reac = OTe e : KKAK vy Se & from our RS et /, x Plus Avoid these sneaky travel fees ».<::SPECIAL OFFER FOR CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE SUBSCRIBERS Get more Ratings and CR Best Buy recommendations with a subscription to our companion website. SS Ue mes ste) meee cea ee UT Um COL] 24/7 ACCESS TO: © Latest product Ratings. Plus reliability info on thousands of produet. © Consumer Reports Mobile.* Access to ConsumerReports.org on your mobile phone. @ Build & Buy car-buying service. Experience the easy way to buy a car AND save money. (© _New! Car Repair Pricing. Find out how much that next car repair should cost. Price & Shop. Buy electronics and appliances from reliable online stores. Now includes local shopping, too. Health info. Stay heatthy with current drug, insurance, and heath equipment Ratings. Subscribe today at www.ConsumerReports.org/cr/may1 ConsumerReports :FEATURES 15|101 secrets from our experts Save money and time with our insider's guide to your tools, utes, electronics, and more. 20| Bundle for savings Best choices for packages that combine TV, phone, and Internet service ws Advice on how to bargain your bill lower. Ratings pages 2425 26|Warranty protection When you buy a product, you have more rights than You might realize, “A SPECIAL LAWN SECTION 28) Learn the latest ways to keep your yard looking its best. 30) Exclusive test results, Ratings pages 32-33, 35 36) 25 top picks rev up your choices. Ratings page 36 ON a a UNE Pari ry LAB TESTS 39|Hot new phone A first look at the BlackBerry 210. pus Mixed signals fora WiFi phone. 40 |Refrigerators Most reliable brands. 40|High chair ‘The Babyhome Eat poses.a safety risk. 42| Mattresses ‘Our latest Ratings show that you don’t have to spendaa lot fora good night's slee Ratings page 45 46|Blenders The best in our tests can help with drinks, soups, and more. Ratings page 47 48| Vitamin D How 32 supplements really measute up, Ratings page 48 ‘Continued on next page 41 irons Eight choices will help you get the wrinkles out. Mav 2019 CONSUMERREFORTS.org 3CONTENTS MAY 2013 DEPARTMENTS 5| Ask our experts 5/Letters 6| Viewpoint Preserve our food labeling. 6|From our president Poor showing for U.S. in health. 7\ Up front ‘Are restaurant nutrition claims true? ‘scram cHeck Edge of Glory sharpener. ‘Quirky cleaners. ‘*Relaxation drinks: Ananti-frazale fizale? ‘*Cracker crunch off. ‘¢Furstlook at ultra-HDTV. ‘*U.S. hospitals still not safe enough. 12|Health Same generic drug, many prices twadd aBluetooth to your car. ; 50|Compact sedans Face-off of the Honda Civic and the Nissan Senta, Ratings page 52 13| Money Beat travel fees big and small 14| Safety alerts 60| About us 62 | Index 63/Selling it 54| Auto Test Extra Road tests ofthe BMW X1, Cadillac ATS, and Nissan Pathfinder, 58| Motorcycle reliability Japanese bikes beat BMW and Harley. ‘Consumer Reports What we do Wlebuy How toreach us rte tus at Consumer isthe wards allofteproductswerate. | Reports, 10\Truman Ave, Yonkers, NY largestindependert WhatwedontdoWe 10703057, ttn: Customer Service consumerproduct- dantacceat pad testing organization, Wealso survey rllons ofconsumers about ther experiences ‘th products and services Werebased subsctptionsana invonkers, WY oral aur name or andareanonpront content tobeusedtorany organeaton promotional purposes averting. we get our ‘money mainly tough donations We dont accept free test samplestrom manulaturets. Ande sTosendalettertotreeditor g0t0 onsumereporser/etertoedor. + Forres ipsand sory dea, £0 toconsumerReparts oats. + emalisubmissions for eling tro Sling t@er consumer * For subscription information, got ConsumerRepors og/magasne ot «al 800-566-5261 Seepage 60 formoce deals SUE u bed o 93 the score? 47 ~~ 93. Hughesnet NiIW950a satellite iron internet Disavingsthisissue {uy a Novaform foam mattress $1,020 {orss00insteadorthesimmons ComforBecic foam ana save tis much Fillyour generic prescriptions ‘at Costco instead of CVS and you coula ‘avethis much on amonth’s supply ‘of five common medications. $749 Geta Ninja Master Prep Professional blender for $60and savethismuch ‘vera Blendtec Total Blender. $400 ‘Mobile-phone privacy, Stateof the Net, security software, sporting-goods stores, auto insurance, {5 ills, exterior paintsand stains, compact refrigerators, and heartrate monitors. eck out our ‘iPad app ‘Look for expanded ‘Ratings, videos of road ‘testsandlab tess, ‘plusmore photos and interactive navigation. ‘Now included with ‘your paid magazine “subscription. Ratings Vie rate products using these symbols: bial Vey ond © Good © Far @ Ror ‘CR Best Buy roducts with thisiconaflerthe bast ornbination of performanceand price Recommended product iodels with tis designation perform el ang standout for reasons Recommended car These ested vl arerelale, na performed adequatayf crash-tested oF inetusedin edeal alive est, Don't Buy Welabel products with hisicenwhen sweyvgethem tobe catetyrissortohave serous performance problems 4 CONSUMER REPORTS MAY 2015HON Your MIND. Too many scans lamaphysiian whois very concerned about the escalating oss of heath care inthis Country Your article Hospitals Stil Order Too Many Cans {Up Front, Febnuary201) is mseading Hospitals donot Grdercrseans doctors do. However t99 many doctors order CT scans wrtnseantevidenct of agnostic vale. “eter, Kons City, MO Talk about expired “Does Canned Food Go bad” (Up Front, March 2013)mademe think of my mein thesenice ‘Weweretoldthataslongas the can wasrot damaged the contents wouldlast long time How long? When servedin Vietnam. we would appropriate rations by any means possible remember the packngdsteson ae Be cacy We had three remote-controlled ceiling fans installed, and we've tried several times using compact fluorescent bulbs. Every time, the bulbs blink land burn out within minutes. is there a special type of bulb needed? Helen Duta Puyallup, WA Though isnot clear what might cause that, hhavean electrician check out the installation, ‘Also, check whether the manufacturer has @ recommendation for particular types of CFLs (orLEDs. Or you could considera halogen bulb ‘manyare about 30 percent more efficient than standard incandescent bulb. You've said that image burminis not an issue with the newer plasma ‘models during normal viewing. Does that ude tuning to a music channel for long periods of time? The onscreen info doesn't change that often. Marvin Shuman Randolph, Nj Normal viewingisa mix of programming over ‘Umeso that no fixed singleimageis sitting on ‘thescreen forhours or dayson end. youre ‘watching animage witha fixed grape, you ‘may ee asubtiecimming of te splay in the ‘area ofthe fixed image, but permanent damage ‘would probably require months ofthat kind (fuse. Pastas usually have afeatureyoucan actwate that helps minimize burr-in, so check ‘theawners mara | recently purchased anew car, and the dealer offered undercoating, rustproofing, and a TST paint protection service for $500. declined, but are any lof those services actually worthwhile? ‘Dan Doherty Bllevernon, PA the crate boxes—I945 and J946—though the actual date was)une 1967. Most of thetime the foad tasted good. Pound cake and peaches were the best, but canned ham and lima ‘beans: ahorrar story Hugo Giaffagione Berlin, Vive la liberté Made in America” (February 20) referred tologos based upon amerkanicons suchas tut Rustmereand the. flag. aswel asthe State of bert, which ance antique igure ironically made France eff Nelson Vero Beach, FL Happy ending i wasrecenty executor ofthe estate ofa ‘woman witha ifeinsurance policy taken in}910 (Finding Los Lifeinsurance Polis You chose wisely Today's vehicles have good Corrosion protection. Infact, according to CConsuMeR Reoars reliabilty surveys, rust problemshave almost vanished in madera ‘ars. Standart rust-through warranties for most cars run ive years or more, and many \illcover you foran unlimited numberof miles during that period. Ast paint sealant, it'little more than overpriced wax. Just buy ‘2 Good protectant from any auto-parts store My wife and | are moving our laundry from the basement to the top floor of our three-story condo. What. are the pros and cons of using a venting LETTERS February 201). When she died in 2008, the Insurance company silhad record oft, with, her parents as beneficiaries. But had toprove that both were dead, and Icouldfind no official records. asked | could senda picture ofthe parents headstones, and was thus able ‘oadd theinsurance money ther estate Carol Corcoran Colorado springs, CO Corrections +n 'SaveYour life (March 201) the recommendation for cerviea-cancer screening should have statad: Those 2010 65 can gofve years between Pap smears iftheyalsohave HPV testing atthe same imeas thei Pap smeat. + Behr Premium Pls Ultra paint claims 50 gramsilter of VOCS. Thearticleon interior paints inthe March 2013 ise sad it claimed © gramsfiter SEND YOUR LETTERS TO Consimeneporsonletersesear SWITCHING BULBS Check whether ‘themanufacturer recommends certain ‘CFLor LED bulbs for your ceiling fan. ‘or non-venting dryer? Which is preferable? “vie White PorkCity, UT Ether could work, depanding on your space. ‘Anon-venting dryeris usually connected ‘toahasetorelease moisture cowna drain orfitted witha reservoir that yau empty YyourseA venting dryer requires.a duct to Send heatand moist air outside, That duct should be rigid or flexible metal, and must be checked regularly forint buildup. Avoid oil orplasticones because they sag morereadly, leading to excessivelint bulldup. SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO ConsumerRepors restorers Mar2013 ConsumeaRevonrs.org 5VIEWPOINT This page highlights efforts of Consumers Union, the policy and action arm of Consumer Reports, to improve the marketplace. ERmecnccc) Where does your food come from? ‘THE ISSUE Labels that tell you where your beef comes from are indanger ‘OUR TAKE When you buy imported meat, fish, or fresh vegetables, there's usually a label nating the country af origin—cOOL for short—that states where thefeod was raised and processed, The labels help consumers make informed ‘choices about their food. f theres an ‘outbreak of food contamination in certain ‘country, a COOL can help you avoid those products Ifyou prefer fruit from aspecifc ‘country, ou can identiyit. In December, the World Trade Organization, told te Departmentof Agriculture tat its fineforthe US. to requir retailersto label where meat comes fram but that the US, rules were too complicated and expensive for ‘other countries to comply with. Now the US. ‘must decide whether to change thelabeling, rules getrid of them, orleave them asis and risk being peralized by the WTO. ‘ ‘group of Republican and Demacratic senators wrote U.S. regulators in support ‘of preserving the fundamental elements ‘of the COOL. Consumers Union agrees, ‘The US. should beable to adjustitsrules ‘through regulations without compromising the critical information that consumers want and deserve Wes WATCH Tax dollars at work Show us the evidence ‘The maker of POM is now required to provide two randomized, controlled, hhuman clinical trials to back upiits disease-related claims. ‘The Federal Trade Commission ‘says the producer of POM. ‘Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice and POMx supplements deceptively advertised the Products and could not ‘support claims that they help prevent heart disease and prostate cancer. The company Is appealing the decision. 6 coNnsuMER REPORTS ‘A new “key issues" page on the Government ‘Accountabilty Offices website, GAO. gov, makesit ‘exsyo find the agency'sreports on arange of topics that interest consumers. The titles may not be catchy (Federal Telework’), but the reports exempity the GAO's goal of producing ‘objective, fact-based ‘nonpartisan, nonideotogical, fair, and balanced! assessments of what isnt workingin government (and sometimes wit is) The GAO's mission ist investigate how our tax dollars are spent. Among the key-ssues reports are ‘those about federal help for entrepreneurs it's scattered across 52 programs, more than half of \ihich aren't evaluated to determine whether they'e working), disability compensation benefits for veterans (more than $65,000 claims arein a backlog past the VAS 25-day target), and nuclear waste (ust what should we be doing with che 2.000 metric tons that are produced every yearn the U.5.?) TheUS.makesan embarrassing showing in aninstitute of Medicine ‘report released inJanuary that compares thehealth (of people in wealthy ‘countries, (Goto OM. edu and enter‘shorter lives’ inthe earch box.) Tneone place we shine: People older than 0 lving in the U.S. are ikely to havea longerlfe than ther persin several other countries ‘By most other measures, the US. does miserably We have the highest Infant mortality rate, poorer heath ‘and the shortest lives, The report gives plenty of reasons— Individual and systemic—why the US. ‘satthe bo:tom, Weeat more, weigh ‘more, and aremore apt to use guns Violently Were more likey to takeacar ‘than walk, to drive drunk, and to leave ‘the safety belt unbuckled. On the macroside, the S, health-care system encourages providers ta test {and treat in ways that often dont keep ‘people heathy. We simply don'-focus {enough on cost-effective primary care TheUS. spends moreon heath care ‘than any other nation in the world, but ‘overall, we're not getting the value we should. An estimated 30 percent of health-care dalarsis wasted on care that doesnt help or, worse, can do hharm. Our system isfragmented and Inefficient and milions of Americans ddon'thave reliable access tlt. ‘The, has some of the best ‘medica professionalsin the world but theyehampered by a structure that encourages them to overtest and ‘overteat, without enough scrutiny of procedues effectiveness. Among the {goals of health-care reform istoadd to ‘urknowledge of which procedures are effective and to change how careis, delivered by rewarding providers okeep ‘people heathy in the first place, Over ‘ume, combined with targeted public health efforts, that willvastly reduce unnecessary care and slow the steep risein costs weve seen for decades, ‘Consumers Union believes that to become a healthier nation, wemust concentrate on polices that f ‘access, education, healthy estes, prevention, and coordinated care while ensuring that high-tech, specialized cares availabe to those who need it amcuest = PresisentOUTBACK Do these dishes tell the truth? “TASTE THE LIGHTER SIDE of del: cious when you go Olive Garden,” an ad says. But when we analyzed oneof theres: taurant’s new Lighter Fare dishes, it had more calories and fat than claimed in the company’s online stats Now that calories and fat content are ‘widely listed on websites (and calories are listed on many menus), we chose 1 terns from 12 casual restaurants and fast-food chains and compared their claimed nutri tion with reality. And we weighed each serving, We tested the same items from three restaurants in each chain. ‘The good news is that most dishes told the truth, Olive Garden’s Lasagna Prima vera with Grilled Chicken was one of only two dishes with calories or fat content higher than the restaurant's website said atall three locations. the claim: 420 calo ries and 15 grams of fat. The reality: 508 to 585 calories and 25 to 32 grams of fat Another item with more fat in our tests than advertised online was Outback’s Chicken on the Barbie. Other dishes were FRR HowTo cHoose WISELY—AND NOT Useyoursmart phone to ‘download the Redlaser or ShopSavvy app and scan the code for thevideo BI either on target (on average) or had fewer calories or less far than claimed. Still, nutrition varied widely atsome loca tions. Case in point: Denny's Fit Slam, claimed to have 390 calories and 12 grams of fat. We found those approximate levels intworestaurants. Ata third, the FitSlam hhad 494 calories and 19 grams of fat. ‘That's because serving sizes ran the ‘gamut. In three Olive Garden restaurants, Fettuccine Alfredo weighed roughly 14 to Bounces, Portion sizes also varied widely at Applebee's, Denny's, and Red Labster. Bottom line, Nutrition numbers from chain restaurants were generally accurate in our tests, But watch out: The Cheese- cake Factory's 36-ounce (more than 2 pounds) meatloaf dinner had up to 2,016 calories (the maximum number ‘most people should have in a day] and up to 182 grams of fat (about twice as much). And that’s before any cheesecake. Calorie check What they said vs. what we found Inalphabetical order, within types. ‘Applebees Festa Lime Chicken Denny's Fslam IOP RootyTooty Fresh’N Fruity Olive Garden Fettuccine fed tive Garden Lasagna Primavera willed Chicken (On the Border Grance Taco Salad w/Ground Beet ‘Outback Bloomin’ Onion wiSpicy Sauce (serves) ‘Outback rilee Chicken onthe Barbie Red Lobster wak's Favorite Shrimp ‘TG. Fridays Chocolate Peanut Butter Pe ‘The Cheesecake Factory Meatloaf Dinner BurgerKing Whopper w/cheese McDonald's Big Mac ‘Wendy's Daves Ht N Juicy Ib Single BurgerKing ral ies McDonala' sal ries ‘Wendy's sal ries 6 AS 2 9 48 ae B sun 8 pert i208. 