Best Air Purifier For 2009 - Consumer Report

Consumer Report Rates The Top 5 Air Purifiers For 2009. Includes New technology Reviews

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Over the last 2 months we tested 35 of the top-selling air purifiers. Of those 29 only use 1-3 technologies including the top-selling infomercial brand Oreck XL. A select few use 3-5 (including and one uses all 9 known air purifier technologies. 8 used HEPA filters - Most experts agree that a HEPA filters are the most efficient for removing pollen and dust. However HEPA tends to be the most expensive. Next is UV light - which can kill bacteria and viruses that can contribute to allergy reactions.

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The New technologies we saw included:

1) Japanese pollen, Odor and dust sensors - this allows the air purifier to adjust to the air conditions minute-by-minute. The benefit - saves electricity and guesswork

2) Japanese Nanotechnology Virus Grids - these new grids kill viruses and bacteria. developed to combat SARS and otehr airborne problems.

Here are the top 5 beginning with the Best

#1: AliveAir Machine.

PROS: The only 9-stage air purifier
Technologies: HEPA, UV, tio2, Pre-filter, Negative ion, Auto sensors (detects Pollen, Odor, Dust) Active carbon, Catalytic grid,
Price: 0
Room Coverage: 800 Sq. ft.
Replacement HEPA Filters; About
What we liked best - includes the nanotech virus grids, and the 3 new pollen sensors in a 9-stage unit at an affordable price.

Buying Hint: Look for sales at their online warehouse (www.aliveair.com)

#2: IQAire

PROS: 3-stage, including a good-sized HEPA
Technologies: HEPA, pre-filter
Price: 9
Room Coverage: 800 Sq. ft.
Replacement HEPA Filters; About 9

#3: Bluair

PROS: 3-stage Air Purifier
Technologies: HEPA, electrostatic
Price: 9
Room Coverage: 385 Sq. ft.
Replacement HEPA Filters; About 9

#4 Austin Air

PROS: 4-stage air purifier
Technologies: HEPA, Zeolite, 2 pre-filters, carbon
Price: 9
Room Coverage: 800 Sq. ft.
Replacement HEPA Filters; About

#5: PlasmaWave

PROS: 4-stage
Technologies: Washable pre-filter, true HEPA filter, and washable nano-silver mesh/carbon filter.
Price: 0
Room Coverage: 280 Sq. ft.
Replacement HEPA Filters; About

Best Air Purifier For 2009 - Consumer Report

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Elliptical Machine - Consumer Report

Elliptical exercisers provide a calorie-burning workout that is free of some of the problems experienced by other machines. However consumer reports and reviews advise that quality-control problems are a major factor.

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Elliptical exercisers are a combination stair-climber/cross-country-ski simulator. The motion of your feet is in flattened circles or ovals (otherwise known as an ellipse), hence the name elliptical machine. The value of the workout depends on resistance that slows down the elliptical machines drive system as you try to turn it. Some elliptical machines use a band or belt driven drive system; nicer more expensive models use magnetic force to create resistance.

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Elliptical machines have become popular for a few reasons:

· The pedaling is low impact and therefore joint friendly.

· Exercise on an elliptical machine is weight-bearing. This helps ward off osteoporosis.

· Movable arms are available on some models. This adds an upper-body benefit to the workout.

· Exercising on an elliptical machine is easy. Some cross country ski machines require a little coordination.

· An elliptical machine burns calories just as effectively as a treadmill.

Elliptical machines are best suited for a person who is moderately fit and probably will stay at that level. Beginning exercisers will find them difficult while advanced exercisers may not find the workout very challenging. What follows is a recap of the Consumer Report findings on elliptical machines.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

Most elliptical machines with a price tag under 00 are made by a company called Icon Fitness and sold under the brand names of Reebok, Nordic Track, and Proform brands among others. Typically Icon distributes through larger stores like Sears and The Sports Authority. Machines costing up to ,000 are sold either by sports specialty stores or online under such well known brands as Precor and Life Fitness. Higher end machines tend to feel more stable and solid, operation is smoother and they usually have more features than the models coming in under ,000.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Quality control problems were the main problem with elliptical machines tested by Consumer Reports. Clunking noises, broken parts and scraping surfaces were all common. When you shop, look for a warranty of at least a year or more. You will probably be happier with an elliptical machine equipped with an easily read monitor, understandable controls, and pushbutton resistance adjustment.

Things to watch out for include narrow pedals and moving arms that can whack you a good one when you are not holding the handles. When you try out elliptical machines in a store, make sure you are comfortable with the operation as it will vary between machines.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Elliptical exercisers can provide a decent low impact workout that is friendly to the joints. Do not expect a residential model to match the quality of commercial versions. Be realistic.

Elliptical Machine - Consumer Report

Consumer Reports

Do Penis Pills Really Work? Consumers Report Deadly Effects!

Many guys wonder if penis enlargement pills can permanently make their manhood bigger. The truth is they wont! These types of penis pills cause zero growth, but they may still be useful. Wondering what for? Well, most of these pills cause increased blood flow to your penis which creates optimal conditions for quick growth.

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For penis enlargement pills to work and really make your penis larger you will needs to learn about the basics of jelqing and stretching techniques, these are the usually the two core penis mass building exercises in any good penis enlargement program! Taking enlargement pills is like taking a supplement that will speed up growth and tissue repair.

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Do Erectile Dysfunction Pills Like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra Really Work?

High quality erectile dysfunction pills like Viagra work very effectively but over-inflated costs and deadly long term side effects like blindness and liver failure make them unsuitable for long time use.

