Right Choice Sample

June 2013, ` 150
Unbiased Expert Advice. Always.
Test reports
Sound bars
Tablets
Budget smartphones
Food processors
Child care products
pictures
Our testing cuts through the jargon to ensure that you buy only the best
ALSO INSIDE
Big
Ketchup
Paint job
Online shopping Dental check-ups

E-retailers that offer hassle-free buying What to look for and how much they cost
Sodium and sugar Step-by-step guide to levels in seven brands painting your home
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Contents
23
46
Consumer news
04 We look at the latest consumer news and give you advice on using generic medication, credit card transactions and getting airline refunds
Test reports
34 Food processors Need to whisk, grind, knead, chop all within a short time span? These mean machines are the answer
How to
46 Get your home painted Whether you are hiring a painting contractor or want to tackle it yourself, we demystify the art of repainting your home
Your complaints resolved

08 Consumer issues pertaining to products and services and how they have been resolved
17 Televisions Deceptive schemes by retailers may lead to bad buying decisions 23 Sound bars Pair your at screen TV with these sleek Right Choice speakers 26 Tablets Find out which tablet lives up to its makers claims in our test report
Test drives
New products
10 Gadgets We explore various products that have just hit the shelves 14 Home appliances A recently-launched convection oven, a hairdryer that conditions your hair, a Right Choice coffee maker and more home appliances
38 Right Choice round-up Keep your baby safe, with these products
50 Mid-size sedans We investigate nine mid-size sedans so that you know which one is well worth your money 43 Ketchup test We tested seven different brands of this go-to condiment for their salt and sugar content
Service report
56 Online shopping Satisfaction survey of online shopping sites, their policies and other issues that matter
32 Mobiles We feature ve smartphones that are great at the basics and well within your reach
02 I Right Choice I June 2013
whichrightchoice.com
Health report
Features
62 10 ways to... ... shop safely on the internet 73 Spin doctor Does a regular oil massage actually keep your hair healthy? 74 Ask the experts We answer your queries on topics ranging from types of suitcases to maintaining car tyres
Editors Letter
ou can now do just about anything online, and shopping from your armchair can save time and money if you get it right. But it can be hard to know where to buy and what to expect when you do. Our online shopping survey (p56) looked at customer satisfaction with some of the biggest names in e-retail, including Flipkart, Snapdeal and Naaptol, to reveal which sites you rated best. You dont always know what youre getting when you shop online, but theres no guarantee you get the full picture in a shop, either. Electronics retailers can use clever tricks to show products off at their best, so you could end up disappointed if you dont get the same experience at home (see Televisions, p17). And some manufacturers can be equally sneaky; some of the tablets weve tested only let you use about half of the space advertised on the box (see Tablets, p26). Whether youre in the market for a new TV, are considering a food processor upgrade or want to nd the best budget mobile, you can trust our reviews to give you the whole picture, and help you pick a Right Choice that wont disappoint. Pau l An to n y Sm ith Edito r
63 Dental health Zeroing in on a dentist, how often you should go for a check-up, average cost of various procedures and more
Money report
68 Credit cards With multiple choices and clauses, we read the ne print for you
Our promise
We at Right Choice test and research goods and services. Our tests are rigorous and we give you the most comprehensive reviews. Our USP is that we give Unbiased expert
advice. Always meaning we do not take any freebies or inducements from manufacturers either directly or indirectly. We buy all the products we test, and we put products and services through their paces so you can get independent, unbiased advice on what to buy.
Our tests
Our tests are comprehensive examining all the key aspects of a product or service. We are transparent in our approach and write about how we test in every test report. And we test a wide range of things, from coffee to air-conditioners.
Our ratings
Adorns the ones Ad
RIGHT tha that excel in our CHOICE
rigorous tests. rigo
WRONG per perform poorly get CHOICE
The ones which this label.
GREAT VALUE
Pe Perform well in ou our tests and are rel relatively low-cost.
Published and printed by Paul Antony Smith for and on behalf of the owners M/s BGG Information Pvt Ltd. Published at BGG Information Pvt Ltd, 106, Prospect Chambers, 317/321, Dr D N Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Printed at Thomson Press (India) Ltd, 18-35, Mile Stone, Delhi-Mathura Road, Faridabad (Haryana) Editor: Paul Antony Smith Distributed by Living Media India Limited, branch office: A-61, Sec 57, Noida 201 301. (Registered Office: 9 K Connaught Circus, New Delhi 110001). Customer care contact details: Toll-free: 1-800-1800200, land line: 0120-2479800, fax: 0120-4078080. To contact us, send an email to info@whichrightchoice.com Design, production and editorial services: Hill Road Media Vol 2 Issue 1 We acknowledge that the trademarks shown/featured in this magazine are the property/s of the respective owners. All rights reserved. No part of this publication shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of BGG Information Private Limited. It shall not be used for any form of advertising, sales promotion or publicity.
June 2013 I Right Choice I 03
News
Generic drugs: good or bad?
Maharashtra defends most affordable drugs but is it wise?
n April, the Supreme Court of India rejected the demands for patent rights by the Swiss drug company Novartis for the anti-cancer drug Glivec. The court felt that the newer Glivec, which is very expensive, was just a modied version of the older drug. The ruling is a step forward for Indias efforts to make medicines affordable and accessible to every strata of society and reduce evergreening a strategy where drug companies try to extend their patent life by making small changes to their drugs. However, Novartis said that this decision discourages innovative drug discovery essential to advancing medical science for patients.
MAHARASHTA HOSPITALS FOLLOW SUIT

Taking a cue from the Novartis case, in April the Maharashtra State Government declared that all public hospitals should now give only generic drugs to patients. It also stated that the government will formulate a module to create awareness on the benets of these drugs. Generic drugs medicines that are usually known by their chemical name and are not associated with any particular company can be just as effective as branded drugs and are much cheaper. They are especially critical for those who cannot afford branded medicines.
Generic drugs are critical for those who can't aord costly branded medicines
tested and so it is difficult to predict their efficacy in case of such diseases.
BEWARE OF SUB-STANDARD QUALITY

A B Pharm graduate working in the pharmaceutical sector, Shekhar Rawtani, Mumbai, says, The generic pharmaceuticals industry has made drugs more accessible, offering economical alternatives to branded drugs and considerably reducing the nancial burden of therapy. But the rampant use of sub-standard nonpharmaceutical grade raw materials and the high risk of counterfeiting casts doubt on the quality and efficacy of these generic products. The concerned regulators must take quality very seriously and should make and enforce rules to assure people that every licensed generic product has been manufactured with utmost care.
BRANDED DRUG Crocin GENERIC DRUG Paracetamol USE Relieves minor aches and pains, such as headaches and body ache, and reduces fever
IS GENERIC MEDICATION SAFE TO USE?

Generic drugs may be affordable, but are they up to the mark? Dr Gopal Chaturvedi, Mumbai, says, Generic drugs are basically made out of the same compounds as branded drugs. When it is a basic drug like paracetamol or antacids, it is perfectly alright. These are the medicines that general practitioners usually give to patients in small pouches and their side-effects and mechanisms are well known and can be safely administered orally. However, for cancer drugs, for example, the stakes are much higher. Cancer drugs need to undergo lots of clinical trials. Number of drug therapies and standard treatment doses and protocols are frequently revised by cancer societies all over the world. Since drugs produced and manufactured by pharmaceutical companies undergo lot of trials before they are marketed they usually recover their R&D costs through patents, which are usually for up to 10-12yrs or as per the drug policies of the country and then are produced as generics. Generic drugs are not extensively
Combiam Amoxil, Amox, Mox
Paracetamol + Cures routine ailments such as Ibuprofen fever, u, cold and body pain Amoxicillin Treats many different types of infections caused by bacteria
Faulty transactions on credit card

With our help, Right Choice subscriber nally gets his dues for credit card transactions he did not make
lmost three years is a long time to wait to settle a dispute with your bank, but that's how long it took Ashish Kothari, senior consultant at Capgemini India Pvt. Ltd, to resolve fraudulent transactions made on his credit card. On June 2009, several mysterious transactions were reected on Ashish's HSBC credit card statement. When the bank called and emailed to verify the transactions, he refuted them and led a dispute complaint with the Powai branch of the bank, in Mumbai. 'I disputed four transactions (made for paying mobile phone bills, according to the statement). The bank reversed only one and refused to reverse the other three (a total of `5,000). They also started charging interest on the amount due to non-payment,' he added. Ashish then got in touch with Right Choice to seek help in the matter. We followed up with HSBC as well as JM Financial, the nance company to whom HSBC had handed
the case, on his behalf. After several emails and conversations, on April 4, 2013, JM Financials informed Right Choice that they had reconsidered the case and had initiated the process to update his credit status in the Credit Information Bureau India Limited (CIBIL)
records, which would take effect within 4560 days. On April 12, 2013, Ashish informed Right Choice that HSBC had reversed his transactions and all his dues were settled to his satisfaction. It took a long time for HSBC to resolve what seemed like a technical error.
RBI guidelines for disputed transactions

The grievance cell of the bank should be made known to every card holder so that he/she can approach the designated ocer and ensure that genuine grievances are redressed promptly. Banks have been asked to formulate a system to prevent fraud. In case of disputed transactions, the bank is liable to provide the consumer with all the necessary documentations (like the ATM pin used, the additional security authentication used and the time and place of transactions), within a maximum period of 60 days. call center competence and mechanism to escalate the matter to a higher authority. Banks have been advised to be careful before reporting the consumer in the defaulters list of CIBIL in case of unresolved disputes. If a person is unsatised with the banks response over credit card or other banking-related issues, he can le a complaint before the Banking Ombudsman under the Banking Ombudsman Scheme by the RBI (at www.bankingombudsman.rbi.org.in), within a period of one month.
In all disputed cases, banks have to maintain a transparent procedure with the card holder pertaining to
News
Electricity company to return wrongful charges

Power company estimated to have wrongfully collected an extra `5-6 crore from consumers
n June 2, 2012, the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) passed a tariff order increasing tariff by 10 paise per unit for all categories of consumers. According to the order, the new tariff was
to be implemented with effect from June 1, 2012. In August 2012, the president of the New Kandla and Kutch Salt Manufacturers Association, Gandhidham, G P Thacker, lodged a complaint with CERS. He stated that
the new tariff had been enforced on all hightension (HT) power consumers of the Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL) with effect from the date of meter reading, which varied from May 16 to 21, 2012. PGVCL had thus collected an additional 10 paise per unit for 10 to 15 days, estimated to be over `5-6 crore, from its HT power consumers. CERS wrote to the GERC as well as to PGVCL, protesting the collection was in violation of the GERC Supply Code Regulations and therefore wrongful, and demanded a refund for all HT power consumers. But the PGVCL argued that meter readings are taken on xed dates and there is no provision that new readings have to be taken on June 1 to implement the new tariff. Only after the intervention of GERC Chairman, Dr P K Mishra, did PGVCL revise the programming of the billing cycle and, in a letter to Thacker on March 8, 2013, informed him that the wrongly collected amount would be credited in the next electricity bill. Meanwhile, CERS has requested the GERC to direct the other three state-run power distribution companies too, and refund similar wrongful amounts collected from all categories of consumers in Gujarat.
Contributed by the Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC)
HSBC held decient in service

Debt recoverer responsible for taking payment late
he Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum - VI, District New Delhi, found HSBC Limited India decient in service and ordered it to pay `25,000 as compensation charges to Vinay Chola in February 2013. According to Vinay, he had been a credit card holder of HSBC and had defaulted on a due payment of `25,000 to the bank. He had, however, agreed to pay the amount in three installments, which were scheduled to begin in May 2007 and end on or before July 30, 2007, with the last payment being `8,332. However, the bank's recovery agents collected his payment
in September 2007, instead of July 2007. The Forum stated that since the banks recovery persons had collected the last payment late, the bank should demand charges from the recovery agents, not the complainant. The Forum held HSBC decient in service for the following: Not informing CIBIL of the settlement of all outstanding dues Not issuing a letter to CIBIL and the complainant to this effect Not issuing a 'No-dues Certicate' Not reconsidering him for a fresh card
News in Brief
Delay in delivery of services will be ned
The Union Cabinet has approved The Right of Citizens for Time-Bound Delivery of Goods and Services Bill, 2011, which will ensure a time-bound delivery of services such passport, driving licence, pensions and tax refund. In case of delay the ocial responsible will be ned on a per day basis, ranging from `250 to `50,000.
Airline forced to pay `1 lakh compensation

Stranded passenger nds airline also paid off lawyer without his authority
Sin tax on tobacco

In a move to curb the consumption of tobacco, the health ministry has proposed a sin tax on tobacco products. It has been suggested to the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, to incorporate this tax, the proceeds of which can be used for tobacco control.
lying British Airways ight BA 142 from New Delhi to London on June 7, 2008, Ramesh C Bhargava, a resident of Shimla, was informed on reaching his destination that the airline had lost his luggage in transit. He immediately reported the loss to the airline officials, but they could not trace the baggage.
The Forum found it justied that Ramesh had disputed the payment to his advocate without his authority. That money belonged to Ramesh and the opposite party (British Airways) should bear the loss as the amount was not given to the complainant. Once the deciency is admitted in the loss of baggage, the complainant should be adequately compensated, the Forum stated.
TRAI to deactivate inactive mobile numbers

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in an amendment to the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulation, 2013, allows telecom operators to deactivate a pre-paid mobile number that has not in use for 90 days and has a balance of less than `20, as of March 22. The customer can then reactivate his number within 15 days by paying certain charges.
DEFICIENCY IN SERVICE
Ramesh had to spend ve days in a hotel room in London till he could get hold of his contact addresses and nish his business in London. On returning home, Ramesh sent a legal notice to the airline through his advocate, V K Goel. But BA paid Goel `20,000 hoping to be rid of the matter. Ramesh then complained to the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum - VI, District New Delhi, against the airline and others (Case no. C.C./382/2009). During the proceedings, British Airways offered him `45,000 in court. He refused to accept the amount. With regards to the airlines payment to the lawyer, Ramesh said that he had not authorised nor accepted the amount and hence the payment did not settle his claim.
If baggage is lost in transit, the airline is guilty of deciency in service

The Forum also took note of the fact that, for the ongoing case, Ramesh had been travelling from Shimla to New Delhi for the past ve years. The Forum raised the amount of compensation, from `65,000 (including `20,000) offered by British Airways, to `1 lakh and directed it to pay the amount to Ramesh within 30 days of the receipt of the copy of the order. Otherwise, action can be taken under Section 25 (Enforcement of order) / Section 27 (Penalty) of the Consumer Protection Act.
Get in touch with Right Choice

If you are experiencing a problem with a manufacturer, retailer or service provider, for example a malfunctioning product, something that wasnt delivered as promised or a decient service, write to us at editor@whichrightchoice.com and well do our best to resolve the issue.
Your complaints resolved
College refunds fees to international student

SRM University admitted an international student onto a degree course that didn't exist
wenty-year old Bhavik Mehta was a student of the University of Mombasa, Kenya, when he attended a campus fair at his college. There he was informed about a degree course for chemical engineering by a representative of the SRM University in Chennai. He applied for the dual degree course and, on May 31, 2012, obtained admission to the programme by paying $11,900 (approximately `6,54,500) for the course and on-campus accommodation. When Bhavik reported to the college on August 5, 2013, he found that no arrangements had been made for him at the institute. He was allocated an inhabitable off-campus accommodation. The next day he learnt that the dual degree programme did not exist. Pursuing the matter with
Precautions to take
Keep all documentation and proof, such as receipts, with you. Ensure everything is in place legally. If there is correspondence by post, check for the ocial letterhead. Be in touch with the ocials from the university to get your queries cleared. Research the university. Get in touch with the alumni.
the authorities yielded no results. Bhavik withdrew his application and asked for the refund of the fees. When his repeated reminders to the university evoked no response, his father, Ajaykumar Mehta,
wrote to CERS, Ahmedabad on August 21, 2012. Extensive follow-ups by CERS with the university nally resulted in Bhavik getting a refund of $11,465 (approximately `6,30,575) after deduction of processing fees.
This item has been provided by the Consumer Education & Research Centre (CERC), Ahmedabad.
Samsung waives repair costs for senior citizens

Faulty TV panel replaced outside warranty for a fraction of the cost
run Kumar Hajra and his wife, an elderly couple based in Pune, had purchased two Samsung TV sets 101cm LED and 66cm LCD from Croma Inniti Retail Limited in July 2011. Hajra paid a total of `77,000. The LED TV displayed a ickering screen during the warranty period, but Arun's wife mistook it to be a voltage uctuation and did not complain to the dealer. On returning from a trip overseas, Arun noticed the problem and complained to the service engineer on August 6, 2012. However, by then the LED TV had crossed
the warranty period. The service engineer found the TVs panel was faulty and estimated the repair cost to be `23,200. Arun approached the company authorities as well as the customer care, but all efforts went in vain. A troubled Arun then sought the advice and intervention of CERS, Ahmedabad. CERS pursued the matter with Samsung Electronics and Croma Inniti Retail Limited. Eventually, on March 2, 2013, after seven months and a payment of `5,000, Samsung repaired the TV for the couple.
Passenger protests booking inefficiency by airline

Wrongly rescheduled without intimation
n November 12, 2012, resident of Mumbai and President of CERC, Walter Vieira, booked an online ticket on an Indigo Airlines ight from Mumbai to Goa for January 27, 2013, to return on February 7, 2013. The ticket showed the status as pending but Walter presumed that this would be conrmed closer to the date of travel. On his arrival at the airport on January 27, he was informed that his ticket was invalid as it showed the status to be pending. To his further surprise, the airline authorities informed him that his reservation had been rescheduled to January 23, 2013, over the phone. Walter argued that there was no cancellation charge recorded on his credit card statement but he was left with no choice except to get a new ticket issued paying that days rates and travel, under protest. On January 31, 2013, Walter wrote to Customer Relations, Indigo Airlines, explaining the matter. He sought a refund of `4,481, the amount he was made to pay for the ticket or a free ticket for the same route. Walter received a response from the customer relations team of Indigo Airlines on February 6, 2013, stating that the refund of `1,699.00 has been processed which will reect in your account within seven to ten working days. Further, we have made the travel voucher for the remaining amount of `2782.00 Walter's complaint was hence successfully resolved.
Car undelivered for over six months

Dealer refunds booking amount to customer
esident of Ahmedabad, Arun Kaul, paid `51,000 and booked a Renault Duster (Model No. HP RxE 85 PS) on July 20, 2012. The dealer, Kamdar Carz Private Limited, promised him delivery of the car in two months. Five months elapsed but Arun did not receive the car. In December 2012, the dealer approached Arun for the allotment of the same model, which had been rejected by another customer who had booked the car from the same dealer. He accepted the offer and immediately applied for the loan. Fifteen days later, on December 18, 2012, Arun was informed that the vehicle had been allotted to someone else. On the same day, he wrote to the company seeking re-allotment of
the car or cancellation of the booking. I nd this allotment wrong, he wrote kindly make the payment of the refund amount of `51,000 If the payment is not received in a weeks time, interest from the date of registration would be due. He also approached CERS Ahmedabad, seeking its intervention. CERS wrote to Kamdar Carz Private Limited, regarding Aruns complaint. In response, the dealer informed CERS after 10 days that it had not yet received a cancellation request from Arun. Arun re-sent his application for cancellation. Follow-ups by CERS nally brought Arun a refund in February 2013 of the advance amount of `51,000.
New products
JUST TESTED
59% HTC WINDOWS PHONE 8S, `18,500

