Consumer Reports Annual Buying Guide articles from January 1 2005

Consumer Reports Annual Buying Guide archives from January 1 2005

Home theater in a box.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Many of the systems in the Ratings--even some toward the bottom of the list--were solid performers. Models judged excellent for sound had the crispest, smoothest, fullest audio without excessive bass. Those scoring very good should suit all but...

Humidifiers.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... The two top-scoring tabletop units are evaporative models, which combine efficiency with good output and features. Choose a high-scoring warm-mist model, however, if you place a premium on quiet and can live with higher operating costs. All...

Irons.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Virtually all the tested irons were equal to the task of removing wrinkles from a range of fabrics. You don't have to spend a lot to get very good performance. Some irons selling for $20 to $30 scored better than others that sell for $60 to...

Lawn mowers.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... All of these self-propelled and push mowers scored at least good overall. The best in this test cut evenly and proved easy to start, maneuver, and control. They also bagged thoroughly, courtesy of rear-mounted collection bags, which tend to...

Lawn tractors.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Nearly all of these lawn tractors mow at least adequately. Top scorers combine level cutting with even clippings dispersal in the most-used side-discharge mode, along with thorough mulching and well-vacuumed results with their bagging kits. But...

PDAS.(Personal digital assistants)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... The Ratings tell you which models were easiest to use, had the longest battery life, and performed best overall. The table also indicates the models' major features. But finding the best PDA for your needs also means weighing price and other...

Grills, gas.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... All of these grills cook at least adequately. Top scorers kick performance up a notch with more consistent temperatures across their surfaces--important when cooking lots of food at once. They're also better at grilling chicken and other...

DVD players.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Excellent picture quality is a hallmark of virtually all DVD players. Any of the tested models would be fine for playing commercial DVD movies and audio CDs on a conventional TV. For typical use, then, you can safely buy a player by price and...

Dryers.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Most of the dryers we tested were very good or excellent performers with ample capacity. Models judged excellent for drying were noticeably better than lower-rated units at leaving a load damp for ironing and for drying delicates at low heat....

Drills, cordless.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Top-rated cordless drills blend ample power and run time with quick recharging in an hour or less. Most of the best we tested cost more than $200 and deliver at least 18 volts of drilling power, though you'll find notable exceptions. More...

Dishwashers.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... All but a few of the models we tested will clean dishes well, so your choice may hinge on style, energy efficiency, noise, or brand reliability. The Ratings rank models by performance. The Quick Picks highlight models you might want to...

Digital cameras.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... All the cameras produced uncropped 8x10 prints that are very good or excellent--a quality difference that's subtle. However, higher-megapixel models would have a clear edge with heavily cropped or even larger prints. Note that battery life...

Cooktops & wall ovens.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... It's hard to choose a bad electric cooktop or wall oven; we've found wider performance differences among gas cooktops. In our tests, most cooktops produce lots of heat for fast cooking and also do well at providing low heat for simmering. ...

Camcorders.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... You can expect a digital camcorder to deliver very good video. Digital camcorders that record directly onto small DVD discs topped the Ratings. However, that doesn't automatically make them the best choice. As the Ratings show, most DVD models...

Air conditioners.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... All 35 air conditioners in our tests should keep you cool. Top-scoring models perform the most efficiently and quietly; several also offer the best value. The Ratings rank models by overall performance within size groups. Once you...

Product ratings.
January 1, 2005... How to use the Ratings listed here? First, read the general buying advice for the product you're interested in. The page numbers for these reports are noted on each Ratings page. The Ratings chart gives the big picture in terms of performance....

Reliability records: Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2005.(Part 2)
January 1, 2005... TROUBLE Isuzu Rodeo SPOTS 96 97 Engine [9.3% to 14.8%] [9.3% to 14.8%] Cooling [2.0% to 5.0%] [2.0% to...

Reliability records: Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2005.(Part 1)(Statistical table)
January 1, 2005... TROUBLE Acura CL SPOTS 96 97 Engine [2.0% or less] Cooling [2.0% or...

Detailed reliability.
January 1, 2005... In the following pages, CR provides you with reliability information on more than 200 models. Based on 675,000 responses to our 2003 annual subscriber survey, these charts show you how 1996 through 2003 models are holding up in 14 trouble...

The best and worst used cars.(CONSUMER REPORTS BUYING GUIDE 2005)
January 1, 2005... A great way to reduce the uncertainty in buying a used car is to shop for cars with proven reliability. The lists on these pages can guide you to the best and help you steer clear of the worst. CONSUMER REPORTS annually surveys its more...

Rating the 2005 models.(AUTO RATINGS)
January 1, 2005... Which cars are the best? This section can give you a head start in answering that question. Included here are overall Ratings on 185 vehicles from CONSUMER REPORTS' extensive testing program. Though most tests were conducted on 2004 or earlier...

Reviews of the 2005 models.
January 1, 2005... This rundown of all the major 2005 models can start you on your search for a new car. You'll find a capsule summary of each model, as well as the CONSUMER REPORTS prediction of how reliable the vehicle will be, and how much it's likely to...

What's new in autos for 2005.
January 1, 2005... More than 30 new or redesigned vehicles are being introduced for the 2005 model year. They debut against the backdrop of several trends: the automakers continue to mix the attributes of cars, minivans, and SUVs to create models with more...

