Comments on: Consumer Reports – January 2008

By: Nikki Waters

Nikki Waters — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:22:31 +0000

I noticed you are in Iowa. I was… on the cell phone plans? We added my mother to our Verizon family plan ($10 more per month plus added a few minutes – gave her the best phone of the two when we upgraded). She lives in Iowa part of the year, AZ the rest. FAR better deal for her than her pre-paid phone (which she never turned on to save money). Now we can reach her – the deal is, she has to leave it on all the time. She doesn’t see the minutes used, so she doesn’t worry about the cost (it has made NO impact on our minutes since she uses it for emergencies or calling us in-network.). And it relieves our mind about her safety. By the way – she is in NW Iowa – about 30 miles north of the grid on their coverage map -and on “extended network” still gets great coverage. Piece of mind for $10 a month for us…. Just an idea for you for the future.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:37:31 +0000

If the BMW 335i is a “very high end luxury car”, what does that make the 5- and 7-series BMW’s? “super-duper very high end luxury cars”? The 3-series is what I would consider an entry-level luxury car in fact, not very high end. The Boxster is not even a luxury car, it’s a sports car, and like the BMW, at the bottom end of the makers range.

By: partgypsy

partgypsy — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:26:43 +0000

My background is in cognitive psychologist and there are many studies that show that people are notoriously BAD multitaskers, in fact we can’t really do it. Most cases what we do is alternate our attention, not simultaneously do 2 things at once, which is what you are doing when you are trying to talk on a phone and driving. It’s not the physical holding of the phone that is bad, but the cognitive attention drawn away from the task of driving. Giving the consequences could potentially be injuring yourself or others, I personally don’t think the time saved is worth it. And count me in as another person almost run down (while in the pedestrian cross walk!) by a driver talking on a cell phone.

http://dualtask.org/images/08MULTITASK.html

By: rebecca

rebecca — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:50:21 +0000

I always disbelieved on principle those studies about dialing and driving until I read Bob Evan’s autobiography. He described his auto accident while LISTENING TO AN AUDIO BOOK, due to listening, not watching. Then I started noticing teenagers weaving with the phone stuck to their ear, or worse, balanced on the steering wheel. Now that I’m in my 50’s, I can’t afford to have ANYTHING distract me from the road. I have even discontinued the radio. Personal observation only.

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:58:48 +0000

To Hollijo – if you a member of your city’s Chamber of Commerce you may be able to join their “group” benefits program. In my city, for about $135, I can join as an individual and have access to medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and long-term health care benefits. All merchants join together to be a “group” and negotiate contracts lowering the costs and increasing the benefits for individual members.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:04:56 +0000

I do the nitrogen just for the convienience. I only put about 2000 miles a year on my truck (I work from home or on the road). So, I don’t do much routine maintenance.

With nitrogen I only have to mess with my tire pressure every year or so.

I’m surprised the glass front on the iPhone wasn’t a problem for them…My phones take a beating.

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:12:46 +0000

To hollijo – try a HSA (a health savings plan). I know Blue Cross/Blue Shield (bcbs.com) has them and there are several plans to choose from. Good luck.

By: !wanda

!wanda — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:59:05 +0000

I’m not sure that a hands-free setup is safer than the hands-on setup. Maybe that makes a small difference, especially when you dial, but the main hazard is the conversation.

I can’t really fault people who use their cell phones while driving, though. People are busy.

By: lorax

lorax — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:30:51 +0000

re: talking while driving

Check the data on this. Studies have shown that it isn’t holding the phone that’s the problem, it’s the conversation. When you’re talking with someone in the car, they shut up during an emergency situation. That doesn’t happen on the cell phone, they can’t see – thus distracting you.

Drive now. Talk later.

By: Chris de Vidal

Chris de Vidal — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:46:56 +0000

I /had/ a nice Motorola BT headset. Loved it, carried it everywhere, suggested everyone get one. Broke it three times, the last time wasn’t covered under warranty.

