Productopia: The ConsumerSearch Blog

Video game consoles keep racking up points

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:30:08 +0000

The dust from this fall's price war has settled, and in the end, what was true before is true now -- experts say the key to video game nirvana is matching what's important to you with the hardware you buy. Our latest report on video game consoles lays out the details on where the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Sony PlayStation 3 score direct hits, and where they are shooting blanks. You'll also find lots of info on the latest handheld video game consoles, including the Nintendo DSi and Sony PSP Go.

Plasma TVs continue to please

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:30:09 +0000

Though some manufacturers have moved on to greener pastures, plasma TV fans still have a bunch of great sets to choose from. Panasonic plasma TVs in particular, such as the Panasonic Viera TC-P50V10, draw kudos for dark, cinematic blacks and terrific picture quality overall. Samsung and LG also come through with plasma TVs that get their fair share of admiration from critics. Our latest report on plasma TVs fills in the details on the sets that deliver the best picture quality, and the ones that satisfy by offering terrific value.

Can hand sanitizer really intoxicate your child?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:30:02 +0000

With flu season upon us, many parents are relying on hand sanitizer to combat germs. As the use of hand sanitizer mounts, so do stories of children becoming ill after ingesting it.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers has confirmed that this is a potential hazard and not a myth. Most hand sanitizers have a concentration of at least 60 percent alcohol - that's significantly higher than a bottle of vodka or whiskey (hard liquor contains about 40 percent alcohol by volume). The high level of alcohol is necessary to kill germs, but swallowing a few squirts could bring a child's blood alcohol level to .10; that's considered legally drunk in most states.

Mint.com to stay, Quicken Online to go

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:30:02 +0000

Mint users rejoice! We reported in September that competitor Intuit (maker of Quicken Online) had acquired Mint and we were worried that Mint as we knew it would cease to exist. But, now that the deal has been finalized, Mint CEO turned Intuit VP Aaron Patzer says Quicken Online will be phased out and current accounts will be migrated to Mint.com over the next 6-9 months.

Our report on personal finance sites gave the edge to Mint over Quicken Online, but the latter service has a few features that Mint doesn't. Patzer acknowledged this in a interview with Erick Schonfeld at TechCrunch, revealing one Quicken Online feature in particular that Mint should have. That is "the ability to manually enter cash transactions or record checks which have not yet cleared." Patzer also talked about integrating Mint with other Intuit products such as TurboTax.

Read our full report on personal finance sites, for more on Mint and other services.

And now for a word from our sponsors

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:03:34 +0000

Digital video recorders, or DVRs, were once thought to be the weapon that would kill advertiser-supported TV. After all, conventional wisdom asks: Who wouldn't simply skip past all of the commercials when watching a time-shifted program? Well, according to an article in The New York Times, a funny thing happened on the way to the funeral. Instead of killing off commercial TV, the DVR might be what saves it. Nielsen, the company that tallies up viewership for TV networks and advertisers, reports that more and more people are keeping their fingers off the clicker as commercials drift by when watching programs recorded on their DVRs.

Some hits and misses at Wal-Mart's pre-Black Friday sale

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:30:04 +0000

Not content to wait until the day after Thanksgiving, Wal-Mart is putting some home-theater electronics up for sale in their brick and mortar stores this Saturday. Scanning through things, we found some ho-ho-hum deals, but also two that could peak the interest of budget TV buyers.

Depressing news: Exercise won't help you lose much weight

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:10:06 +0000

Just what we needed to hear before the holiday binge-eating begins (and after plowing through the 'leftover' Halloween candy): Now it looks like exercise really doesn't help you lose weight. Studies have been quietly pointing this way for a while now, and an article in The New York Times makes for a nice summary of the recent thinking: Exercise -- without changing your eating habits -- just doesn't lead to significant weight loss.

Cheap pocket camcorders and all that jazz

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:59:29 +0000

Among the two-day sale items featured in the Kmart Black Friday circular is the Jazz T20 camcorder for $20. Given that similar pocket-sized camcorders like the Pure Digital Flip Mino (*Est. $130) and Creative Vado (*Est. $90) sell for far more, the Jazz seems like a bargain in comparison. Unlike most full-sized camcorders, pocket-sized models like these lack many features and functions that make for more polished video, like manual focus and a microphone jack. They're designed to produce point-and-shoot video that can be quickly uploaded to Facebook and YouTube, or for people who just want to record on the go. For more information about these mini camcorders, check out our full report on digital camcorders.