Screen size 4.3 inches Screen resolution 480x800 Internal memory 4GB Camera 5Mp This is a decent mid-range phone with a 4.3-inch screen and runs on the new Windows Phone 8 OS. Battery life We managed over eight hours of calls per charge, or over ve hours of web browsing over 3G, both of which are above average for a phone in this price range. You can use the Windows Phone battery saving mode, which turns off some power-hungry features when your phone is almost out of juice. Picture quality Picture quality from the 5Mp camera is mediocre, but adequate for quick group shots. How is it to use? The Windows 8 interface comes with interesting features, though it takes some time to get used to and the home screen can look busy. Calls are generally clear in quiet conditions but as you would expect a little harder to understand when there is loud background noise. VERDICT A decent Windows 8 phone to consider if you are looking for a standard workhorse smartphone with a good screen.
In this section
We bring you the newest gadgets and recently launched appliances. These range from headphones, mobiles and cameras to tablets, TVs and computers. You will also nd reviews for household products, including water puriers, geysers, coffee machines and much more. We also preview products that may not be available yet in India but are likely to launch soon. As theyre new to the market, all the products featured here may not have been tested in our labs yet. Heres how to distinguish them by their labels.
JUST and gad TESTED gadgets
These The new
appliances have app gone through thro gh our labs and are tested. Youll nd scores and ratings along with these reviews. Theyre not Th tested yet, but te weve played we around aro nd with ith and tried these new products to give you our opinions.
FIRST LOOK
66% YAMAHA PDX11, `9,490

The Yamaha PDX-11 is an iPod speaker dock, but the standard 3.5mm headphone socket means it can also connect to other smartphones and MP3 players. It has a nice design, with a large speaker and a handle on the top. We put it to the test to nd out if the sound matches its exceptional design. Sound quality While acceptable, its sound quality is nothing great. It runs on batteries and doesnt need to be plugged to the mains, which makes it suitable for listening in open areas such as a garden. How is it to use? Its straightforward to use, with the iPod slotting in to the top. This is very easy to do but the back of the iPod isnt well-supported. It has a tiny remote control for accessing your music. VERDICT Though it doesnt have the best audio quality available, it is an excellent choice if youre looking for a portable speaker.
JUST TESTED
Weve not got W our ou hands on these products th yet, but give et b t gi e you our impressions according to their specications.
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`TBA
RIGHT CHOICE
`28,500
RIGHT CHOICE
vs
72% 78%
Google Nexus 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S III

The newly launched Google Nexus 4 has hit the US markets for just $299 (about `16,000). We pitch it against the highest-selling smartphone to see how it matches up
Google Nexus 4
SCREEN The Nexus 4 houses more pixels within its 4.7-inch screen, so images look sharper than they do on the S III. The Qualcomm Snapdragon processor outruns the Galaxy S III, which means faster gaming and web-browsing speeds. It beats Samsungs record, which is 12 hours on calls, by managing over 14 hours of calls or ve hours of web browsing. Sound quality of calls isnt as clear as those in competition. Headphones arent supplied and there is no slot for a memory card. Also, unlike the Samsung, you cannot replace the battery later on. The photo camera on the Google Nexus 4 is brilliant, while the video camera is only reasonable.
Samsung Galaxy S III

The S III has a clear and bright 4.8-inch screen, but it doesnt quite match up to the Nexus 4s. The Samsung Galaxy S III features a quad-core processor thats also pretty slick for most tasks. The 12-hour call time or over ve hours of web browsing is also pretty impressive for a smartphone. On the other hand, the S III provides fantastic call quality. Samsung, being pricier, is more generous with its features, giving you quality headphones and exibility to extend the storage. The Samsung exceeds the Nexus 4 in this area, giving you a top-notch photos and videos and better camera features.
Winner
Google Nexus 4
PROCESSOR
Google Nexus 4
BATTERY
Google Nexus 4
CALL QUALITY
FEATURES
CAMERA
VERDICT While prices for the Google Nexus 4 had not been announced in India till the time of going to print, you can expect it to be much cheaper and still work as a superb alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S III.
New Products
SAMSUNG UA55F8000, ` 2,30,900

Screen size 55 inches Type LED This is Samsungs new agship LED TV, which replaces the popular ES8000 from last years line-up. It looks stunning with a sleek frame around the 55-inch screen. It also looks great at the back: Samsung has cleverly hidden the connections and cut down the clutter. The TV is also the rst to feature a quad-core processor. All new Smart Hub One of the major changes to Samsungs 2013 line up is a complete revamp of its smart TV interface. The new Smart Hub is designed to be much easier and more intuitive to get around, with content split into different panels that you can swipe through. This categorises different applications to give a cleaner and a better organised look. Deeper blacks Samsung has been working to improve picture quality and is introducing a new feature called Cinema Black. This, it claims, makes blacks look deeper and
FIRST LOOK
turns off the LED backlight behind the black strips at the top and bottom of the screen when you are watching a lm. TV interaction Although a bit gimmicky, the TV lets you talk to it using natural language, and you can use both hands for gesture control using the built-in camera. An update to the camera means you can
now snap it away if you dont want it staring at you the whole time. FIRST IMPRESSION It will be interesting to see the picture improvements from last years models. The reinvented Smart Hub should help users make the most out of internet TV.
69% BARNES & NOBLE NOOK HD, `17,350

JUST TESTED
Screen size 7 inches Resolution 1,440x900 Storage 16GB This is a 7-inch tablet which runs on the Barnes & Noble version of Android. While it hasnt been launched officially in India, you can easily buy it through online stores. Its a step up from an ebook reader because it has full access to the internet and a high-resolution colour screen. Its available in 8GB and 16GB versions. Screen The 1,440x900 resolution screen is the highest resolution among most main 7-inch tablet rivals. We found the screen to be clear and with good viewing angles. Battery life A 30 minute charge provides 40 minutes battery life. It lasts for nearly
nine and a half hours when playing backto-back video and seven-and-a-half hours when youre browsing the web using Wi-Fi. How is it to use? Battery life is good, lasting over nine hours three hours longer than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P310. You wont be able to make video calls or take photos using the Nook HD because it doesnt have any cameras. The Barnes & Noble app store limits the number of apps and does not live up to the high standards of the Apple and Google equivalents. VERDICT Except for the good screen, theres nothing remarkable about the Nook HD to set it apart from cheaper tablets such as the Google Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 P310.
69% LENOVO S300, ` 29,790

The Lenovo S300 is a 13.3-inch laptop that looks like an ultrabook, but its slightly chunky and lacks a sustaining battery, so doesnt make the Right Choice cut. Screen and battery life The screen is dull and the grainy images are a bit of a let-down. The battery isnt powerful enough to get through a three-hour movie without a power source but it will survive nearly three hours of web browsing. How is it to use? The dual-core Pentium processor powers the laptop through word-processing and web-browsing tasks, but it struggles in more intensive graphics or media applications. Weighing just 1.6kg, its quite comfortable on the lap.
Just out
JUST TESTED
Google Play Movies

`Free Hot on the heels of Google Play Books, which launched in India a month ago, a movies section has now been added to Google Play. It oers both Hindi and English lms, and you can rent movies and TV shows from the store for a minimum of `50 each. They can be streamed within a period of 30 days from the time that they have been rented, but you have to watch them within 48 hours once the streaming starts.
VERDICT If you want a good and very mobile workhorse laptop, the S300 ts the bill. But the screen is disappointing and it doesnt have the features or battery life of a bona de ultrabook.
Wishtels IRA Capsule

`16,000 Wishtel is all set to introduce the IRA Capsule in the Indian market. Encased in a metallic shell, it comes with a 10.1-inch multi-touch capacitive screen and runs on the Jelly Bean Android OS. It has a 0.3Mp front-facing camera and a 5Mp back camera. Wishtel states that the Capsule is designed with a built-in Sim slot for 3G, along with a wireless LAN. It has an internal memory of 16GB, which can be expanded to 32GB.
FUJIFILM SL1000, ` 29,999

Resolution (Mp) 16 Wide angle 24mm Optical zoom 50x The Fujilm SL1000 is the latest bridge camera to sport an enormous 50x optical zoom lens. The last model to impress with its huge zoom lens was the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS and we cant wait to see to see if this Fujilm can match it. The camera should be excellent for macro and landscape photography, though it could feel too heavy after a while. 10fps shooting speed Fujilm has kept the resolution low at 16Mp, claiming that it helps in capturing the images at a continuous
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speed of 10fps about ve times faster than the Canon. The 24mm wide angle is a great addition for taking wide shots. Special features Fujilm has included eight different creative effects such as toy camera that make life-size objects look like toys, without needing any photo editing software. Additionally, the LCD monitor rotates to a full 180 degrees. FIRST IMPRESSION While large zoom lenses are brilliant for capturing far-away action, we hope this Fujilm can also deliver the great picture performance expected of strong DSLRs.
Micromax Viva Style A72

`6,499 This new dual-Sim phone from Micromax has a 5-inch capacitive screen and an Android 2.3 OS paired with a 1GHz processor. At 110MB the internal memory is low, but it can be boosted up to 32GB. A claimed seven hours talktime is provided, with a 280 hours standby time from its 2,000mAH battery.
New Products
77% MIELE S6210 POWER, ` 27,990

The S6210 is a silent vacuum cleaner that scores top marks on laminate oors and wooden oorboards, making it a convincing Right Choice. It also deals well with carpets. Attachments While neither a turbo brush nor a hard-oor nozzle is provided with the S6210, the standard oor nozzle has a switch to allow hard or carpeted oor cleaning. The tube comes in two pieces to extend into areas that are hard to reach. In addition, theres a crevice nozzle, upholstery nozzle and dusting brush that come in the box. Cleaning efficiency It impressively picks up dust on carpets and, unlike many other vacuums, the suction doesnt drop as the bag lls up. The standard nozzle produces excellent overall results on hard oors, sucking dust out of cracks and crevices in wooden oorboards and leaving them spotless. It scores top marks for dust and allergen retention and would be a great choice for allergy sufferers and pet owners. How is it to use? The S6210 is simple to use and maintain, but it does use quite a lot of energy for a vacuum cleaner. Cleaning the nozzle and changing bags and lters are all effortless processes and this cylinder vacuum is easy to manoeuvre. VERDICT A premium vacuum cleaner that justies the price with its effective cleaning and ease of handling.
JUST TESTED
51% REMINGTON D 4444 HAIR DRYER, ` 3,999

Unlike regular hairdryers, the Remington D 4444 Shine Therapy sprays a ne mist of vitamin-rich conditioner onto your hair as it dries. Most of our testers thought their hair felt softer and silkier than usual after using the Shine Therapy conditioner, although one said it left their locks lank and greasy. You can also use it as a regular dryer. Heat settings It offers a choice of three heat settings, varying from 33C to 74C. It lacks a cool shot, though. Ease of use The conditioner cartridges are tted underneath the barrel, which gives the dryer a somewhat bulky prole. It comes with two replacement Shine Therapy cartridges, which should last for around 80 drying sessions. However, we did nd it quite difficult to nd replacement cartridges. VERDICT The attachable conditioner is a clever feature, but the lack of a cool-shot option and limited cartridge availability stops us from recommending it.
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RIGHT R CHOICE CH
MIDEA MASTERCHEF AW925 CONVECTION OVEN, `12,900

This elegant, 25-litre stainless steel microwave oven from Midea aims to suit different cooking needs. Its a convection microwave oven which means you can use it for almost any kind of cooking styles including grilling, baking and roasting. Theres a locking system designed to keep children away from the oven when its hot a useful addition if you have children at home. This Midea uses special back-heating technology, which it claims will allow dishes to be heated evenly from all sides. FIRST IMPRESSION Reasonably-priced and great looking, it has good safety features if you have kids at home.
JUST OUT
VGUARD VIC 400 INDUCTION HOB, `4,670

The VIC 400 is a mid-range model in V-Guards new range of induction hobs. It claims to use quality materials as seen in the more premium brands such as Siemens, though were yet to test their durability. Pre-set cooking functions It includes pre-set temperatures for common preparations such as boiling water and heating milk and rice. A panel on the front displays the power that it consumes for each preparation a useful inclusion to help you monitor your overall power use. Induction hobs versus gas hobs Our tests have shown that induction hobs are safer than traditional gas hobs as they only heat the cookware so you can touch the hob surface without burning yourself. They are also quicker and cheaper to run than other types of hob, because they use only the amount of energy required. FIRST IMPRESSION Handy, portable hob that could serve as a smart alternative to a gas hob.
JUST OUT
TEFAL FRESH EXPRESS, `6,999

The Tefal Fresh Express is essentially an electric rotary grater with ve FIRST different attachments LOOK for slicing and grating. Tefal says it helps in preparing a range of vegetables, from carrots to cucumbers, as well as bread and biscuits. What can you use it for? The machine can grate cheese and breadcrumbs easily. However, vegetables with skin or layers may be left unsliced on the outer layers. When this happens the plastic pusher is difficult to remove, as the leftover food creates a suction. Everyday use We found the diagrams in the manual relatively easy to follow. However, making sure the cone was correctly secured in the cone holder did prove a little tricky. You then have to put it into the tube above the cone and push down using a plastic pusher, while at the same time holding down the motor button. The majority of attachments were quite quick and easy to clean by just swilling in water. FIRST IMPRESSION If you cook a lot, especially for large parties, the Fresh Express could be a time saver though its not comprehensive enough to replace a standalone mixer grinder.
All prices are guide prices as of April 19, 2013 and are subject to change
71% DELONGHI EC152 COFFEE MAKER, `14,000

This compact DeLonghi coffee machine is a Right Choice because it can make a mean espresso and cappuccino quickly. Its simple to use but doesnt take pre-packaged coffee pods, which means youll have to use either ground coffee or ESE (Easy Serving Espresso) pods. Steam is produced quickly, and the steam pipe heats milk fast. Great cappuccinos The DeLonghi coffee maker makes creamy cappuccinos with rich avours. While it takes a bit of effort to brew the best cup, avours are complemented by the effective mix of froth with espresso. How is it to use? Priming this machine before rst use is relatively simple, but it needs about two tanks of water ushed through and takes longer than others. The steam knob is a bit stiff and the pipe can be tricky to unscrew for cleaning. The portalter, which holds the lter basket, is fairly simple to use, but can be difficult to t back into
JUST TESTED
RIGHT CHOICE
position. It includes a clip to keep the lter basket in place when removing the used coffee grinds. Difficult to clean This model loses points for having a low-capacity drip tray, which gets full quickly and overows when removed. This means that the cavity below also needs cleaning out. We like the instructions as they contain lots of useful information. Descaling every 200 uses is recommended. VERDICT Makes great espresso and is fairly simple to use, though its tricky to clean.
Test lab
From the experts at our Right Choice lab
We test food processors for their chopping, grating, slicing, blending and other abilities so you can buy with ease.
Independent expert advice
17 Televisions
Choose from ten Right Choice televisions to get the best audio-visual experience
26 Tablets
Weve tested over 25 tablets and rated them on various criteria, such as performance and the ease of using app stores
34 Food processors
Our test report reveals the best food processors to help blitz through kitchen tasks
23 Sound bars
Our test report on sound bars will help you pick the perfect add-on to your television to help boost audio quality
32 Mobile phones
We focus on budget smartphones, which have smart features and also perform the basics well
38 Child care products

We help you select the safest products for your toddler in our round-up of the best baby carriers, strollers and more
RIGHT CHOICE
Our ratings
This label adorns those products that excel in our rigorous tests. These products have high total test scores. Products which perform poorly in our tests get this label. They have low total test scores.
How we choose products

These include, where possible, most recent bestsellers from popular brands, affordable models from lesser-known brands or those with innovative features. We are independent and pay for what we test. For all the products we test and feature, we give widely available shop or online prices.
WRONG CHOICE
Get in touch
If you are experiencing a problem with a manufacturer, retailer or service provider for example a malfunctioning product, something that wasnt delivered as promised, or a decient service write to us at editor@whichrightchoice.com and well do our best to resolve the issue.
GREAT VALUE
This award is held by those products which are comparatively easy on your pocket and perform well in our tests, too.
Televisions
Test report
Screen grab
Prices of TVs launched last year are dropping fast but watch out when buying as you could fall prey to retailer tricks
ith new television models all set to launch, you can bag discounts of over `10 ,0 0 0 if you buy last years ranges. We found the Right Choice Samsung UA40 ES680 0 (MRP `94,90 0 ) for less than `79,994 and 42-inch LG 42LM620 0 worth `86,0 0 0 for just `77,990 . But attractive discounts arent the only thing to watch out for when you shop. Many stores display televisions in their best light by playing the highest quality video on the optimum picture settings. Speakers are often on mute which makes it hard to detect poor quality sound before you buy. All this means that the product you take home might not match up to your in-store experience and expectations.
To get the best bargains, look out for good deals on these Right Choice TVs. Each has great picture quality and wont disappoint when you get it home. Our top-scorer, the 40 -inch Samsung UA40 ES680 0 (78%), combines great standard denition (SD) and high denition (HD) image quality with ve-star sound and is the cheapest featured here in the high-end range. If youre looking for something cheaper, the 32-inch LG 32LS570 0 (63%) rivals the Samsung for SD and HD picture quality and is less than half the price ( `42,50 0 ). Weve grouped the best on test by price to help you get the best performance for your budget.
Weve tested 32 LED, LCD and plasma TVs in a range of sizes to nd out which ones give the best picture quality and value for money.
Madhurjya Saikia
In this report
Test report
Televisions
High-end TVs
78% SAMSUNG UA40ES6800, `94,900
PROS As well as HD pictures from Blu-ray discs, this Samsung delivers exceptional picture quality even in SD and broadcast TV shows. Its also a ne 3D TV. One of the best TVs for sound, it has plenty of high-quality bass and clear tones. Theres a wide stereo
These are premium televisions that combine cutting-edge technology with sleek design
soundstage and nice dynamics perfect for action feature lms. You can stream music, photos and movies from PCs or other devices over a Wi-Fi connection, and theres a huge line-up of Smart TV features to keep you entertained. CONS The remote has keys cramped around the navigation buttons, making it awkward to select and use apps or services, enter text or browse the web.
Screen size 40 inches

RIGHT CHOICE
75% SAMSUNG UA55ES8000, ` 2,68,000

PROS Not only does this Samsung deliver brilliant SD and HD pictures, it also has an energy-efficient Eco mode, which adds just `42 to the average monthly electricity bill (when used for four hours a day). State-of-the-art features of UA55ES8000 include being
able to control basic functions with a wave of the hand or by saying pre-set words and phrases. This television supports a huge range of apps and services, connecting through either the ethernet port or built-in Wi-Fi. CONS The on-screen instruction manual is hard to read and requires too much scrolling. Sound quality is mediocre with a slight grain in the tones.