8-50 19596 60 a? 00 u 8 e478 7m 2. S15 1950 NA sosrsz m 2 4081 50 2330 ss 3 sea Pe ee 1 ma oR 1 2sr28 ue May 202 ConsumeaReronrs.org 7UP FRONT CLAIM CHECK. Edge of Glory ‘The claim. Ecgeof Glory, twotungsten carbide teeth setina plastic base, is aimed to be'The World's Best Knife ‘Sharpener Avideo boasts ofits skis, Including the ability to sharpen a credit ‘ard, whichis then used to slice a tomato. \we pad iiplus? shipping ang handing, ‘The check. We took pars of chef Santoku, and serrated knives that were equally sharp, dulled one of each pair, sed Edge of Glory to sharpen the dulled kif, then comparedits cutting skill with that ofits twin, Wwe cut ham, died sausage, tomatoes, carots, onions, and celery Ande sharpened creditcard ‘and did battle witha tomato Bottom line. Ty Edge Glory if you ‘need to slicea tomato with acredi cara That trick worked, Otherwise, the device {isnotsosharp, es worth using only if ‘*The knife isnot too dull. (The four Quick swipes shown in and work only ‘tthe knife is already fay sharp.) 1¢The knifeis not of ard metal. (That ‘makes ittougher forthe device to work) ‘The serrations aren't small. (They can catch on Edge of Glorysteeth.) ‘You dont need aknifeedge that's super-smooth, (The sharpener left fairy rough edge) ‘* You dont care tat the knifeis sharpened rom ane side only (One ‘ofthe device's teeth sharpens while te ‘ther holds the blade; knvas can getan asymmetric or'chiseled’ edge.) We PUTTHE EDGE TOTHETEST UUzeyoursmart phone to ‘dowload the RedLaser or ShopSavvy app and scan ‘the cade for the video. Quirky cleaners We recruited staffers to take these devices home and compare them with their usual cleaning products. None was a home run for home cleaning. (The costs below don't factor in any shipping and handling.) Fuzzy Wuzzy Microfiber Mitt $6 ‘The claim."Canbeused an virtuallyany surface. Used dryitisa dust magnet! Bottom line. Fuzzy \Wwuzzy’sfat side was effective on smooth surfaces, and i's fuzzy side worked in nooks. Butstaffers said itwasn't much better than their usual leaning, products Relaxation drinks: An anti-frazzle fizzle: Beverages to help you chill outare popaing pin supermarkets, drugstores, and even {gasstations, Butlabelswe examined didnt Usually list the amounts oftheir de-stressing agents. And our analysis of eight widely sold drinks showed that many didn’t have ‘enauigh of those ingredients purported to help you unwind, ‘What we found. OniyichillRelaxation shot, Relax Drank Extreme Relaxation, and ‘ie (vacation ina Bottle) listed amounts of Felaxation ingrecients; theres just named ‘them orlsteda blend of ingredients. (We testedall products within the past year; some have since been reformulated.) Three drnkslisted GABA, achemicalthat rmayhelpregulatestress and andety but even DID You Know? Beverage vs. supplement. ‘Seven of the eight drinks we tested were labeled dietary supplements. The ‘exception, iB, borea nutrition-facts label indicating thatit was a conventional beverage. (The new Marley label bearsa rnutrition-facts label, tthe samples we tested were labeled dietary supplements.) Dietary ingredientsin supplements require no FDA preapproval; in conventional beverages, the same ingredients must be FDA-approved as food accitives or termed generally recognized as safe” Squeegee $15 ‘The claim.’ window washer and wiper in. Bottom line. It requires perfect positioning to ‘work well The microfiber cloth was harder than regular cloth towring when used with ots lofwater Andthe squeegee and loth interfered with each ‘other while cleaning comersand edges. theie maximum recommended daily doses, two drinks Dream Water O-CalorieSleep and Relavation shat and Relaxzen Night— Contained farlower amounts than the dally dose of GABA used na published study. The third RelaxZen Day. had far higher amounts. Dream Water, Marley's Melow Mood, and Relaxzen Night abel sted unspecified amaunts.f melatonin, ahormene with mised results in treating insomnia. Teyhadless than the typical 03-miligram to 5-miligram dose Used inclirical talstotreacinsomia. Relax Drank and iclisted amounts per serving (land miligrams, respectively but averaged lessthan claimed (0.02and 0.3miligrams). Four productslisted[-theanine, anamino acid in green tea leaves that some evidence shows might help with relaxation and sioep. ‘Three ofthe our listed threonine, an amino acid in proteins, but we found no evidence that the amino acid aids mental relaxation. Cf the four products, only Vi8 specified the amounts of both amino acids on its label, and those levels varied widely Dream Water listed 5-hydronytryptophan, supplement that might help aise serotonin levels and havea positive effect on anxiety and sleep. But the average lvel wefound was ‘much lower than thase used to treat sleep disorders in published studies, Fivedrinks listed one or move botanicals RelaxZen Day had significant levels of compound that indicates the presence ofThe Original smart Mop $15 The elaim.‘Cutsyourcleaning ime inalf.no vacuuming ar sweeping Bottom ine. sine atcesring floors, but wringing the mop can loosen a screw atzachingthe mop head, which can then cop oft. Winging can also cause the three parthandleto come {apart And ithasnohardbar Tohelp press the mop onto thefloor—only the mub af ‘themop handle ‘passion flower extract; levels of compounds in the rest suggest low or trace amounts of claimed botanical, Health concems. Some labels nated that the drink may cause crowsiness and shouldnt bbeused when driving, Manyindicated that pregnantor nursing women and children shouldnt drinkit. Yet our mystery shoppers sometimes found relaxation drinks in refrigerator cases near sodas and juices. ‘The Food and Drug Administration saidit has received sixadverse-event reports, (Such reports don't prave that procuct caused a problem.)Inthereports, a 12-year old boy bbecame"symptomatic’ Nov. 30,202, after drinking Marley's Mellow Mood. He was “shaking and twitching’ but symptoms D1Drinks we tested ‘We bougitt the drinks between October 2011 and August 2012. For each product we tested at least one sample from each of three batches, choosing one flavor (usually fruit) Can/bottle Product size(f.oz.) Cost Dream Water 0-Calorie Sleepand Relaxation shot 25 $3.00, chill Relaxation Shot 20 225 Just chill 84 200 Marley's Mellow Mood na 1s Relax Drank Extreme Relaxation wo 225 Relaxzen Day Formulas Soma! Relaxzen Night 25 250 ‘Vip (Vacation ina Bottle) mo 200 "Now lund ew names araerfomulacons, or tert no has cone And two grout cleaners ‘The claims. Rub the spongelike Groutinator, $10 online for two sponges of titferent sizes, alonga grouted joint and itinstantly restores gr0ut to original color” The Grout Bully, also $10 online, is ike paint ands claimed to‘clean ‘mold & eliminate mildew: Irs available infve colors and comes with two sponges to remove excess product ‘The check. We used Groutinator (at right) and Grout Bully on dirty floor ties at our headquarters andana staffers mildewed Deluxe Hi-Reach Cleaning Kit $37 ‘Theclaim. Allows you toreach hare-t0-reach places with ease bathroom tiles, Bottom line. its 2-foot Bottom line. Groutinater removed sail, but wehad to sandit periodically o maintain an edge that fit into grouted joints. It also took elbow ‘grease. It doesnt prevent future soiling, so consider sealing your grout after cleaning Grout Bully goes an easly, but removing excess paint is hard and can cause smearing. ‘Although the package shows the Bully being used on dirty grout, the directions say to apply it toa clean surface—which defeats the purpose. When we tried i,t hid mildew atfirst but didnt keep ifrom returning. telescoping pole duster does reach high, but the dusteris very bendable, sostaffers had ahard time applying pressure; andit tended to bend ‘ataweak point. none of our samples, it broke from repeated bends. abated, according tothe reports. Five other cildren complained of voriting, headache. nausea, chills, and fatigue ‘ANarleys spokesman said that"packaging clearly states that Marley's Mellow Mood is not intended for consumption by children’ that Marleys‘cooperated fully wth the FOA? and thatthe company found no issues with product quality or package integrity” (Samples ‘of Marleyswe tested cidnithavea child ‘warning.)An FDA spokeswoman said the reports were being investigated, ‘Bottom line. An occasional relaxation drink isprobabl fine for healthy adults. Butread the labelsand consult with ahealth-cate provider about possible interactions. Check our chart for price calories, and more, May202 ConsumemRevonrs.org 9UP FRONT Cracker crunch-off DOES A HEALTHEUL cracker have to taste like sawdust? Not according to our latest tests. Of five fairly new crackers that ‘earned Good or Very Good scores for nutri tion, three also tasted very good. Our experts also compared the taste and nutrition of fouriconic crackers (think sal tines and Triscuit) with store brand and reduced-fat counterparts. Our nutrition ratings take into account calories, fat, so dium, iron, sugars, and fiber per serving, ‘What we found, Of the five new crack ers, Kashi Pita Crisps scored the best for nutrition and are tasty, with a definite cnunch, Crunchmaster and Jingos scored Good for nutrition and Very Good for taste In order of nutrition score. CF = es taBites (see the descriptions below). Serving sizes formostare similar in terms of weight, but the numberof crackers per serving ranges from six (Nabisco Triscuit Original) to 24 (Kellogg's Special K Multi-Grain). In our taste-off, most store brands held their own against big brands. The excep- tion: 365 Everyday Value Organic Wheat ‘Squares (Whole Foods), which couldn't pass for Wheat Thins. Surprisingly, reduced-fat crackers tasted similar to their fll-fat sib lings. And as we've found in many tests, store brands usually costlessthan thename brands. Beaware that the reduced-fat crack ersalso came in reduced package sizes We crunched nutrition numbers for 25 other crackers and found that some healthy sounding types—Milton’s Origi nal Multigrain and Keebler Club Multi Grain among them—scored just Fair for nutrition and have no fiber at al. Bottom line, For a nutritious cracker that’s crunchy and tastes a bit different, try Kashi Original 7 Grain Sea Salt Pita Crisps, Don’t hesitate to try reduced-fat or store-brand versions of oldies but goodies. DKashi Original Sensible DMediterranean Crunchmaster Pepperidge Farm 7 Grain Sea Salt Portions Pita Bites ‘Snacks Lentil Multi-Seed Jingos Lime Pita Crisps Original Sea Salt Sea Salt Original & Sweet Chili cost a6.cents COST EO cents cosTs7cents cost ascents cosra4cents ‘CALORIES 120) CALORIES 129 ‘CALORIES 110 CALORIES 140 CALORIES 130, FAT 3 rams FAT 35 grams FAT grams FATS grams FAT grams SODIUM lgomg SODIUM 220g SODIUM 200mg SODIUM TIO mg. SODIUM 220mg FIBER 5 grams FIBER gram FIBER Igram FIBER 2grams FIBER 1 gram TASTE very good TASTE Good TASTE Good TASTE Very good TASTE Very good Grundy, ight er, Al ghty toasted white Crunchy itlesquareswith Tonstedsesme favored ——_—Spylittiecrackarsuith gare, fasted when crechrs, flourcreclers Abt ry end abtofsale Medeely napyricecrackes wth onien, ie, and eayenne i seasoning har, Need topping Toasted granfover ——_‘Saleandavretyefseats. _‘Flavfuerough toe alone Four icons take on the competition ‘THE ICON Nabisco Ritz, 1!cents per serving ‘THE COMPETITION Nabisco Ritz Reduced Fat. 1Scents; Nice Golden Rounds (Waigreens),20 cents. ‘THE VERDICT: SIMILAR. Nabisco Ritz are crispy laky, buttery, salty, and slightly sweet. Reduced Fat Qagramsoffatvs. 