First look: product: GE profile harmony washer and dryer Clothes Care System.(Up front: news / trends / advice)(Product/Service Evaluation)

The name alone--Clothes Care System--hints that these are not your average washday workhorses. They're billed as the first washer-dryer pair that communicate electronically: Via a wire, the washer sends load data to the dryer, which picks a setting, eliminating guesswork.

The washer is an unusual top-loader: Instead of a vertical agitator it has an "infusor," a flat plate that spins independently of the basket. It holds up to 16 pounds of laundry (just 2 pounds less than the most capacious washers we've tested) and has settings for color, garment type, fabric, nonclothes items, and items with specific stains.

The dryer, which comes in electric and gas versions, uses temperature and moisture sensors to tell when clothes are dry (most dryers use only one type) and has two motors, for airflow and tumbling (most dryers have one). It displays an estimated drying time.

Both washer and dryer performed basic duties very well. A drawback for the washer: We judged its energy efficiency as just fair. A plus for the dryer: It was one of the quietest we've tested.

How effectively do these appliances communicate? Well, they may need couples' therapy. Our tests showed that the washer simply tells the dryer which wash cycle you've chosen. When we ...