Informative, but always favors more government intervention.
Written: Jan 24 '06
Product Rating:
Pros: Lots of valuable information
Cons: Some info outdated; socialistic bias; obsessed with child safety
The Bottom Line: A worthwhile publication for anyone seeking good, unbiased information on a wide range of consumer products -- but beware their nanny-state viewpoint!
dfn23's Full Review: Consumer Reports Magazine Subscription
Other consumer information sources have sprung up, but CR is still considered "the bible" and has a lot of credibility. And when it comes to specific product reviews, that reputation is well-earned. Whenever I'm contemplating a major purchase (car, TV, refrigerator, camera) I always check what CR has to say. (I've been a subscriber for at least 15 years.)
Their reviews are thorough, but often somewhat outdated. By the time a story appears, the particular models they cover are frequently long-gone. This is particularly true in technology-intensive categories such as computers.
Probably the most valuable thing they do is track the reliability and repair records for autos and major appliances. Their Annual Auto Issue is a "must read" when it comes time to buy a new car. It lets you weed out the dogs at the beginning of the selection process, and may make you aware of models you might have otherwise overlooked.
Unfortunately, there's a downside to the magazine too. In practically every issue there are articles complaining about lack of government involvement in some industry or other. In CR's world, the answer to every problem is always more government regulation, never less.
Also, they are prone to rating products "unacceptable" if there's even the remotest probability that a retarded three-year-old could be injured by them. This means that their ratings become less useful for households without children. A lot of us are willing and able to take risks that CR rules unacceptable, and they ought to distinguish more clearly between products that are perfectly fine for adults but unsafe for children, and those that are unsafe, period.
Finally, I find it annoying that they expect subscribers to pay extra to access their website. I can understand charging non-subscribers for that privilege, but it should be available at no charge to the magazine's paid subscribers. It's 90% the same information, after all!
Still, overall, CR is worth the price of a subscription.
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