safe used car model could mean the difference between getting out of an accident with a fright or with a serious injury.(DRIVELINES: Buying a used car)
November 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * The used car safety ratings are based on real-life accident data. They assess how well a model protects its own driver and the driver of the other vehicle in an on-road crash. Many new car models offer sophisticated...

Smartphones: your world in your pocket.(computing choice)
November 1, 2005... Essentially, a smartphone combines the functions of a mobile phone with a personal digital assistant (PDA), which can generally do things like manage appointments, contacts and to-do lists as well as word processing and spreadsheets. To be...

I'll go no more a-roamin' ... a CDMA mobile offers you better coverage than a GSM outside metropolitan areas, but you can't use it overseas.(TEST: CDMA mobile phones)
November 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * Our test of six CDMA mobile phones had a clear winner (the NOKIA 6255), but the other models are still good phones if you want a different style or features. * Not all the models are available on both CDMA networks, or...

Totally crackers: crackers can contain more fat and salt than you might expect--which are the healthiest?(TEST: Crackers)
November 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL Rice crackers and crispbread are generally a healthier choice than the more traditional type of cracker. They usually have less fat and fewer kilojoules --but you've still got to watch their salt levels (see Table 1 for...

Want more money info?(hip pocket)
November 1, 2005... CHOICE Money & Rights magazine is published six times a year and contains more information on money topics (and your consumer rights) than we could ever fit into CHOICE. To subscribe call 1800 069 552 toll-free or go to www.choice.com.au/...

Will you switch super funds?(hip pocket)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... While 93% of consumers are aware of super choice, only 28% say they might consider switching funds, with 51% saying they're 'unlikely to' or 'would not' switch funds. These were the findings of a recent survey by ACNielsen. Don't just...

A fine line.(hip pocket)(financial planning)
November 1, 2005... Steve received a cold call from a representative of LJ Hooker Property Source, an arm of LJ Hooker Real Estate. He agreed to meet one of their representatives at his home. Steve and his wife Martha met the LJ Hooker representative, an...

Summertime ... tips for protecting yourself from the sun.(REPORT: Sun care)
November 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * You need to get surprisingly little sunlight each day to stay healthy --less than 10 minutes for most people. * Avoid the summer sun altogether during the middle of the day if you can. * Cover up with a shirt. hat...

Head protection: protecting a young cyclist's head doesn't have to cost a lot, as long as the helmet fits well.(TEST: Kids' bike helmets)
November 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * A label saying the helmet meets the Australian standard is a good indication that it's tough enough, but won't tell you how easy a helmet is to fit to your child's head. * The better the fit, the safer the helmet will...

A showbag of fridges: side-by-sides, a French door and more.(UPDATE: Fridges)
November 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * On test: five side-by-sides, two three-door fridges, and five two-doors with the freezer at the top. * Fridges are more energy-efficient than ever, but is it at the cost of food quality? * More fridges now have...

Cutting costs: you can get a good petrol mower for less than $400.(TEST: Petrol lawnmowers)
November 1, 2005... IN A NUTSHELL * Most of the models on test cut grass very well, but not all are easy to use. * Our test revealed two good models for under $400, but other models et this price point weren't us satisfactory. On test: 11 four-stroke...

Food Safety Week.(food bites)
November 1, 2005... Food Safety Week is being held from 7-12 November, and this year it's all about looking after food while you're on the move, be it camping, caravanning or bushwalking. Maintaining the right temperature is one of the main keys to safe food...

Something fishy?(food bites)
November 1, 2005... Invested your hard-earned in a nice fillet of barramundi lately, only to find it seemed more like perch? Now there's somewhere you can channel your anger, with the launch of a seafood hotline. The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and...

Nutrition by numbers.(food bites)
November 1, 2005... Whether you're counting carbs or kilojoules or simply watching how much fat you eat, the chances are that when you're shopping you rely on the nutrition information that's now on most food labels. But how reliable are these seemingly precise...

Recalls & bans.
November 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...

Index: December 2004-November 2005.
November 1, 2005... Air conditioners, split-system inverters Oct ** Airline survey, domestic Jun **, Sep * Arthritis treatments Aug ** Balsamic vinegar Nov **...

Too good to be true.(hard word)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... What's this we read? "Geta Low 8.99% p.a. on... cash advances?" and "receive just 8.99% p.a. on that [cash] advance"? Are our eyes deceiving us? The bank plans to pay us interest on our credit card cash advances? Alas, it seems...

A driving course to make you look good on the road?(hard word)
November 1, 2005... At $170 this 'complimentary' course is hardly free, so presumably it must be very flattering.