4.5 grams) and Walgreens are similar tothe foriginal bua litle ess butteryand ‘tender. scored Fairfor nutrition. ‘serving of Nice has 380 miligrams ‘ofsodium, more thanallothersin courtasterft, 10 CONSUMER REPORTS ay 2013 ‘THE ICON Nabisco Triscuit Original, 39 cants per serving ‘THE COMPETITION Nabisco Tiscuit Reduced Fat, 44 cents; Market Pantry WovenWheats Whole Grain Target), 25 cents ‘THE VERDICT: SIMILAR. Triscult Orginal ae crunchy squares with big toasted-wheatflavoranda touch of saltiness. Reduced Fat and Market Pantry versions taste very similar to Original. Reducee Fat(2.Sgramsoffatys.4 grams in Original) scored Very Good for rutrtion; the others, Good. per serving ‘THE VERDICT: nutrition. ‘THE ICON Nabisco Wheat Thins Original, 44 cents ‘THE COMPETITION Nabisco ‘Wheat Thins Reduced Fat, 44 cents; 365 Everyday Value Organic Wheat Squares (hole Foods), 38 cents. IFFERENT. Nabisco's Original and Reduced Fatare crunchy, sweet, and toasted, whole Foods are pale, speckled, less sweet, and ess crunchy. Allscored Good for ‘THE ICON Nabisco Original Premium Saltines Toppee with Sea Salt, 10 cents perserving ‘THE COMPETITION CloverValley Saltins (Dollar General). cents, Nabisco Saltines are already low in fatané dont havea reduced-fat version, ‘THE VERDICT: SIMILAR. ‘Ofiginalsaltines nave ami, salty, lour-based taste, and so do ‘the store-brand crackers, though they were lightiystale. Both scored Fair for nutritionShowstopping screen ies not often that wettest a product that literally stops our employees in their tracks, but that was the effect when head TV tester Claudio Ciacci wowed a lunchtime crowd with LG's giant 84-inch Ultra High Definition TV. The set, model ‘24LM9600, is among the first of anew breed of so-called 4K TVs with four times the resolution of current 1080p sets, promising even more detailed images than the best 1080p models. The bad news: a $20,000 price tag, plusa lack of 4K content that can take full advantage of the TV's higher resolution, SEE WHAT KTV HASTO OFFER Useyoursmart phone to download the Redlaser or ShopSavvy app and scan the code or the video. Looking for good news about hospital safety? More hospitalsare required to ‘exception: Winthrop University Hospital trackand report more data, so our in Mineola, NY. Overall, 58 f the areas updatechosptal safety Ratings now 70 hospitals witha safety score ranked include 2,03) hospitals—up from 1159, below average. institutions in our August 202 report (Our updated safety scorefocusescn five ut westll find cause fr concern: key measures: eadmissians, complications, # Tholowest-scoring hasptal, Clinch ‘communication, the overuse of CT scans, Valley Medical Centerin Richlands, a., _andinfections. Te¢ata, which come from _gotonlya 4 on our 00-point scale. the goverment, cover diferenttime Beth stitnerthehospital’s qualityisk ranges, depending on the specific measure manager, saysthatthescarerepresents Full Ratings, as wellasadviceon other ‘only asmallpieceofthe enti hosptals factorstoconsiderwhen choosinga performance’ and thatin2012the hospital hospital, areavailable to online subscribers reducedits infection rates. Well at ConsumerReperes erg ospitalratings. incorporate nev data into future updates \when they released by the government. ‘The average scorefor all hospitals was teaching hospitals LOWEST-SCORING teaching hospitals 49:"When itcomes to health cre, Maye Clinic Hospital Phoenix University of Connecticut Farmington, averageshould neverbe goodenough, avec ase Heatth center John Conn andthisaverageis larly noteven close’ Jackson Dempsey Hospital SaysJohn Santa, M.D , rector ofthe Gundersen Lutheran LaCrosse,.Wis Kings County Hospital Brooklyn. NY. Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. Medical Center center #Thebighes ‘Mernorial Hospitalin Gi ‘gota. That's up from another hospitals high scare in August of 72 but shaws chat scoring hospital, Bolin Bronson Methodist ‘slamazo0 Mich Bier anton aot T OR en Bay, Wis. spi ‘Center Health Care system SaintMary’s Hespital_Waterouy, Conn 2 Sa AEE a Grady Memorial Hospital Atlonta eventopscornghosptalscan improve, MArVsHosptal Shands aiaonvie—jciconie ; Indiana University Munch, ind i Traddtion teacheghosptalswncn (adanaunivesty, ee aresupposedtopreparefituredoctor, espa Rina EAS caE NST Srelagging Alnosttwo-tirds ofthe Avera MekKenran Soules. Westchester Medial al, mations236teachnghosptalsthathavea Hospitaland safety core ranked below average. Those hosphalshouldsetthebarhgher Santa SEMRE | Jacobi Medicalcenter Bron. says Butthatisnothappening” Baystate Medical Springfield, Mas. University Medical Center Lubbock, Thactrendisespecialyacutein wary Uta Sal Lak Cty Texas andaround NewYork Cty: 270fthe28 Heater este Hospital Saint Louis University St Lous teaching hospitals inthe region scored and Clinies HospitalHEALTH Same generic drug, many prices IF YOUR INSURANCE has ever stopped covering a prescription drug, or you don't have coverage tall, youknow'how quickly costs can mount, Americans spent on average $758 out of pocket for medication in 2012, according to a recent CONSUMER Reports national telephone poll. And {nour survey of 1,130 people who regularly took prescription drugs—the insured and uninsured—12 percent spent more than $1,200 last year. Our advice if you're look: ing to reduce out of pocket drug costs: Shop around. ‘Our secret shoppers called more than 200 pharmacies throughout the U.S. ro get prices on a month's supply of five block buster drugs that have recently become available as generics: Actos pioglitazone), for diabetes; Lexapro (escitalopram), an antidepressant; Lipitor (atorvastatin), for high cholesterol; Plavix (clopidogrel), a blood thinner; and Singulair (montelu kast), for asthma. The result? A whopping difference of $749, or 447 percent, between the highest-and lowest-priced stores Costco was the least expensive overall, and you don’t need to be a member touse its pharmacy. A few independent phar ‘macies ame in even cheaper, though their prices varied widely, as did grocery-store pharmacies. The online retailers Health ‘warehouse.com and FamilyMeds.com also hhad very ow prices. Ontheotherend ofthe spectrum, CVS, Rite Aid, and Target had How drug costs compare ‘nour pharmacies study, Costco had the lowest retail prices ‘overall and CVS the highest for five widely prescribed generics. [ASK FOR IT Our shoppers werent always offered the lowest available pice a fst. the highest retail prices, The full results of| the study appear in the chart below. A representative of CVS told us that its retail drug prices reflect other services offeredbythechain, includingdrive through ‘windows, automated prescription refill sys- tems, fie outreach programs te help make sure patients are taking their prescriptions coneetly, and 24-hour pharmacies, Costco pharmacies, thecheapestoveral, are open only from 10 a.m, to or 8:30 p.m. and are typically closed on Sundays. “Big-box stores such as Costco and ‘Walmart use the pharmacy as a traffic builder for their stores, whereas tradi- (Ggianns | tectabgrant osteo » $101 y | ar FamityMeds.com 40 oy mon | | ¢ ee a a = ae amt mle cree] | Grocery stores 3 Ed 15 | ont oes ite Aid 286, w Glorvasain) (doit | noes. w 85 a 67 % RB » 29 6 0 2 26 5% % 9 36 2 6 8 381 is | sagen | ote | meson 6 % 0 m 8 9 6 6 0 5 3 at 9 108 638 gona | wee | oti stim we ist 5 16 a a ma zo 0 10 is 6 “fanaa seep oe nent ay 2 Norby niko MSSrSO sede pepe 2 Pasion eberaeanessnpe Soe 32 CONSUMER REPORTS MAY2013 tional chain stores, such as CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens, make the majority oftheir revenue and profits from the pharmacy,” says Stephen W. Schondelmeyer, Ph.D.. Pharm.D.., a professor of pharmacy eco nomics at the University of Minnesota. How to save Whichever drugstore or pharmacy you use, choosing generics over brand-name drugs will save you money. Talk to your doctor, who may be able to prescribe lower-cost altemarives inthe same lassof «dnug. Inaddition, follow these tips: Request the lowest price, Our analysis showed that shoppers didn’t always receive the lowest available price when they called the pharmacy. Sometimes they were given a discounted price, and other times they were quoted the list price, Be sure to explain—whether you have insur ance or not—that you want the lowest possible price. Our shoppers found that student and senior discounts may also apply, but again, you have toask. Leave the city, Grocery store pharma cies and independent drugstores some- times charge higher prices in urban areas than in rural areas. For example, our shoppers found that for a 30-day supply of generic Actos, an independent phar- macy in the city of Raleigh, N.C., charged $203. A store in a rural area of the state sold it for $7 Get a refill for 90 days, not 30 days. Most pharmacies offer discounts on a three-month supply. Consider paying retail. At Costco, the drugstore websites, and a few indepen- dents, the retail prices were lower for cer- tain drugs than many insurance copays. Look for additional discounts. All chain and big-box drugstores offer dis: count generic-drug programs, with some selling hundreds of generic drugs for $4 ‘a month or $10 for a three-month supply. Other programs require you to join to get the discount. (Restrictions apply and certain programs charge annual lees.) Although the low costs we found at a few stores could entice you to get your prescriptions filled at multiple pharmacies based only on price, our medical consul- tants say it’s besttouse single pharmacy. ‘That keeps all of the drugs you take in fone system, which can help you avoid dangerous drug interactions.How to beat travel WHEN READER LIVIU GIUROTW of Warren, Mich., booked aflightona major US. airline for his wife from California to Romania, he says he tried to prepay for her second checked bag to get the discounted fee of $60 each way. But when she arrived at the airport, the carrier for the first leg of the trip charged her $75 for the flight. Giuroiu says the airline did not respond to his many e-mail messages requesting a refund, though it reduced the fee after he complained to the Better Business Bureau. ‘Travelers have been complaining about airline es forbooking, itinerary changes, and checked baggage for years. But now airlines soem to have 2 fee for almost everything—Wi-Fi, extra leg room, and ‘more, “Anything tharsome might consider a perk, there's now a fee for that,” says Rick Seaney, co-founder of FareCompare. com, a travel planning website, Even low-fee cartier Southwest Airlines added a $40 fee in January for passengers ‘who want to be among the first 15 people to board their plane, It has also raised its “FarlyBird” check-in for sightly lessexclr sive priority boarding from $10 to $12.50 Some airlines offer a bundle of services for a single fee. For example, American Airlines’ “Choice Essential” option allows no-fee changes, one checked bag, and priority boarding for $68 round-trip. For '$88, you also get 50 percent more bonus 's and an alcoholic beverage. South: ‘west and Delta als offer bundles. Extra fees from airlines and hotels often aren’t disclosed when you book a trip. But more transparency may be on the way. In November, the Federal Trade Commission sent a warning letter to 2 hotel operators telling them to disclose “resort fees” in their toral price. And this month the Department of Transportation expects to release a proposed rule that would require airlines to provide fee information to travel agents so that consumers can $2.6 billion 's how much the major U.S. Pa incerecceleraape azine first three quarters of 2012, according, to the Department of Transport: iad a yee MONEY fees big & small [NO FREEBIES Airlines are charging for baggage, seat selection, Wii, and even pillows, compate fees among carriers and pay for ‘optional services when they book flights. Until then, here's what to do to avoid certain fees. Airline extras “The fees most likely to aggravate you are these for changing your ticket and for checking your bags. Change fees typically run $75 to $150 for domestic flights and $200 for international trips. Your first checked bag typically costs $20 to $25 on domestic flights andisfreeif you fly inter- nationally. But ifyour checked bags weigh teo much, you'll get slapped with over- ‘weight fees of $25 to $200. You might also pay fees of $10 to $35 t0 book by phone, up to $99 for advance seat selection, and $10 to $199 for extra leg room. If those aren't bad enough, Spirit Airlines charges up to '$50 fora carty'on, and Virgin America has 2 $10 fee for pillows and blankets. What you can do, Travel light. Or fly a low-fee airline, such as JetBlue or South~ ‘west JetBlue allows you one free checked bag; Southwest gives you two. Ifyou need to check a bag or pay for a carry-on, see ‘whether there's a discount for prepaying on the airline’s website. On Spirit fights, carry-on baggage is $50 if you pay for it at the airport, $35 if purchased when booking online. Check your airline's luggage fees and ‘weight limits. Forexample, United charges ‘$100 to $200 (depending on your destina- tion) for a checked bag weighing from 51 to 70 pounds; Hawaiian Airlines charges $50 for navel ouside Hawaii. Complicating things, overweight fees kick in at just 41 pounds on Spirit and Allegiant Air. You mightavoid some fees if you charge your travel to an airline credit card. The ‘ardsoften carry annual fees of $40 to $100, but many waive them in the first year. “The perks they typically offer—priority boarding. free checked luggage, car-rental insurance, travel insurance, and access to airport lounges—can more than make up forthe annual fee. Hotel add-ons Once you arrive at your destination, you ight get hit with “resort fees” tacked ‘onto yourhote bill atcheckout to the tune ‘of $12 to $40 per day. Those fees can cover services such as access to a pool, gym, ‘orbusiness center; daily newspapers; oF making “free” local calls—whether you use the services or not. What you can do. Try negotiating with the hotel clerk to remove or reduce the ‘extra fees. Or stay at a hotel that doesn't charge them in the first place. Mid-tier chains such as Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, and Hyatt House typically offer free WiFi, parking, gyms, pools, and business centers, Joining a hotel loyalty program or get ting a hotel credit card can score you free amenities. For instance, Omni Hotel ‘group's complimentary loyalty program gets you free Wi-Fi, morning beverage service, newspapers, clothes pressing, and bottied water on your arrival. Mav2013 ConsumeRRevonrs.org 13SAFETY ALERTS EPolymer balls raise alarm ‘Arecent recall of toys made ofa material ‘that can expand significantly when ingested hhas revealed a potential health isk that ‘the Consumer Product Safety Commission considers serious enough towarranta broader investigation InDecember2012, Cleveland-based Dunecraftreclled about £95,000 packages of rmarblesizedtoysthat epandinater That recallcame three months after dactors at Texas Childrens Hospital ‘reported in the journal Pediatrics that an S-monthold git swallowed one of he brightly colore balls from ‘asetof DunecraftsWater Bale I had tobe surgically removedafterit expanded Insider blocking her small intestine. “The doctors warned that such cases ‘might become more common because superabsorbent polymers such as those used ‘tomake the Dunecraft toys ae increasingly prevalent nat only in other toys butalsoin SAFETY UPDATE Arsenic rules on hold “The Food and Drug Administration said more ‘than a year ago it would conduct tests and possibly draw up new guidelines to reduce Fisks posed by arsenicin applejuice.Italso pledged last fall to expand testing for arsenic Inriceto see whether limits are needed. “Though the agency has completed tests (of more than 1300 samples of rice and rice products, thefullresutshave not yet been disclosed. Andan FA report that may propose limits for arsenic in apple uice is under wraps while under review by the Office of “Management and Budget: ConsuMer REPORTS tests published last year found worrisome levels ofarsenicin juice and ice 14 CONSUMER REPORTS May 2012 DANGEROUS Kids can swallow polymer toys that expandin water. ‘widely available household products, such as water retaining pellets used for gardening or in flower arrangements. Someday-care providers actualy use those versions as playthings for babies and preschooler. In the dry state, the polymer beads are tiny but could pose life-threatening risks “ifoneof these isin the airway and doubles within? t0 hours, 2 cil can go from not breathing well tonot breathing atall'says Paul rakowiz, M.D, apeciatric ea, nose, {and throat surgeon ‘and vice chairman