Home office: wireless workspace.
January 1, 2005... In our increasingly mobile society, your office can be anywhere. Phones are portable; laptops, too. And don't forget the king of high-tech portability, the PDA. When it comes time to sit down and do your work, whether you're at home, on the...

Home & yard: cleaner and greener.
January 1, 2005... Lower prices, driven by retail competition, have made replacing your old, worn-out tools and household products more practical. Manufacturers have made improvements in product efficiency, safety, and ease of use, meaning there's no excuse not...

Kitchen & laundry: cleaned, cooked, & cool.
January 1, 2005... Form follows function in the kitchen and laundry areas, where appliances are looking good with new colors and stainless steel. They're smart, too, with sensors to tell you when your food is cooked and your clothes are dry. So now you can add a...

Home entertainment: sharper and clearer.
January 1, 2005... With new high-definition televisions and high-tech digital audio and video components easily available, staying home has become as alluring--and almost as good--as going out to the movies. There are more options every day. And prices are coming...

What's new in home products.
January 1, 2005... If there's one overarching trend in the marketplace today, it's that features once found only on high-priced models are trickling down to their mid- and low-priced counterparts. This more-for-less trend is also showing itself in greater energy...

10 great ways to find bargains on the Web.
January 1, 2005... There's no doubt that shopping on the Web is convenient. You can shop anytime, any day, instead of fighting traffic to the local mall after work or on weekends. Some e-tailer out there in cyberspace is bound to have your desired model or size...

Secrets of shopping smart.
January 1, 2005... Are you a careful researcher--someone who takes the time to shop for the best price on whatever you're buying? Or are you a time-saver, looking to get the best price as quickly as possible? Or do you window shop? Whatever your shopping style,...

Power blowers.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... We found wide performance variations, though the best of each blower type--electric and gas handheld, backpack, and wheeled--swept and loosened debris well. But even the best tend to be better at one or the other task, and many don't vacuum, a...

Power sanders.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... You'll find many competent sanders, especially among the versatile random-orbit and finishing types. Top performers tend to cost the most; paying more typically buys more features. Exceptions include the well-equipped Ryobi (4), a CR Best Buy....

Ranges.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Ranges prove the point that you don't have to pay a lot for high performance. As the Ratings of 30-inch-wide models show, ranges costing several hundred dollars performed on a par with models costing more than a thousand. Spending more can also...

Refrigerators.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Most new refrigerators will keep your milk chilled and your ice cream frozen. We'd stick with those judged very good or excellent for temperature performance, which indicates even, consistent temperatures. Lower-priced models are less likely to...

Snow throwers.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Our snow-thrower scores emphasize fast, effortless clearing. Most of our top performers are larger, two-stage machines, since their wider augers help them scoop more snow than single-stage models do. Convenient controls and relatively easy...

String trimmers.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Many of these models can handle everything from trimming around fence posts to tall grass and weeds. All but five gas-powered models (noted in the Ratings) also meet the tougher emissions standards required for sale in California. Top...

Telephones, cordless.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Phones and answerers that use analog transmission are the only ones with excellent scores in voice quality. But phones with very good voice quality should be just fine, too. As the Ratings show, multiple-handset models generally have more...

TVs, LCD.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... The best and highest-priced LCD TVs, all HD sets, can display a very good picture when connected to a high-quality source, such as a DVD player, satellite receiver, or digital-cable box. But the smaller a TV's screen, the less benefit you'll...

TVs, plasma.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Most of the plasma sets we tested displayed bright, colorful images. On the better sets, picture quality was clear and crisp, especially with HD programming and with output from a progressive-scan DVD player. With regular TV programming, images...

Vacuum cleaners.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... Virtually all of these vacuums cleaned bare floors quickly and neatly. Top-scoring models add impressive carpet cleaning and strong airflow through the hose for use with tools, along with extra features--something we now weigh more heavily in...

Washing machines.(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2005... We've updated our tests to better reflect improvements in today's washers and changes in the way you use them. (See page 91 for more details.) As a result of these changes, overall scores for washing performance are lower than in the past....

Brand reliability.(RATINGS)
January 1, 2005... Products today are generally pretty reliable, but some brands have been more reliable than others. Every year we survey readers on repairs and on problems they encounter with household products. From their responses, we derive the percentage of...

Brand locator.(Directory)(Chart)(Website list)
January 1, 2005... BRAND LOCATOR Phone numbers and Web addresses of selected manufacturers. A Acura 800 382-2238 www.acura.com ACD Systems 866 244-2237 www.acdsystems.com Adobe 800...

Product recalls.
January 1, 2005... Products ranging from child-safety seats to chain saws are recalled when there are safety defects. Various federal agencies, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the...

8-year index to Consumer Reports.
January 1, 2005... This index indicates when the last full report on a given subject was published in CONSUMER REPORTS. The index goes back as far as 1997. In text below, bold type indicates Ratings reports or brand-name discussions; italic type indicates...

Using the Canada extra.(Table)
January 1, 2005... USING THE CANADA EXTRA The Ratings you'll find in this 16-page section list some of the same products included in Ratings reports elsewhere in this book, but with a difference: The products listed here are those that, according to the...