I’m very surprised that so few members of the tech media recognize the serious flaws in the testing methodology of Consumer Reports. Yes, I realize that the magazine appears incorruptible, because they buy all the products they test, do not accept advertising, and are run by a non-profit organization. That, however, doesn’t mean that they […]

You know you can buy a netbook running Windows for less than $300, but the very cheapest Mac, the mini, is now $699. You also know that you can get a smartphone with the Google Android OS on it for next to nothing, but the cheapest iPhone is last year’s 3GS, at $99 with a […]

It seems scarcely an issue of Consumer Reports appears that doesn’t cover personal computers and other electronics gear these days. In the wake of their strangely-concocted criticism of the iPhone 4’s antenna design, CR has gotten loads of favorable public attention — often not deserved. It’s unfortunate that virtually nobody in the mainstream media ever […]

If you accept the conventional wisdom, Consumer Reports is the best product review publication in the U.S. The reason is that it’s run by a non-profit corporation that not only doesn’t accept advertising, but actually purchases the items it tests, most often from regular dealers. In other words, it’s incorruptible. So how can you beat […]