If you want the best way to deal with erectile dysfunction you need to find and fix the root problem. Poor blood circulation in and around the penis is the number one cause of erectile dysfunction and is becoming more and more common in America.

Blood circulation to the penis can be restored with simple, free exercises like jelqing, stretching and kegels. These will improve the health of your sexual organs and naturally get blood flowing again.

Are Penis Exercises The Answer to Erectile Dysfunction and Penis Growth?

Using natural enlargement techniques before trying dangerous pharmaceuticals is always recommended. Thousands of men have regained blood flow and restored health and vitality to their penis the safe and natural way. These techniques have been used successfully by tens of thousands of men, they are doctor backed, medically endorsed and extremely powerful to say the least.

So in conclusion I hope this cleared up any questions you may have had about why you shouldn't take enlargement pills, there are plenty of suitable alternatives that have doctor backing and really do work!

Do Penis Pills Really Work? Consumers Report Deadly Effects!

Consumer Reports

Your Credit Report - Adding a Consumer Statement

Although most people are not aware of it, by federal law all Americans have the right to add a consumer statement to their credit reports. The basic idea is to provide additional information or context to people reviewing your credit report. Most institutions base their decisions solely on your credit score, but providing an explanation or the context for negative entries may influence the person reviewing your credit report to take this additional information into account.

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Consumer statements are most commonly used to explain factors in the credit report that negatively impact it, especially late payments, defaults, and disputes. If you were laid off from your job, found yourself physically incapacitated, or had some other problem that resulted in a series of late payments or defaults; including this information in your credit report can help to explain the negative entries. Similarly, if you were in a dispute with a company and refused to pay and this was added to your credit report, a consumer statement can help explain why you refused to pay the amount owed.

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Consumer statements have also been employed by people that have fallen victim to identity theft. Including a statement in your credit report explaining the situation and requesting that no credit accounts be opened in your name without verbal or in-person authorization can help prevent further fraud. The consumer statement can also indicate that some of the debts on your record were the result of identity theft and that the cleanup process is currently underway. Removing fraudulent debts can be time consuming, often taking months, so a consumer statement pointing this out might be a good temporary measure to take until the process is complete.

Adding a consumer statement can be a helpful device for explaining your current credit score, especially among landlords and other non-institutional people that review your credit report. However, it should be noted that many experts say that adding a consumer statement may, in of itself, negatively impact your credit score. Therefore, this method should not be employed unless efforts to remove negative entries have already failed and you lack alternative options. Generally speaking, it is not always the best decision.

If you decide that adding a statement is appropriate for you, all you have to do is send a letter to each credit reporting agency requesting that your one paragraph consumer statement be inserted into your report. Be sure to make reference to "section 611(b) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act" as this is the legal basis of your right to add such a statement to your report. Also request a copy of your credit report be sent to you once the statement has been added, just to confirm that your statement is there and correct.

Your Credit Report - Adding a Consumer Statement

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Credit Report Repair

Credit report repair is commonly referred to as the process of disputing negative items in a credit report. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumers have the right to request an investigation with the credit bureaus for any item on their credit report. The credit bureaus and the original furnisher of the information must investigate the claim within 30 days and report their results back to consumers.

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It's important to point out that the credit bureaus are for-profit organizations and possess no government affiliation. They profit off the sale of your private information and from selling your information to you. Only after the Federal Trade Commission came up with a set of regulations passed in 2003 were consumers able to receive one free credit report a year.

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The FCRA also had to regulate how long negative information, such as late payments, bankruptcies, tax liens or judgments may stay on a consumer's credit report. It's typically seven years from the date of the delinquency. The exceptions: bankruptcies (10 years) and tax liens (seven years from the time they are paid). Unpaid tax liens can remain for up to 15 years. Although, 7 to 10 years is a long time to stay on a report, the credit bureaus would report it for much longer, if not forever, if it weren't for the FTC stepping in.

When a consumer makes a dispute with the credit bureaus, the credit bureaus do not interact with information providers (typically creditors) directly. They use a system called E-Oscar. E-Oscar is an automated consumer dispute verification process. The credit bureaus demand that everyone who provides information to them be on this system. If you don't get on the system, you CAN NOT provide information to a credit bureau.

The E-Oscar system allows credit grantors to resolve disputes in a timely manner; however the results are commonly inaccurate. In fact, a study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that 79% of all credit reports contained errors. With E-Oscar the credit bureaus NEVER send the original creditor the information you provide them. Instead, an employee scans your letter along with hundreds of others.

The employee is given a very short amount of time to figure out what you are trying to dispute and then gives your dispute a code. It is then verified with E-Oscar. Any documentation that you sent which proves the information is erroneous or any information that you provided simply gets filed away, incase you should sue them. It's rarely ever even looked at.

Under § 602 of the Act, (15 U.S.C. § 1681), a consumer may seek a maximum of 00 in statutory damages, plus actual damages, punitive damages and reasonable attorney's fees and costs for willful noncompliance with the FCRA. Any consumer may file suit in state or federal court to enforce the FCRA. Consumer lawsuits against credit bureaus are becoming more and more common and most of the time the consumer wins. Unfortunately, a lawsuit is what it takes to get issues solved with the credit bureaus.

Credit Report Repair

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Report: Combined Consumer Education and Increased Security Measures Equal Reduced Identity Fraud

While surfing the 'net, I came across a report about the reduction of identity theft and identity fraud. Obviously, it caught my attention. Following, in part, is that report which was produced by Javelin Strategy & Research, and co-sponsored by CheckFree Corporation, Visa Card, and Wells Fargo & Co.