RIGHT CHOICE
65% SAMSUNG UA46ES8000, `1,51,000

PROS This TV sports the same features as the UA55ES8000 (above), including a classy chrome design that will look good in any living room. It displays HD pictures in their best light, revealing impressive levels of clarity and depth. Ordinary SD pictures also look great, with noise levels
kept nice and low. 3D pictures are top-notch, too, and the supplied glasses are comfortable. It has a front camera for video chats, which doubles as a device that detects hand movements for scrolling across different screens. CONS Some sounds are unnatural and lack renement. Viewing angles are narrow, so you dont get the best from this TV if you sit too far to the side.

RIGHT CHOICE
65% SONY BRAVIA KDL46HX850, `1,23,900

PROS It has a slim metallic frame thats tted on a solid metallic stand. Pictures have great denition and a strong impression of depth. Its also a good 3D TV. There is a strong line-up of internet services including catch-up TV shows and video-on-demand applications. The
quality of internet video is mostly good, but some lms and programmes look a little soft when blown up on such a big screen. It comes with a generous range of sockets, which will help you connect to almost any kind of hi- system. CONS This TV produces just average sound. Viewing angles are poor colours grow paler as you move beyond 70 degrees from the TV.

RIGHT CHOICE
Mid-range TVs
66% LG 42LS3400, `56,000
PROS The 42LS3400 lets you enjoy a wide screen without burning a hole in your pocket. It produces good pictures, whether in SD or HD. For a 42-incher its pretty energy-efficient, too, adding no more than `46 rupees to your monthly bill. You can bring this lower still by
These mid-priced televisions forego pricey extras while delivering good picture and sound
RIGHT CHOICE
switching it to Eco mode. It delivers good clarity and denition in tones and the stereo output is dynamic. Theres a USB port for playing movies and songs from an external hard drive or memory stick. CONS The on-screen manual can be difficult to access and tricky to read. It has limited audio connections, which means youll have to be careful with the sound system you choose.
65% LG 32LM6200, `51,000

PROS This LG delivers great 3D pictures and good HD images. Its 3D effects are very convincing and it comes with comfortable glasses. HD pictures are above average and it upscales lower resolution pictures to give an enhanced SD viewing experience. Theres plenty
of clarity and detail in the sound and, compared with the 42LS3400 (above), its better equipped with sockets for attaching a good surround sound system. Its also fairly cheap to run as it consumes just over 7 watts. CONS Its Smart TV features arent the easiest to use and understand and its hard to organise apps and services in a way that suits you.

RIGHT CHOICE
GREAT VALUE
65% SONY BRAVIA KDL32HX750, `57,900

PROS SD pictures look great on this 32-incher, just as HD lms and programmes do. Its easy to use and, despite the smaller screen, 3D pictures are quite impressive. It doesnt skimp on important sockets, so theres plenty of exibility when connecting to a sound
system or a PC. Wi-Fi is built-in, which will give you access to plenty of musically-focused services to keep you entertained no matter what. CONS Sound is a bit underwhelming, as it lacks fuller tones and the energy desired in high musical drama and action icks. Poor viewing angles mean colours fade and the picture loses detail if you dont sit directly in front of the TV.

RIGHT CHOICE
63% LG 42LM6200, `86,000

PROS It is a big screen TV without a big price. HD picture quality is very good and, while non-HD cant quite match the crisp denition of high-end TVs, its still watchable. Its a fantastic 3D TV that creates a great impression of depth. Viewing angles are wide enough to
work in a large room with many people sitting around the TV. Its surprisingly energy-efficient for its size, using just over 10 watts when used on its optimum settings. CONS Smart TV features are quite complex as is the layout of the remote. The instructions both printed and on-screen miss some key details. The web browser is awkward and sluggish.

RIGHT CHOICE
Test report
Televisions
Worth considering
61% LG 50PA6500, ` 75,000
PROS Its a large-screen Plasma TV that delivers superb picture and sound quality. It produces ne, clear HD pictures with natural colours, and non-HD pictures are better than most LEDs weve tested. Viewing angles are impressively wide, which will suit large living rooms. There are ample connections for connecting up a console, set-top box and DVD or Blu-ray player. CONS Its not the best TV to consider if you want to cut down on your annual electricity bill, as it consumes over twice the amount of electricity of an average LED TV. Screen size 50 inches
Budget TV
63% LG 32LS5700, `42,500
PROS Our testers were impressed with the picture quality from this budget television. With both HD and SD programmes theres a real sense of depth and a nice grasp of colour. At an affordable price of just `42,500, you get top-notch Smart TV features. LG has also included a good set of connections such as a USB port that lets you use an external hard disk as a surprisingly versatile PVR. CONS The sound from this television is not the best and denitely leaves room for improvement. Its Smart TV features are not the easiest to use. Screen size 32 inches
RIGHT CHOICE
Budget TVs to avoid

High denition TVs ideally produce pictures that are full of clarity, depth, detail and natural colours. But some televisions such as this Sharp and Toshiba could turn out to be a disappointment
39% SHARP 32LE341M, ` 23,499

Our testers found that you would need to stand close to the LED indicator on the Sharp as this TV struggles to respond to the remote control. Picture quality is very poor HD pictures are way too dull (see p21) and nonHD pictures can sometimes show a prominent blue tinge. It lacks any remarkable features, and the savings you make may end up feeling like false economy when you get this Sharp home.
42% TOSHIBA 32PT2000ZE, ` 28,999

Picture quality is just about satisfactory on this Toshiba 32PT2000ZE LED television. But the thing to watch out for is the sound, which is shockingly poor when watching broadcast television programmes. Despite the small, 32-inch screen, the Toshiba 32PT2000ZEs power consumption is on the high side gobbling around 67 watts when running.
What makes a poor TV?

Theres a vast difference in picture quality between a Right Choice television and a poorly-performing TV set though this might not be obvious in-store (see p17). To illustrate the difference, we compare an image from the lowest-scorer in our latest test (the Sharp 32LE341M) with a Right Choice model (used for reference). Just looking at the pictures you can immediately see which is better
POOR PICTURE QUALITY

Of all the televisions in our latest test, the Sharp 32LE341M, which scored just 39%, the lowest in our tests. Below (left) is a still displayed on the Sharp during testing. Notice how it fails to distinguish the various levels of black in the background from the womans scarf. It also ignores the details in her hair and objects around her in this moving sequence, and her skin tone looks unnatural. On the other hand, the Right Choice TV used for reference (below right) is full of depth and colour picking out the different shades of black and highlighting the details in the background and the womans skin Overall, the TV gives you pleasant, well-dened images and this is what you should expect from a good quality TV.
HOW WE TEST
We put every TV through the same tests a mixture of panel assessments from independent picture and sound experts and technical lab testing so we can answer the important, no-nonsense questions with condence and give you a verdict you can trust. Our independent expert viewing panel assess picture quality in a dimmed room in our lab. Brightness and contrast levels are
set as equally as possible, and the LED, LCD and plasma TVs on test all receive the same
quality picture signal. The same experts take part each time, and we conceal brand names. Sound is tested by listening to, and scoring, voices, bass-lled audio and TV drama under controlled conditions. We test the energy use of each TV in a variety of viewing modes and estimate the annual running costs, which generates our energy use star rating. Finally, we test each set for ease of use by running through everyday scenarios that replicate how you use your TV.
Test report
Televisions
TEST AND RATINGS

SPECIFICATION TEST PERFORMANCE
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BRAND 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SAMSUNG UA40ES6800 SAMSUNG UA55ES8000 LG 42LS3400 LG 32LM6200 SAMSUNG UA46ES8000 SONY Bravia KDL-46HX850 SONY Bravia KDL-32HX750 LG 32LS5700 LG 47LM6700 94,900 2,68,000 56,000 51,000 1,51,000 1,23,900 57,900 42,500 1,20,000 86,000 75,000 1,04,000 35,000 42,900 63,900 56,900 45,500 1,19,900 54,000 24,500 1,07,000 66,900 27,900 30,500 25,990 30,999 13,500 39,999 20,899 28,999 25,490 23,499 40 55 42 32 46 46 32 32 47 42 50 42 32 32 40 39 39 42 42 32 47 40 26 32 32 32 19 42 32 32 32 32 LED LED LED LED LED LED LED LED LED LED Plasma LED LED LED LED LCD LCD LED Plasma LCD LCD LED LED LED LED LED LED LCD LCD LED LED LED

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10 LG 42LM6200 11 LG 50PA6500 12 LG 42LM7600 13 SAMSUNG UA32EH5000 14 SONY Bravia KDL-32EX650 15 SONY Bravia KDL-40EX650 16 PANASONIC Viera TH-L39EM5D 17 SAMSUNG UA39EH5003 18 PANASONIC Viera TH-L42DT50D 19 LG 42PM4700 20 SAMSUNG LA32D403 21 LG 47LM6400 22 SAMSUNG UA40EH6030 23 SONY Bravia KDL-26EX550 24 SAMSUNG UA32EH4000 25 MICROMAX LED32K316 26 PANASONIC Viera TH-L32EM5D 27 SAMSUNG UA19ES400 28 PANASONIC Viera TH-L42U5D 29 PHILIPS 32PFL5637/V7 AD 30 TOSHIBA 32PT2000ZE 31 CROMA CREL7173 32 SHARP 32LE341M

56 56 56 56 55 54 53 52 52 50 49 49
47 43 42 42 39
USING THE TABLE

The more stars the better. Right choices are highlighted in red. SPECIFICATION Price Guide price as of April 16, 2013 Screen size This is the size of the screen in inches, measured diagonally across Type The display technology of the TV Smart TV Whether the TV allows you to access a selection of internet apps 3D Whether the TV is capable of broadcasting 3D pictures Stereo output Red and white phono sockets for carrying a stereo sound to Hi-Fi Surround output These let you
connect to an external surround sound system TEST PERFORMANCE SD picture quality Quality of Non-HD content HD quality Quality of HD content Sound quality Overall sound quality of built-in speakers Power consumption Average power consumed under optimum picture settings, during operation SCORE This ignores price and is based on: Image quality (SD and HD) .............60% Sound quality ........................................30% Power consumption (while on and on standby).............................................. 10%
Sound bars
Test report
Sounds right
Sound bars are a great step up from average at-panelled TV speakers
hile picture quality has advanced in leaps and bounds from CRT TVs of yesteryear, our testing shows that audio has struggled to keep up. Slimmer screens and sleeker designs look great, but leave little space for good quality speakers. TVs with poor sound struggle to maintain balance between speech and background sound. They need to be set to high volumes to catch what people are saying especially with scenes high on drama, with booming background music. However, almost any TVs sound can be improved by pairing it with a Right Choice sound bar a slim extra speaker that sits discreetly with your set. Most will be the
same width or less and are around the height of a pack of cards. They do away with annoying wires running across your room and help create a sleek look, unlike home theatre systems. Many sound bars, such as the Right Choice Panasonic SC-HTB520 , come with speech enhancement functions to further boost audio. Newer technologies allow subwoofer speakers which boost low-pitched sounds to be built into the sound bar itself, making set-ups extremely simple and convenient. A Right Choice sound bar will boost underwhelming sound quality, and would be a worthy addition to even the best televisions.
DO THEY WORK WITH ALL TVS?

Most sound bars work with any brand of TV. They will also function with any size of TV, but a sound bar thats too long or short for the display might look a bit odd. They are a lot easier to set up than component-heavy home theatre systems. Some come with a subwoofer, which increases the overall cost but delivers extra bass. Brackets are usually supplied for wall-mounting, but sound bars will sit freely under a TV, too. A word of caution if youre using an older TV it might lack a digital audio input such as the HDMI ARC port. If this is the case, youll need to look for sound bars that have analogue audio inputs (See table, p25).
Test report
Sound bars
Right Choice sound bars

79% PANASONIC HTB520, ` 26,990
Best for 40-55 inch TVs This Panasonic comes in two parts the sound bar itself and an active subwoofer wirelessly linked to the main unit. Sound quality The HTB520 delivers warm and bass-lled audio thats full of clarity and energy. It gives a fantastic stereo effect, too. Ease of use Installation instructions are not the easiest to follow, but once connected, its wonderfully simple to use and can easily be controlled with one remote. If youre using an older TV, youll need to check if theres a port on the TV labelled ARC to make sure its compatible. Power consumption While its not the most power-hungry sound bar on the market, its not the most power-efficient, either. It uses almost 12 watts when switched on (the best use a quarter of that) and a surprisingly high 1.68 watts on standby (we usually expect it to be below 1 watt).
RIGHT CHOICE
PROS Good bass, can operate with just TV remote CONS Installation instructions are difficult to follow
77% PANASONIC SC HTB20, ` 23,891

Best for 32-55 inch TVs The Panasonic SC-HTB20 can be used as a normal sound bar, or split it in two for a better stereo effect. Sound quality Sound is rich across different programmes and music, and a separate subwoofer adds extra bass. On the downside, we noticed a prominent buzz in the subwoofer that can be distracting. The Clear-mode Dialogue
function is useful for enhancing regular TV programmes, making it easier to hear speech above background noise. Ease of use Its easy to use. Equipment such as Blu-ray players and PVRs, can be connected directly to the sound bar, which passes the video signal to the TV. Power consumption This sound bar doesnt use too much power less than 9 watts when switched on and just 0.10 watt in standby adding about `8 to your monthly electricity bill, assuming youll be using it for four hours everyday.
RIGHT CHOICE
PROS Can be split into two speakers, low energy use CONS Unsuitable for some older TVs, buzz in the subwoofer
Worth considering
75% LG NB3520A, `19,990
Best for 40-55 inch TVs This LG narrowly misses out on being a Right Choice as its tricky to set-up without help from an expert. However, it is a powerful sound bar with an impressive bass-boosting wireless subwoofer. Sound quality Surround sound from the LG NB3520A is loud, detailed and balanced, and better than most sound bars weve tested. It delivers clear and immersive sound, and its easy to pick out the different details. The 140 watt subwoofer can be too loud at times, so we recommend reducing the subwoofer level signicantly to achieve a better sound. Ease of use This LG connects to your TV via an optical digital audio (Toslink) or a 3.5mm headphone port, which makes it suitable for older TVs that dont come with HDMI. Theres a second optical input if you want to connect a DVD or Blu-ray player to the sound bar. Connecting to the wireless subwoofer is automatic and easy.
GREAT VALUE
PROS Separate wireless subwoofer, USB and Bluetooth connectivity CONS Tricky to install, occasional booming bass from the subwoofer
What to look for

Connections Buy a model which has connections that match those on your TV, plus any other devices you might want to connect it to (set-top box or DVD). Older TVs connect to sound bars via analogue inputs (red and white phono sockets and connectors), which allow you to use the TVs remote to control the volume of the sound bar. But if both your TV and sound bar have a digital connection, such as HDMI or Toslink, they will help achieve better sound delity. Power output The higher the speakers power output (stated as the total watts RMS), the louder and richer the range of sound. However, this has little to do with speech clarity and doesnt always equate to quality. Subwoofer These add in extra bass, which makes for a good movie-watching experience. For single sound bars, theres normally a subwoofer built into the sound bar, but some have an external subwoofer speaker thats about the same size as a bookshelf speaker. Our tests found you can get outstanding sound quality from both types, so dont let this inuence your choice. Supplied cables Some brands do not supply cables, so youll need to purchase them separately in order to set up the sound bar. Its always good to check with your retailer for any added costs involved in buying and running your sound bar.
Subwoofers add in extra bass, which makes for a good movie-watching experience
TEST AND RATINGS

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BRAND 1 PANASONIC HTB520 2 PANASONIC HTB20 3 LG NB3520A 4 YAMAHA YHT-S400 5 YAMAHA YAS-101 6 SAMSUNG HW E350 7 PHILIPS HTS5131 26,990 23,891 19,990 38,750 20,500 18,799 34,990 102x8x5 76x5x7 100x9x7 80x10x9 89x11x12 74x9x10 95x18x10 40 to 55 32 to 55 32 to 52 32 to 52 32 to 50 40 to 55 Wireless Wired Wired Built-in Built-in Wired
40 to 55 Wireless

79

77 75 72 71 59 36
USING THE TABLE

The more stars the better. Right Choices are highlighted in red. SPECIFICATION Price (`) Guide prices as on April 8, 2013 Dimensions Of the main sound bar unit Digital audio input Connects to a TV digital audio output (Toslink) or digital coaxial output Analogue audio input Connects to TVs red and white phono outputs HDMI (ARC) audio input HDMI has ARC (audio return channel) so audio can be transmitted when connected to a suitable HDMI (ARC) port on the TV
TEST PERFORMANCE Sound quality Panel rating and acoustic measurements Technical audio frequency How deep and high frequencies go and how smooth transition is from one to another Connections Number and versatility of audio inputs Ease of use Using remote and sound bar controls, controlling volume Power use When switched on and in standby SCORE Ignores price and is based on: Sound quality..........................................................................80% Ease of use...............................................................................10% Technical (including power use)......................................10%
Test report
Tablets
Design: Gynelle Alves
Best full-sized tablets

RIGHT CHOICE
Large screen tablets make good alternatives to laptops if you'll mainly be surng the web and typing emails and documents
RIGHT CHOICE
RIGHT CHOICE
82% APPLE iPAD WITH RETINA DISPLAY

Wi-Fi `31,900 (16GB), `37,900 (32GB) `43,900 (64GB) Wi-Fi+Cellular `39,900 (16GB), `45,900 (32GB), `51,900 (64GB) PROS This 9.7-inch iPad has the best graphics for games and largest range of high-quality tablet apps. Its battery provides a jaw-dropping 13.5 hours of web browsing the highest that any tablet has ever achieved in our tests and over seven hours more than an average tablet. It is slick at most tasks and quick to transfer large les from your PC. The on-screen keyboard is easy to use and responsive. CONS Theres no memory card slot so youll have to get by with the available internal storage or store your les on the Cloud. Audio quality from the mono speakers is on the weak side.
77% ASUS TRANSFORMER 76% SAMSUNG GALAXY PRIME AF201 TAB 2 P5100
Wi-Fi+3G `34,948 (16GB) PROS The AF201 is quick at most operations and has a great battery that lasts more than ve hours in everyday use. The touchscreen is very responsive and the 10 touch-points are a plus for trying out different gaming apps. About 27.36GB of the 32GB space is available for use (86%), making it one of the most effective tablets at optimising disk space. You also have the option of upgrading the memory with a micro SD card. It comes with a well-made detachable keyboard. CONS Lacks a high speed USB port so, for example, a 500MB le via USB takes around half a minute to move. Screen suffers from reections in bright light. Sound quality could be better. Wi-Fi `26,590 (16GB) PROS The P5100 is a great alternative to the pricey iPad. Its one of the fastest tablets to charge a quick 30-minute boost will give you more than two hours before the battery is completely drained. Unlike most tablets, if the battery stops working in the future you can get it replaced by Samsung instead of spending on a new tablet. Its a great option if you have a huge collection of music and video as you can upgrade the memory with an external micro SD card in addition to its 16GB memory (of which 10.6GB is available). CONS The plastic build gives it a cheaper feel. Sound quality suffers because of its diminutive speakers.
Best Windows tablet