of Surgical operations at ‘the Cleveland Clinic "We view the recall ‘with Dunecraft and the incident involving the S-month-oldgirto be very seriousandasa result, CPSCstaff are taking a broader look at this product class said CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson. Two cases were recently reported among children in Pakistan, one af whom ced as 2 result. Malaysia banned th sale of such products in August 20M after hospital reports ‘of seven children needing surgery after ingesting them. aly has imposed a ban, and New Zealand says they should not be promotedas children's toys or craft products “These are colorful andlook cute when you watch them expand, but they could have disastrous effects they are ingested, soany ‘ofthese superabsorbent polymer products should bekept out of thereach of children ‘or pets, says Otuyinka 0. Olutoye.M.0..a pediatric surgeon at Texas Children's Hospital ‘wha operated on the baby whose case was reported in Peiatrcs. RECALLS ‘Auromosites '03-'04 Toyota Corolla/ Corolla Matrix and Pontiac Vibe Supplemental a). restraint system (RS) ciruitsare suscepibieto shorting, which may increase heat and damage circuits Damaged cruitsmay deploy font ar bags and/or safty-belt pretensioners, which increases the isk of injury and the possibilty ofa crash MODELS 857709 03-08 Toyota Corolla {Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibes, wuar To po dealer wilinstala supplemental hamess withan electrical filter between theairbagcontrl ‘module and itswirehamess “Toyota owners call 200-35h4381and Pontiac owners call 200-20 7688 for moredetals HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS Royal Prestige cookware ‘Cookware can collapse crimp, orseverey deform when heated causing risk ffireand burs. prooucts 17 miionstantess- steel nine-ply Thermal \Wall' pans sold door ‘door for $250 to $800 (individual products) and $800 to $3,500 (sets ‘Theimporter, Hy Cte Enterprises, hasreceived 86 reports of cookware being compromised by heat wnat To Be Dontuse the cookware ‘Contact Hy Cite at 800-609-9577 or {gota reyaprestigecom for instructions on returning cookware for repair Damaged cockware willbe replaced. Or ur ae) ‘Test that smoke alarms and CO; detectors ‘work. and change the batteries if necessary. ‘© check fire extinguishers for corrosion, leakage, and ntact cafetyseals. Make sure the pressure gauge reads in theoperable range. Dry chemical extinguishers that are ‘meant tobe discarded after use should be replaced after2 years from manufacture. “Replace ligntbulbs where needed for illumination of pathways and working areas ‘* Remove expired medication from the medicine cabinet. Check with your local trash ar recycling service or pharmacist {or proper disposal. Old medication should rot beflushed or poured down drain ‘Check your first-aid kit and replace anyupples that are expired or missing. Formoretipsand resources, goto the National Safety Council site at nse orgFEATURE oe from our experts The insider's guide to practically everything we HE TESTERS, REPORTERS, and other experts who I ‘create our articles and product Ratings have adazzling depth and breadth of knowledge about all kinds of products based on their decades of experience. For this roundup, we've asked them far their best tips—money savers, time savers, and just plain interesting tidbits. Enjoy. oldies are stil ‘goodies. ve recently ated Pine-Sol tops ‘among general ‘dleaners, and Fels Naptha was good for pretreating Bars we | aespmtacy ye ee ie Piatt aoe buyingacar.askthedealerto ——_home-T letyouborrawarrentamodel charger will = ‘overnight. Orconsidr renting prevent over- : oneforafewdays;youandyour charging, andthe family willget more ofafeelfor laptop's processor thecarthanyouwouldwitha —_wilrunfaster when Isminutetest drive ies connected Dif you drop an electronic product in water, don’t assume it's a goner. Let it dry completely, then see whether it works. Mar 2013 CONSUMERREPORTS.org 15FEATURE 10] SECRETS FROM OUR EXPERTS [H1When you buy sunglasses know that polarizing lenses can make the LCD screen on your smartphone, tablet. or GPS clisplay impossible to view at certainangles (though it wort affect an e-book reader). {In your refrigerator, cont put delicate foods ike lettucenear the vent=they might freeze. Many retailers that use ‘coupons o- other promotional sales tools wil offer receipt adjustments before or after start (orexpitation dates. justask [To tell whether that new lightbulb willworkina fixture rated fora certainwattage, check the actual wattage used, nat " theclaimed equvalent. ‘Acompactfluorescent bulb that claims to have the ightoutput ofa Fewatt bubuses only around 1 watts When you're replacing windows, the installer shauld measure each new window before taking out the old one to makesurethe factory sentthe ight size. Youdont want toend up with aboarded-up holeas you wait for the ight window. On computers, the Enter, Select, of OK buttons are your friends, We hear many complaints from people who think thir ccomputeris to blame when a ‘document doesnt reflect thelr changes, But the reason is that ‘they didnt save their work. 1 Microfiber cloths, though a littleprcier, doa much better job wiping off carwax chan rags do, 1 Scope out products that have ‘many User eviews when you research online, That can indicat, among other things, that theyre bestsellers andlorhave been on themarketa long time and have ‘abroad base of eviews. Just in case your GPS device winds upin the hands of crook, don't input your address under Home" Instead, pick local landmark-likeapolicestation, [When you change your car battery you typicallylose radio. presetsanl other electronic Tunctions. Consider singa jump'starcbattery youpluginto thecigarette lighter to power those functions while the battery sou. 1a Bigger or smaller TV? Gobigger. 12To save money on printing, avoid the arial font; ourtests have shown that t uses more ink than Times New Roman and other fonts, Minimize the use of color ink by printing textin grayscale or Use black-only mode. And recycle spentcattridges fora refund or crest atan office supply store For any equipment that requires gas~jour generator, ‘mower and more—add a gas stabilizer to your gas can. twill help the gas from gummming up ‘he carburetor (For gear that requires an ol-and-gasimix, the stablizerisalready in the ol) [B.When you're comparing the prices of electronic, xnow that some brands include. charger and ‘case; others make you pay extra Can't log in? Always check that “caps lock” isn't on, which scrambles your password. To clean groundsin sand ordirt from your carpet, set the Carpet head tothe lowest level ‘That wil allow brushes toreally get the grit out. (Donttuse that Setting all the time; you could wear out your carpet.) r 16 CONSUMER REPORTS May 2012 [Dif your printer has a “standby” timeout (most do) leaveit on; dont shucitaff after each use. Models weve tested in ‘he past five yearsuse only tiny amount of power that way (about ‘wat. And we've found that some inkjet printers waste more ink getting ready to print when switched on than when leftin standby between uses. [Don't shop for a new car during sales events advertised bysirect mal. Theyre often run by contracted specialists trained in techniques to increase the dealer's protic ‘Dit usually pays to upgrade your phone at the end ofa ‘two-year contract. (Phones ‘are subsidized as part of your Contract, so you're paying forthe subsidy anyway) [Df your computer hard drive ismorethan half fll programs and disk operationslike copying ‘and backing up wil slow down, since thehard drive's heads have ‘tomowefartheracrossthe spinning disksurfaceas they ‘gather data. That'sa reasonto pick a ard deve with m: ‘apacity than you think yout Sas ae aka tia) Cire ee ea gig Cea eum‘need when you buy a new computer. Itsalso one of the advantages of SS0s (soli-state ives), which have no moving parts: They don't slow down as they fil up smart phones need afresh (o)start. They're actualy fullledged computersand need tobe restarted every few daysto purge memory reserved by programsna longer running and tofieglitchas that can hinder performance. 11 To quickly find info about ‘thenew product you bought, download the manual, then use “control F*(‘Command F" ona Mac) to search fora particular word, ete Laptop or tablet? Here's one way to tell what you need: Tablets are good fr consuming media, Computers and laptops are good forcreating i. Don't bother using nitrogen inyour tires to keep up tre pressure lesa waste of money. Airis about 80 percentrnitrogen ray, and air or nitrogen will leak aut of ies overtime, our tests show. Check your tire pressure regulary. Never wash or rinse raw chicken inthe sink Youll splash {germs around the kitchen and ‘skfood poisoning, Cook rice in twice the amount of water recommended on the package. It could reduce any arsenic in the rice by 30 percent. [DWhen it's time to clean anc store the stainless-steel carafes ‘weuse in our coffee tests, we ill them with hot water, add several denture tablets, and ie them soak overnight The results are amazing. Scrupulous rinsngis essential—unless you enjoy that “minty fresh’ tastein your coffe, 1B Yourlawn mower wilt betterifafter each use you turn iton its side and rinse ito Dif your gear doesn’t start, unplug it or otherwise reboot it and start over. 11.To save money on airfare, shop online on weekdays, specifically from Monday evening ‘abouts pm, EST to Thursday p.m, EST And the best time ofall ‘according to one expert we Interviewed: 3pm. EST Tuesday. ‘Vacuum filters need placing ‘wicea year orso. Thatwillhelp ensure adequate suction, Relax. Our surveys show that very few readers inadvertently stray ther electronic gear by dropping it. immersing tin water, orsitting anit. ‘With photographs and home videos, back everything up. Then back tp again. Too many people lose those cherished moments, Many of our experts back up to external hard drives and cloud storage services. Don't reuse water frorn your dehumidifier. contains dust, ‘mold, pollen, and other iitants. 'BYour smartphone tens can easly pick upsmears ane dust, and make your photos look blury and dirty. Use a microfiber cloth tocleanit [Dif you think granola is healthy, think again it's often loaded with fat and sugar Try ‘mixing it witha puffed cereal tolighten the calories. [Df you feel you were tricked, ‘manipulated, or maneuvered intoan unfairconsumer transaction, never be sheepish lrtog embarrassed to demand Your money backor to unde the deal {Din cars, leather orleather- like seats are much easier to clean than fabric To conserve your smart- phone battery seek strong. Signals and don‘ bury the phone Ina desk; uses mare power trying to access a weak signal Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ther wireless access when youre outofrange. Reduce Screen brightness. And cut the number of times you allow Updates of news, e-mail, and other network feeds Don't wait until the vacuum bagis full to replace it. By then, it will have lost significant suction power. [No matter how fancy they ook, dried plums are prunes. Dont pay extra for clever packaging, Generators aren't supposed toget wet. Geta cover (Manufacturers make ther) Never, ever takeouta payday ‘orautortte lan. Those smal short-termioanscomewith interest rates of several hundred percent. Research suggestit takes people five monthsto pay them oft. [Need help with research? ‘The publiclibrary isa resource many people overlook. Libraries Subscribe to databases you Undoubtedly doi, and ibrarians ‘eanfind information not easly ‘available with a Google search ‘orto person without library- 1B You don't need to pay for ‘high-definition TVcalibration Doityourself1 Useyourtypical room lighting. 2. Froma DvDor DVR video, freeze ‘ona framewitha face and some detal. 3. Press the Menubution on theremte tofind picture mode. Try the options, suchas THx mode, Cinerna, Movie, and Pro, See which provides the most naturatlooking picture Attention, technophobes: Don't beafraid af your ‘computer. You wont, breakit by merely ‘typing, UPetinsurance ‘generally cost more ‘thanitpaidout inour ‘comparison of palicies. Only in ‘winenapet required very expensive care ‘would the coverage havemore than paid foritsel. Mav2013 CowsumeRRevonrs.org 17FEATURE 10] SECRETS FROM OUR EXPERTS our tech and auto testers arent usualy early adoptes. Ifyou canwaitayear orsofor ‘anew product, doo. The kinks etworked out Ever wonder about those ‘warning tags on pilows—the ‘ones thatsay bylaw, youcantt pullthem off 1's OK to remove them. The tagis meant for pillow manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. 1 Many devices draw power when they're off orin standby ‘mode. You could save Sis a year ‘bypuling the plug or uming off the power strip theyre plugged into, For air conditioners, the biggest energy hog is leaky ducts. Acontractor can ft leaks, [Use your Android Power Control widget, which lets youtumn wi, Bluetooth, GPS, snc Sing cece cSeentngires teeontcons without yourhaving to search ‘through Sectings [8 Wipe up spills immediately from your smoothtop: sugars in say, tomato sauce can bond to ‘the surface and damagett 18 To install audio gear with fewerheadaches, consider using Don't slide pots on a smoothtop range or cooktop; they can scratch the surface. alabelingkit,whichhelpsyou probably will provide stronger identfyallthewiresandinputs. protection than sing a word that can be found ina dictionary, GBuythecheapest TV cables often the placewnere hackers, and connectorsyoucanfind. Dont start. Then substicute afew foverspendonthaseaccessories. numbers or symbols. Thelength ‘ofa password is more important DManytoaster ovenshavea _thanits complexity bultvin convection oven, but if vyoudontuse that feature, you can save $50 with abasic model. Don't wash ordryone ortwo small tems. They won't getas clean as they wouldin afuller load, and the dryers moisture sensors might not work. You need two kinds of ‘smoke alarms: ionization types ‘that detect fast-moving flames ‘and photoelectric alarms that warn you ofa smoldering fire Dual- sensor madels exist, ‘though many models use one forthe other. Also make sure you have acarbon-monoxide detector [Df your barbecue grill seems ‘tp.avercook or undercook meat ‘orfish, the problem could be Uneven flames, a sign of blacked bummer tubes or ports. To check, follow the manufacturers directions forcieaning. toothpick can sometimes help clear burer hoes, We haven't tested a ‘commercial deer or squire! repellent that works well D If you use dryer sheets, [Home speakers have an periodically wash the dryer equalization system that balances, soundsothatyoudonthaveto §=»- S@NSOr's and lint filter with doit manually Create a strong password~ ‘and remember it-by creating Saying orsentenceandusing the B1Allcharged cell phones— firstletter ofeach word. That evan those with expced service contracts—are required by law tobeable tommakean emergency sitll Keepan older pnoneand charger handy incase youora family memberneedsit. BiCount the features on any double oven youre considering. Insomeweive tested, features like convection cooking, which helps shorten ooking times, are available for only one oven Before you buy that car, check the manufacturer's recommendation about ol. More are recommending expensive synthetic blends, which could noticeably add tothe price ofan dilchange, with darkcolos, use tinted prime ps i warm, soapy water. 