Comments on: Consumer Reports – June 2007

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 10 May 2007 11:48:32 +0000

@lorax

We use Dell and Apple at work and I think overall Apple’s have a small edge ( the most recent hardware has been plagued with little issues ). I just find the Apple support system much easier to deal with.

To some extent it’s because the of the growing pains associated with the new Intel hardware and I expect those issues to subside over time to their old levels.

By: lorax

lorax — Thu, 10 May 2007 01:18:14 +0000

Provocative? In what sense?

Apples – I’ve experienced Dell and Apple hardware. I didn’t want to, but I have to admit that the Apple hardware is much better. I’ve had to replace many parts on my Dell notebook, but the Apple keeps humming along. (Just my data point.)

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 09 May 2007 23:19:17 +0000

As much as I’m writing this on an XP machine… the next system I buy for myself will be running leopard. And probably be a MBP.

On the diet note – you might be interested in this critique of the CR diet review: http://www.malepatternfitness.com/story/2007/5/3/191553/1478

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 09 May 2007 20:40:23 +0000

MacBook Pro user and I love it. I recently had a problem with the display, brought it right in to the Apple store and they said, yep, new display. 50 hours later it’s back in my hands after a round trip half way across the country.

I’ve used Linux and Windows desktop and I really don’t know why I put up with them so long.

By: MvsMedstudent

MvsMedstudent — Wed, 09 May 2007 20:37:56 +0000

I have a typical, maybe 10 year old top loader washer. I tried the efficient stuff and it simply did not make it to all of my clothes. I won’t get into how I know, but lets just say I know the difference between clean & dirty underwear! So maybe I need a frontloader before the stuff’ll be useful to me.

By: Anna

Anna — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:59:51 +0000

Consumer Reports also noted that none of these plans has ever been subjected to a large clinical trial. What that means is that the studies that “prove” these plans work are not up to the rigorous scientific standards to which we subject other medical or scientific treatments.

Also, “success” as defined by CR in this case means that at least 25 percent of participants lost at least 10 percent of their bodyweight. That means that 75 percent of people could get no results whatsoever on a given diet, and CR would consider that a success. Indeed, the Federal Trade Commission recently found that no weight loss method has been proven effective in the long term and that within five years, more than 95 percent of people who lose weight will regain all of the weight they’ve lost, and most will end up at a higher bodyweight than they began at. The CR study doesn’t show this because it’s less than 5 years long.

I’m normally a big fan of CR, but their study of weight loss plans was poorly formulated and their results are spurious at best.

By: J.D. @ Get Rich Slowly

J.D. @ Get Rich Slowly — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:50:02 +0000

I told Kris, “Wow. This issue is the perfect J.D. issue.” She knew what I meant. Many issues of CR are boring for me because they’re covering things I don’t care about. (“Which is the best peanut butter?” “Our top-rated catheters!”) But this one was filled with good stuff. So much good stuff that I’m going to post a summary, too, seeing as you haven’t encountered any legal issues so far.

By: Gal Josefsberg

Gal Josefsberg — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:32:20 +0000

Should always have a healthy breakfast. If you don’t, your metabolism is running low all morning, up to lunch at which point you’re starved so you over eat. It’s a mistake most Americans make, they take in their calories during one or two big meals. It’s far healthier to eat 5 or 6 smaller meals evenly spaced out with the last one occurring at least two to three hours before bed time.

If that’s impossible, then try the four meal plan. A small breakfast with about 1/6 of your calories. A good lunch with about 1/3 of your calories. A nice afternoon snack at about 4pm with another 1/6 of your calories, and a good dinner at around 7 or 8pm with the final 1/3 of your calories. It’s easy to follow and very healthy.

If you want more breakfast ideas, I have a few over at my blog.

Oh, and go MacBooks! (1 year now of switching to a Mac from a PC and I am 100% satisfied. You get what you pay for and in the case of Apple you’re paying for a superb laptop with a great UI and incredible customer service.

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:23:09 +0000

Just wanted to point that although Volumetrics is listed as the #1 diet, the article also mentions that #1 diet for the long term is Weight Watchers. The key to any successful diet is keeping the weight off. That is the WW plan’s strong point. It is a plan that a person can follow to STAY at a healthy weight.

(I have been at my goal weight for 1 1/2 years using Weight Watchers program.)