Consumer Reports Archives - The Silicon Underground

Why I bought a hybrid

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 11:00:12 +0000

Gas is around $2 a gallon, and I just bought a hybrid. Why? It makes sense and it doesn’t make sense. So let’s talk this through. I bought one, and if you’re thinking about getting one, I think it can

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Save money on appliances

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 11:00:40 +0000

If you want to know how to save money on appliances, I have some unconventional advice: Buy used. Yes, really. Here’s how to buy used (or refurbished) appliances and save big money without getting ripped off. I’ve had a number

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Why you should avoid home warranties

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Consumer Reports advises not to buy home warranties. (Scroll past the horror stories to see the general advice why.) I agree. I’ve bought four home warranties and never got half my money’s worth. The last one I bought will be the

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Tips on buying used stuff

Dave Farquhar — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 11:00:43 +0000

I just found a Lifehacker piece on buying used stuff without getting ripped off. I have plenty of experience in this area. The key, I think, is to deal in person, and test as much functionality as you can before

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PC Magazine has its reader’s choice awards for home networking equipment online

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:11:55 +0000

PC Magazine posted its reader’s choice awards for home networking equipment Monday. PC Magazine‘s reader surveys aren’t gospel, but they’re valuable. They’re a cross-section of the opinions of people who care enough about technology to read the magazine, and as

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More lawnmower adventures

Dave Farquhar — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:41:18 +0000

Well, the $25 lawnmower my wife scored at a yard sale late last year died a week ago. It just quit in the middle of the yard, leaving me with a yard with a mohawk, since I'd already cut the front and most of the sides.

I bit the bullet and bought a new Toro.

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How IBM and DOS came to dominate the industry

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 19 Feb 2003 23:27:30 +0000

Revisionist historians talk about how MS-DOS standardized computer operating systems and changed the industry. That's very true. But what they're ignoring is that there were standards before 1981, and the standards established in 1981 took a number of years to take hold.

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