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While identity theft remains a multi-billion-dollar problem for businesses, organizations, and individuals, incidents of the fraud dropped significantly last year, according to a report.

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Identity fraud occurring in the United States declined in 2006 by 12 percent over the year before, from .7 billion to .3 billion, according to the third-annual survey by Javelin Strategy & Research. The survey, which involved 5,000 telephone interviews, estimated the number of victims dropped for the fourth consecutive year by about 500,000 to 8.4 million persons.

Researchers attributed the decline to better consumer education and awareness and increased use of online banking and financial sites that allow closer monitoring of accounts. "Businesses are doing a lot more, law enforcement is doing more, and so are consumers," said James Van Dyke, president of Javelin, a research company in Pleasanton, Calif., specializing in financial services and payments.

Tena Friery, research director at the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer organization in San Diego, said she was surprised by the size of the decline but said there is much greater public awareness. "We still have a long way to go," she said.

According to the report, there was a significant reduction in fraudulent new-account openings, traditionally one of the most common kinds of fraud. It occurs when a criminal uses a victim's personal data to open a new account.

The survey also found that it takes on average less time and expense to resolve a fraud case than last year. When fraudulent accounts are opened, the average fraud amounts dropped from more than ,000 in 2005 to ,260 in 2006. Resolution times dropped from an average of 25 hours in 2005 to five hours in 2006.

Van Dyke said one reason the numbers are down is that businesses are "screening account applicants much more closely."
Individuals and consumer groups have long argued that extra screening was needed because conflicting application information, such as two addresses, could indicate identity fraud.

One group that isn't doing better, according to the report, is 18- to 24-year olds. This age group was more likely to become a victim of identity theft than other age groups. (See sure to read my related article, Your Child's First Year at College: Prime Target for Identity Theft?).

The report references offline criminal activities; however, I do believe that incidents of identity theft have remained unchanged online. One example is stated above, with cybercriminals targeting recent high school graduates and college freshmen. Unfortunate victims, these graduates and college freshmen provide extremely lucrative opportunities for the cybercriminals to obtain their personal information. Even before they start their first careers, these graduates and college students will, most likely, be crippled by identity theft.

To protect yourself, you need an internet security team of experts making sure that you, your family, and your business computer are always safe and secure. The best protection you can have in today's rapidly changing world of cyber-attacks is to have expert support for all your Internet security needs that will provide technical support without any hassles and without charging you extra fees. It will become even more critical than it is today as time goes on. You need to find your own personal team of experts to rely on. If you ever have a security problem, you will want to have a trusted expert you can call for professional help, without any hassles and extra costs!

Because cybercriminals are becoming smarter and more sophisticated in their operations, they are real threats to your personal security and privacy. Your money, your computer, your family, and your business are all at risk.

These cybercriminals leave you with three choices:

1. Do nothing and hope their attacks, risks, and threats don't occur on your computer.

2. Do research and get training to protect yourself, your family, and your business.

3. Get professional help to lockdown your system from all their attacks, risks, and threats.

Remember: When you say "No!" to hackers and spyware, everyone wins! When you don't, we all lose!

© MMVII, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, The Internet Safety Advocate and Educator

Report: Combined Consumer Education and Increased Security Measures Equal Reduced Identity Fraud

Consumer Reports

Does Verbiage on My Credit Report "Account Information Disputed by Consumer" Affect My Credit Score?

There is a misnomer that exists when a consumer disputes an account on their credit report. The misconception is when the account shows in dispute status, that this does not affect the credit score. In fact, there are dozens and dozens of dispute narratives that are referred to as Persistent Narratives which means that they stay on even after the dispute is over. When these narratives are showing, this does not mean the system is bypassing the dispute so as not to affect the credit score but quite the contrary. When these are showing, the system actually includes these accounts in dispute as part of the overall equation. However, there is one exception.

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Consumer Disputes - Reinvestigation in Process

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The initial narrative that is placed on a consumers report when an account has been disputed is Consumer Disputes - Reinvestigation in Process. It's only when this narrative is used that credit scoring systems bypass the account in dispute. However, it is important to note that the two narratives mentioned here are very easy to get confused but there is a big difference between them. Quite simply, one counts against you and the other does not. The initial narrative that is posted when a consumer files a dispute will only stay around until the dispute has been satisfied by the credit bureaus but while it is present, the account will not count against you. Once the bureau is satisfied that they have accomplished a satisfactory investigation, the narrative can be changed to Account Information Disputed by Consumer, at which point the account begins to count against your overall credit score. Another Persistent Narrative you may see is, Consumer Disputes-Says Belongs to Ex-Spouse.

Consumers may likely see a drop in the credit score once the initial narrative Consumer Disputes - Reinvestigation in Process, is removed. For an example, if a charge-off was being bypassed while it was in the initial dispute process however the initial dispute process is now over, the credit score will likely go down due to the fact that the charge-off is now fair game and being counted against you once again, even though you may still be in the process of challenging the account. There are occasions when the credit bureaus will allow a consumer to continue to dispute and account a number of times in succession, and allow for the initial narrative Consumer Disputes - Reinvestigation, to remain on the report. However in my experience from working with consumers on this issue, the bureaus will usually place a Persistent Narrative after the first or second attempt at disputing the account.

Does Verbiage on My Credit Report "Account Information Disputed by Consumer" Affect My Credit Score?