78% ACER ICONIA W510
Wi-Fi `49,999 (64GB) PROS This Acer tablet runs the Windows 8 operating system, which allows you to use apps like Word, PowerPoint and Excel on the go. Its great to use with the supplied keyboard a useful addition if you need to type a lot. It has a fantastic 10-inch screen that holds up really well in bright light. It has a solid build so its good to use even as a laptop. Its quick to transfer les and the decent battery life offers eight and a half hours of web browsing. Sound quality is the best weve seen on a tablet. CONS Theres no built-in 3G function, though you can plug-in a dongle if you need the Internet on the move.
RIGHT CHOICE
Test report
Tablets
Best mid-size tablets

RIGHT CHOICE
Smaller tablets are great for browsing the web and reading ebooks and they also cost less. Plus they are easier to handle and carry on a commute
RIGHT CHOICE
RIGHT CHOICE
81% APPLE iPAD MINI

Wi-Fi `21,900 (16GB), `27,900 (32GB), `33,900 (64GB) Wi-Fi+Cellular `29,900 (16GB), `35,900 (32GB), `41,900 (64GB) PROS The iPad Mini is slim and lightweight and is extremely easy to hold in one hand. It weighs about the same as an average paperback book. It has stereo speakers that produce better-quality sound than most tablets and all iPads we've tested can manage. It has one of the longest-lasting batteries, managing 13 hours of web browsing and 11 hours of video playback. A 500MB le transfers in just 28 seconds. CONS It lacks the Retina Display screen of the newer iPad models. Theres no expandable memory card slot.
74% SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 2 P310

Wi-Fi+3G `16,499 (16GB) PROS The P310 provides an excellent screen, along with a 3G option, at an affordable price. Photos and videos look great on the 7-inch display. Its one of the fastest tablets to charge a quick 30-minute recharge will last more than two hours. The overall battery life is superb, too. You can browse the web for nearly seven hours after a full recharge. Its slim design makes it easy to slip inside a handbag or hold with one hand without causing too much strain. CONS Processing speed is not as fast as that of rival tablets. Audio quality is only mediocre.
72% GOOGLE NEXUS 7

Wi-Fi `15,999 (16GB) PROS If you are looking for optimum storage space from a 16GB tablet, the Google Nexus 7 is the one to go for. After the operating system and built-in apps are taken into account, it leaves 13.2GB of space free for storing your own music, photos and les. It has an impressive 1,280x800 pixel screen which means sharper text, photos and videos. Its also faster than most 7-inch tablets, including the iPad Mini. The fast graphics chip and 1GB RAM make it ideal for gaming enthusiasts. CONS Theres no camera for capturing photos and videos. The lack of a faster USB 3.0 port makes le transfers pretty slow.
HOW WE TEST
To save you from buying a tablet with complex features and settings, we check the ease of using each tablet. Our experts assess how easy it is to perform tasks, connect to a Wi-Fi network and set up a 3G connection. We also test how easy it is to perform practical tasks, such as setting up and using an email account and the ease of backing up and restoring the tablet after a potential system failure.
Screen
We perform an in-depth test of screen quality, assessing brightness, accuracy of colours, presence of noise or reections, performance in bright light conditions (which make poor quality screens dicult to view) and viewing angles, so that you can share your content with those around you.
Some tablets can suer from small, weak speakers, so we test the depth and richness of sound as well as its volume.
Battery life
Each time we test a tablet, we check the battery life for web browsing over Wi-Fi, 3G (if relevant) and for video playback. To ensure our tests are fair, we set the screen brightness to 200 nits (measured using a light meter) before performing each task, so every tablet has to perform under the same conditions.
Speakers
We test sound quality from both the built-in speakers and headphones.
TEST AND RATINGS

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BRAND 1 APPLE iPad with Retina Display 2 APPLE iPad 3 3 APPLE iPad Mini 4 APPLE iPad 2 5 ACER Iconia W510 6 ASUS Transformer Prime AF201 7 MICROSOFT Surface RT 9 SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab 2 P5100 10 GOOGLE Nexus 10 11 SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab 2 P310 12 SAMSUNG Galaxy Note 800 13 SAMSUNG Ativ smart PC 14 GOOGLE Nexus 7 15 SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab 680 16 ACER Iconia Tab A200 17 VIDEOCON VT10 18 SONY Tablet S 19 EAFT Destiny D90T 20 VIEWSONIC ViewPAd 10e 21 MICROMAX Funbook 22 ARCHOS 101 G9 23 HUAWEI Mediapad 7 Lite 24 SONY tablet P 25 HCL Me U1 26 RELIANCE 3G Tab
8 ASUS - Transformer Pad TF300T 42,265 26,590 35,500 16,499 35,190 75,490 15,999 28,500 25,043 11,990 17,990 14,990 15,990 5,999 15,925 13,700 19,990 6,145 13,999
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31,900 16,32,64 9.7 30,500 16,32,64 9.7 21,900 16,32,64 7.9 24,500 49,999 34,948 37,499 16 64 32 32 32 16 16 16 16 128 16,32 16 32 8 16 8 4 4 16 8 4 4 4 9.7 10 10 10.6 10.0 10.1 10.0 7.0 10.1 11.6 7.0 7.7 10.1 10.1 9.4 9.7 9.7 7.0 10.1 7 5.5x2 7.0 7.0
2048x1536 2048x1536 1024x768
iOS 6.0.1 iOS 5.1 iOS 6.0.1 iOS 5.0.1 Windows 8
82 82 81 79 78 77 76 76 76 75 74 73 73 NA NA 72 72 69 67 64 60 59 NA NA 57 56 56 55 NA 54 39
1024x768 1366x768
1280x800 Android 4.0.3 1366x768 Windows 8 RT 1280x800 Android 4.0.3 1280x800 Android 4.0.3 2500x1600 Android 4.2 1024x600 Android 4.0.3 1280x800 Android 4.0.4 1920x1080 1280x800 1280x800 1280x800 1280x800 1024x768 1024x768 1024x600 1024x600 Windows 8 Android 3.2 Android 3.2 Android 4.0 Android 3.2 Android 4.0 Android 2.3 Android 2.2 Android 4.0 1280x800 Android 4.1.1

800x480 Android 4.0.3
1024x960 Android 3.2.1 800x480 Android 4.0.3 1024x600 Android 2.3.5
USING THE TABLE

The more stars the better. Right Choices are highlighted in red. SPECIFICATION Price Prices given are for the lowest specication model, typically the lowest memory option and Wi-Fi only version. As on April 8, 2013 Internal storage Available storage options Screen size Diagonally, in inches 3G option Whether you can add a Simcard to connect to the internet via 3G TEST PERFORMANCE Screen Viewing angle, colour purity and absence of reection Touchscreen response Responsiveness and touch accuracy of the tablet Battery Includes how long a fully-charged battery lasts when playing HD video and browsing the web; charging time and other features Sound quality Music, speech and video quality, compatibility with different le types Features Range and quality of features, including wireless and wired connections, memory and build quality Ease of use Assessed by running through everyday scenarios SCORE This ignores price and is based on: Hardware (touchscreen, battery, camera, speakers)................................... 45% Internet browsing ............................................................................................................ 20% Watching videos, looking at photos and display quality............................. 10% File transfer............................................................................................................................ 8% Contact/email functions ................................................................................................. 7% Making videos/photos..................................................................................................... 5% Video calling ......................................................................................................................... 5%
Test report
Tablets
Design: Gynelle Alves
Test report
Smartphones
below `10,000
The best budget smartphones will do all the basics well cutting back on advanced features to focus on the essentials
ith smartphone prices dropping rapidly, you can step up from a simple feature phone to a Right Choice smartphone for less than `10 ,0 0 0 .
Smartphones
These mobile phones allow you to capture photos, download applications and access the internet without burning a hole in your pocket.
To make things better, our Right Choice budget smartphones are straightforward to use and have long-lasting batteries.
69% SAMSUNG GALAXY ACE DUOS, `9,990

Internal Memory 3GB Screen size 3.5 inches Call quality Camera Battery Ease of use
68% HTC DESIRE C, `9,899

Internal Memory 4GB Screen size 3.5 inches Call quality Camera Battery Ease of use
RIGHT CHOICE
RIGHT CHOICE
PROS This dualSim phone is quite straightforward to use. Calls made and received by the Galaxy Ace Duos are of good quality, and the 5Mp camera takes great snaps though you shouldnt expect the crisp denition youll nd on higher end phone models. It does come with a good range of camera features including geotagging to record where the picture was taken. The excellent battery provides over seven hours of talktime. CONS Runs an older version of Android. Lacks a front camera and theres no ash for illuminating objects in dim lighting.
PROS This HTC runs on the ICS platform, which gives a greater choice of Android apps than the older versions. Sound quality on calls is good and the impressive battery provides over six hours talk time more than the average used to get through a day of work. Most functions can be accessed from the main screen, and the straightforward camera can be accessed quickly from the lock-screen. Theres minimal delay between pressing the button and taking the shot. CONS Has a slow processor which means it may struggle to keep everything running smoothly. Has an ordinary camera that produces mediocre shots.
66% SONY XPERIA TIPO, ` 7,990

Internal Memory 2.9GB Screen size 3.2 inches Call quality Camera Battery Ease of use PROS The Sony Xperia Tipo is a small and lightweight phone that weighs just 99g and is designed to sit nicely in your hand. The phone has a fantastic battery life; it managed almost 10 hours of calls and, in a separate test, over 7.5 hours web browsing which is exceptional. Like the HTC Desire C, it runs the Ice Cream Sandwich OS. This provides a variety of customisation options and access to the more recent apps. At 7.2Mbps, it provides good internet speeds for a smartphone at this price. CONS The images taken from the camera lacks detail and sharpness, while the 3.2-inch screen and the low resolution could feel inadequate for browsing the internet and watching videos on the phone. Taking almost three hours, the Sony Xperia Tipo is a tad slow to charge completely.
RIGHT CHOICE
RIGHT CHOICE
64% HTC WILDFIRE S, `8,849

Internal Memory 0.125GB Screen size 3.2 inches Call quality Camera Battery Ease of use PROS This phone gives great value for money. Images look reasonably sharp with the 480x32 pixel resolution. The 3.2 inch display may seem diminutive next to pricier handsets, but the size makes it easy to slip into a pocket or a purse. Sound quality on calls is better than on most phones in this price range and even beats that of pricier models like the Nokia Lumia 610. The music player is straightforward to operate. The supplied headphones have handy music controls built into the headphone cord, though the sound quality misses the mark. CONS It runs an older version of the Android OS. It has an average camera and a mediocre battery that provides just over three hours talktime.
63% BLACKBERRY CURVE 9220, `9,790

Internal Memory 0.5GB Screen size 2.4 inches Call quality Camera Battery Ease of use PROS The screen has good contrast and is large enough for easy web browsing. The media player is a pleasure to use it has a well categorised list of tracks and you can play and pause music using the in-line controls built into the supplied headphones. The camera is easy to use and it quickly captures shots with the dedicated camera button. A complete charge provides an impressive seven hours of talktime. CONS It suffers from usability niggles such as a complex menu list and tiny keys on the Qwerty keyboard. The track pad is a bit oversensitive by default, but this can be adjusted to suit your preference. It takes over three hours to charge completely.
RIGHT CHOICE
Test report
Food processors
The best blitzers can save you time, money and space and perform more tasks than you might think possible
Kitchen aid
(97%) and the Enrico (95%) from Morphy Richards scored top marks for each task they were able to perform in our lab tests. While food processors dont com e cheap, every Right Choice can also blend liquids and lassis, juice fruit and crush ice, which m eans you m ay save the space and m oney needed for extra appliances. While hand blenders are a space-saving alternative to clunky blenders, a good Right Choice m odel can cost as m uch as `5,995 (Philips HR 1372/ 90 , 78%), while juicers can cost anything up to `10 ,0 0 0 . Bought together, the two appliances could cost twice the price of our cheapest Right Choice
decent food processor will perform some of the most laborious food preparation tasks swiftly and well. It wont just take the effort out of chopping, slicing and grinding it will also whizz herbs, vegetables and spices into perfectly even pieces which will look great on the plate no mean feat to achieve by hand. In contrast, a poor-performing model will take a long time to process food into uneven chunks, and fail to blend and mix liquids into smooth consistencies. All our Right Choice food processors are ve-star choppers, slicers and graters, and our two highest-scorers the Smart Chef
food processor, the Morphy Richards Select 60 0 ( `7,995), without any of the chopping, slicing and grating benets. But if you already have blending, grinding and juicing equipm ent in your kitchen and just need an appliance to plug the gaps, the Nova FP 551 (89%) is denitely worth considering. Its a great chopper, grater, slicer and grinder and less than 25% of the average price of a Right Choice m odel. If you already have a food processor and arent sure whether its tim e to upgrade, our guide on p37 shows you how to m ake the m ost of the one you have.
Vinit Bhatt
Right Choices
97% MORPHY RICHARDS SMART CHEF, `10,995
The priciest Right Choice, the Smart Chef is also the highest-scoring food processor on test. You wont be able to use the Smart Chef to mix things like dosa dough, but juicing and ice-crushing are great bonuses in the heat. It managed to grind a garam masala spice blend extremely evenly in our tests. Its also quick, taking just 37 seconds to grind coconut. The Smart Chef is operated by a rotary switch with nine speeds and a pulse function, and the design and build make this model a pleasure to use. Its quiet, easy to manoeuvre, comfortable to grip and very straightforward to use and clean.
RIGHT CHOICE
PROS Excellent all-round performance CONS Expensive, no mixing function
95% MORPHY RICHARDS ENRICO, `9,995

Another all-rounder, the Enrico produced excellent results in each of the tasks its set up to do. It chops, grinds, blends, grates and juices brilliantly. Theres no mixing facility and you wont be able to grind hard spices for blends like garam masala, so while its great at what it does, it probably wont be the only food preparation appliance youll need.
It has a rotary switch with eight speeds and a pulse function. The attachments are extremely easy to attach, remove and clean. Its a quiet model it doesnt vibrate much when in use. Its also comfortable to handle and easy to manoeuvre.
RIGHT CHOICE
PROS Great all-round performance CONS No grinding of hard spices
90% MORPHY RICHARDS SELECT 600, ` 7,995

The cheapest Right Choice, the Select 600 food processor puts in a solid performance. Its excellent at grating and chopping. It also has a mixing function: the dosa dough mixed in our tests was lump-free and had a good consistency. This Morphy Richards model is operated by a rotary switch with three speeds and an incher, and
the settings are easy to navigate. Its noisier than our other Right Choice food processors, but vibrations are low and overall its an easy model to use, dismantle and clean. All parts and ttings can be attached without much fuss or effort.
RIGHT CHOICE
PROS Cheap, excellent performance CONS A bit noisy
90% PHILIPS HL1659, `8,995

Neat chopping, quick and even slicing and grating and even mixing mean the HL1659 stands tall in more than just dimensions (36cm). It took just 10 seconds to produce perfectly chopped coriander and is one of the only Right Choice models that can also mix dosa dough. However, the orange juice produced in our
tests wasnt that smooth and contained bres and sediment. This Philips has a rotary switch with three speeds and a pulse function. Its extremely easy to use thanks to its manoeuvrability, comfortable grip and ease of cleaning.
RIGHT CHOICE
PROS Excellent results, lots of functions CONS Juicing only satisfactory
Test report
Food processors
Worth considering
89% NOVA FP 551, ` 2,149
By far the cheapest on test, this basic but high-scoring Nova food processor is about a fth of the price of our most expensive Right Choice and denitely worth considering. It has the lowest wattage (250W) of all the food processors weve tested. It rivals the Right Choice models with its grinding, grating and slicing abilities, and produced perfectly evenly chopped nuts in our test. It struggled a bit with softer herbs; it doesnt come with the extra features of our Right Choice models, such as juicing, blending and sometimes mixing and ice-crushing, so youll probably need other food preparation appliances in your kitchen. But if you already have a mixer grinder, blender and juicer and are just looking for an appliance to bridge the gaps, this ts the bill. Operated by a simple push-button control for power and a pulse function, its also extremely easy to use. All parts are easy to attach, remove and clean, and the FP - 551 is comfortable to grip and manoeuvre.
PROS Cheap, excellent grinding and slicing CONS Few functions, poor herb-chopping
TEST AND RATINGS

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BRAND MORPHY RICHARDS Smart Chef MORPHY RICHARDS Enrico MORPHY RICHARDS Select 600 PHILIPS HL1659 NOVA FP - 551 PHILIPS HR 7625 BAJAJ FX-10 KENSTAR Karishma MF 0808 BAJAJ FX-11
10,995 9,995 7,995 8,995 2,149 4,195 6,056 7,145 6,530 6,195 4,199 7,795
1,000 1,000 600 750 250 500 600 600 600 600 650 650
23x21x36 21x26x35 22x20x35 36x24x30 17x16x25 16x20x20 23x20x33 25x20x39 24x20x35 23x20x34 22x19x33 21x21x35
NA NA
97 95 90 90
NA NA
NA
NA NA
89 87 79 79 78 77 71 59
10 USHA FP 2663 11 JAIPAN New Food Processor 12 INALSA Maxie Plus
USING THE TABLE

The more stars, the better. Right Choices are highlighted in red. SPECIFICATION Price (`) Guide price as of April 15, 2013 Wattage The appliances stated power, in watts Dimensions The measured height, width and depth of the appliance TEST PERFORMANCE Chopping How evenly and quickly nuts and coriander are chopped Grinding How quickly and evenly coconut and garam masala spices are ground (where possible) Mixing The smoothness and consistency of dosa dough (where possible) Blending the smoothness and consistency of three types of
lassi: fruit, spiced and iced Grating How quickly and evenly cheese and carrots are grated Slicing How quickly and evenly cucumbers and carrots are sliced Juicing The smoothness, frothiness, brousness and taste of juice produced, how quickly its delivered and whether it contains sediment Ease of use How straightforward the food processor is to use, clean and store SCORE This ignores price and is based on Performance........................................................................75% Ease of use .......................................................................... 20% Build quality.............................................................................5%
HOW WE TEST
To test chopping abilities, we chopped both nuts and fresh coriander, assessing how quickly and evenly the processor chops up hard and soft food. We tested grinding powers by blitzing coconut into a chutney, and the hard spices that go into a garam masala spice blend. Each food processor was assessed for the evenness of the results and how long it took to produce them. Grating and slicing are assessed using cheese and carrots and cucumber and carrots respectively, with each processor
rated for the speed and evenness of the results. To test blending, our lab experts used each processor to produce three
dierent lassis: one with fruit, one with cardamom and ginger and the third with ice. In each case, the smoothness and consistency of the lassi was rated. Where available, the juicing feature was used to produce fresh orange juice. The end result was assessed for the smoothness, frothiness, brousness and taste of the juice produced, how quickly its delivered and whether it contains sediment. 18 individual tests make up the overall ease of use rating, covering everything from the ease of attaching and cleaning the accessories to the manoeuvrability of the appliance.
Things you can do with your food processor