'BMeasure your laundry detergent ith the provides ‘2p. Use too much, which many people do, and you could ‘getresidueon your clothes. Remember that today’s washers usemuch less water than older machines, Don't use cooking sprayson Your nonstick pans. They can build up and actualy cause food tostick, Instead, use nonstick panson low or medium heat \aithout spray. An empty freezer makes your ‘compressor cydle on and off, creating more temperature swingsthan afullone. Consider freezing bottled waterta hep fit 1B Here's how to take your blood pressure: sit quietly forat least minutes before takinga measurement andput yourfeet flat onthefloor “while siting straight up. Dont talk or move. Ialsohelps to take readings at the same time of day [synthetic paintbrushes anc rollers tend to hold latew-pased paints betterand apply it more ‘evenly than those wth natural materials, 1 change your sowing-machine needle! And dont sew with cotton thvead that's morethan a few years old: it can become weak, For outdoor lighting, compact fluorescent bulbs usually take longer to brighten up in cold weather LED bulbs arent affected bythe cold Today's smart:phone bodies often include Kevlar, carbon fiber ‘rather tough material. After rmarkeccases may offerexcra pl but ofteninder access orslow the responsivenessof the ‘phone's screen, buttons, and ports 1BYou don't necessarily need the Switferbrand, bat a microfiber cioth will attract dust betterthan a regularcioth Bits harder for vacuums 10 thoraughiy clean high-i patterned carpets than smooth- pile carpets. it’s hassle to organize smartsphone photos on your phone. Transferthem toa omputerand use software to comganize them. [Wrinkle creams? Sigh They dont ‘workaswellas yournghthope. [icut down on your cell phone's data charges byusing AWi-Finetwork Startathome andin the office, but there are ‘more that you can takeadvantage of Many cableTV providers, inciuding Comcast, Cablevision, andTime Warner, have Wi-Fi hotspots that you can accessi vou'eacablecustomer.ATET wireless customers aan use 29,000 mostiy ree natspats [To clean your computer screen, put adrop of ishuvashing liquid ona soft ‘damp, int-freecioth ana wipe the screen, Non-ammoniated glass Cleaners are Ok, too. Dont use ‘ammania-based cleaners. 1D Many cellphone touch screens come with aprotectve layerthat makes scratches Unlikely. Some protectors reduce sare, but they can also make your display les responsive, and they often develop air bubbles andscratches oftheir ov. [The refrigerator door s farmer than elsewhere inthe fridge; don't store milk there Don't pay extrafor iD-theft protection for your creat cara. if your cardi stolen, federal aw mits your liability t $50. And your card number (not the card sel isstolen, yourenot lable for anything. {Pass up built-in car navigation ‘ystems, which can add $1500.0r more tothe ticker price. Instead, considera $100-to-5250 pe device orasmart-phoneapp. 1D Any shampoo willcieanyour hair aurtestsnave shawn. So buy what you like and want ta pay. Gere Te Reese Pree oe ee ietu) dates (typically 12 Reema cat’ eee) eee Ce ava) eae nec PA ad replace the devices. 1DYou don't have to change ‘your ei every 3,000 miles as someservice shops suggest, Follow the interval recommended in yaur ewners manual, usually 5,000 miles or more BD When choosing a product from our Ratings, first check out the brand's reliability. Then pick the model. 12 Bug repellents that contain deet (25 percent is best) aretap [cut your grocery bill by upto ‘60 percent choosing store brands lover name branes, shopping ‘ata warehouse cli, and using ‘ouponsand store reward cards [We hope you never face this, buthere’s how to tamea runaway car: Press and hold the brakes and shift the transmission into neutral, Then use your brakes to bring the car to a stop fon the side ofthe road and shut ‘off the engine, Shift the car into Park Mav2012 ConsumeRRevonrs.org 19FEATURE Bundle for sav ings 84,000 readers help you choose and save on TV, Internet, home phone, and now cell phone, too ANY oF USarcone stop shop pers when it comes to home telecom, opting for a “triple play,” the industry term for a discounted bundle of TV, Internet, and phone service, The majority of ConsuneR Reports readers who bundled are happy with that arrangement, a new Consumer Reports National Research Center survey suggests, Among the more than 20,800 readers who told us about theit triple- or quad-play package, three in four said they ‘would definitely or probably buy that bur dle of services again. Deep discounting helps explain the bull- ishness about bundling. You can get big savings by bundling three services with fone provider. “Friends who went with a bundle were saving a good deal of money, so T decided to do it as well,” says Mary Kelly of Chico, Calif., whose Comcast bill dropped by more than $50 a month, You can get more discounts by adding cell-phone service to a tiple play. Verizon and ATK offer such “quad plays.” Comcast, Cox, and Time Warner offer them (with Ve rizon Wireless phones) in some locations. such breaks are welcome relief from the upward climb of telecommunications rates, Many big providersbaosted monthly bills for one or another of their telecom servicesby $5orso this year, driven in part, by the rising costs of TV programming. In: dustry analysts forecast continuing hikes ‘over the next few years, “expect to see TV rates continue to climb about 4 to 5 per ‘centa year,” says Arthur Gruen, president of Wilkofsky Gruen Associates, a telecom consulting firm in New York. ‘The more services in your bundle, of course, themore services you haveto switch ‘when changing providers and the tighter Three in four triple-play bundlers would do it again. the grip your current company has.on you, ‘This report should embolden you to tackle your telecom costs head-on, OurRatings— ‘of bundles from 14 companies, along with individual phone, TV, and Internet ser- vices from many more—show that most people have at least one decent choice in telecom, And our reporting and exclusive survey results reveal ways to slim down service~maybe because you're using cell phones more or streaming more online EEE Speed you may not need Wh interne service, youprobably dont teed the higher speeds many (Ps arena pitching asan upgrade. cabeisions Optimum service fr instance fers So-megabts-persecond bp) downloads ‘wth Bost Pas sa-month upgrade totes regular intemet speeds, which are Up ‘015 Mops, according to the compary, ‘A1S Mbps speeds fairy typical now for standard internet service. That shouldbe all most consumers need, even f multiple users are simultaneously doing bandwidth-hungry tasks, suchas streaming high-definition Video, Web browsing, and playing a two-way high-definition video game. vvideo—or at least to negotiate a price break or some freebies to soothe the sting of that higher bill, What our survey found Here are key findings from our survey along with advice on how to use the info to get better or cheaper telecom service: Verizon’sfiber service satisfies. Among major carriers, the highest proportion of subseribers who said they'd “ciple play” again had bundles with Fios, Verizon's fiber optic based TY, digital andiine phone, and high-speed Internet service. “Quad play” cistomers who added Verizon cell phone servicetothe bundle wereeven more enthusiastic, FiOS received standout scores for its badhand speed and reliability, TV pictur and reliability, and even phone cll duality and reliability. But respondents With FiOS bundles were more likely than ‘most other providers’ customers to say bills were ard to read or estor-prone. Verizon FiOS is available to about 18 mil lion homes in 12 states (mostly on the East Coast and in parts of California, Florida, and Texas) and Washington, D.C. If your neighborhood is wired for FiOS, you'll probably know it, Consumers in those a- eas (including our own staffers) report a flood of direct-mail promos and door te- door calls pitching the service. ‘Areas that aren't wired for FiOS probably can't expect to get the service anytime soon, even if FiOS is available nearby, Ver zon says it’s focused more on signing up customers in areas italready serves than in expanding coverage oma is a top phone option, Coma, which provides VoIP service (the same tech- nology used by cable and fiber companies), was one ofthe top rated phone services ofany type in our survey. It requires a $180 device (often discounted to $150) that com nects to your broadband service and a regu lar phone. There's no charge for unlimited local calls and 5,000 minutes a month of domestic long distance (though you have to pay afew dollars a month in taxes), and in ternational rates are very ow. Before you drop your bundled phone ser vice to go cell-only, make sure your cell phone works well throughout your home. Andif you're considering Ooma or another VoIP service, keep in mind that it might not work with a home-security system. (Don’t think you need to keep a landline for emergency calls, though. A past Con sumer Renonts survey found cell phones reliable enough forcalling 91 Also, dropping phone service from a tri- ple play might save you as litle as $5 0 30 a month, That's because the discount on buying a bundle of two services is usualy not as big as when you buy three. That's the reason 34 percent of survey respon: dents whe thoughtaboutswitchingphone services decided to stick with their bundle provider afterall, Comcast, Cox, and Time ‘Warner were among the companies whose subscribers were markedly less satisfied with value from double plays than triples. Cracots Survey respondents who judged internet speed very {good or excellent: 74% fiver 64% cable ‘Bur that's not always the case, Our sur- vey found that customers of Verizon FiOS, ATT, and some small providers were equally satisfied with the value they got from double bundles as they were with the value from triple plays, Verizon andsatelliteare TV standouts, Verizon FiOS TV and DirecTV's satellite service had higherratingsthan mostot providers for picture and sound quality channel selection, and reliability. Satel- Ticerival Dish Nerworkalso fared well with survey respondents, as did a few (mostly smaller) cable companies. If you're a TV aficionado who owns an especially large set, you might want tele vision service from one of the standout providers, if any are available to you. (Sat ellite TV requires you to mount a pizz: WHAT'S OOMA? SEE OUR VIDEO Useyoursmartphone to download the RedLaser or ShopSavvy app and scan the code or thevideo. Mav2013 ConsumeRReronrs.org 21FEATURE BUNDLE FOR SAVINGS sized dish antenna witha clearview ofthe southern horizon.) Atthe other extreme, pethaps you're rel atively unattached to your TV service and ‘want tocut back on itor even eliminate it altogether. Around onein 10 survey respon: dents make do without any pay TV service. See whether your provider offers a low. priced basic package that would satisfy your viewing needs. Or cut the cord and use an antenna to get free over the-air digital signals, including HD, from broad: cast networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBs. That mightbe enough TV for you, es: pecially if combined with a streaming. Video subscription. ‘Try to bundle your cell phone, too. Bringing your cell phone into your tele com bundle, ift'san option, isas close to ‘ano brainer as you can get in the complex ‘world of telecom savings. ‘ATA gives you $5a month off your wire less bill for two years if you sign up for U verseservices foroneyearand will discount U-verse services as well. ATRI’s U-verse Choice bundles offer savings to new cus: tomers who sign up for any combination of wireless, TV, landline, and Internet. At press time, Verizon was offering a $10-a-month break for combining Veri 20n Wireless with a FiOS triple play bun le on one bill. In areas where Verizon FiOS is not available, Comcast, Cox, and Time Warner cable subscribers can add Verizon Wireless cell phone service to a double-or triple-play bundle. With a two yearcontract, they'Ilreceive a $50 0 $400 prepaid Visa card. This isn’t a one-bill deal, though; Verizon Wireless and the cable company send separate monthly Don't watch sports much in our household? That’ unfortunate, because sports channels such as ESPN are probably the priciest programming in your TV package, except for premium offerings, and there's often no palatable way tocut that cost ‘Where most cable channels account for ‘pennies per month of your programming bil ESPN commands $5 ofthe average expanded ‘basic monthly TVbil Providers pay another $2.50 or soa month fora regional ports network, according to SNL Kagan, anews ‘and data service in Charlattesvil Because of the high cost of sports programming, some providers are adding sports-related surcharges. Cablevision, Verizon FiOS, and DitecTVare charging 22 CONSUMER REPORTS WAv2012 TRU EUS AU kd Most telecom bargainers got a price break or freebies. bills for this type of hybrid package. ATAT and Verizon subscribers reported ‘worse problems with billing, such as errors, with quad-play packages than tri- ple plays—and neither carrier handled ‘triple play bills very well Too few people bargain “The experiences of our survey respondents should empower you to bargain for lower rates, “If you're persistent enough, you can get just about anything,” says Faye Burchard of Burke, Va., who subscribes to Cox. By quoting specific offers from com- petitors, she won savings of more than $50.a month. Only one in three survey respondents with a triple or quad play negotiated with their carrier, and many of them got a re: duction in theirmonthly bill, fees waived, ‘oran upgrade in service, About 44 percent of bargainers reported savings of up to $50 2 month, and 7 percent chopped more ‘than $50 off their monthly bill. If you're icky enough to have two com- petitors offering triple-play packages in your neighborhood, you can play them off againsteach other, as Burchand and other subscribers between $2and $3 month for ‘access to regional sports networks. ‘With sports resisters increasingly aware lofjust how much they ae paying for ‘channels they never watch, TV providers are offering new ways to reduce your il Bur they require trade-offs you might not be willing to make Some carriers now have programming tiers \without ESPN and Foxsports Net, but they lack other channels, too, Dish Netwark’s '20-a-month Smart Pack of 55Yamily friendly’ stations, forinstance, doesn't include CNN, Disney, the History Channel, MSNBC, TNT, or USA, among other popular ‘channels. Verizon FiOS Select HD package of ‘Mo-plus channels, more than 30 of them in survey respondents found. Among readers ‘who had changed TV providers in the pre- vious six months, 18 percent were offered