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Automobile - Consumer Report

A typical consumer report on vehicles contains the details such as exhaustive vehicle reports, getting advices, road test results, reliabilities and ratings. The prices of various automobiles can be checked through the National Automobile Dealers Association Guide. Consumers are always confused with the wide range of choices and financial option. A low finance option is of shorter duration than regular loans. The consumer guide says that when you purchase a car, cash rebates will be between 0 and 00 depending on factors such as time of the year, vehicle and manufacturer. This cash rebate can sometimes be used as down payment also.

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Consumers can go for dealer incentives also. The dealers sometimes pass their incentives to consumers who want to buy slower selling vehicles. Consumer can take a look at the consumer guide to get an idea of dealer incentives on a specific vehicle. But the easiest way to get a car loan is through online auto financing. It gives you access to a wide range of potential lenders. Moreover you have the opportunity to research on different interest rates and financing options. According to a popular consumer report, buyers must at least visit two dealers to compare prices and dealership ratings. There will be a huge of paper works involved once you go for a purchase.

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When you go for a used car the history of the car should be well sorted out before purchasing. Any buyer of a used car should check the accuracy of the mileage by verifying the odometer. If you are not an expert, then go for a vehicle professional to inspect the used car. It is necessary that the used vehicle be checked for signs of accident damage and leaks. An automobile history report can supply a consumer with all the relevant information. If you travel with small kids safety issues must be considered properly. There are many child safety features offered by manufacturer today. Air bags have proven to be very effective during accidents. But these air bags can be dangerous to small children seated in the front seat. Consumer reports on automobiles show that the force of an air bag bursting from the dashboard can break the back of the safety seat and result in severe brain damage to infant passengers.

Tires play a vital role in the vehicle's overall safety. Consumer reports on tires based on surveys indicates that most cars may be riding on under inflated tires. Use a tire gauge to regularly check air pressure by following manufacturer's recommendations. Try to measure the tire pressure when the tires are cold.

According to a consumer report on SUV purchases, this kind of vehicle still ranks high on popularity. They are popular as they are roomy and offer a lot of cargo space. SUV models such as Chevrolet Tahoe, Honda Pilot, Toyota Sequoia, Ford Expedition can carry at least 5 people and optionally offer a third row of seats. Truck-based SUVs are even more popular.

Consumer report can help in many ways, in making the process of finding the right solution for our needs and can also show us the necessary steps to make a decision. Auto Consumer Guides aim is to help consumers maximize the advantages of buying an auto while at the same time minimizing the risks.

Automobile - Consumer Report

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Why You Should Read a Weight Loss Consumer Report

The development of the weight loss industry has led to the growth of scores of weight loss supplements and programs each claiming to be the best thing to ever come out in the weight loss industry. While these weight loss products are not necessarily lying, some may also be guilty of not telling you the whole truth. So that's where a weight loss product consumer report comes in. A weight loss product consumer report works by providing information on weight loss products that are made available to the public. With the general aim of weeding out the lies from the truths in the weight loss industry, a weight loss product consumer report is used to protect unknowing weight loss product consumers from falling prey to dishonest weight loss product manufacturers.

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Choosing weight loss products

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Choosing a weight loss product to use can be very tricky. It's not even just because of the sheer amount of products available to you but more so the amount of information that each one is feeding you. So be careful before you buy a weight loss product. It is not enough that you compare products based on what's popular although that would give you an idea on which one works. To guide you, start out by looking up the list of ingredients of a weight loss product. Then look up a list of ingredients that according to the Food and Drug Administration are harmful for consumption. Just by the list of ingredients alone you will find out if you should be taking a particular weight loss product or not.

Prescriptions: yes, no, maybe

Prescription drugs are generally of higher potencies compared to over-the-counter products. Weight loss products that come with prescriptions are normally given to very obese patients or if a person has a particular weight loss need that cannot be addressed with simple over-the-counter weight loss products. Because of their highly specific content, prescription weight loss products are approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Degree of effectiveness depend from one person to another but most who take prescription weight loss products lose about 5% to 10% from their weight. While usually given to very obese patients, prescription weight loss products may be given to people who have healthy body mass indexes considering that they have consulted with their doctors and have been cleared to take them.

Go over-the-counter

A lot of weight loss products are available to you over the counter. (Over-the-counter weight loss products mean that you don't need a prescription to take them.) However, a weight loss product consumer report will tell you that buying weight loss products over-the-counter actually poses more threats than buying with a prescription because use is not regulated. Any person can buy as much as they want, in as many brands as they want without regard to what would work best for them. Essentially a trial-and-error process, the threat also lies in using too many weight loss products at the same time. While all claiming to promote weight loss, weight loss products aren't generally intended to be used in conjunction with another weight loss product. Well, because each one is claiming to handle singlehandedly all your weight loss needs, they aren't formulated to be "friendly" to other weight loss products. Using too many weight loss products at the same time can actually make you sicker instead of better. By piling on different substances into your body, you may be overloading your body systems in the process. This makes your body slow down and weaker in defending you against threats in the environment.

Unproven claims

Be careful of weight loss products labeled as "herbal" or "natural" as these can be misleading. Just because they are labeled as such, that does not guarantee that they are indeed safe for consumption. Not everything herbal or natural is safe for you. Some might even be potentially dangerous especially to those who are suffering from any health condition or are already taking prescription medication.

