Shop Wisely

This is another shopping tips to everybody –Consumer Reports® has sent us a flyer which I digged in our junk mail a couple weeks ago which I think I could share to my readers instead of tossing it in our recycle bin. By the way, Consumer Reports® is a non-profit organization. They are supported by the subscriptions to their web site and magazine. CR does not accept outside advertising and any free test samples. They conduct expert unbiased reviews and ratings for some products. Here are CR®’s free product reviews:
Stay safe online with the triple-protection software suite from Zone Labs. In our tests, this suite’s antivirus components were excellent, and its antispyware was very good. (www.zonealarm.com) For $50 it provides the best all-around protection. GOOD BUY
Gain Plus a Touch of Softness GETS WHITES THEIR PINKEST! This detergent plus fabris softener may do an okay job when it comes to cleanin, but it causes colors to bleed onto other items. If you want to prevent dyes from running–and ruining your load–choose Seventh Generation Free & Clear instead. BAD BUY
“SNAPSHOT“: Printers make digital photos a snap. The Epson PictureMate Snap ($100) and the Epson PictureMate Pal ($100) both provide “one-touch” photo printing in a convenient, portable little package. What about print quality? These models rival full-size inkjets for excellent photos, and also cost less. GOOD BUY
UNNECESSARY for wine drinkers–Should you buy a $10 Vacu-Vin Vacuum Wine Saver to preserve open bottles of wine? According to our tests, neither the Vacu-Vin, nor any other wine-preservation system, works better than the regular old cork. BAD BUY
A CUT below–Most electric shavers cost far more than blade razors. And they don’t shave as close. But how about the Titanium Turbo T2? At only $10, how can you lose? Well, the shave was middling and the shaver was noisy. Maybe okay for travel. Stick with blades. BAD BUY
Softer than cotton: BAMBOO TOWELS? It may sound unbelievable, but when tested bath towels woven from a new blend of cotton and bamboo, they were about 25% softer after laundering than their all-cotton counterparts. GOOD BUY
Top-Rated INTERIOR PAINT–Behr Premium Plus was tops in our tests across all three paint categories: flat, low-cluster and semi-gloss. And at about $25 a gallon, it’s a CR Best Buy® .
The we/dry vacuum that’s ALL WET! The Emerson goClean picks up water just fine. But a faulty design caused its bin to come loose when full. Result: what it just picked up splashed back onto the floor. BAD BUY
If you want powerful vacuum at a great price, go with the Eureka Boss Smart Vac Ultra 4870, a CR Best Buy® at $150.