Food processors can be complex appliances at the best of times, with multiple functions that arent always obvious from the markings and switches. If you only use your food processor for slicing and dicing, or got one as a gift and have never taken it out of its box, here are some ideas that might inspire you to make the most of the features available
MANGO LASSI
2 mangoes, peeled, stoned and sliced, 2 cups plain yoghurt, cup white sugar, 1 cup ice Blend all ingredients together until smooth
ICE CREAM
Simply prepare an ice cream base using any recipe, pour it into a freezer bag and freeze. When frozen, put the mixture into your food processor, blend in any fruit, honey or nuts, pour the mixture into a tray and refreeze
HUMMUS
2 cups dried chickpeas (soaked overnight), 1 tsp salt, 3 peeled garlic cloves, cup tahini/ sesame seed paste, cup lemon juice, tsp cayenne pepper, cup water, plus cup more as needed Blend all ingredients together until chunky or smooth
PAPIER-MCH PULP
You can create more than just food and drinks in your food processor. Tear several sheets of newspaper into small pieces and, using the metal blade, blend with a little warm water. Strain the pulp through a colander and mix in roughly a tablespoon of glue
CHAI CONCENTRATE
1 tsp ground cardamom, 1 tsp ground ginger, tsp cinnamon, tsp ground cloves, tsp ground or grated nutmeg, 1 can condensed milk Blend the ingredients together on high speed for a few seconds. Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze. To use, brew a cup of strong black tea and add a cube of chai concentrate from the freezer
ROTI DOUGH
2 cups wholewheat our (chapatti our), tsp salt, 350ml warm water, Add our, salt and 250ml water to the food processor. Blend using the dough blade, slowly adding the remaining 100ml of water until a well-shaped dough is formed. Chill in the fridge and bring back to room temperature when ready to cook
Best on test Child care
ROUND-UP
Every year we test thousands of products across a wide range of categories, from washing machines to digital cameras. Only the top-performing products receive the Right Choice accolade, after making it through our rigorous, independent lab tests. Here is a round-up of some of the best child care products that weve tested.
Best baby products
hoosing products for your newborn needs immense care and patience; youll want to know that theyre safe and that theyll also meet your babys needs. Let our expertise take the time and stress out of shopping for your toddler. Here are some of the best baby care products to look out for.
Travelling with your baby

80% MACLAREN VOLO STROLLER, `8,880
PROS Suitable for babies aged six months and over, this is a great basic stroller thats light, easy to use, simple to fold and can be carried easily, either with the supplied handle or the handy detachable carry strap. Its a breeze to manoeuvre round obstacles, and the small, lightweight frame makes it ideal for use in crowded places like a mall or a garden. CONS Theres just one seat position, so you cant recline it. The handles arent adjustable. Where to buy online Babyoye, Flipkart, Hoopos
RIGHT CHOICE
79% CHICCO MULTIWAY STROLLER, `8,492

PROS This stroller is suitable for newborns to toddlers, and has a head support for smaller babies. The backrest can be set in four different positions, which are easy to change using the lever. Most testers found the xed-height, foam-covered handles set at 106cm very comfortable. The pushchair is easy to lift and move when folded. Other features include a cup holder, rain cover, hood with viewing window and footmuff. CONS A bit long for some cars Where to buy online FirstCry, Junglee
RIGHT CHOICE
80% BABYBJORN BABY CARRIER ORIGINAL, `6,999

PROS The Babybjorn Baby Carrier Original is a two-position soft baby carrier for babies up to 11kg. Its intuitive and easy to use from the rst time you try it and if you do need help, the instructions provided are excellent. It proved comfortable for both baby and parent, and our testers found the good RIGHT CHOICE design made it easy to use. They strongly agreed that babies appeared happy and and safely positioned in the carrier. CONS It offers no waist or lumbar support for the parent and the shoulder straps are not padded. Larger babies may nd it too tight. Where to buy online eBay.in, Shoppers Stop
Feeding and safety

70% MEDELA SWING BREAST PUMP, `14,999
PROS This pump is ideal for working mothers and was RIGHT rated highly by all those who CHOICE tried it. Its comfortable, quick and easy to use and clean. It comes with a small storing bag and works on two batteries. CONS Theres no breast shield cover, which may cause issues if you need to transport it. The bottle is not leak-proof when attached to the pump. Where to buy online Flipkart, Medela India, BabyOye, Hoopos
76% CHICCO YOU AND ME PHYSIO COMFORT CARRIER , `6,990

PROS This is a simple and hassle-free sling carrier that provides proper support without causing your baby discomfort. It has a padded shoulder, waist and lumbar support and is made from soft but supportive fabric. Its comfortable to wear for long hours. CONS Getting used to making all the shoulder straps, babys growth and harness adjustment system changes takes some time, but becomes easier with experience. Better instructions could be provided for rst-time users. Where to buy online Hoopos, Flipkart
78% CHICCO JAZZY HIGH CHAIR, `4,990

PROS Well-designed and easy to use, this durable high chair is also simple to assemble. The position of the tray can be moved to suit children as they grow. CONS Theres not much padding on the base of the seat, which is also a bit shallow for children older than two. Where to buy online Firstcry, BabyOye, Flipkart
RIGHT CHOICE
RIGHT CHOICE
80% MAXI COSI CABRIOFIX WITH EASYFIX BASE , ` 20,799

PROS This car seat effectively protects your baby from front crashes and side crashes. Strapping the child in the seat, adjusting the harness and buckling up are easy. Its well-padded and has a removable cover for easy cleaning. Check the Maxi-Cosi website for car compatibility. CONS The Easyx base needs to be bought separately. It uses a support leg which rests on the car oor which wont be suitable for cars with under-oor storage. Side-crash protection is poor when used without the base. Where to buy online Shoppers Stop
RIGHT CHOICE
73% MOTOROLA MBP36 BABY MONITOR, `13,990

PROS The sound RIGHT CHOICE quality on this baby monitor is good, though it does gets distorted at the highest volume. The parent unit is stable and has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to six hours. The baby unit is similarly stable. CONS The range outside the house may not be enough. Instructions in the manual could be clearer. Where to buy online Flipkart, Firstcry, BabyOye
In order to keep our advice independent, we do not carry any ads. Except our own
We examine the usability of MP3 player speaker docks, including ease of setting up and remote control operation.
For over 50 years in the UK, independence has been the cornerstone of our editorial philosophy. While some magazines have advertising disguised as editorial, we buy and rigorously test around 2,700 products every year to ensure that the only people who influence our recommendations are our scientists. Make your choices without hesitation or doubt, with Right Choice.
NOW IN A INDI
Save time, money and effort. Make the Right Choice.

Ketchup Test report
Secret sauce
Does your favourite brand of ketchup score as high on the health front as it does on taste? We nd out with our lab test of seven brands
rom American burgers and French fries to Indian samosas and pakoras, ketchup is one of the most popular, versatile, easily available and affordable condiments. Kids love it, so its tasty tanginess is a great mask for healthy food when feeding fussy eaters. Being tomato-based, most dont think twice before slathering their food with the red stuff. But though ketchup is low in fat (unlike another popular condiment, mayonnaise), it does contain signicant amounts of salt and sugar which can be detrimental to health if consumed in excess. So should we be going so easy with the squeezy bottle?
What we did
We tested seven popular brands of ketchup Kissan Fresh Tomato Ketchup, Maggi Rich Tomato Ketchup, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Smith & Jones Tomato Ketchup, Del Monte Tomato Ketchup, Tasty Treat Tomato Ketchup and Reliance Select Tomato Ketchup to nd out which have the highest levels of sodium and sugar.
WHAT WE FOUND: SUGAR

Four of the seven brands exceeded the sugar content listed on each of their labels. While most Kissan, Heinz and Reliance went over by 0 .5-1.5%, Maggis Rich Tomato Ketchup had a whopping 17.5% more sugar than stated on its label. This is particularly misleading as the brands stated sugar content was the lowest among those we tested a mere 12.7g per 10 0 g, whereas other ketchups all stated their sugar content was above 20 g per 10 0 g.
WHAT WE FOUND: SALT

Surprisingly, our tests found that the sodium content was lower than the value stated on the label (where listed). Kissan, Smith & J ones and Reliance ketchups were the only ones that mentioned their sodium content. While each of the labels declared sodium levels of above 1,0 0 0 mg per 10 0 g, our tests found all to be in the 70 0 -80 0 mg range. Tellingly, the brands that did not mention their sodium content were found to be much higher in sodium when tested. Maggi, Heinz and Del Monte were all found to have sodium levels above 80 0 mg per 10 0 g in our tests. Tasty Treats content was a little higher than Reliances, at 794mg per 10 0 g.
Madhurjya Saikia
Test report
Ketchup
We tested widely available ketchups for sodium and sugar content, to see which is the healthiest choice for your dinner table. We also compared these tested gures with what is stated on each brands nutritional label
SMITH & JONES TOMATO KETCHUP HEINZ TOMATO KETCHUP DEL MONTE TOMATO KETCHUP TASTY TREAT TOMATO KETCHUP
`110
SUGAR
Claimed sugar
`125
SUGAR
Claimed sugar
`110
SUGAR
Claimed sugar
`75
SUGAR
Claimed sugar
25.33g per 100g

Tested sugar
22g per 100g

Tested Sugar
25g per 100g

Tested sugar
27.6g per 100g

Tested sugar
20.4g per 100g Actual sugar per serving 3.06g
SODIUM
Claimed sodium
SODIUM
Claimed sodium
SODIUM
Claimed sodium
SODIUM
Claimed sodium
1,110mg per 100g

Tested sodium
NA
Tested sodium
NA
Tested sodium
NA
Tested sodium
717mg per 100g Actual sodium per serving 107.55mg
Lowest Sugar
Highest Sodium
Smith & Jones ketchup contains the least sugar and the second lowest amount of sodium (slightly higher than Kissans ketchup). Good for those with sugar-restricted diet; though keep a track of your intake.
It doesnt state sodium content on its label and it had the second highest tested sodium content (after Del Monte). So though one of the most popular brands, it doesnt score too well on the health front.
Del Monte doesnt state the salt content on the label and it has the highest sodium content here. Avoid it if you need to limit salt in your diet those suffering from high blood pressure and other heart-related diseases.
The cheapest here, it stands exactly at the mid-level for its salt and sugar content neither on the low nor on the high side. It doesnt provide information on sodium content on the bottles label.
Whats a serving size?

Youre likely to use more, but a single serving size of ketchup is about one tablespoon, or around 15g. We used this as a guide to calculate how much salt and sugar youd consume using dierent brands.
Whats good about ketchup?

Low fat While a tablespoon of mayonnaise contains about 100 calories and 12g of fat, ketchup has no fat and far fewer calories (15 per tablespoon). Contains lycopene The main ingredient is tomato which, once cooked, has high levels of lycopene. This is an antioxidant with many benets: its been linked to reduced risk of many cancers, helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and is said to ward o liver disease.
KISSAN FRESH TOMATO KETCHUP
RELIANCE SELECT 100% TOMATO KETCHUP
MAGGI RICH TOMATO KETCHUP
`115
SUGAR
Claimed sugar
`85
SUGAR
Claimed sugar
`115
SUGAR
Claimed sugar
26g per 100g

Tested sugar
27.9g per 100g

Tested sugar
12.07g per 100g

Tested sugar
SODIUM
Claimed sodium
SODIUM
Claimed sodium
SODIUM
Claimed sodium
How much lycopene does ketchup contain?

While raw tomatoes contain around 3mg of lycopene per 100g, ketchup contains about 17g per 100g. But it all depends on the tomato content in the ketchup. There are also healthier alternatives of lycopene, like processed tomatoes in the form of pure.
1,070mg per 100g

Tested sodium
1,100mg per 100g

Tested sodium
NA
Tested sodium
Whats bad?
Ketchup can fall under the unhealthy bracket if it contains too much salt and sugar. Too much salt Eating too much salt can result in high blood pressure, heart problems, water retention and hypertension. According to the WHO, adults should consume less than 2,000mg of sodium or a teaspoon of salt a day. Too much sugar Excess sugar causes a rise in blood sugar levels and suppresses your immunity. Too much sugar can result in problems like obesity, diabetes, fatigue and tooth decay.
Lowest Sodium
Highest Sugar
Kissans ketchup has the lowest level of sodium here, making it comparatively better for those with high blood pressure or other cardiovascular issues. However, its sugar content is on the higher side.
While its sugar is more than the stated amount, sodium is significantly lower. Eating it will not aggravate the pre-existing issues, though Smith & Jones or Kissan are healthier alternatives when it comes to salt and sugar.
The tested sugar content was the highest here almost a teaspoon per serving. Sodium content isnt stated on the pack but proved higher than most. Its not the best option if you have sugar-related complications like diabetes.
How to Test report
Get your house painted
Colour
concepts
Repainting? Know your options, whether hiring professionals or doing it yourself
ou know when your house needs a paint job, but the very thought of being inconvenienced for a week or two can make you put it off. Before you know it, the monsoons are not too far away and you decide to wait until October, at which time you may try postponing again. This is not a good idea, because the longer you wait, the more expensive your next paint job could be. As counter-intuitive as it may sound, you may end up saving by painting more regularly than waiting longer than you should. This report will tell you all you need to know about the process, what your options are and all the information you need to get your house painted.
WHEN TO PAINT
The state of your current paint-job will of course dictate where to start. Elrica DSouza, an interior designer with Zyk Designs, says, Discolouration of your current paint-job and dust collection, which leads to patchiness and stains, are signs that your walls need a fresh coat of paint. These factors, and not the fact that youre fed up of seeing the same colour on your walls, should decide whether or not your house needs painting. Because of the long monsoon in India, some seasonal considerations do need to be factored into your next painting project. It is generally advised to wait until after the monsoon to see whether there is any leakage. If you paint before the rains and your walls leak during the monsoon, the work may be seriously compromised. Elrica adds, When it rains, your walls could face leakages. This can lead to cracking and peeling of the paint. Its best to be sure theres no problem or,
if youre unsure, have your walls examined before attempting a new paint job. If its not leakages causing the cracking and peeling of the paint, it could be a sign of poor paint quality or improper application. How often you repaint your house depends on the kind of the paint youve previously applied. For example, a fungusand mildew-resistant paint will obviously last longer than a normal distemper (read Types of paint, below). Elrica says that, as a general rule of thumb, consider whether you need to repaint around once every ve years. At this point youll need to assess the quality of your current paint job before deciding whether you need a new one.
TYPES OF PAINTS
When you do decide to get your house repainted, youll need to know the tools of the trade. There are basically four types of paint: distemper, lustre, emulsion and enamel. Each type contains various options with different nishes and properties. You can read about those paints in detail in our brand-wise comparison table on p49, but heres a brief outline of the types of paint available and what theyre for. Distemper This is the most economical paint type and is often associated with whitewash. Different shades can be achieved by adding colouring agents to the paint, and paint companies now even have distempers in different colours. About 30 -35 litres of distemper costing around `2,0 0 0 will be required to paint a house 1,0 0 0 sq feet in area. Lustre This is an oil-based paint that is most commonly used for interiors. It is
washable and thus easy to maintain. This paint provides a very good nish and is long-lasting. However, since it is oil-based, it takes longer to dry than distempers and also has a strong odour. Emulsion Emulsion is a water-based paint and, just like lustre paints, is washable, making your walls easy to maintain. It provides a matt nish to your walls and as it is fungus- and mildew-resistant, it lasts longer. Basic versions of the other three types arent fungus- or mildew-resistant, whereas all emulsions are. Enamels Enamel is a type of oil-based paint, but it has better adhesion capabilities than lustre paints. This means that these paints can be used for both interiors and exteriors. Enamel paints can also be used on furniture and are available in dull as well as glossy nishes.
Touch-up jobs
When youre getting minor work on your walls, such as electrical tting, it will invariably cause the paint around the area to get damaged. Quite obviously, you cant repaint the whole wall just to repair that minor damage, so a touch-up job is needed. However, achieving the exact shade can be tough without the exact same paint can. This is why its good to save leftover paint rather than let the contractor take it back. Alternatively, note down the shade number of the paint. If youd like to do this job on your own, remember to start painting with a very light hand. You can always apply another coat if you feel the shade is too light, but there is no coming back from a darker shade. You can also check out the website of the brand you got your paint from it should have detailed guides on both preparing the paint mixture and the actual process of painting itself. For example, the Asian Paints website (www.asianpaints.com) will tell you that, if youre using the Royale Luxury Emulsion, youll need to apply three coats and dilute the paint in a 60:40 paint-to-water ratio. Similarly, the Dulux Paints website (www.dulux.in) will tell you that if youre painting with Dulux Velvet Touch, you will need to apply two coats and dilute the paint with 250-400ml of water for every litre of paint.
CHOOSING THE SHADE

While choosing the exact shade will be a personal decision, you can follow a few rules to ensure that your house looks appealing. Shehzad Khan, Director, Gold Leang Studio, gives us tips for interiors and exteriors. She says, The exterior of big houses should be painted in warm colours such as reds and oranges. Smaller and medium-sized houses should be painted in bright but cooler colours such as white, cream and champagne. For your interiors, refer to the table below, where we get Shehzad and Elrica to give their tips on how to go about painting your different rooms.
ROOM Living room Master bedroom Childrens bedroom Guest room Kitchen
TIPS Mostly light colours such as white. Three white walls with one dark wall is a safe bet Extremely light and soothing colours such as sky blue Bright and uorescent colours which can be washed easily to take care of hand prints and food and crayon stains Warm and bright colours such as orange or yellow
You can choose any colour you like, but it should be highly washable. Avoid white
How to
Get your house painted
BRAND SERVICES VERSUS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

Generally, paint companies are more expensive than independent contractors, but theyre more likely to do a much better job. However, hiring an independent contractor may not exactly be a bad idea as he could also do a good job. Shehzad says, While brands provide good quality at a price, it doesnt mean that independent contractors provide bad quality. It all comes down to your budget and the quality you want. The best chance of getting best-possible quality is to go in for branded services, but it isnt always practical.
recommendations rather than visiting a neighbourhood store.
PAINTING ON YOUR OWN

Painting your house on your own will mean saving on labour costs for sure. If youre willing to be adventurous and are planning a DIY job, heres what you need to know. Preparation You will rst need to scrape your walls with sandpaper to ensure that your wall surface is dry, free from loose particles, dust and grease. If you notice any damage to the wall, use putty to ll up the cracks or holes and leave it overnight. Pre-painting Before the actual painting process, you will need to apply a coat of primer to the wall. Primer basically ensures that the paint sticks to the surface and does not chip off. Then, you need to apply a coating of putty on the wall for smoothness. Once the putty is dry, use sandpaper and ensure that the surface of the wall is completely even. After that you will need to apply a second coat of the primer. Allow it to dry for 10 -12 hours. Painting For instructions on preparing paint mixture, refer to the can or the
HIRING AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