Protect yourself

As any weight loss product consumer report would, you have to learn how to protect yourself. When buying any weight loss product, check to see if a weight loss consumer product report has been done on it. This will tell you how it worked for other people, what does it do, and what does it contain--some of the very basic things you have to know about any weight loss product. Unless approved by the Food and Drug Administration, be cautious about products that contain the words: breakthrough, easy, magical, new discovery, guaranteed, effortless, exotic, secret, miraculous, and mysterious. If you've taken the time to find out what works, take the time to tell other people what works. Create your own weight loss product consumer report and help ensure that other people are informed and protected as well.

Why You Should Read a Weight Loss Consumer Report

Consumer Reports

What Is a Digital Camcorder Consumer Report And How To Use It

Digital camcorders are being used just about anywhere you may go. It could be at a birthday party, wedding anniversary, graduation, baby showers, the list goes on and on, everywhere you go you will probably see someone using their digital camcorder for something or another. They are becoming an important part of the family entertainment and electronics package.

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Anyone who is in the market for a new digital camcorder will soon find that the process is quite intimidating. Among the different models and formats of camcorders in the market, some models have better features than others. This is because as new technology is developed, camcorders are equipped with a number of features that allow for better recording, better resolution and easier editing.

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This is where a digital camcorder consumer report comes into play. By using a digital camcorder consumer report such as through MySimon.com or ConsumerReports.org, you will be gaining information on the different camcorders that are available and on what features each has to offer. Camcorder Consumer Report is Information gathered on various consumer product brands through a review by the authority. A good digital camcorder consumer report will also include reviews that different consumers have had on the models and what they had to say about them.

It is important if you do use one of these reports to help you make your decision that you not let it make the decision for you. Take the report and the consumer's reviews into consideration and use it to gain more knowledge on the particular model, but do not use it to make the decision for you.

Depending on what you are planning to use the camcorder for, you may require different features and options than someone else, and so what may be the perfect camcorder for one person may not be functional at all for you and your needs.

Tips

Other than using a digital camcorder consumer report there are a few other things that you can do that will help you to make your decision. One is you can always first look online for the models that you want to compare and look at digital camcorders consumer reviews.

If you are interested in finding a digital camcorder consumer report you can find many on the Internet and there are also often reports available in the newspapers.

Remember that there is a wealth of camcorders out there that you can choose from, and so A little research on camcorder consumer report, however, will help you determine which camcorders are the best. You should be able to find the perfect camcorder for your needs.

What Is a Digital Camcorder Consumer Report And How To Use It

Consumer Reports

What Is The Best Home Coffee Maker - A Report On Consumer Opinions

Coffee being a popular beverage and energizer, coffee machines are found in every household. A number of home coffee makers are available in the market today and many of these units are cost effective. As all these appliances are available at the best value prices, one is often faced with a dilemma of choosing the best one from hundreds of the best coffee machine.

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Public Votes the BUNN NHBX as the Best Coffee Maker At Home

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User has voted unanimously for the BUNN NHBX -B 10-cup Home Coffee Brewer according to Amazon.com portal now. The 4.5 stars out of 5 rating make the result reliable and vouch for the fact that the machine is a hit among the public. More than 450 real users rated till now.

Why the Bunn NHBX-B got highest vote

There are quite a number of reasons as to why people have loved the appliance and made it the best among the others available.

The Bunn NHBX-X ensures that the coffee is at its best and it tastes really good. There are two water tanks that are incorporated within the appliance. One tank needs filling every time coffee is brewed and the other tank ensures that the water it contains remain heated throughout the day, unless it is put on vacation mode. The effect this system has on the process of coffee making makes it stand out- whereas the other machines in the market take 4-8 minutes to prepare a steaming hot cup of coffee, this coffee maker cuts short the time to about 3 minutes!

The brewing speed is further aided by the fact that the amount of water which is poured into the filter basket at one time is more in comparison to the normal ones. The filters that are contained within the coffee machine are bigger in order to be able to withstand the pressure of the excess water.

As only three minutes are required to prepare the coffee, the Bunn NHBX-X is able to prepare the beverage without making it too bitter. The flavor is retained and this results in the great taste.

Machines that devote longer periods of time to brewing cause the coffee to achieve a bitter taste due to over exposure of the ground coffee beans to the steam. Bitter tasting coffee is especially common in appliances which brew for over 6 minutes.

The superb taste is further amplified by the fact that this machine has a unique design. This ensures that the ideal amount of turbulence is applied for suspension of coffee beans. Eventually, a thorough extraction of flavor is obtained and this gets the coffee lingering on the taste buds. With coffee makers belonging to the same price range, the extraction process is uneven as water drips through without proper exposure at all parts.

Disadvantages of BUNN NHBX

Like all things, the best home coffee maker also comes with certain disadvantages. There might be greater consumption of electricity as a result of the 24X7 heating of the water tank. If the heat supply is cut off, fifteen whole minutes will be required to heat up the water the next time around. It is best to turn the heat supply on before brewing and leaving the machine on only during those periods when you want to prepare coffee for multiple people. The tall and robust filters pose a disadvantage in one way as these are not easily available. They need to be ordered over the internet and would thereby require much more time to be delivered. These special filters are expensive as well. However, these disadvantages are minor when one considers the larger good. The taste and quality of coffee compensate for each of these.

With all the advantages that this device has over others of its kind over the coffee making process, it is no doubt a clear winner in the category of the best home coffee maker.

What Is The Best Home Coffee Maker - A Report On Consumer Opinions

Consumer Reports

Consumer Credit Report Applications and How They are Scored

A consumer's application is taken and scored separately by their individual credit history. Credit report final scores are reflective of many differing factors in your financial history and current status. Generally, credit-scoring systems determine whether someone is creditworthy using analytical tools and statistics to produce results and insight into the future dealings with a particular consumer. Each scoring system is unique and usually based on the particular needs of the financial institution or creditor. Some credit scoring systems award fewer points for example to people who have attained a certain age, such as late thirties or forties, with the thought that the older generation often has a relatively higher amount of debt.