new savings of $20 or more a month by their old provider ifthey didn't switch toa new company or if they had switched but were open to coming back. You might not even need to bargain to ‘enjoy a price break when TV service from Verizon or AT&T is available. As Joey Schultz, AT&1’s vice president of wire line consumer marketing, observed, “When ‘we come to town, the cable companies get more aggressive with pricing.” Ifyou strike out on negotiations with the regular customer-service rep, ask for the ‘customer retention department. Its man- date to hangonto existing subscribers gives reps more latitude to negotiate. But be ready for the cartier to refuse to budge till the last possible moment. A survey respon ‘dent who was switching from cable to FiOS ‘got a great offer the day he called to have his cable service turned off. “they reduced my monthly bill by $45 and gave me three premium channels free for a year,” says Brian Flaherty of Woodland Park, N.J., who canceled the Verizon installation he hd scheduled for the next day and stayed with Optimum Breaks such as those are usually good for limited time, but you can always ask for another deal. Carolyn Aloisi of North Springfield, Vt., did just that when her two-year triple-play contract with Com- ‘astwasup. “Ttold them I wanted the low ‘est special being offered to new customers and no contract,” she says, “or{ would go back to DirecTV, which Ihad before.” Com- castagreed, keeping her as a customer. [EXPENSIVE ESPN The premier sports channel ‘accounts for around $5 of monthly cable bis. HD, ismissing FoxNews, TNT, ‘and afew other notables the company said anits| ‘website, Select HD costs $50 a month, That's ‘a great price, but some consumers might prefer to spend $15 a month more fr Prime HD, which has 20-plus channels, more than 580 themin HD, including ESPN,Other respondents had similar success, ‘Among the 62 percent of customers whose initial promo period had expired, 40 per cent said they wereable to negotiate a new discounted rate, You can also ask for more channels: 33 percentof the negotiators got additional premium TV channels, and 10 percent got more regular channels Another possible cost cutter: See whether you can get a whole-home DVR instead of paying for multiple units Philip Roberts of San Rafael, Calif., ‘trimmed his bill substantially by switch’ ing to a Comcast AnyRoom networkable DVR, which lets him watch recordings on multiple TVs, The nasty news in nickel-and-diming \when you'e paying $100 or more amonth for yourTV, phone, and internet service, ‘equipment-rental charges are same, to say the least. 1's even moreannoving ‘when new charges start showing up on Yourbil as they might ths year. Lastfall, the Federal Communications Commission agreed toallow cable ‘companies to encrypt. or scramble, even basictier digital cable service, That includes local broadcast stations 2s wall ‘as government and educational channels, (Cablevision and ather caries got that permission sooner.) So the TVin your bedroom that you once connected directly toacable maynawrequireacigital cable boxto get any programming atall Cable companies must givecustomers advance notice and providefree converter boxes (or CableCards) for one ortwo years, depending on the service subscribers have [At the end ofthe free period, the cable ‘company must notify the subscribers that theyil be charged for the equipment. ‘Most cable companies charge’ to $10. ‘amonth foreach boxand remote, Comcast ‘offersa simpler terminal for secondary sets that costs $2 month, butyou get only the ‘most basic channels and ony in standard Mmm ec osescc co Ee cer Ta 9 che TMM @8800000 F aa) or 10 sufdentine oie EMM @ 0000600 a7 af 11 cablevison/optinun ctie CMM @ 0000800 wale) be nights abe TMM @ 000000 - & BRN oe POU as fa 14 comcast che MME @ 0000080 . wo 15. Time warner be TMM 8 G000800 ww ck TT Oooo - 16 Garter che MMM © 6000066 2 vwronros in ENN O00 0 17 wecon che EMM © 0000088 ysis cle FM oss! ‘perc eng ten pe po repent 4 waisiound cle TNE 6 8 6 5 Frontier ne TE Co ° - Phone 6 migiteses he FNM SD 5 8 a 7 cate: cle MM GRO z PF] su ee = a ar ie FMM 9605 ‘ 9 = al 10 EarthLink ot MM SOS - oa ona 1 Centurytink > CMM e800 - ee Che TMS go (2 CeCe te MOO 3 Suddeniink ae TE 5 5 6 - i ke eS OCR eee ‘o? TM 5 5 OM Aten: =: MMO OO 5 Vea ios a ae er) a ro) 6 mientoweenets cit MMM 8 che TMM e800 7 enter cS SSM Heeger a NETS TSO & Cbleson/opinun che NM ik cece MS 9 Cincinnati Bel ond EMM oo s 6 - 19 ROM a e0o 10 co che MMMM 0 8 © 0 20 tmewaner ate OM 80 TOS nc CMM 6 so - 21 Conturytink oe eoe 12 insie= aoe MMMM 8 8 = on wmsram tt EROS 13 Magiclack we (—"! e 8 6 - 23 Verizon te eco 14 wingtream ins ok aren a ree 15 aTeTuverse s Mmm 5 5 6 8s car re soe 16 new ke as tare ce TZ! 56 17 Tiewarer ae M/Z! 90 6 9 on tam che TM 808 18 cuaner abe MMMM 0 0 0 8 it Frater o Tm soe 9 comcast he TMM 0 8 8 a oie 8 SO 20 century a_i a er ot eck 2 Verizon ee es 2 Frontier nd EMM 0 8 0 So vst vim cee 3 FalPoint wi HMMM oe 8 Oo - 33 Mediacom abe FM @ 00 at no C8 Oe Ment ie ee 25 wediacom Ge CMM FO = cee rd ci melo Srey eg srr recliner, gto ig rhanintan Seean wn Mav2013 ConsumeRRevonrs.org 25CR INVESTIGATES Warranty protection You have more rights than you might think if OURTEEN MONTHS AFTER the manufacturer's warranty for Donald Curtis $1,500 plasma television expired, the TV started going haywire, he says. The con trols would freeze, and the volume and channels would change by themselves. Curtis, who lives in Northborough, Mass., persuaded Samsung to replace the TV, but only ater spending nine aggravating months and almost $800 trying to repaiit. What Curtis didn’t know is that he had additional warranty rights that might have helped him get satisfaction free. Here's what you need to know about warranties. isn’t the whole story. Yourrghts go beyond what you read inawarrarty booklet aso called ar exyress warranty of guarantee) Anywritten oF Sten claim madeby armanufactre or ‘ttaler voyantromosincss 2021 Tt toroteccer2022 m2 9 suppersoopucm = 3s [10 woyantro-xovavesy m1 Soapperseo DaveH 0021 Aue a 179 2 ceateman 7181 m2 craftsman 7486 2 Cub cadet scsooHw 240021 7021 16 cabcadetscs00 210) 502 7 cabeatetscsoozeeaCH) 802 18 Husqvarna usconND = S00 19 craftsman 7044 ee 20 Husqvarna HUB 0 2 21 Husqvarna HUTT m2 2 craftsman 7005 mo 2 23. craftsman 702202 m2 24 tsvarnaHUTOOF BD 2 25 TroyitTeZ0.2AI5 300 26 Husqvarna HO7OOL 02 5 i © © 0 “0 190 900000909000000000000000 9099000000000000900000000 00000000000000000000000000 9009000000000000000000000 209000909000000099000000000 p [B _GASSELF-PROPELLED, SINGLE-SPEED Suitable for mast lawns, but they sacrifice lexi Et woasx0 mz 2 terezom m 2x 3 Smppersmmowasenme 280.2 [B] A Yarden i2ks5u73894 55) (Sears) 5 craftsman 740 Ee 6 Murray 2is042 moat ‘TOP-VALUES FOR BIGGER JOBS Husqvarna 1258, $150.ACR Best Buy, this gas handheld vanguishes leaves and should ‘meet most local noise regulations [Ryobi RYO8A20, $200. Superb seeping and loosening power for less than other backpack ‘models make ta CR Best Buy. But t's noisy Powermate P-WB-163150, $350. This CR Best Buy wheeled blower cleared and loosened leaves 2s wall as models twice its price, nc ° o o © ° e ° ° 99000 909000 poeoe 00000 ‘TOPS FOR QUIETNESS Echo PB-250LN, $170, Thishandhelé 125 blower gives up some sweeping ower but should meet the strictest noise regulations ‘Troy-Bilt T8572, $470. Wheoled blowers are known for their naise; this one was the {quietest wheeled model we tested. And lke other top picks, this CR Best Buy made sweeping and loosening leaves a breezemesetty Recommended @ Poor © bxclene © ery erod Ocul ori CE ee ry z EF PRERE? 5 a a EE He é viricivle evcubcadet BB BackLDecer B._cAasseur-propetien,sINGLESPEED continued a ms Most and least reliable 8 Craftsman 37043 3041 me! eeoe@ 9 tawny 034 =) 60 FMM = «0 0 0 6 43,000 readers sound off 10 Lawm2ny 1062 = © © BM O_O O_O OC _chotwingamowerbrandwitha good repair 4 rwyanean ets 30 21 m0 EMM _hstovcanmorveyeuroesofgetng 2_ cate S_2_ HMM __0 9 0 eee etour readers shout C_GASPust For sat, atterauns ae fr trimming ger ons. experiences Though we found no standouts EZ catwascoounin 021MM © frpushmovers Cubcadet usar 2 ceatemansvex 2 1 0 GMM 0 & 8 8 _— mostrepair-prone brands—and Honda TZ 2 warduadinesiness8 01) EMM @ © wasamongteleast—forset-propalled owe’ ASof2013,Srapper movers are 4 lens rae 9173 a! eee Se 5 paltTouo ZN 20010 EMO OO Craltimanand Toy Bit modes wel se 6 wurayne3 5 21 Mo EMM © _@ 0 _whetherSnapper’ reabtyimproves 7 craeman 7010 m2 © M/—/| oC 1 0800 Aenea 8 caftman 707 1 MM 6 0 080 = 9 woyaitrenomeng = 40 21s) EMM BO 10 taw20y1060 » n 0 MMM 60060 11 meray ar m1 0 RM 00060 2 wdmdem: os EMM 13 en 1480 21 6 | 3 2 O86 14 wurraynzsca m2 os er ooe D_ ELECTRIC BATTERY dest for lawns small enough to maw within the 15- to 45 minut run time Taine SS ae eo ae ST 3 Black & Decker CwMI200 nor = eo0o008 4 Toro 20360 on + ee2z08 5 GreenWorks 25223. nse oo0o0@e8 Soernen ee) ga oO nek Sr Sea RES oe eee TSI trang epee 10 Worx W788 50019 —_ eooes ee ea eT 0s E60 0 6 8. serecmmenrouamentaivsing oe = Fae mm self propelled mowers readers bought new from 2008 3 mango my Em OG g_ trradmesratsimarenfoice 14 Homelite UTis126 ma e@oooes ‘S points aren't meaningful, and data are adjusted £0 : x rere eee aa arte a as “use Modess within a brand may vary. ond chargesia E__ ELECTRIC CORDED Best for smaller, more open lawns where the cord isn't an issue. design or manufacture may affect future rehaility. Ty 1 lack becker m7 my tt / 6606 6 See se ee fearon 3) Remington 184-2128 wo» 2 oeooe8 tamower GLE] 4 GreenWorks 25213 0 = oe oe 8 Use your smart phone to 5 Homelite UTDI26 m > 2 © 8 0 © 4S __ download theRedLaser or tees wx 2 MM 6 9 0 6 9 | Sopwampaascn a mlongawsteascuygone 2 omen Shedsage mn. 4SH-aweeveer May202 ConsumeRReronrs.org 33High-back seat. Adds back support (On all tested lawn tractors except Ariens (a2), Bolens (422), Cub Cadet (Aa), john. Deore (AS, AY, A20), and Troy-Bilt (A), land onallero-turr-ragius riders except Husqvarna (C3). Of therear-engine riders, ‘ony Tray-lt (hast Infinite drive speeds. Letyouvary speed ‘mocthly without the shifting needed for ‘geardrive systems, On alltractors and riders ‘except Ariens (AZ), Bolens (A2), John Deere (420), Murray (02), and Troy-Bilt (0). Electric power takeoff. Engages thebades witha switch instead ofa lever. On al tractors Andiriging machines except Arians (AIS, A), Bolens (422), Craftsman (Al0,ATl, AA), Cub Cadet (A6, Aa), Husqvarna (A), ohn Deere (AS. AIT, AZO), Murray (02), and Troy-Bilt (8,418, CLOSE-UP Raven hybrid tractor has launch problems ‘The Raven MPV-70, $3,000, made by Denver Global Products, isthefirstlawn tractor that blends a gas engine with a battery pack ‘Lowe’ excuse, itcan reacha bistering ‘mph when youre not mowing and includes ‘2 generator that claims more than 7,000 watts. \Wefoundit stable to drive. But this high-flying riderwas only mediocre at the mowing that counts, The switch that shuts af theignition ‘when youleave the seat appeared to cause surging aver bumps with this model. potential safety concer had also halted sales this issue went to press blades that spin when they shouldn't. Conventional actors are powered solely by ‘2 gas engine. Though youl need to run the Raver'senginewhen mowing, you can whiz back to the shed using the battery alone. Electric motors tum the blades to mow. but they should do so only when you engage the power-takeoff switch, According tothe ‘manufacturer, afaulty connection on one ofits ‘amplesallowed abiade to spin as soon as the 34 CONSUMER REPORTS Ay 2015, Easy mode changes. Most models requires blade changeto mulch, and some to bag, john Deere (A3,AI7,A20,C5, CI), Snapper (A2),and ‘Troy-Bilt (CD) do not. The Toro (C7 mulches without the need to change blades, but adding themulch plate isa hassle Visible fuel gauge. ots you check fuel levels without the need to leave your seat, On ‘Ariens (Cl), Craftsman (Al0, 83,84, C6), Cub Cadet (A6, AB, B, C4, Husqvarna (85, (C9), john Deere (AS, AY, A20, 82), Snapper (22, A12, AB), Toro (C7, Ci), and Troy (,2.00. ‘Washout port. Accepts ahoseatop the deck or cleaning built-up clippings beneath. On all tractors and ides except Bolens(A22, ‘Craftsman (Ald), Husqvarna (85), John Deere (84, 9), Murray (D2), Snapper (Az), and Troy-Bilt (8, DD, mower was started, Denver Global Products toldus t's checking all unsold Ravens at Lowe's scores nationwide. The company also said it has notified the Consumer Product Safety Commission butis confident none of the roughly 450 machines sold since February isaffected. (Each model, by protocol, isbriefly test-diven before it's shipped to astore, so {a problem should show up as soan as the machine is started, the manufacturer says.) Ouradviee you own this mawer, contact Lowes (800-445-6937) an¢ insist on the same safety check tobe sure yoursis safe Meanwhile, if eicher blade spins when t isnt ‘engaged, you know youave a problem 21,000 readers sound off Choosing brandoflann tractor or zero-urrtadis ding mower witha 00d repair istary can improve your Odds of getting aretable model. 50 teach year wesuney thousands of our readers about thei experiences. Cub Cadet and Troy-Bit were the most repair pone bands for tractors Cub Cadet was alt the mos repai-prone forzero-trnradivs mowers. Roars Tractors Source Consumer Rot tra Rly Survey. Ourfings are base on 18697 beg new fom 2008 oh ee SM of 201 Difleencesoffever thn portsoert tmeoningl ond ot aeausted tomate Aiererces keds to ease and seo the mower Aiorete thet ms wtbinabrond ray ary one changes ndesgnor manufacture ay aft finer ity Guide to the Ratings ‘Overall scare for mowers, actors, and riders ismosty mulching bagging sde-ischanging (includes evenness), handing, andeaseof use Scovesfor prevousy ested models may have changed. Dislay cores are rounded: models arelstedbypreese overall sore Mulehing how eveiy cippngswere cut and distributes, aging fling evenness and capacity ‘with bag(9), neat logged chutes Side-discharge show evenly clonings were ‘dispersed. Handling frsepropelied and push mowers is este af using dive contro, pushing, puling, tums, ancother ‘maneuvers for tractorsandeiders, eaeof trv engagement, braking sterng, turn radius, andresstance to front-wheel if, Ease of use formoversis ease of tating, using blade-stopping controls, changing speeds, and adjusting cutheight; fer actors ‘andriders, leg roam, seat and seering-whee ‘analevercomfort, ease blade and brake engagement, bag removal and et-helght ‘endmode changes. rie is approximate Fetal for movers and attachments _attaciment prices for mowers and ers [re from manufactures.Ratings Tractors & riders | themed anit perforrancecedes within Pes, Ered ZF smlermewdsasmlye w z E omakiwtnws 2?) : a PiFiGivt 22 John eae i H ‘A tawn TRACTORS Best for most ange lawns: models wit tight turingare footnote. Overview Ata rmacrons es! for mos age awns; mols with ight twrningarefotnoted, _ (Sin top peks coma fom anablabrans 1 eabcadet T2012 AO 5 2 0) i © 050° (where data are available), which is why 2 Suapper WxT2346, 2800 49090 46 EA © 680 0 Figh-scoring cub Cadet tractors and zar0- 3 son eere 310 sm <9 4) EA 22000 turragius mowers didnt make ourlist. |) 4 jtnoeeesao 1 400 0 0 7 // ssoos Sig aeeonrncarree TAS dhoveereouowe 70 Dk Ss eses Peer abcde HOSDNSAT yy eno MM 08S Ico best pay These ie aise (07 tsavarna vires 1600 sso 4 1 / seses EiRecommended These offer top 8 Sb coset TL BON 1500 55050 2 9) FZ/Z/' es eees performance and often specifi strengths. 