If youve decided to hire an independent contractor to do the paint job, here are a few tips to keep in mind. Make sure that the contractor has experience of at least ve years. Ask him for references. Visit one of his ongoing sites to evaluate his services in action. Ask him to paint a small sample on your wall to check the quality. Ask your friends and acquaintances for
bucket the paint came in. Alternatively, check the paint manufacturers website for instructions on mixing the paint. Once youve prepared the mixture youre ready to start painting. The number of coats you will need to apply depends on the type of paint youve chosen. Usually, two or three are recommended. Apply the paint using a thick paint brush. An effective strategy is to paint the rst coats using a brush and paint the last coat with a roller. Allow the paint to dry in between coats (the time needed will be mentioned on the leaet that came along with the paint).
Paint points
VOC-free paints
Toxic substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as fumes from fresh paint. When inhaled in large amounts, these gases can lead to eye irritation, headache, dizziness and, in extreme cases, even cause memory loss. Ensure that the room is well-ventilated as it will allow for faster drying and let the toxic gases escape. Alternatively, use low-VOC or VOC-free paints such as Royale Luxury Emulsion from Asian Paints, Lotus Touch from Nerolac and Breathe Easy from Berger Paints. simple rule that you can follow is that the dullest matt nish is the most water absorbent, while the high gloss nish, which you need to pick, is the most water resistant.
Texture painting
Texture painting creates a pattern-based nish on your wall. In this method, special tools are used to create patterns on the walls. Paint brands have special paints such as the Royale Play or the Velvet Touch Trends along with various pattern options that you can choose from.
Painting your bathrooms

You should remember that you need a paint thats highly resistant to water. A
Picking paint
BRAND WISE COMPARISON
Pa in t p Ty e
Here are some of the paints on offer, their features, the cost of paint required to paint a 1,000-sq ft house as well as the cost of using the companys services to get the job done
Pr
g in nt ai h e (p y t st b ` ) co red (in ur ffe d) b o o an La ce br i rv d se re ui f t eq q tr s ) in 0 0 n ` pa 1,0 (i of a s e e r u ic f o h o
Fe at ur es
BRAND Royale Luxury Emulsion Royale Shyne Luxury Emulsion Premium Emulsion ASIAN PAINTS Tractor Emulsion Tractor Acrylic Distemper Tractor Synthetic Distemper Utsav Acrylic Distemper Velvet Touch Velvet Touch Trends Velvet Touch Trends Metallics DULUX PAINTS Dulux 3 in 1 Dulux Super Smooth Dulux Lustre Finish ICI Acrylic Distemper Bison Emulsion Rangoli Total Care Easy Clean BERGER Silk Breathe Easy Bison Distemper Special Effects Luxury Sheen Emulsion Robbialac Super Acrylic Plastic Emulsion Premium Acrylic Wall Coating Rainbow Acrylic Emulsion Lotus Touch Beauty Gold Beauty Silver NEROLAC Beauty Smooth Little Master Eco Clean 24 Carat Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion/ Distemper Distemper Anti-stain, anti-fungus, washable, satin shimmer nish Similar to Royale Luxury Emulsion but with a sheen nish (meaning that it will give a slightly shinier nish) Fungus- and mildew-resistant, anti-stain, matt nish Low cost alternative to the above emulsions emulsionlike nish for a price similar to distemper Water-based, matt nish 8,500-8,800 9,300-9,700 8,000-9,900 3,600-3,800 2,800-3,000 2,800 2,600 7,700-8,500 11,400-14,000 12,600-15,500 8,000-10,000 5,000-6,000 3,800-4,700 3,700-4,500 3,500-4,100 9,500-10,500
Distemper Water-based, no special nish Distemper Water-based, washable Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Enamel Gives a pearl glow nish Pattern-based nish, fungus- and stain-resistant Gives a metallic nish Stain-resistant, washable, anti-fungal Washable, matt nish Washable, water-repellent, stain-resistant, resistant to cracking and chalking
18,300-20,200 26,600-29,400 26,000-28,700 33,200-36,700 7,000-7,600 6,900-7,600 8,200-9,000 3,000-3,400 9,500 13,000 15,500 17,600 18,300 10,600 12,500 8,500 7,400 5,700 13,500 8,000 5,400 5,000 3,800 15,500 13,500 7,000-7,700 5,200-5,800 7,600-8,400 2,800-3,200 11,600 16,000 19,000 21,500 22,400 13,000 18,700 12,600 11,100 8,500 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Distemper Smooth nish Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Matt nish, anti-fading properties, anti-fungal Matt nish, stain guard, withstands fungal and algae growth Velvet sheen nish, fungicide and biocide properties, very high oil resistance, scratch and stain resistance High sheen compared to other Berger paints, gives walls a smooth feel Sheen nish, resistance to fungus growth, leaves no smell after painting
Distemper Matt nish Emulsion Emulsion Silky sheen nish, washable, scrub-resistant Matt nish, washable, scrub-resistant
JENSON AND NICHOLSON
Distemper Matt nish Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Emulsion Matt, emulsion-like nish at the price of distemper Sheen nish, blister and moisture free, low odour Matt to slightly glossy nish, washable, resistant to fungus growth Matt nish, washable, fungus resistant Matt nish, washable Matt nish Sheen nish, washable, odour-less Velvet sheen nish, washable, stain resistant, anti-fungal, low odour
Prices are guide prices as on April 17, 2013 and are subject to change
Test drives Mid-size sedans
In this report
Take a look at the affordable mid-size sedans segment. Find out which of the nine models offer the best combination of class and comfort.
ground
S
edans make no compromises. They offer space, perform well and have powerful engines. Therefore, even the mid-size sedan segment is expensive, starting at `7 lakh and going up to just over `11 lakh. The mid-size segment currently consists of nine players, with petrol and diesel engine options available for all but the Honda City (see p52). Six of the nine cars compared here already have automatic versions, with the Nissan Sunny all set to join the majority soon. Given the vast `4 lakh price difference, its best to investigate which cars are worth their price tag. In this report, we give you the lowdown on each car on offer, compare the two top-sellers in this category and reveal what you can get for the same price in the SUV/ MUV category.
Middle
MARKET TALK
Find out which mid-size sedan gives the best value for money
likely that you are either moving up from a premium hatchback or an entry-level sedan, or just looking for a second car perhaps for outstation trips. In either case, features and comfort will be high priorities. Here is a breakdown of whats on offer.
Over 15,0 0 0 mid-size sedans are sold each month. In March, 4,489 Hyundai Verna cars were sold, making it the highest-selling mid-size sedan, while the lowest-selling models were the Ford Fiesta and Fiat Linea. If youre buying one of these cars, its most
KEY PARAMETERS
Mid-size sedans arent manufactured with low prices in mind; even the base models come with extra comfort, features and performance.
Size Entry-level sedans such as the Maruti

Dzire, Tata Indigo and Honda Amaze are typically under 4m in length, and reap tax benets as a result. Other options like the Hyundai Accent, Mahindra Verito and Chevrolet Sail are over 4m but still cant compete with mid-size sedans in terms of width and wheelbase. The extra room in mid-size sedans provides more space for passengers and luggage and also creates better road presence. Design Thanks to their unrestricted length, mid-size sedans have sharper looks and a more modern feel than entry-level models. While entry-level sedans arent typically the most noticeable, the Linea stands out for its Italian design and the SX4 for its bulky looks. Performance You can expect around 10 0 horsepower (PS) from a mid-size petrol sedan,
with the greatest power coming from the Verna 1.6 (123PS). Most diesel mid-size sedans have a power output of around 90 PS, compared with around 70 PS for the entry-level sedans. Mid-size sedans offer great performance without compromising on fuel economy. The most efcient offerings are Hyundai Verna diesel 1.4 and the diesel variant of the Ford Fiesta, both of which give 23.5kmpl. Cabin space Due to their smaller size, entrylevel sedans dont offer the ample leg, knee and shoulder room provided by mid-size sedans, which have a longer wheel base. Features Keyless entry and keyless start-stop, rear view camera and voice-assisted commands are some of the features absent from entry-level models. However, if youre willing to shell out more for these luxuries, they can most likely be accommodated.
For the same money
MUVs & SUVs

MARUTI ERTIGA
Petrol range `6.34-7.90 lakh Diesel range `7.8-9.21 lakh Why look at this Loads of space, practical, very ecient diesel engine
TATA SAFARI
Diesel range `8.67-9.86 lakh Why look at this Loads of space, very comfortable
NISSAN EVALIA
SPECIFICATIONS
En gi ne r To ca AR er w Po n Le H pa W qu AI ei id ty ci gt gh e m (k th (N h ) m t( (P c) (c ) (m ) (m M ) pl S) ) ) e ic Pr )(` kh (la Bo ot sp e ac t (li G ea rs re s)
Diesel range `8.69-10.22 lakh Why look at this Spacious, very ecient diesel engine, seats seven very comfortably
MAHINDRA XYLO
Diesel range `7.3-10.4 lakh Why look at this Spacious, comfortable, feature-packed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
FIAT Linea (Petrol) FIAT Linea (Diesel) FORD Fiesta (Petrol) FORD Fiesta (Diesel) HONDA City (Petrol) HYUNDAI Verna (1.4 petrol) HYUNDAI Verna (1.6 petrol) HYUNDAI Verna (1.4 diesel) HYUNDAI Verna (1.6 diesel)
7.29-8.32 8.35-9.79 7.83-10.50 9.74-10.82 7.64-11.13 7.58 9.02-10.05 8.86-9.67 10.41-11.94 7.85-9.35 8.79-10.36 6.34-8.97 8.66-10.11 7.03-9.83 8.76-9.63 7.30-9.62 8.61-10 7.52-8.99
1,368 1,248 1,499 1,498 1,497 1,396 1,591 1,396 1,582 1,586 1,286 1,498 1,461 1,498 1,461 1,598 1,598 1,598 1,598
90 98 109 90 118 107 123 90 128 104.7 90 99 86 99 86 105 105 105 105
115 209 140 204 146 136 155 220 260 145 200 134 200 134 200 153 250 153 250
4.56 4.56 4.29 4.29 4.44 4.37 4.37 4.37 4.37 4.5 4.5 4.43 4.43 4.43 4.43 4.39 4.39 4.38 4.38
1.73 1.73 1.72 1.72 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.74 1.74 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7
1.49 1.49 1.5 1.5 1.49 1.48 1.48 1.48 1.48 1.56 1.56 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.47 1.47 1.47 1.47
14.6 20.4 17 23.5 16.8 17.43 17.01 23.5
5-MT 5-MT 5-MT/6-AT 5-MT 5-MT/5-AT 5-MT 5-MT/4-AT 6-MT
500 500 430 430 506 454 454 454 454 505 505 490 490 490 490 460 460 480 480
RENAULT DUSTER
Petrol range `7.79-8.71 lakh Diesel range `8.94-12.5 lakh Why look at this Big yet easy to drive, ecient diesel engine
22.32 6-MT/4-AT 16.5 21.5 16.9 21.1 16.95 21.64 15 20.5 5-MT 5-MT 5-MT 5-MT 5-MT/CVT 5-MT 5-MT/6-AT 5-MT
MAHINDRA SCORPIO
Diesel range `7.68-12.1 lakh Why look at this Good automatic option, powerful diesel engine
10 MARUTI SX4 (Petrol) 11 MARUTI SX4 (Diesel)
12 NISSAN Sunny (Petrol) 13 NISSAN Sunny (Diesel) 14 RENAULT Scala (Petrol) 15 RENAULT Scala (Diesel) 16 SKODA Rapid (Petrol) 17 SKODA Rapid (Diesel) 18 VOLKSWAGEN Vento (Petrol)
TOYOTA INNOVA
Petrol range `10-13.5 lakh Diesel range `9.6-14.27 lakh Why look at this Very reliable, good resale value, stylish and comfortable interiors
15.04 5-MT/6-AT 20.5 5-MT
19 VOLKSWAGEN Vento (Diesel) 8.67-10.48
On the road
` 7.29-9.79 lakh
FIAT LINEA
The Fiat Linea looks like one of the best here, but serves to prove that appearances arent everything. Aside from its design it has little to offer; space is limited and overall quality is no match for the others. Even feature-wise, the Linea doesnt impress with the bells and whistles youd expect in this segment. The 1.4-litre petrol engine is the least powerful, offers the least torque and also pales in comparison for fuel economy. The diesel motor is better, but leaves a lot to be desired in comparison with rivals at this price point. PROS Looks, discounts CONS Low resale value, lack of space, poor engines
FORD FIESTA
The Fiesta is the underdog here. With the Linea, its the lowest selling model probably as a result of the somewhat lacklustre look of the sides and rear. The engine options on offer are good: the 1.5-litre petrol model offers good performance and also comes with a rst-in-class dual-clutch automatic, which allows quicker gear changes without any loss in performance or fuel economy. The diesel unit is brilliant, offering smooth operation and very low turbo lag, along with best-in-class fuel economy. PROS Automatic technology, features CONS Low resale value, looks, narrow cabin
` 7.83-10.82 lakh
` 7.64-11.13 lakh
HONDA CITY
The Honda City is the only model here without a diesel option (but with a CNG model). The high-quality interior is spacious and the features list is more or less the same as most of its rivals though Honda does offer an optional sun-roof and audio-visual and navigation system. The City comes with a 1.5-litre petrol engine that is smooth and responsive. It isnt very quick, but offers a strong overall performance. The ve-speed automatic is a brilliant transmission. PROS Good resale value, powerful engine CONS No diesel engine
` 7.58-11.94 lakh
HYUNDAI VERNA
Hyundai tends to provide the best value. It caters to all buyers with four engine options: two petrol and two diesel versions. The entrylevel 1.4-litre petrol and diesel engines allow the Verna to be priced competitively, while the higher-powered 1.6 variants bring along performance as well as automatic options the only model here to provide automatic versions in both petrol and diesel models. The top-end models of this car have extensive features which include rear parking sensors and a keyless start-stop function. PROS Great looks, comfort, feature-packed CONS Soft suspension
MARUTI SX4
This updated version has a better exterior design with a new grille and headlamps. Likewise, the cabin has seen major improvements in layout and quality. The SX4 offers spacious interiors for ve adults and the top-end versions now come with a touchscreen entertainment system. Other features include a climate control system, steering controls, ABS, and dual airbags. The SX4 continues to be powered by a 1.6-litre petrol or 1.3-litre diesel engine (the CNG option has been retained).
` 7.85-10.36 lakh
PROS Maruti brand, reliable, good ground clearance CONS Diesel engine could be more powerful
` 6.34-10.11 lakh
NISSAN SUNNY
The cheapest option here is the Nissan Sunny. Though it looks sober on the outside, with dated design lines and one of the narrowest bodies (along with the Scala and City), the Sunny provides ample room. Along with the Scala (which is based on the Sunny), this car provides best-in-class leg and knee room. Being the cheapest car here the interiors arent modern, but you cant complain for the price. Everything is neatly designed, practically arranged and the car is easy to drive due to good visibility. PROS Value for money, roomy, easy to drive CONS Average looks, narrow body
` 7.03-9.83 lakh
RENAULT SCALA
The Scala is the upmarket version of the Sunny, on which it was based. External improvements include new lamps and grille, and the rear has redesigned tail lamps and added chrome. The alloy wheels look better and are standard on all diesel versions. Inside, it has the same layout as the Sunny the only difference being the Renault badge on the steering wheel. It offers the same best-in-class knee and leg room as the Sunny and is powered by the same engines. The petrol is peppy and the diesel engine excels with low turbo lag. The Scala also gets an advanced automatic transmission that is actually more efficient than the manual version. PROS Great looks, comfortable interiors CONS Narrow body, limited dealer network
SKODA RAPID
The Rapid is a cheaper alternative to the Volkswagen Vento. Based on the Vento, both share the same chassis, suspension and engine. The Rapid looks better, with the Fabia-inspired front-end imparting luxury to the sedan. On the inside, the Rapid offers a good mix of quality and space: the layout is similar to that of the Fabia and looks dated in comparison with the Verna or the City. However, the interiors are comfortable, even for long-distance travel. The Rapid is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol or diesel engine. It is relatively easy to handle: while the suspension does an average job, the light steering adds to the ease of driving. PROS Engine, quality CONS Small size, after-sales service lacking
` 7.30-10 lakh
` 7.52-10.48 lakh
VOLKSWAGEN VENTO
The third-highest seller here is the Vento. The new model has better looks and more features, but the car remains a mixed bag. Its design has started to look dated and the car itself lacks sharp design lines. On the inside, the layout looks basic but quality is up to the mark. The cabin is practical and even features a slide-handle, allowing a rear passenger to slide the co-driver seat ahead easily for added leg room. The engine options are the same as those offered by the Rapid, so you get a potent 1.6-litre petrol and a similar capacity diesel engine. PROS Good engine, quality interiors CONS Dated looks, poor resale value
vs
Honda City vs Hyundai Verna
We compare the current market leader Verna and the one it dethroned. Find out which mid-size sedan rules the roost on factors that matter
Honda City
EXTERIOR
Hyundai Verna
Being newer, the Vernas current version, launched in May 2011, has a slight edge over the Citys exteriors. It follows Hyundais uidic design philosophy and really does impart a very stylish look. Being slightly wider and lower than the City, it also feels a tad sportier. It might not match the spacious feel of the City, but the Verna certainly has a swankier cabin, with a modern design and beautiful blue back-lighting for the console. The seats are comfortable and its feature list is more extensive. The 1.6-litre diesel motor is the pick of the lot, with class-leading performance and brilliant fuel economy. In all, there are two diesel and two petrol options and automatic transmission is available on both petrol and diesel engines. Hyundai wins the battle here as well, with unique features including side and curtain airbags, a keyless start-stop function, rear view camera with display, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth connectivity. The Verna petrol range starts at ` 7.58 lakh but has more features than the similar-priced City. The diesel range starts at `8.8 lakh while the automatic range starts at `9.3 lakh.
Winner
The current City was launched ve years ago, but still looks fresh thanks to minor updates over the years. The front grille and alloys were changed a few months ago and the arrow-shot front design still turns heads. We also love the unique shape of the alloy wheels for manual and automatic versions.
Verna
INTERIORS Honda has always played the man maximum, machine minimum game. The City offers very good cabin space and, most importantly, its interiors feel well put together. Theres an obvious use of high-quality materials. ENGINE
Verna
The 1.5-litre petrol motor is brilliant and offers very good performance, while also being smooth and relatively quiet. However, its beaten hands-down by the Vernas 1.6-litre petrol engine on power, torque and fuel economy. Honda, though, now offers a CNG kit as an option. The top-end models come loaded with the usual safety aids, such as anti-lock braking system (ABS) and airbags, in addition to the steering controls also seen in the Verna. The City also offers an optional sun-roof and audio-visual system. The City range starts at `7.6 lakh for the stripped corporate version. The automatic model starts from `9.7 lakh. As a product, the City does make good sense but wont spoil you with features.
Verna
FEATURES
Verna
PRICE
Verna
VERDICT The Hyundai Verna is the clear winner, with more engine options, better value and unique features. The Honda City, despite doing nothing wrong, is no match.
All prices are ex-showroom, Mumbai, guide prices as of April 17, 2013 and are subject to change
Survey report Shopping online
Buying easy
Flipkart and eBay trail newbies Jabong and Yebhi in our satisfaction survey
nline shopping websites have caught on quick, outpacing even decades-old brick-and-mortar chains in a matter of a few years. The reasons are simple enough: online shopping is much more convenient, can offer better prices and you can pay on delivery. But, given the difference in experience and process, its challenges and problems are also different. Not many of us could claim to know which portal is likely to stock or offer the best deals on a certain product, which has the best returns process and how likely it is for delivery to be delayed. We conducted a survey of over 1,0 0 0 people to nd out which of the nine big name websites in our survey is most capable of delivering the goods with minimal hassle.
In this report
Find out which online stores have the highest levels of customer satisfaction from the hundreds of shoppers we have interviewed.
WHAT WE FOUND
J abong came out trumps in our survey, with a customer score of 82%. One of the few portals here to sell a limited range of items, it restricts itself mainly to clothing, accessories, shoes and furniture items perhaps least naturally suited to remote purchase. But the portal still got solid scores in major categories, including the returns process, an area in which even more well-established stores like Flipkart and Homeshop18 faltered. Yebhi, which took second spot with a customer score of 81%, is more comparable with the rest of the pack in that it also sells laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras and toys. But it still doesnt have the product width of Flipkart or Homeshop18, which sell books, stationery, CDs and DVDs as well. The results suggest that leaner online
shopping websites are better able to provide good service. Yebhi, like J abong, also received an excellent score for its returns process.
What issues are you likely to experience?