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While the law still permits these creditors to award points to age groups, they are required to use properly designed scoring systems when doing so and people who have reached the age of 65 or older must receive the maximum number of points in this situation. Your age can help or hurt your credit score based on your current financial status compared to others of your age group.Most credit scoring systems consider a lot more factors than just the few named above. Sometimes your score can be based on as many as 15 or 25 different factors that relate to your credit past and present and financial status currently. All of the different factors that are taken into account simply predict your credit worthiness and help the lender to predict your future re-payment habits.Watch which questions you are asked on your credit application to try and determine which factors are used to determine your credit score.

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Every credit application varies due to the nature of the scoring system and the type of information needed to make their statistical guesses. Each of the questions you see on the application has a purpose, consider your answers carefully. The creditor or lender is trying to determine what type of financial borrower you will be once they give their money to you.While there are rules and acts put into force and designed to help the consumer, scoring systems are known for using such unique factors such as the type or year of car you drive to be a factor in determining your credit score. As long as they do not illegally discriminate on race, sex, martial status, national origin, religion, or age, they are allowed to use whatever category of factor they wish to figure your score.

Consumer Credit Report Applications and How They are Scored

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The Consumer Report Perspectives of Environmentally Friendly Hybrid Cars

Hybrids are hot nowadays. Hybrid cars use 2 engine, one for the traditional fuel, while the other uses the energy from a rechargeable battery. The recent years had car manufacturers scrambling to roll out a entire spectrum of Hybrid Cars from the most popular brands to the more obscure. What then is or guarantee that we are protected from too much hype, instead of an honest advertising?

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Hybrid Cars according to Consumer Reports
There are many hybrid cars information available, especially on their features, engine specifications, designs, colors and much other dizzying information. Information from manufacturers' websites are also good source of needed preliminary knowledge n hybrid cars. But such sites are good for information gathering, and much more comparison activities should be done before buying your hybrid cars.

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The Pros
"These hybrid systems have been very reliable," declares David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' auto test center, influential consumer survey. This center, collects individual consumer reports on hybrid cars, and uses the statistics to come up with a talk paper. It also accords "awards" to car with the best review report.

However, some automobile experts and analysts have criticized the hybrid car powertrain, as flamboyant in that two engines are being used for one purpose. Consumer Reports on the other hand, disagreed. Champion explained that the electric motor adds power to the engine.

Prior to the award proper, Consumer Report conducts a testing, by applying some actual expectations of consumers to hybrid cars. The Accord hybrid for instance, achieved superior fuel efficiency unsurpassed by its conventional counterparts.

The Cons
But as in other endeavor, consumer reports on hybrid cars also impartially advises from a different perspective. An alternative consumer view from the same center posed the question: "Considering a hybrid car? Don't rush out to the dealership just yet."

The center asserts that they are not against the protection of environment and it also insisted that they are supportive for burning less fossil fuel. Their concerns, essentially stems from some financial experts arguments that hybrid drivers may be paying a higher price for an automobile that offers marginally better fuel efficiency than the other economy cars already on the road.

These are but only few of the literature that deals with consumer reports on hybrid cars. It is, ultimately, depends on the consumer, to peruse on many information regarding hybrid cars.

Visit my site for more details on Environmentally Friendly Cars and more.

The Consumer Report Perspectives of Environmentally Friendly Hybrid Cars

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EdenPure Heaters Consumer Report

EdenPure heaters were created with your family's safety, health and energy consumption in mind. By using an EdenPure room heater not only will you see and feel the benefits of healthy air quality in your environment but you will also see a drastic reduction in your energy use and save on your heating bills without worrying about safety issues normally associated with heating units.

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Safety:

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Many other portable or room heaters have been the cause of residential fires due to the way the unit heats up as it heats the room. Other units you cannot touch without the risk of being burned and you must be very careful not to have flammable material near the heater. The system of the EdenPure heater is equipped with a superior quartz infrared structure that allows the unit to heat the room without the unit reaching dangerous temperatures that can be the cause of a fire in your environment. Safety tests have shown that the outside of the EdenPure heater only gets to about 95 degree to 98 degrees Fahrenheit, which is still safe around pets and children.

Healthier Air Quality

The technology used inside of the Eden Pure heating system aides in the health of your environment. The Eden Pure heater does not have the side effects as other heating units including space heaters and conventional heat sources that use fuel such as wood, corn, propane, fuel oil and coal which add unhealthy toxins into the environment as well as reduce humidity and oxygen that cause heath issues. The Eden Pure heater heats your environment while aiding in the health of your environment by keeping your air quality higher without toxins or dryness.

Heating and Energy

Most other portable heating units heat the living space extremely unevenly without any heat control. Without a means to control the heat unnecessary energy is being wasted heating areas that is not needed which also includes much of the heat rising directly from the unit to the ceiling, wasting both energy and much wanted heat. The Eden Pure heater is designed differently by incorporating a three setting heating element to the pure Eden heater in order to enhance heating a room both evenly wall to wall as well as heating zoned areas. The zone settings on pure Eden heaters, allow for much energy and money savings in your surroundings since the EdenPure is not heating unnecessary areas of your environment.

EdenPure Heaters Consumer Report

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Consumer Report For in Home Air Purifiers

What are air purifiers? What are the types of air purifiers? What factors you consider when buying one?