9 John Deere 300 3000 sa60 «27 ssoce E10 crataman ise + wo 3s 2m ecooe ee nee El 1 ceattsman25505 ee ee ee) 182 Snapper $2200€R Best Buy Pop ekae epee 12 srapersp12002 1 coy 0 A sec s ‘no craftsman 1600 GR BestBuy 1 srapersPx2¥s 20m 60 MBF {81 craftsman S300 €R Best Buy M4 craftsman 33521 ce a: erry Tika Reece NICE 15 wens 2OWGnows = L000 MM BS without saciicingpetformance. A2 offers 16 eatsman 25005 so 060) EM themost convenience, with push-button 17 sohn eer 105 ism 500) EMM BOOS blade activation and an accurate electronic 18 ToySitdoxomwes — 1200 30050 MM BOO heightagusterandfuelgauge. AT asa 19 TopsitiosenaveRT 1am ons 45 MM BOO smooth drostaticdive ike most: ANcOsts 29. abn Dere 100 ‘00 200 7 75 A 88005 ‘the least but requires shifting. Choose the 21 Ariens 960460053, 50 NAN eS Sliaiota ‘2einch NO fyou mosty bag cippings 22_ dens WI so nas #8 0s EMM 0 OOS O FOR EVEN WIDER MOWING B_ Lawn TRACTORS (WIDE DECK These ote wider cus: models with ight turningare footnoted. B2_John Deere 52.000 CR Best Buy 1 Cub Cadet LGTi050 1BWS92KP x 2700 550/50 SOS oese°e @ een LA 2 sob deere 0140 050,010 2000 3035 lk oesee e- CanesannsZ 000 CR RAE 3 Craftsman 28361 1 200 3 lk oo0@ees ‘nave wid tvea-blade decks hat rade 4 cratuman 289 + 2m ys ts MO OOS somecucqualsfortimesavings B2hasthe "5 agar THD iam 7m) 2 EMM 00808 bagging, tighter tums, and wider decks. B3 6 Sieateintncatne 200040075 0 _——_ ae) ee ee ee eee ye [C_ZERO-TURN-RADIUS RIDERS Al twmn ighity, but most can he hard to contro nil back to the garageor shed more quickly It Woysttwsingeonwicis 20 sm 2 AM 0 COS O FOR TIGHT TURNS OR Fl 2 Worsitwosingso wien 2500 no 5) SMS OS CO SMALLER STORAGE 2 cibeadetzronesAsmirseit 3600 4000 M8 BO 8 1 Troy iits2300 CR Best Buy 4 cabeadetezrsasmurzeor 3000 cco) EM 5 BOLO cee a Zeroturtradus mowershavefrontcasters El 6 cattemazon: A thatswivelfreey andofferesscontrolthan —[¥] 7 Sige SSM? 2600 soon 2 EM 6 COCO twactorson slopes of 1:01 degrees. Pk CY 5 NOTES 30 aos oi ee os an ifyou want ll three mowing mades, C2 for 9 usar 24623 zon nt 46) EMS 8 ee eee a 10 Terotinecutersss000 00 sono) MF esc 8 his, but the brand has been repairpronein epee ee Cursuneye Condor Diitysuwantocmeter 2 CADCaMtZrueSMSTNSEHG 4900 50200 2 x CM 90008 Sing mover that takes pies space B abadetsom 30m soos 0 MM CO 8 1M menszonessiss = 2s ons MM ROS lounoeatn 15 Snapper200225, som os 6 MMM G88 LAWNTRACTOR D_REAR-ENGINE RIDERS These ar compat alternatives to tractorsbut give up some performance ‘ssyoursrarepbenaD Tha versie sesn 10 m0 5) EN OO ShopSawyy appand scan 2 Murray A251 0 WM pos OM OO thecode orthevideo pts enn acs Ske cto edgy ming, 4 Keo May 2012 ConsumeRRevonts.org 35FEATURE String trimmers 25 top picks rev up your choices HICH trimmeris toughest ‘on weeds and easiest on your arms? Our vote goes to the superbly balanced Husqvarna 223L. But our tests of almost 70 models show that you don't have to pay $260 to vanquish the rough stuff Winners in short and tall grass. cas trimmers blend power and mobility. The Craftsman 71102, a CR Best Buy at $100, and the Troy-Bilt TB32 EC, $130, trimmed and edged nearly as well as the Flusqvarna for far less. Both accept a plug in starter and an adapter to start them with a drill, A pound-saving pick, Ac 9 pounds and $70, Homelite’s UT32600 is light and inexpensive, The best in this group are a notch better, but they're pricey for their performance, Maintenance-saving electrics. These liminate fueling and annual tune-ups, “he corded GreenWorks 2142, a CR Best Buy at $90, blazed through tall grass ike a gas trimmer but weighs about as much, Black & Decker’s GH2000 and CH1100, $70 each, weigh almost 3pounds less. Battery models add cord-free mobility. Sciht’s $510 FSA 65 offers gas-like crimming and 30 minutes of run time, though Black & Decker’s LSTI36 comes close for just $170. How to choose Check the shaft. straight shaft trimmers can reach beneath shrubs, while curved: shaft models tend to be easier to handle. split shafts on the Craftsman 71102, Troy Bilt TBAZEC, and GreenWorks 242 accept “other tools and swivel for easier edging. Check the head, Auto-feed heads shoud release line on their own, But we had to keep stopping and restarting the new Black & Decker corded and battery trimmers we tested to feed out line. WATCH OUR FREE UYING GUIDE VIDEO UUseyoursmart phone to download the RedLaser or ‘ShopSavwy app and scan the cade or the video. 36 CONSUMER REPORTS UAy 2015, Q, ‘av Husquera —"Qar weedeater Ber creenwons @ beaten © ery good cond BRretty far Recommended @ Poor ae aan Ratings = Recommended models only From 67 tested. Ga or zg: Tague F mt zeae B®aij Deven i A. GAS-POWERED MODELS These offer mobility and unlimited run time but require more upkee A Husqvarna 2231 = 260 105. sc EMM eooose 2 sinrsis 0 0s 7 M//- eoocce 3 StiniFS40ce 190 n 7 M/E ceoosse ‘chm: 2 2 2 [™" ceosece yf 5 StiNIFSSORCE 2 mo BS 7 M/Z co oosse oT a 0 2 Ms o850 8 ei ey OO eC 8 Husqvarna 1280 = mo BS 6 Mm soosoe 9 Hitachi CG226ABSLP 10 9S, 2 Mm costs oe Gi» nose “1 5 EM esocee Goworeane m us 3 F/ eescoe twos ” 2 5 MMMM ssoese 1B Troy Bilt TREC & BO RS 5 FIM coosl e B _UGHT-DUTY GAS MODELS These are more suited for ight rimming T Weed Eater eatberie a ssrace 2 2 Homelite = 95 % 3 Homelite 22600, m 9% C_coRDED ELECTRIC MODELS These provide unlimited runtime within range ofa power outlet v00 000 000 coe oo oo es iz Dt cemetsc: = 1% np MM Co000 0 2 sthirseen 0 6 5 Mm ses060 3 plaka oecercvo 707) EM BO FLA wadanenerano 7 7 7 i" seeeeo _coniessetecrric woes reso ps burton ian easy wee bt ined un tine o0ee 02 ca0e0 1 SUM FSAGS « 8 nt PM eoeeeO 2 Dace decerisiness v0 7 = | 890080 3 pyobinysoao = m 9 0 M/F ce08e0e0 4 coreccra00 « mo ou 6a E/| so30eces 5 pyobirvzrant 2's 8 4 M/Z! secoso0 ‘Ne bute estat 2 Sat ots earworm e, {Per hs ey pe a ste, sen er oe Guide to the Ratings Cveral scores ining eng. cating tl gasand eed handing ese of se. an oat a Dopiyeosemcsercrurtermescsa kash onerotpeciconsal ove wring copa and pester gs fags spstand reatest of ing averdlinedlengewele Tl atts {ang pos nz ot pein Haning nds esposhenessontlrce Ease oust ‘Seangine consol sahara confor navelseter welgestoresox iat pane woe Engng ce abiccenenteremps cones cete noe) avo eterV pane eet ooo ev iacnersacure’ ea openerThe Hot List A monthly guide to the top products our testers recommend ‘These pages feature the top recommended models in many categories, updated every month. (Well typically feature 10 products per category, i rotasmonyiffener modekarerecommendedsonomaterwrenyoute | BIS TVS buying appliances or electronics, you'll ind good choices in every issue. MODEL Re 60-INCH AND LARGER PLASMA Panasonic leraTC-P6SVTS0, a $3,300, samsung PNOEBOOO, $2,200 9 Samsung PNBOESSO, $1,300 7 Panasonic Viera TCP6OGTSO, 7 $2,200 Panasonic Viera TC-P60STS0, 7 $1700 samsung PN64ESSO, $2,000 n Lc6oPMs700, $1100 70 LG60PMs700, $1,600 6 LG60-PAS500, $1,000 o 60-INCH AND LARGER LCD Sharp Aquos LC-60LE7ASU, $1,500 66 PanasonicViera-pesvrso SAMmSung UNGOESGIO, $1500 Large laptops 14INCH HPEnvy4-2010NR Spectre 70 UUtrabok, $850 a Toshiba satelite usasw-s400 6 Utraboot, $550 Lenovo ThinkPad x Carbon Touch 6 7 Utrabook, $1500 i = AppleMacbo0k Po ir conditioners Lenovo ThinkPad Carbon cy neti dpa MESA Untrabook, 31.250 wc EISSN 5-10 16-INcH SMALL ‘Apple MacBookPro with Retina 16 sdrich CPOBFIO, $250 80 display MCS7SLLIA, $2,200 Kenmore 70051, $150 3 Renee *s eee 78 cer M5-S8IT-6807 Ultrabook, $600 68 ier ChillCPOSGIO, $250 7 | Beseeacnor a MIDSIZED! Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch MD 66 Friedrich Kuh SSOBHMO, S800 22 TOU S800 eich chill CPOBGIO, $400 73 | [ereenery f \ sharp AF-S85RX (Costco), S180 76 sen 1 Gand simiararsBOR) Sarsng NP7DOGTE 50005; 1600 ss Samsung NPT00G7C-S02U5, Mar 2013 ConsumERREvORTS.org 37THEHOT LIST Washers & dryers FRONT-LOADING WASHERS Samsung WFAS7ARGSIGRI, 1.550 89 ‘Google News10| (nd similar WFA5sARGSWR, $1,400) LGWMBO00HIVIA, $1,350 89 Tablets eeiutaee ene eR eeenioee le Same = ‘Samsung WF435ATG)IWR], $1,300 a7 ETS NEE env ONEY Sroararwessnety ane Coole Neus 108, 400 (and sia 328, 500) Whirlpool Duet WFW94HEX[W), $1,100. 87 ‘Apple iPad (16GB, 4th gen.), $500 3 meee oie (easier Ses $685 an etce, 00) SRW s300) Asus ova T0068, $55 (and sila 648, 0) 5 Kenmore Elite 414712) $1,100 87 samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (16G8), $$50 (and similar 22GB, $600) 8 Pee yo lair ee So) ‘Samsung DVS451AE IW], $900 8 ea eet Tensor Prime TF201 (3286), $500 80 ee i ‘Sony Xperia Tablet S (16GB), $400 (and similar 32GB, $500) 73 Kenmore Elite 6152121, $1,000 = ‘Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T (64GB), $600 cc AeplePad 206.5400 7” Leno es 20968, 5250 ” meets sso) Smart phones eee snes MODEL ineuton 25014 aver LG Optimus (Android, 3268) $100 7 Samsung Galaxy (Android, 1668), $200, 7% ‘AppleiPhones (15GB), $200 (and similar 3268, $300 and 6468, $400) 7 SPRINT LG Optimus G (Android, 2268), $200, 7 Vacuums Samsung Galaxy Il Android, 1668), $200 (and similar 32GB, $250) % Apple iPhone 5 (16GB), $200 (and similar 32GB, $300, and 64GB, $400) s Mee sete BAGGED CANISTER oe Kenmore Intuition 28014, 5500 mm ‘Samsung Galaxy Il (Android, 16GB), $230 (and similar 32G8, $280) ® < a ET - HTC One $ (Android, 16GB), $150. 7 somone Progressive: Miele $281 Callisto, $990 n ‘Sarnsung Galaxy Note Il (Android, 16GB), $370 76 Kenmore Progressive 264, $300 70 VERIZON Kenmore Progressive 21514, $250 68 Motorola Droid Razr Manx HO (Android, 3268), $250 7 7 Panasonic MCCG902, $250 6s Motorola Droid Razr HO (Android 168), $150, n ‘Sarnsung Galaxy S Ill (Android, 32G8), $250 (and similar 16GB, $200) 76 antes CANES LG Kompressor Leva008, $400, 69 38 CONSUMER REPORTS WAY 2013Reports Smart phones 38 High chair 40 Refrigerators 40 trons. Mattresses 42 Blenders 46 Vieamin 048 New pizazz from an icon (BlackBerry Z10 smart phone ($200, rer, Pobie Verizon) blackBerysltestentrys stead rims wath igang features, ncuding what may be the smartest phone keyboard ever ety resssamplt the 0 (ow were wring achecd displayed promise Ssansppeaing aerate te Andro App Sra Windows phones Ve wilhavetul tee results inafuturetssve The Zo has a4 2h high definition display. suppor for 4G data networts, an é-megapuel camera, and ec of Seorage butin an ert increas amore ral lackey expenene, she ompery may heve gore tooterinelinunatlgeweh {Thome btton onthe phone 210 ety employssuch tools as gestures and swipesto enhance e-mallend messaging the ey tnconsformany Ebrkcrnoee Ifyou use your personal phone for business, too, an T department could access its personal contents, such as. ‘music and photos. But BlackBerry’s OS. lets it be separated into two “worlds.” Motorola bear BlackBerry fans thas onlytwo physical controls: power button at the center topof the phone anda volurne/pause rocker ‘snitch onthe phone's upper-right side The ather controls found on past BlackBerrys—a physical keyboard, dedicated trackball/pad, and menu, back, home, and phone buttons—are all gone. (A physicalkeyboard will beon the Blackberry Q10, available later in the year) Gowith the flow. The phone empioys control system called BlackBerry Flow that relies entirely on finger siveeps and other gestures on the touch screen. For example sliding our thumb up from the bottom of the screen and then pulling tothe ight will always take youto the BlackBerry Hub, alist ‘of calls, messages, and calendar notifications received by the ZI0. But getting to the desktops main app screen often requires two ‘swipes: one up and another to the left, ‘And that’s not as easy or ituitiveas pressing ‘a dedicated "name key, as you can ‘on Android and iPhone models. The keyboards Flic feature isan advanced predictive-text function, suggesting words ithinks willbe nex, based on what's already inthe sentence. The keyboard alsohancled ‘more traditional predictive-text tasks easily. Voice control and dictation. TheVoice Control appis BlackBerry’ Silke voice- Kory 210 activated assistant. Voice Control executed fairy complex phone-related commands, suchas sending messages, psting updates fon social networks, creating appointments, and performing searches. Bottom line. The ZI0S advanced ‘multimedia features, smart keyboard, and intuitive design attuned to messaging offer hope to BlackBerry fans who want to stay with thebrand, But we miss the home’ button, Mixed signals for a Wi-Fi phone How about a phone that daesrit rely on call-phone service” Thats the premise of Republic Wireless, ano-contract cal service that offers unlimited calls, texts, and data for only $18 month. But youhave tobe willing {to pULUP with imitations forthe low pric. Republic Wireless service is inexpensive because whenever possible it uses WF \When there's noaccessble WiFi network, Republic uses the Sprint phone network. "We tied out the servcearound the New York city area using the only device that works with the service: the decent but basic ‘Motorola Defy XT smart phone ($289) that Uses slower 3G connections, The service and phone functioned acceptably on smaller less-crowded Wi-Fi networks but were less reliable in large, more-congested W-Finetworks, Hand-off hassles. fyou initiate callona WiFi network and then mave outof that network’ range, the phone handles the ‘transition by automaticaly placing a second callover Sprint's cellular netwari. But the person atthe other end ofthe call must hit the flash button to maintain the Canwarsation, You can avoid that problem altogether by beginning your callon the Sprintretwork and staying there by turning off the phone's WiFi connection. But the sevice tacks your cellularand\WiFi usage and reserves theright to cut you off if you. spend too much time on the Sprint network Its not clear what thelimitis, but the company saidit has never fred a customer Bottom line. For many smart-phone users, Republic low pricing may nat offset 3G connection nd phone imitations, But itmight bean acceptable budget option for ‘people with good access toWrFi reception, May 2013 CONSUMERREPORTS.org 39LAB TESTS High chair poses ahazard Consumer Revonrs hhas designated the Babyhome Eat high chairas Doa't Buy Safety Risk because / itlacksakey safety feature designed topreventan / Unharmessed citeom | sliding out 4 oftheseat or possibly beng al Caughe and strangies ing afal.weknow — [D8 Don't Buy: cfnadeathsorinures | Safety Risk assocatedwith hishigh | sabyhometae hair model higher The Babyhomecat ‘folding metal-framed high chair made in China or Babyhome USA, of Chester, NJ. falls ‘tomeet key criteria in ourtests, which ‘are based in part on the voluntary ASTM Intemational safety standardsfor high chairs. ASTM Intemational, formerly known as the ‘American Society for Testing and Materials,