Projector prices plummet!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:20:30 +0000

Reports are in on the fall harvest of home-theater projectors, and from all indications it's a bumper crop. While performance is up across the board, prices are down -- way down -- and that's the real news. Some stratospherically-expensive projectors will, of course, still draw oohs and aahs from those who crave every morsel of technical perfection, but the rest of us can enjoy performance that's nearly as good (and in some cases, just as good) from projectors costing far, far less. Our latest report on home-theater projectors gives you the lowdown on a cornucopia of high-performance, low-cost projectors. You'll also find news about the first full HD (1080p) projectors to come in under the magic $1,000 barrier (albeit by just a buck or so).

Kmart's Black Friday coffee maker special: Better deals elsewhere

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:20:01 +0000

Kmart is offering a Black Friday sale on the Hamilton Beach 10-cup programmable Hamilton beach BrewStation, advertised in their leaked circular for $19.99. This coffeemaker normally sells for $39.99 on the manufacturer's site and at most major retailers. Surprisingly, we found it for much less - a whopping $13.99 - at Amazon.com (sold by Todays Concept).

Kmart's $30 digital photo frame doorbuster not a bad deal

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:09:43 +0000

If you're in the market for a low-end digital photo frame, Kmart has a decent doorbuster deal for you on the 7-inch Coby DP702. Currently selling for $50 on Kmart.com and between $40 and $50 elsewhere online, the Coby DP702 will go for just $30 the day after Thanksgiving, according to Kmart's leaked Black Friday circular. For such an affordable frame, the DP702 has a lot of features, including an MP3 player, video playback and a whopping 1GB of onboard storage -- that's more than any of our best reviewed digital picture frames. The Coby DP702 has a wood frame and accepts a number of memory formats including SD, MMC, CF, MS and xD memory cards and USB keys. This doorbuster is a good deal, especially if you're already planning a trip to Kmart on Black Friday.

Pocket HD camcorders have bitten off a huge chunk of the market

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:20:03 +0000

The latest $1,000-plus high-definition camcorders can put near-professional quality literally in the palm of your hand, reviews say. But the first truly cheap ($200-and-under) HD models have emerged within the past year. The Pure Digital Flip UltraHD (*Est. $160) shoots surprisingly good (720p) high-definition video for a cheap little camcorder, critics say. Its absolute simplicity especially charms testers.

Kmart's Black Friday "netbook" comes up small

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:32:31 +0000

With a price tag of just $120, Kmart's Black Friday netbook doorbuster looks like a bargain at first glance. Unfortunately, when we looked further we found that it's anything but. In fact, calling the Delstar 7-inch wireless netbook a netbook at all is a stretch that would leave the Fantastic Four's Reed Richards envious. Here's why:

Get a grip with the best winter tires

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:01 +0000

For most of the country, winter's just around the corner. (And for some of you, it's already arrived.) If you generally experience mild winters, you may be able to get by with a set of all-season tires, but if you'll be doing a regular amount of driving on snow-covered roads, experts say you're better off storing the all-seasons for the winter months in favor of a proper set of snow tires. Winter tires employ tread patterns and specialized rubber compounds designed to maximize your car's grip on snow and ice, making winter driving safer. We researched expert and consumer reviews from a wide variety of websites and publications, including Scandinavian ones, to determine which snow tires are best.

A hot shot: Is this microwave right for you?

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:46:32 +0000

Consumers looking for a countertop microwave may be intrigued by Kmart's new Black Friday doorbuster deal. This season, the store will be selling the Kenmore 1.1 Cubic Foot 1100W microwave for a a mere $55.00, half the price of its usual $110. On the surface, this looks like a steal. The Kenmore 1.1 boasts nine cooking speeds, three defrosting options--and it's a nice compact size. But is this appliance really worth your hard-earned cash? After a bit of detective work, we unearthed some clues.

Canon's inkjet printers are the most versatile

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:30:04 +0000

The best general-purpose inkjet printers can tackle any number of jobs --from letters and lists to maps and photos -- in a reasonable amount of time and without consuming massive amounts of ink. The newest addition to Canon's inkjet photo printer lineup, the Canon Pixma iP4700 (*Est. $100) excels at whatever task it is put to, scoring high marks in early reviews. While many photo-centric printers fall short on text quality, Canon's iP4000 series can handle photos and text with aplomb.