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We will share with you the information you have gathered from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American Lung association (ALA) and other consumer review sites that will provide you with a comprehensive report on home air purifiers and will help you choose the right one.

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An air cleaner is a machine that works to clean the air you breathe by getting rid of particles and noxious air pollutants in your home. Report consumers at home to air purifiers will tell you immediately that should not be considered an air purifier as a silver bullet.

The use of air purifiers should be a last resort's three-pronged approach to improve the air you breathe inside your home.

The first suggests that control of the source (s) or pollutants to reduce their emissions.

The second strategy according to the report of the consumer at home for air purifiers is to use a ventilation: open windows and doors (weather permitting), in turn, local bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans or the use of mechanical ventilation systems, which help improve the air condition of your room.

The third element is to consider getting an air purifier that actually remove bacteria, fungi, viruses and any kind of smell.

The four general types of air cleaners available on the market are mechanical filters, electronic air cleaners, ion generators and hybrid devices. They can join the central heating or ventilation system, desk units or larger room portable consoles.

Factors that you need to consider when buying an air purifier are as follows:

Type filter. Air filter protects equipment, furniture, reduce cleaning and maintenance of buildings and reduce fire hazards. Low efficiency filters can do all this. But it is only portable room air cleaners you can get high enough levels of filtration to protect their general welfare.

That is where HEP (high efficiency particulate air high) before or high efficiency particulate arrestors are important. "True" Hep not allow more than 3 particles 10000 to penetrate the filter media.

They are a bit noisy, however. But because they can remove particles as small as 0.3 microns in size that are the lungs of penetration of particles, EPA and ALA and other organizations recommend the use of a filter hep if you want to use a mechanical filter.

Clean Air delivery rate (Cadre). This is a standard developed by the independent association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) to measure the removal of dust, smoke and pollen from the air.

Measure the amount of clean air in cubic feet that provides an air cleaner to one room per minute of a specific material. Note that a cadre of 50 is suitable for a room of 80 square meters, a cadre of 80 to 120 square feet, a cadre of 100 per 144 square feet and a cadre of 200 per 320 square feet.

Cost. The expenses incurred in the purchase of an air purifier may include the initial purchase of the unit, maintenance costs (cleaning and / or replacement of filters and other parts) and operating costs (cost of electricity).

The most effective units are generally also the most expensive. However, you should check the initial cost with the cost of maintenance, since some air purifiers that are cheaper may be more expensive in the long run, if you need to change the filters often.

Noise. Air cleaners that have a fan can produce the equivalent of a small vacuum when operating at high speed. Even at low speed, some models are still producing an annoying buzzing or learn.

You should also note that rates are based cadres at high speed. So it's better if purify the room one hour before wearing it down the speed when you are there to minimize noise.

Consumer Report For in Home Air Purifiers

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Skin Whitening Cream Consumer Report - Are They Reliable?

If you are in doubt about a whitening product, people will tell you to look into the skin whitening cream consumer report to make sure that you have made the right choice. Logically, the feedbacks of first hand customers are the best way to know if the product really works or not. It is also one way to know if the company or maker of the product is reliable and trustworthy. Giving you a sense of security and peace that the product you will be purchasing and using has a great probability that it will work for you as well. But what are the usual queries that you encounter in these feedbacks, which give you the assurance that you are about to purchase something that really works?

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But really, what is a skin whitening cream consumer report? Is it essential to know this report? Generally, a consumer report is an informational guide that targets the consumers of a product. This report has undergone multiple research and comprehensive examination. It contains up to date data about skin whitening engineering, and multiple answers to different problems of skin pigmentation. It is more commonly known as an e-book, that you have to purchase online if you have a specific program installed in order for it to run. Certain agencies also offer hard copies if you are unsatisfied with having just an e-book. It will cost you more though because of the shipping and handling charges. The report also contains different home skin pigmentation remedies that you can start with if you are still indecisive with purchasing the actual product. If it involves money then there should be a warranty.

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Some sites offer a 60 day 100% money back guarantee, in the event that you are discontented for any reason at all with the purchase! Guaranteeing the warranty with a no questions asked motto. The most common issue when it comes to purchasing informational material online is the trust factor. Since it involves money, consumers have the fear that the money that they send won't be worth anything. This is normal because you are not actually having a transaction with another person face to face but with a bunch of words and a person on the other line. A third party payment is one of the procedures that companies offer so to protect the consumer from credit card theft. Is this enough?

For some yes, but if you are in doubt it is best not to continue. Common sense and relying on your own judgment is still the best advice that one can give whenever you go online in search of a skin whitening cream consumer report.

Skin Whitening Cream Consumer Report - Are They Reliable?

Consumer Reports

Consumer Law Report Blasts For-Profit Colleges for Private-Label Student Loans

A new report issued in January by the National Consumer Law Center accuses for-profit colleges of saddling their students with unregulated private-label student loans that force these students into high interest rates, excessive debt, and predatory lending terms that make it difficult for these students to succeed.

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The report, entitled "Piling It On: The Growth of Proprietary School Loans and the Consequences for Students," discusses the boom over the past three years in private student loan programs offered directly by schools rather than by third-party lenders. These institutional loans are offered by so-called "proprietary schools" - for-profit colleges, career schools, and vocational training programs.

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Federal vs. Private Education Loans

Most loans for students will be one of two types: government-funded federal student loans, guaranteed and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education; or non-federal private student loans, issued by banks, credit unions, and other private-sector lenders. (Some students may also be able to take advantage of state-funded college loans available in some states for resident students.)