You might also like

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

  

  From Everand

  The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

  Mark Manson

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (5824)
• The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

  

  From Everand

  The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

  Brene Brown

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1093)
• Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

  

  From Everand

  Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

  Chris Voss

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (852)
• • Magazines
  • Podcasts
  • Sheet music
• Principles: Life and Work

  

  From Everand

  Principles: Life and Work

  Ray Dalio

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (612)
• The Glass Castle: A Memoir

  

  From Everand

  The Glass Castle: A Memoir

  Jeannette Walls

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (1720)
• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

  

  From Everand

  Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

  Angela Duckworth

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (590)
• Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel

  Jesmyn Ward

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1194)
• Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

  

  From Everand

  Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

  Margot Lee Shetterly

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (898)
• Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

  

  From Everand

  Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

  Phil Knight

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (541)
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower

  

  From Everand

  The Perks of Being a Wallflower

  Stephen Chbosky

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (2105)
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

  

  From Everand

  The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

  Ben Horowitz

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (349)
• Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

  

  From Everand

  Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

  Ashlee Vance

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (474)
• Bad Feminist: Essays

  

  From Everand

  Bad Feminist: Essays

  Roxane Gay

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1025)
• The Outsider: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Outsider: A Novel

  Stephen King

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1871)
• Her Body and Other Parties: Stories

  

  From Everand

  Her Body and Other Parties: Stories

  Carmen Maria Machado

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (823)
• The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)

  

  From Everand

  The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)

  Viet Thanh Nguyen

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (122)
• The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

  

  From Everand

  The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

  Siddhartha Mukherjee

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (271)
• Angela's Ashes: A Memoir

  

  From Everand

  Angela's Ashes: A Memoir

  Frank McCourt

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (442)
• Brooklyn: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Brooklyn: A Novel

  Colm Toibin

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (1948)
• The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living

  

  From Everand

  The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living

  Meik Wiking

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (403)
• A Man Called Ove: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  A Man Called Ove: A Novel

  Fredrik Backman

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (4771)
• Steve Jobs

  

  From Everand

  Steve Jobs

  Walter Isaacson

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (809)
• The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

  

  From Everand

  The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

  Thomas L. Friedman

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (2259)
• The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel

  Garth Stein

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (4208)
• The Yellow House: A Memoir (2019 National Book Award Winner)

  

  From Everand

  The Yellow House: A Memoir (2019 National Book Award Winner)

  Sarah M. Broom

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (98)
• Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America

  

  From Everand

  Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America

  Gilbert King

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (266)
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  

  From Everand

  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  Betty Smith

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (1929)
• Yes Please

  

  From Everand

  Yes Please

  Amy Poehler

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (1903)
• A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius: A Memoir Based on a True Story

  

  From Everand

  A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius: A Memoir Based on a True Story

  Dave Eggers

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (231)
• Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

  

  From Everand

  Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

  Doris Kearns Goodwin

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (234)
• The Woman in Cabin 10

  

  From Everand

  The Woman in Cabin 10

  Ruth Ware

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (2525)
• Wolf Hall: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Wolf Hall: A Novel

  Hilary Mantel

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (3973)
• Fear: Trump in the White House

  

  From Everand

  Fear: Trump in the White House

  Bob Woodward

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (738)
• John Adams

  

  From Everand

  John Adams

  David McCullough

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (2409)
• On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal

  

  From Everand

  On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal

  Naomi Klein

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (74)
• The Light Between Oceans: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Light Between Oceans: A Novel

  M.L. Stedman

  Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

  4.5/5 (789)
• Manhattan Beach: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  Manhattan Beach: A Novel

  Jennifer Egan

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (880)
• The Constant Gardener: A Novel

  

  From Everand

  The Constant Gardener: A Novel

  John le Carré

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (104)
• The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

  

  From Everand

  The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

  George Packer

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (45)
• Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can't Ignore

  

  From Everand

  Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can't Ignore

  Jay Sekulow

  Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

  3.5/5 (137)
• Little Women

  

  From Everand

  Little Women

  Louisa May Alcott

  Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  4/5 (105)
• Consumer Reports Kitchen Planning and Buying Guide 2015-04

  

  Document140 pages

  Consumer Reports Kitchen Planning and Buying Guide 2015-04

  mystupid

  100% (6)
• External Outlines With Notes

  

  Document6 pages

  External Outlines With Notes

  mystupid

  No ratings yet
• Send Tutor 1

  

  Document3 pages

  Send Tutor 1

  mystupid

  No ratings yet
• Consumer Reports Aggragate PC Ratings

  

  Document7 pages

  Consumer Reports Aggragate PC Ratings

  mystupid

  No ratings yet
• Do Not Take The Course If You Cannot Take The Tests On The Scheduled Days

  

  Document4 pages

  Do Not Take The Course If You Cannot Take The Tests On The Scheduled Days

  mystupid

  No ratings yet
• Basic Economic Concepts Post

  

  Document15 pages

  Basic Economic Concepts Post

  mystupid

  No ratings yet
• Chap 001

  

  Document7 pages

  Chap 001

  mystupid

  No ratings yet
• ACC 4303 Spring 2015 DLR Schedule

  

  Document1 page

  ACC 4303 Spring 2015 DLR Schedule

  mystupid

  No ratings yet
• A. B. D. E.: Computation of Non-Controlling Interest

  

  Document2 pages

  A. B. D. E.: Computation of Non-Controlling Interest

  mystupid

  No ratings yet
• References 2. ACFE Corporate Fraud

  

  Document5 pages

  References 2. ACFE Corporate Fraud

  mystupid

  No ratings yet
• Chapter 11 - Aggregate Planning and Master Scheduling

  

  Document58 pages

  Chapter 11 - Aggregate Planning and Master Scheduling

  mystupid

  No ratings yet