Good snow tire info: It's all in the translation

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:05:35 +0000

We're particularly proud of our annual report on snow tires, because in order to bring you the most complete, up-to-date information, our background research needs to go beyond the reviews offered by English-language publications. This presents an interesting problem that we don't need to deal with on other reports: a language barrier.

Nab a stellar vacuum at Sears this Black Friday

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:45:38 +0000

Maybe a vacuum cleaner isn't a great gift idea (who likes to be told they're messy?), but if your upright is on its last legs, a Sears doorbuster-deal vacuum cleaner may be worth a look. A leaked Black Friday circular from Sears has revealed that the Kenmore Progressive Upright, a ConsumerSearch Best Reviewed vacuum, will be offered at 30% off -- from $300 to $200. (As is the case with all Black Friday leaks, know that the items and prices have not been officially confirmed, and are subject to change.)

Sears' Black Friday offerings on slow cookers a mixed bag

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:40:03 +0000

You'll have to move fast if you want to save some money on a slow cooker during Sears' Black Friday sale. Two slow cookers are among the doorbuster deals that are advertised in Sears' leaked circular (remember, items and prices contained therein have not been officially confirmed): the Euro-Pro 6-quart Slow Cooker (*Est. $18) and the Hamilton Beach 4-quart Slow Cooker (*Est. $10). If you'd rather sleep in, Sears is also advertising sale prices on two other slow cookers all day Friday and Saturday: the Rival 5-quart Slow Cooker (*Est. $20) and the Kenmore Black Slow Cooker (*Est. $30).

Are any of these prices worth braving the crowds?

The buzz on electric toothbrushes

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:04:20 +0000

When it comes to brushing your teeth, self-discipline ultimately determines whether you'll consistently put in the time needed to keep those choppers healthy. For those of us who could use a little encouragement to keep brushing past the one-minute mark, experts say electric toothbrushes are worth the investment. They're also good for folks who have restricted use of their hands or arms, and for children who might be motivated to brush longer with a fun-to-use electric brush.

Inspired by the New York City Marathon? It's your turn now...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:30:06 +0000

It's hard to explain why a marathon is a great spectator sport. On paper, it sounds pretty boring to wait on a curb for a group of elite runners to zip by in a matter of seconds. But it's not boring at all -- in fact, it's so inspiring you'll want to break out the running shoes yourself. What's exciting is not just the 60 or so elite runners that stream by -- it's the 43,000 other people behind them at this year's ING New York City Marathon.

Going in for a grill?

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:30:03 +0000

The best electric grills offer consumers a solid barbeque experience without the hassle of heavy smoke and charcoal. Current products fall into two categories: contact and open grills. The difference: Contact grills cook items between two hot plates, expediting prep time since users don't have to flip foods. Open grills, on the other hand, only have one hot surface, so cooking time can take longer. Additionally, some contact grills can be used as open grills or griddles. One last piece of info: Open grills emit more smoke--an appealing trait, say many users, since this naturally infuses cooked foods with a more smoky, barbecued flavor. Need more helpful shopping info? Click here to read our new report on electric grills.

Dynamic duos

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:30:03 +0000

Need a new food processor but strapped for counter space? Consider a combo model. These creative appliances conveniently bundle a blender and a food processor. Most have a base unit that's interchangeable with both a blender jar and small food processor bowl. Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach and Oster all currently offer these combinations. Although we couldn't find any professional evaluations; Amazon and Cooking.com offer many insightful owner reviews.

Mixed blessing or mistake?

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:50:32 +0000

Tis the season for holiday baking -- and if you're in the mood for a little mixing there's no better pick than the KitchenAid Artisan Series Stand Mixer. This best-reviewed product consistently receives top marks in both professional and owner reviews. Users love its 10 convenient speeds, powerful performance and bright sunny colors -- so we were psyched to see it on a leaked circular for Sears 2009 Black Friday sale.

The store plans to sell the KitchenAid that day for $270. The hitch: A microscopically small caption states that this price can only be received via mail-in rebate. And even then, Sears is only shaving a measly 20 dollars off the mixer's regular price.

Elliptical trainers: good alternatives to treadmills

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:30:03 +0000

Elliptical trainers combine the features of a stair-stepper and a ski machine; you stand on pedals that move on an elliptical track; the motion is in between walking and climbing. Some models have only stationary or preprogrammed incline options, while others allow the user to adjust the incline throughout the workout. Elliptical trainers provide good workout variety without lots of impact on joints. But we found significant differences between models in our elliptical trainer report.