Private student loans, unlike federal undergraduate loans, are credit-based loans, requiring the student borrower to have adequate credit history and income, or else a creditworthy co-signer.

The Beginnings of Proprietary School Loans

Following the financial crisis in 2008 that was spurred, in part, by the lax lending practices that drove the subprime mortgage boom, lenders across all industries instituted more stringent credit requirements for private consumer loans and lines of credit.

Many private student loan companies stopped offering their loans to students who attend for-profit colleges, as these students have historically had weaker credit profiles and higher default rates than students at nonprofit colleges and universities.

These moves made it difficult for proprietary schools to comply with federal financial aid regulations that require colleges and universities to receive at least 10 percent of their revenue from sources other than federal student aid.

To compensate for the withdrawal of private student loan companies from their campuses, some for-profit colleges began to offer proprietary school loans to their students. Proprietary school loans are essentially private-label student loans, issued and funded by the school itself rather than by a third-party lender.

Proprietary Loans as Default Traps

The NCLC report charges that these proprietary school loans contain predatory lending terms, charge high interest rates and large loan origination fees, and have low underwriting standards, which allow students with poor credit histories and insufficient income to borrow significant sums of money that they're in little position to be able to repay.

In addition, these proprietary loans often require students to make payments while they're still in school, and the loans can carry very sensitive default provisions. A single late payment can result in a loan default, along with the student's expulsion from the academic program. Several for-profit schools will withhold transcripts from borrowers whose proprietary loans are in default, making it nearly impossible for these students to resume their studies elsewhere without starting over.

The NCLC report notes that more than half of proprietary college loans go into default and are never repaid.

Recommendations for Reform

Currently, consumers are afforded few protections from proprietary lenders. Proprietary school loans aren't subject to the federal oversight that regulates credit products originated by most banks and credit unions.

Moreover, some proprietary schools claim that their private student loans aren't "loans" at all, but rather a form of "consumer financing" - a distinction, NCLC charges, that's "presumably an effort to evade disclosure requirements such as the federal Truth in Lending Act" as well as a semantic maneuver meant to skirt state banking regulations.

The authors of the NCLC report make a series of recommendations for reforming proprietary school loans. The recommendations advocate for tough federal oversight of both proprietary and private student loans.

Among the NCLC's favored reforms are requirements that private student loan companies and proprietary lenders adhere to federal truth-in-lending laws; regulations that prohibit proprietary loans from counting toward a school's required percentage of non-federal revenue; implementing tracking of private and proprietary loan debt and default rates in the National Student Loan Data System, which currently tracks only federal education loans; and centralized oversight to ensure that for-profit schools can't disguise their true default rates on their private-label student loans.

Other proposed reforms the NCLC supports include modification of federal bankruptcy laws and expansion of federal college loan debt relief programs.

The NCLC argues for a modification of current bankruptcy laws that would allow student borrowers to discharge onerous student loan debts in a bankruptcy petition without having to meet the current, nearly-impossible-to-satisfy "undue hardship" tests. Amidst more relaxed bankruptcy rules and strengthened non-bankruptcy alternatives, the NCLC maintains, fewer borrowers would find themselves hopelessly mired in student loan debt.

Consumer Law Report Blasts For-Profit Colleges for Private-Label Student Loans

Consumer Reports

Four Things That Can Mess With Your Consumer Credit Report

The consumer credit report is described as a factual document that profiles a person's history of credit payment. It is a document that is being asked for in many places nowadays. As from before, you can never quite get a bank loan without having your consumer-credit report checked. Some employers, too, express an interest in seeing your consumer credit-report, before considering putting you on their staff. There are even some landlords who won't rent you a house without a look at your credit report, just as there are some people in other areas of business who will be very hesitant to do business with you before they can have a look at your consumer credit repayment history.

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Seeing how much impact your consumer credit-report is likely to have in your life, it only makes sense for you to ensure that you protect it, guarding it against any sort of damage. And looking at people who have truly messed up consumer-credit reports and their life stories, it is not hard to see the kind of things that can really mess with yours - the kind of things you should really avoid.

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One thing that can really mess with your consumer credit-report is indiscriminate credit card usage. It gets a bit scary when some of us don't actually see the credit card as a line of credit extended to us (and therefore don't feel the need to repay it in good time). If one knows that, for sure, they are given to financial irresponsibility, it may be worth rethinking the whole idea of taking a credit card altogether. Contrary to an amazing public belief that has come up recently, one doesn't actually need a credit card to prove that they are human, especially if they know that they will end up falling back on repayments.

The second thing that can really mess up with your consumer-credit report is regular failure to settle (day to day utility) bills on time. Many of us imagine that loss of access to the various utilities is the worst that can come of failure to settle day to day utility bills. In fact, such failure can have other more chronic effects, as most credit bureaus (the guys who make consumer credit reports) also look at people's utility bill payment patterns.

Falling too far behind in student loan repayment is another thing that easily messes up people's consumer credit reports a great deal. It can never be emphasized enough that the money you are lent to finance your college education is not free money. It is money that you have to repay. And in case you prove unwilling to do so (even where you haven't gotten a job), the lenders alert the credit bureaus- soiling your consumer-credit-report.

Abuse of credit facilities available can, naturally, do your consumer credit report a lot of harm. Taking up every loan that comes your way, and especially borrowing - beyond your real repayment capacity - for consumption (rather than for development) purposes are the kind of things that could, in the fullness of time, irredeemably soil your consumer-credit-report.

Four Things That Can Mess With Your Consumer Credit Report

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