I’ve since switched back to plain old wired. After the initial adjustment I haven’t missed it.

Recommendation: Get an extended warranty ($$$) or go wired (frugal).

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:37:09 +0000

Regarding the iPhone, I’ve read reports from Gizmodo and the like that state AT&T pays Apple around 18 dollars per month per iPhone subscriber. That doesn’t sound too bad…consider how much money AT&T is bringing in because of them. And to be fair, it doesn’t really matter. If I buy the iPhone from Apple and AT&T has agreed to give Apple some subscriber fees, that’s fine with me.

The Saving Freak:

3G networks aren’t very common outside of large cities and using that network drains battery life much faster. While I think Apple left out some features, I don’t see the big deal about 3G. And technically, EDGE is a 3G technology that operates at slower speeds.

By: Jennifer Singh

Jennifer Singh — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:27:25 +0000

I love your CR summary! Keep them coming! I use my local library to check in with Consumer Reports from time to time, but I don’t keep up with it. So if I know that a specific issue has something I need to read, I’ll hunt it down and check several library branches if necessary. And your summary is way more useful than than any “official” summary on their site, since you offer a snippet of the actual ratings. THANKS!

By: holli jo

holli jo — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:24:45 +0000

Trent:

Thanks for the summary. The comment about health insurance being a nightmare for those with preexisting conditions is SO TRUE!

I was wondering if you knew of any good options for those of us who are self-employed.

Thanks again!

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:58:53 +0000

I’m a new reader and had no idea you summarized Consumer Reports! That’s awesome, as I enjoy Consumer Reports, but don’t buy enough things to warrant getting a subscription. Thanks!!!

By: LC

LC — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:04:50 +0000

I doubt that it is a traffic violation anywhere to use a hands free cell phone while driving. This is no different than having a conversation with someone in the car. Actually less distracting since you don’t feel the need to look over at whoever you are talking to. That being said, I don’t believe that emotional conversations that upset or excite you should be held while driving.

I think one flaw with the study was that the control person was concentrating solely on driving and they knew they were being tested, which isn’t the case in real life. People are usually listening to the radio, talking to passengers, thinking about what’s for dinner, etc. I would be interested in a study where people were randomly tested in their own cars with a sensor to detect when the hands free set was being used and compare the hands free data with “regular driving.”

By: Kat

Kat — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:36:01 +0000

Driving while talking is worse than drunk driving. As an almost full time walker, I have been almost hit and I mean dangerously almost hit several times. Each time, the person driving was on the cell phone and not one stopped to say anything. Almost every accident my friends have been in, involved someone driving and talking on a cell phone. Looking at people driving like idiots on the road, 99.9% of them are talking on a cell phone or worse, TEXTING on one.
I am a huge advocate of not driving and talking and once I point it out to others, they notice every time they are almost in an accident, doing something stupid while driving, etc, they are on the phone. I refuse to talk to anyone while they are driving as well and that is the first thing I ask, including clients.

Thanks for the review; the health insurance is of special interest to me.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:19:05 +0000

Amanda B. — flawed in what way? Interested in your critique, as it is a traffic violation up here to use a cell phone while driving.

By: Michael G.R.

Michael G.R. — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:18:06 +0000

The Prius has been getting high marks for a while now. I wish Toyota would upgrade it soon, but apparently that won’t happen for a year or two (from what I know — could be wrong).

By: Amanda B.

Amanda B. — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:55:07 +0000

That article about Dialing and Driving is very flawed. Really, to the point of being virtually useless.

By: captain sarcastic

captain sarcastic — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:54:53 +0000

The use of nitrogen (which sounds odd since air is 78% N) has proven worthwhile in commercial fleets. The CR blog entry on this was a little squishy on using it in consumer vehicles, though they seemed to be leaning in favor of it because people do not check their tire pressure monthly. (I know I sure don’t.)

Incidentally, Costco fills their tires with nitrogen.