Delayed delivery The bulk of problems reported (see Problems to expect, below) in our survey related to delays in delivery. Portals estimate a time in which your product will arrive, but maintain that delivery may be longer. Deliveries from Jabong, for example, vary from 3-4 days to 8-10 days, depending on whether your order needs to be imported. A more dependable estimate is the one given by the customer service team that conrms your details after your orders been placed. Faulty item If you had gone to a store in person, its unlikely that you would have picked a faulty item but this problem doesnt arise as often as online shopping sceptics may think. A small percentage of our respondents (13%) said theyd been shipped faulty products. The real problem tends to be the hassle companies put you through until they agree to a replacement. Poor quality If youre buying a specic model of smartphone or laptop, you know what youre getting. But this is not so when youre buying clothes, perfume or jewellery from little known brands. Flipkart, for example, has over 100 T-shirt brands listed on its website, most of them obscure. Richa Chabbria, Delayed delivery was the number one problem faced by our respondents
COMMON COMPLAINTS
Our survey reveals that the portals were competent at selling and delivering products but problems do remain. Over one in 10 respondents complained of delay in delivery, one in 20 did not receive their products at all, and one in 30 respondents were left unsatised when they werent informed of the delivery time. A few online retailers also received poor scores for their returns process, an area in which a wide difference was reported for different sites. Respondents that had returned products to Snapdeal felt the process was very effective but that wasnt enough to leave customers satised. Snapdeal got the lowest overall Customer Score, as well as receiving the lowest rating for its deliveries process. Flipkart, Homeshop18, eBay and Indiatimes Shopping all received scores lower than average for their returns process. Flipkart (77%) and eBay (78%) did make up for their low scores in the returns process category by faring well in categories such as product range of offerings and smooth ordering process, but Homeshop18 (73%) and Indiatimes Shopping (75%) just missed out on being in the top half of the list.
an MBA student currently in Mumbai, says, Some clothes may look good on the website, but when they arrive, theyre often of poor quality. Sticking to bigger brands helps. Wrong brand It doesnt happen often, but you could be shipped the wrong product or size. Then youre at the mercy of the returns process of the seller. In the worst case, the item you had asked for wouldve been sold out. Many retailers dont give you a refund; youll only get a credit note. Shreya Todi, an advertising executive from Mumbai, says, Ive twice been sent a wrong order. The worst thing about it is that, given how tedious the process of returning the item is, youll most likely live with the mistake.
40 36 32 28 24 20 16 12 8 4
Problems to expect
Online shopping websites allow you to do everything from the comfort of your home. Such conveniences come at a cost, though. If theres going to be a problem, heres what it will most likely be about
11 7 2 2 4 Damaged items 4 Courier asked Technical Returns for extra problems problems money with the website Poor quality item Poor availability of item Wrong item or brand delivered Faulty item 7 13 13 13
39
% of respondents
Received a Wrong sized used product product received
Delayed delivery

PAYING IN INSTALMENTS
Most portals now allow you to pay in equated monthly instalments (EMIs) via your credit card. If you do this, remember to compare the processing charges of each retailer and not just the product price. One retailer may offer a product at much lower price than another, but its processing charges may make the others deal cheaper. Assuming that all retailers do stock the product you want, keep in mind that processing fees are charged in two ways. Naaptol, for example, charges a percentage of your purchase. So if you buy the Sony Xperia E for `9,890 (as on April 17, 20 13) and wish to pay for it over six months, youll be paying a fee of `618 (meaning the total cost would be `10 ,50 8). The same purchase on Flipkart would be cheaper despite the smartphones higher ticket price ( `9,990 ). Flipkarts at processing fee of `30 0 on all six-month EMI options brings the total cost to `10 ,220 a saving of just under `30 0 . Flat rates are usually better for high value purchases, though not necessarily for bills under `10 ,0 0 0 . In either case, whats more important is that you pay your credit card bill on time.
Some shopping websites advertise paraphernalia as freebies
DEALS TO BEWARE OF
Online shopping encourages impulsive purchases. You may see a generous discount
on your favourite product and may want to buy it immediately but check what youre getting as portals can be misleading. Some portals, including J abong, do admit that they make mistakes. These companies need to enter in details of the thousands of products they sell and claim details can be entered incorrectly. Whether or not it is deliberate, it is ultimately you who loses out. Here are the mistakes to watch out for: Exaggerate MRPs Every now and then, youll nd a product listed with a 20 % to 50 % discount. If you look up the price of the same product on an ofcial website, you may nd the actual MRP is much lower. Portals can hike up the
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
WEBSITES 1 JABONG (108) 2 YEBHI (38) 3 EBAY (133) 4 FLIPKART (198) 5 MYNTRA (79) 6 NAAPTOL (82) 7 INDIATIMES SHOPPING (32) 8 HOMESHOP18 (168) 9 SNAPDEAL (46) Figures in brackets indicate sample size 82 81 79 77 77 76 75 73 72
original price to create the illusion of a hefty discount. Naaptol, for example, is currently selling a Nikon D510 0 (with 1855mm VR) for `31,499, claiming a 33% discount on the original price of `47,290 . If you log on to the Nikon website, the sale price should be `34,950 . So the real discount is really a little over 10 %. Charged freebies Snapdeal, in particular, advertises paraphernalia as freebies. For example, if you buy a mobile phone youd expect to receive earphones along with it. If you buy a DSLR, you should expect to receive an HDMI cable, a pouch and an SD card. Yet its common to nd standard inclusions listed as items that are free. Fakes at a price Many portals inform you that they only sell original items on their website. This is because theres truth to the speculation that fake goods can also be found online. On eBay, its easy to nd a host of items at a fraction of the price of originals. Most often, they are premium items such as watches from Tag Heuer or bags from Gucci. These fakes arent cheap, either. For example, at the time of going to press there was a Tag Heuer Grand Carrera Chronograph listed on eBay for `22,50 0 . The seller says its a new item in the original box, but only at the end of the listing, says that it is exactly like (the) original. Buying such an item would be a costly mistake.
CU
a Av ila Ra ng e of pr od uc ts M O bi lit yo fp ro du ct s rd in er g pr es oc s D el
O ST M ER SC ym pa O RE en ) (% t e of
od ie er iv s
How they fared

82% JABONG
Jabong sells clothing, accessories and home furnishings. A part of its website is devoted only to premium items, where brands such as Hidesign and DKNY can be found, but you can expect to nd just about anything in the mentioned categories. This was true for every website in our survey, but our respondents were easily able to locate what they wanted and found the range of products to be wide. Jabong did well in every category, also offering the most liberal purchase/returns/ delivery terms. You can pay on delivery and return your purchase if unsatised, and the returns process is outlined clearly online.
81% YEBHI
Yebhi sells products on very friendly terms. An example of this is its try-n-buy policy, which allows you to try on or briey check your purchase before making payment to the person delivering your product (in cases of cash-on-delivery). If you arent satised with
the product, you can refuse the purchase. This policy isnt available everywhere yet, but its indicative of a condence in the quality of products sold. Yebhi sells a wider range of items than Jabong, including computer accessories and mobile phones. It did well in all categories, from the range of products on offer to the modes of payment allowed.
78% eBAY
eBay offers a platform for merchants to sell their wares, so the terms of your purchase differ with each seller. If you make a purchase from here, be sure to look at the returns policy. In our survey, eBay, which otherwise scored reasonably well, received a lower score for
customers experience of returns. You can only pay using PaisaPay, which releases the money when the items are shipped, and our respondents were satised with this payment mechanism. But watch out for fake products, which are in ample supply. From watches and perfumes to shoes and jewellery, spotting the real thing amid the fakes can be very tricky.
77% FLIPKART
Flipkart has a very wide operation, competing with even the largest of online malls. It does this mostly through a single retailer, WS Retail which, until very recently, it owned. The companys terms and conditions seem fair, but not as friendly as they used to be. While
there was once a 30-day window for returning products if you werent satised, you can now only return products that are damaged or defective. This is reected in the lower-thanaverage score for its returns process. In other categories, though, Flipkart excelled. It was rated highly for deliveries, ordering process and range of products.
77% MYNTRA
Myntra is more akin to Jabong and Yebhi than the other top-scorers we have featured in this survey. This is because the website is both smaller and friendlier than the likes of eBay and Flipkart. Myntra only sells mens, womens and kids clothing, shoes and
accessories. It also has a few brands that are exclusive to its website, including accessories brand Accessorize and sports brand New Balance. Myntra does allow you to return products you may be simply unsatised with. Although it did not top any category, our respondents found nothing to complain about, either.
Returns policy check

Make sure you read the ne print in case the item you buy isnt to your liking
Making a purchase online is simple enough on all websites we looked at. Websites want to encourage purchase. They depend on it. But problems arise only after you make the purchase; you could have been sent a defective product or may simply be unsatised: in either case youd want a refund or replacement. Generally, retailers put in place hurdles to ensure fastidious customers dont take advantage, but some retailers have more impractical policies, which seem to discourage any returns. Heres what you should know about who youre buying from.
Jabong says it will pick your purchase up within 72 hours
Myntra, Jabong and Yebhi have the best return policies

FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS
Offered by Myn tra, Jabo n g an d Ye bh i Why N o qu e s tio n s as ke d 3 0 -day re place m e n t/ re tu rn gu aran te e These three companies have the friendliest returns policy of those we looked at. If you are unsatised with what you bought or it arrived damaged, you can arrange to have it picked up from your house up to 30 days after delivery. This is not even offered by large retail chains, including Shoppers Stop, which gives you a maximum of two weeks. J abong, for example, says it will pick your purchase up within 72 hours, but if you live in a remote area, you will have to pay for shipping yourself. In this case, you will receive a gift voucher worth `10 0 from the company (Myntra and Yebhi have similar
policies). The item needs to be in saleable condition, with the tags intact, but you dont need to divulge reasons for returning your purchase. A few items, such as underwear, books and jewellery, can only be returned if damaged but given their nature, that is understandable.
with what youve bought, regardless of whether or not the item is in saleable condition, you will not be able to return it as you could with Myntra, Yebhi or J abong. You may wonder why you would purchase something you didnt want in the rst place; bear in mind the quality of clothes sold online isnt always as good as it may seem on your computer screen. Flipkart has different terms for items sold by retailers other than WS Retail, though we couldnt nd a single product sold by any other vendor. In case you do buy a product from
ACCEPTABLE TERMS
Offered by Flipkart Why 3 0 -day re place m e n t/ re tu rn
gu aran te e , bu t o n ly if pro du ct is dam age d Most orders from Flipkart are handled by WS Retail. WS Retail does provide a 30 -day returns guarantee, but only if the product is damaged, defective or not as described by the seller. So if youre simply unsatised
You can only return orders from Flipkart if the product is damaged
another vendor, though, remember that the 30 -day guarantee is cut to 10 days, and only damaged goods can be returned; if there is a defect, youll need to take this up with the manufacturer.
WORST TERMS
Offered by H o m e s h o p18 , N aapto l, Sn apde al, In diatim e s Sh o ppin g Why Tw o days to in fo rm if pro du ct is dam age d o r de fe ctive These websites have far more restrictive conditions. With the exception of Indiatimes Shopping, which gives you 72 hours, all the above-mentioned websites will give you just two days to inform them if the product is damaged or defective. This is too little time, particularly if youre buying a gift. Even then, you may only return an item if it is damaged. So if you ordered a T-shirt which turned out to be the wrong size, your request wont be approved. In the case of Naaptol, you will also have to ship back your product within 10 days for the request to be sanctioned. Whats worse is that, whether or not your product was actually defective,
When buying from eBay, check the return policy for each seller as there may not even be one
you will bear the shipment charges for the replaced/ reshipped product. Even Indiatimes Shopping requires you to ship the product back to the company yourself, but at least it will reimburse you with a gift coupon of `250 .
to deal with this individual, rather than eBay, if you need to ship the products back for any reason. So check the return policy for each seller as there may not even be one. If a return policy isnt mentioned, its up to you to nd out what happens if the product is damaged. This is usually the case with cheaper products, including perfumes and clothes. If the dealer you are buying from species a return policy, good. Unfortunately, this only tends to be the case with bigger purchases, such as cameras or smartphones but even a D-SLR camera with a price tag of over `50 ,0 0 0 may need to be returned within a week.
Get in touch with Right Choice

If you are experiencing a problem with a manufacturer, retailer or service provider, for example a malfunctioning product, something that wasnt delivered as promised or a decient service, write to us at editor@whichrightchoice.com and well do our best to resolve the issue.
MOST UNPREDICTABLE
Offered by e Bay Why Varyin g co n ditio n s , s o m e m ay
n o t e ve n h ave a re tu rn po licy With eBay, nothing is standard. You are connected directly with the seller and have
Resolving complaints
You may not be able to resolve your complaint by dealing directly with the portal. Although only a small number of our respondents had serious complaints, you could, for example, be one of the unlucky few that dont receive their order at all. In this case, your rst response should always be to follow up with the company. If the company has no plans to resolve the matter, you can pick one of two routes: approach an organisation that helps consumers in such cases or go to consumer court. in touch with Right Choice, above). Large organisations are usually taken more seriously. If anything, it shows the company that youre serious about taking action.
Consumer court
Action in consumer court is generally slower it could take months for your case to be heard but the judges order is binding on the company (this obviously isnt the case when you approach a consumer organization). But the main problem, when it comes to online shopping websites, is that you need to le a complaint where the seller is located. While judges do sometimes admit cases in the jurisdiction of the buyer, this is far from the norm.
Consumer organisations
Instead of going to consumer court, many aggrieved consumers elect to approach a consumer organisation that will assist
them in the matter. Consumer organisations may be non-prot, such as Mumbai Grahak Panchayat or Consumer Education and Research Centre, or for-prot organisations such as Akosha. You could also contact us in case you have a problem (see Get
Feature
...shop safely on the net

With online fraud becoming more common, heres how to ensure that safety comes rst when e-buying your web 1 Keep browser updated
An updated web browser can ensure the latest security protection. Most of the modern browsers have automatic updating systems.
10 ways to...
on reliable 2 Shop web-stores
Ask friends for their experiences and visit the stores page on a social network site to scan reviews and ratings.
using 3 Avoid public computers
If you are on a public computer, use the private browsing or incognito mode to avoid any search history or personal data from being accessed.
the security 4 Ensure of the portal
Look for VeriSign Secured Seal, or a green address bar in your web browser (a padlock icon). Also verify the URL. The URL of a secure website will always start with https, not http.
immediately inform both the customer care of the web store and your bank.
apps that are provided directly by the retailer, such as, The Amazon Mobile app.
third-party 7 Avoid payment
Check the stores shipping policies
Take due note of the shipping methods and policies to nd out what carriers they use, their shipping rates and insurance so that, in case of any unfortunate event, you know where to seek redressal.
Responding to emails from third-party payment services is as good as inviting theft. Never provide your account or banking information over such e-mails. It is always advisable to type the address of the payment service directly into the browser or use personal bookmarks.
strangers on 9 Avoid social media
Messages or chats regarding deals that are sent to you on social media may appear legitimate but remember, fraudsters too keep a close eye on such web stores. Only visit officially registered web store pages.
wisely with 6 Deal failed transactions
Vigilance while using mobile applications
your 10 Change password often
Make a note of the date and time at which the transaction took place and
The thumb rule of shopping online through mobile applications (apps) is to stick to the apps you know or only choose
Avoid passwords that are easy to guess. Change your passwords for the web store and the transaction password for your credit or debit card regularly.
Dental health Health report
in. Dr Neeraj Verma, senior consultant in dental surgery, Delhi, tells us why. Dental cavities occur due to acids caused by oral bacteria that feed on leftover food particles, which may be stuck between teeth. These acids may cause a hole in the tooth, known as a cavity. A thin layer of plaque forms over your teeth which, even when cleaned completely, recurs in 10 -12 hours. Dental plaque releases toxins that lead to gum inammation or pyorrhoea and you may experience bleeding gums and pain. They also cause bad breath.
imagesbazaar.com
Even when cleaned completely, plaque recurs in 10-12 hours

Some people may brush very fast or some areas may be harder to reach. Genetics also play a role, as do food habits: those who consume a lot of carbohydrateand sugar-rich food, soft drinks and chips instead of brous food have more chances of developing these problems. Adults are at a higher risk of gum diseases, and children tooth decay. These issues can often be nipped in the bud if caught on time. Some studies have shown a correlation between heart disease and oral bacteria. Dr K K Qasba, dentist, Mumbai says, Patients with heart disease must maintain good oral hygiene, especially those with rheumatic heart disease, as bacteria in the mouth can travel to the heart through the bloodstream. Therefore, keeping your teeth and gums in good condition is imperative.
check-ups
A lling in time can save you from major hassles, such as a root canal, or worse, tooth extraction
ntil a blinding toothache arises, a trip to the dentist is often the least of our many priorities. Its so easy to postpone or ignore appointments but a possible hairline cavity needing a minor lling, if neglected, may require a major root canal surgery within a few months. Also, consider the money you could save while a lling could cost you as little as `60 0 , dental surgery is likely to cost you `4,0 0 0 or more.
Dental health
In this report, we tell you how often you should book your dental check-ups and how to choose a dentist. We also give you an idea of how much you should be paying for dental treatments so that you can choose wisely when narrowing down on a clinic.
HOW TO CHOOSE A DENTIST

Ask around for recommendations. You can also ask your family doctor. If youre shifting houses, ask your current dentist to recommend a dentist in your new area. Find out the dentists ofce timings, and visit the clinic to check if its clean and orderly and has helpful staff. Also, note whether the dentist and staff wear gloves and other protective gear during treatment.
WHY GO TO THE DENTIST?

Even with a good dental hygiene routine at home, a host of dental problems can creep
Health report Dental health
Common problems
These fairly prevalent culprits can cause a lot of discomfort
Cavities Cavities, which are caused by tooth decay, can appear at any age from infants to adults. A dental check-up can help determine if you have cavities, even before you feel any pain or develop any complications. Bleeding gums There are many causes, including poor oral hygiene or diet and gingivitis. To determine whether it needs more attention than brushing after every meal, youll need to knock on a dentists clinic door. Sensitivity Your teeth may be sensitive to variations in temperature, taste or even pressure. Tooth sensitivity has various causes the most common being exposed dentine (hard, dense, bony tissue forming the bulk of a tooth, beneath the enamel). Only a dentist will be able to pinpoint the exact cause and oer a proper solution.
Dental chains
A few dental clinics have a presence in more than one city. Research well before you walk in
APOLLO WHITE DENTAL

This chain is the result of a joint venture between Apollo Hospitals and Trivitron Healthcare and has clinics in Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. It started off as Apollo Dental Centers in 1993 and was rebranded as White Dental Care in 2012. www.apollodentalcentre.com
AXISS DENTAL
Present in 11 cities, the services available in these clinics range from tooth whitening to paediatric dentistry. Axiss Dental is the brainchild of two dentists Dr. Amit Sachdeva and Dr. (Capt.) Sandeep Sharma. The dental chain claims to offer expertise and world-class technology. www.axissdental.com
DENTZZ
Based in the prime areas of Mumbai and Delhi as mentioned on their website, Dentzz clinic offers cosmetic, implant, conventional and preventive dentistry. It also claims to offer a relaxing and comfortable ambience and competitive prices for dental services. www.dentzz.com
MYDENTIST
With 37 clinics in Mumbai and a couple in Pune, MyDentist offers treatments for common dental problems like misaligned teeth and cavities. Its slogan is Smile more, pay less, and MyDentist markets itself as an affordable option. A pricelist is provided on its website. www.mydentist.co.in
Dental clinics or dental hospitals?

Dental hospitals are those associated with dental colleges, Dr Qasba informs us. Dental clinics can be multispeciality or single clinics. All dental colleges are teaching institutions and have all the facilities required for good dental treatment. Dr Kuhu Majumdar, dentist, Bangalore, says, You might want to consider going to a dental hospital to get your treatment done, as its a lot cheaper than dental clinics. As long as you do your homework well, for example, which dentist is good for which treatment, and have patience after all it is a hospital you should be ne.
NARAYANA HRUDAYALAYA DENTAL CLINIC

The NHDC network was created in 2008 and now has 30 clinics in Bangalore and Kolkata, as well as a 24/7 dental helpline. Its various services fall under four categories: general dentistry, speciality dentistry, cosmetic dental care and emergency dental care. www.nhdental.co
COST COMPARISON
W D A
en
DENTAL PROCEDURE Check-up Cleaning Filling Root Canal Treatment 300 600-1,500 600 3,000-4,500 300 700-1,500 600-1,200 NA 500 2,400 2,500 NA Free 300 500-1,000 2,500 200 2,500 900-2,000 3,000-5,500
Prices are as on 17 April, 2013 and are subject to change
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M yD en t is t( `)
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Dental procedures and costs

COMMON MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
Check-ups This is a screening for dental
cavities, periodontal disease and other teeth and gum problems. Dr Qasba says, Dentists also scrutinise the tongue, inner parts of the mouth, soft tissue and hard structure. It should be done about once every six months. Expe ct to pay `10 0 o n w ards . So m e clin ics o ffe r fre e ch e ck-u ps . Cleaning and polishing It is the removal of dental plaque and tartar from teeth. On average, a professional cleaning is recommended at least every six months. Dr Kuhu says, You should get it done once in three months if you have teeth problems or bad oral hygiene. Cleaning involves tooth scaling and polishing. In tooth scaling, instruments are used to remove deposits from teeth. In tooth polishing, dentists smooth out the teeth so that no accumulation of unwanted material occurs. Expe ct to pay `3 0 0 o n w ards X-rays Dental X-rays can be used to see teeth and gum problems that cannot be detected by a simple examination. They help in the early detection of problems, which in turn can prevent you from spending more money and undergoing unnecessary discomfort. Dr Kuhu informs, Orthopantomogram (OPG) is a type of dental X-ray, where you can see all the teeth in one radiograph. Expe ct to pay `50 o n w ards ( D e n tal X-ray) , `4 0 0 o n w ards ( OPG)
Prevent tooth decay

Brush twice a day Floss at least once a day Change your toothbrush every three months Use uoride-containing toothpaste Eat healthy meals Avoid too much of starchy and sweet food Schedule regular dental check-ups
the ideal lling for dental caries. With newer technology, composite llings have been developed. Currently, they are considered to be the best. Expe ct to pay `3 0 0 o n w ards ( ce m e n t) , `50 0 -8 0 0 ( s ilve r am algam ) , `1,0 0 0 -2 ,0 0 0 ( co m po s ite ) Extractions A tooth might have to be extracted if there is no way to save it or it has grown in an odd way. Some types of tooth extractions, such as wisdom tooth extraction, might require surgery.
CLINICAL PROCEDURES
Cavity llings The decayed material
in the tooth is removed and the cavity is lled with a lling. Fillings are of various materials: silver amalgam, gold inlays and onlays, cement and composite. Gold inlays and onlays are not very common now, reports Dr Kuhu. Dr Qasba says, Previously, silver was considered to be
Expe ct to pay `3 0 0 -3 ,0 0 0 de pe n din g o n th e type o f e xtractio n Crown This tooth-shaped cap is cemented over an existing tooth. Dr Qasba says, They are used in root canal treatments, bridges, dental implants and to x broken or misaligned teeth. Zirconium crowns are very popular. The other types are metal crowns, porcelain fused to metal crowns and porcelain crowns. Crowns last for 10 -20 years, says Dr Kuhu. Dr Qasba adds, Metal ceramic crowns are the best and can last for a lifetime. Expe ct to pay `1,50 0 o n w ards ( m e tal) , `3 ,0 0 0 o n w ards ( po rce lain fu s e d to m e tal) , `12 ,0 0 0 o n w ards ( zirco n iu m ) Root canals In a root canal, the infected or dead nerve and pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Dr Kuhu states, This treatment usually requires three sittings. Singlesitting RCT (root canal treatment) gets done in one go. Traditional RCT takes 45 minutes per session, whereas a single sitting RCT will require one and a half to two hours.
Health report
Expe ct to pay `2 ,50 0 o n w ards in to tal Bridges Consist of two crowns one for each tooth anking the missing teeth. These two teeth anchor the replacement teeth and bridge the gap caused by the missing teeth. Dr Kuhu says, The duration they remain in working condition is dependent on crown preparation, adjacent teeth and other factors. They can last up to 10 -20 years. Expe ct to pay Fo r o n e m is s in g to o th `3 ,0 0 0 o n w ards ( ce ram ic) , `9 ,0 0 0 -10 ,0 0 0 ( zirco n iu m ) Dental implants A dental implant is an articial tooth root that is used as a foundation for a false tooth. The roots are usually made of titanium. Dr Kuhu says, Dental implants can last forever if done right. It depends on how well the tooth roots are placed and the type of titanium used. The more expensive ones have better integration with bone, explains Dr Qasba. Expe ct to pay Fro m `15,0 0 0 -2 0 ,0 0 0 to `4 0 ,0 0 0 -50 ,0 0 0 pe r to o th . Th is in clu de s th e co s t o f ttin g a cro w n o ve r th e to o th .
Single-sitting RCT gets done in one go

Composite, cement and acrylic look much better than the traditional silver amalgam llings. They are also durable. Expe ct to pay `3 0 0 -2 ,0 0 0 Teeth whitening/Bleaching It is basically done to whiten teeth. Dr Kuhu informs, Theres professional bleaching, which is done at the dentists, and there are types that can be done at home as well. You will have to place a splint in your mouth instructions will be given in the box that has the dental bleach. However, home bleaching is not as effective as professional bleaching. Expe ct to pay `5,0 0 0 o n w ards Veneers Dental veneers, porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates are very-thin moulds that are bonded to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. Dr Kuhu adds,
COSMETIC PROCEDURES
Tooth colour restoration A colour that is similar to the natural colour of your teeth is used to x your teeth when they have some damage or cavities, which need to be lled. Dr Kuhu says,
Laser dentistry
Dr Neeraj says, Lasers can be used in some dental treatments such as soft tissue surgery, bleaching and root canal sterilization. It is popular nowadays as there is less pain involved and much less bleeding because of the coagulated bleeding area. It is better than electrocautery. However, it has limited use and the results may not be as good as conventional methods. According to me, a knife has better precision. The cost shouldnt be much more than traditional methods maybe a couple hundred rupees extra.
Composite veneers are synthetic versions of porcelain veneers. Porcelain is more durable, but composites are also good. Expe ct to pay `6 ,0 0 0 -7,0 0 0 pe r to o th Gum contouring It is done for people with gums that cover either too much (low gum line) or too little (high gum line) of their teeth. The gum line of their front teeth is restructured. It is usually considered to be a cosmetic surgery, but can also be done as part of necessary periodontal procedures. Expe ct to pay `1,50 0 fo r gu m s o f th re e te e th Braces and retainers Dental braces are used to straighten misaligned teeth. They apply pressure on teeth, making them move a bit at a time in the desired direction. After treatment is done and braces are removed, retainers are used to keep the teeth in the new position till the bone stabilises, explains Dr Qasba. Retainers are made out of acrylic and are removable, unlike braces. They prevent bone from adapting to older incorrect alignment, says Dr Kuhu. Orthodontic treatment, which includes braces and retainers, goes on for a year or so. Expe ct to pay Th e e n tire tre atm e n t co s ts `2 5,0 0 0 o n w ards in to tal Clear aligners Dr Kuhu says, Clear aligners have been developed relatively recently. Teeth measurements are taken and then these transparent, acrylic clear aligners, which are like braces, are made. They help align your teeth without the baggage of braces. Expe ct to pay `1,50 ,0 0 0 fo r th e e n tire tre atm e n t
Prices for treatments are estimates and will vary with location of the clinic and quality of material, among other factors
Age-related issues
WISDOM TEETH
These are the last permanent teeth to grow and usually sprout between teenage to 30 years. Evolution has reduced the size of the human jaw and, sometimes, wisdom teeth may not have sufcient place to grow properly or may get infected or may grow in such a way as to affect the teeth around them. In such cases, surgery might be needed to extract the tooth. Dr Kuhu says, You might think it is needed but dont remove your wisdom teeth if they arent causing you any trouble. Expe ct to pay Extractin g o n e im pacte d w is do m to o th co s ts `1,50 0 -3 ,0 0 0
Tooth jewellery
This is a procedure wherein a jewel is xed on the tooth surface. Dr Qasba says, This procedure starts from around ` 5,000. It is not very popular. The jewel is usually stuck with an adhesive. There arent many problems associated with it, except, maybe abrasion of lips due to the jewel sticking out.
DENTURES
Dentures are false teeth that are removable and can either be a full set or partial. Senior citizens usually opt for dentures but they require a lot of care. You will need to brush them regularly, just like you do natural teeth, to prevent plaque from accumulating. Use a soft-bristled brush to do so. When not worn, keep them in water or a denture cleanser soaking solution as they need to be kept moist. Dentures should be taken out while sleeping. You can wear them for as many hours as needed, says Dr Kuhu. Expe ct to pay D e pe n ds o n th e m ate rial u s e d fo r m akin g th e de n tu re s . Partial de n tu re s co s t `2 ,50 0 -3 0 0 0 an d fu ll de n tu re s `8 ,0 0 0 plu s
Make dental visits easy for children

Start young children as young as one can be taken to the dentist. Ideally, kids should be taken to paediatric dentists, as they have the expertise to cope with a childs dental needs. Also, taking your child to the dentist when hes little will help the dentist to establish a good relationship with your child setting the foundation for good oral hygiene. It is best to avoid references to pain. Your child might go through unnecessary fear when you use words such as needle or hurt. The dentist will be better able to convey things in a simple and non-threatening manner. Come up with playful names for teeth problems, for example, cavities can
How often to go to a dentist

On average, twice a year is a good number for dental visits. However, it really depends on your teeth and gums. People who are susceptible to dental problems (cavities and gum disease) might have to make more frequent visits perhaps three to four times a year. These include smokers, diabetics and those who frequently get cavities and plaque build-up. If you have good dental health and take care of your teeth, then visiting the dentist even just once a year should be ne. But ask your dentist what is the best timeline for your regular dental visits.
be called bug in your tooth; instead of llings, say youre getting a silver/ white star on your tooth depending on if its a silver/ceramic lling. Dont bribe your child with rewards, especially not with sugary treats. Instead, lavish praise on them.
Money report
Credit cards
In this report
We tell you how to manage your credit card usage by understanding interest charges, the ne print and even opting for balance transfers to avoid the debt trap.
Madhurjya Saikia
Credit wise
ear after year, credit card-related trouble is our number one grouse with the banking sector despite the relatively small user base. It accounted for 25% of all complaints to the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBIs) Banking Ombudsman Scheme in 20 10 -11 and 20 % in 20 11-12, the last year for which gures have been made available. The complaints ranged
Hidden charges, increasing interest rates and what to do about them

It is well known that banks hide crucial details about their products in the ne print, and credit cards are no different. You may well accuse the banks of mis-selling, but dont expect a ruling in your favour if you have signed the document that makes clear all the terms and conditions you dispute. Simply put, the buyer must beware. If you're not sure about the terms and conditions
from wrongful debits and erroneous billing to charging annual fees on free cards and credit card skimming (see J argon Buster on p69). It's not known how many of these cases were decided in the consumers favour, but it is reasonable to assume that many of these complaints could have been avoided had the terms and conditions been read and explained properly at the time of signing up.
because of the language used or you didnt know what to look for in the rst place, read on. This report reveals all those niggling details buried in the ne print and tells you what to do in case youre in a credit jam.
BUYER BEWARE
Even credit card companies offering the lowest interest rates dont advertise them; it's unlikely you'll want a credit card if you don't believe you'll be able to pay on time. This is perhaps how it should be, too, because credit cards are your most expensive credit option. Delayed payment is typically inadvertent. A few reasons we use credit cards are the reward points and discounts, so in brochures and online, this takes precedence over card details. No harm done by the card company, of course. But lack of attention to the charges could cause problems if the ne print is ignored until the problem arrives. In fact, often enough we dont know what our interest rates are or the charges applicable on our cards. If youre even considering delaying payment or doing what youve not tried before, read on.
Your interest rate uctuates according to your spending patterns
DYNAMIC INTEREST RATES

Banks are usually specic about your interest rate in the brochure. It will simply
say your rate of interest is 3.15% per month, as Citibank does, or 2.75%, as ING Vysya does. This is true, but only initially. After using your card for the initial few months, you card provider gains insight into your spending patterns. If you were too close to your card limit or were unable to pay your bill in full on time, your rate of interest will increase. The range between which your interest rate can uctuate is mentioned in the Most Important Terms & Conditions (MITCs) of your credit card. Some banks are specic about it, others arent. Both Citibank and ING Vysya say that your interest rate will increase based on usage in the ne print. ING Vysyas initial rate is 2.75% per month, but could be upped
A cash advance, in fact, has no interest-free period

to 3.3% per month, a sizeable difference of 6% per annum. For Citibank, the uctuation range is 3.15% to 3.35% per month. One bank that isnt ever upfront about this is Axis Bank, even though it allows itself to increase the rate by nearly 8% per annum in some cases. For example, in its MITCs for its Titanium and Silver cards, it simply says the rate is 3.25% per month (46.78% per annum). We had to call the bank to nd that the monthly rate was the lowest your interest could be, whereas the annual rate
Jargon Buster
Card skimming
Skimming is the theft of credit card information used in an otherwise legitimate transaction. The thief can procure a victim's credit card number using photocopied receipts or by stealing credit card numbers. Common scenarios for skimming are restaurants or bars. in state capitals. In recent months, however, there have been reports claiming vacant oces of ombudsmen in certain states.
Due date
The date by which you must pay the full amount on your bill. If you pay even a little less, you will incur interest on this amount, and even on your subsequent purchases from the day they are made, until you are paid up 100%. If you dont even pay the minimum amount due, you will also require to pay a late payment fee and risk losing your card altogether.
Banking Ombudsman
The Banking Ombudsman is a senior ocial appointed by the RBI to redress customer complaints against deciency in certain banking services. These ombudsmen are located mostly
Money report
Credit cards
up 80 % of your limit in that month, you can still withdraw 40 %, as this facility is separate from your credit card facility. Dont wait for your statement to clear if off. Pay it back as soon as possible because youre charged on a daily basis.
Only a handful of credit cards are actually free

UNTOLD ANNUAL CHARGES
(46.78/ 12=3.9%) was what it could be if you defaulted. Our advice If you believe youre overusing your card particularly if youre soon to delay payment call up your card company to nd out what your rate of interest is. If you think its unmanageable, consider transferring your balance to a low-interest-rate card (see Transferring your balance on p72). loan on the market, attracting an interest at the same rate as your credit card the moment the cash is dispensed by the machine. Even though it could easily be explained to the consumer, at least when declaring the length of the interest-free period in the brochure, this is left out. Whats even more interesting is that this is generally explained last even in the ne print, despite its potential to spike your bill. If you were to withdraw `60 ,0 0 0 at 3.35% for 30 days, it would cost you an extra `2,0 10 , in addition to the transaction charge of `1,50 0 . Our advice This is only for emergencies. Dont withdraw any more than 40 % of your credit limit. If youve already used RBI has received several complaints from customers alleging that they have been charged an annual fee on cards they were told would be free. Whatever youve been told, only a handful of credit cards are actually free despite advertisements to the contrary. The rst or even the second years charges may have been waived, but there will be conditions. You will either have to spend a certain amount over the year to have these charges waived or perform a certain number of transactions. This happens with both private (HDFC, for example) and public (Bank of Baroda) sector banks. HDFC, for example, waives the fee annually if you spend `30 ,0 0 0 over the year with its Platinum card ( `299 a year) and if you
CASH ADVANCE DANGER

You may not be sure why such a feature exists until you need it. It could be very useful at times, particularly if theres an emergency. If youve only read the charges applicable on your card, you may even consider advance cash a good deal. You'll be charged a certain percentage (2-2.5%) per transaction, subject to a minimum amount (usually `30 0 ). If your credit limit is `1.5 lakh, for example, you can withdraw `60 ,0 0 0 for `1,50 0 . A fair deal, you may reason. If you didnt have the money in savings, youd otherwise have to apply for a personal loan on which there would anyway be processing charges. With your credit card, thered be no waiting. If you were able to pay the amount back without any delay, youd also avoid paying any interest, right? There was, after all, nothing else mentioned in the brochure or schedule of charges. If you thought this, youd be wrong. A cash advance, in fact, has no interestfree period. Its the most expensive personal
When you convert purchases to EMI, you risk crossing your limit
spend `1.5 lakh with its J et Airways Privilege Titanium card ( `599). Bank of Baroda says its cards have no renewal fee, but on reading the entire brochure, youll learn that it applies only if you make 12 transactions in the year. Our advice It is unfair if the card, which you wish to use only occasionally, has an annual charge despite promises to the contrary. You could protest, but, given the writing in the MITCs, its unlikely youll win. The RBI has time and again advised consumers to read the ne print. Under no circumstance, though, should you delay payment of the annual charge, even if youve complained to the Ombudsman. This is because if you lose the case, you will have to pay interest on the charge for as many months.
CROSSING YOUR LIMIT

Credit card companies dont usually tell you what your interest rate is in your bill. Citibank, for example, only provides you with a link in the online version of the bill. If you click on it, it only takes you to the main page of its website, not to the page that tells you the interest rate. What is always mentioned prominently in your bill is the option to convert your bill into equated monthly instalments (EMIs). Even at stores,
whether online or bricks-and-mortar, the promotions for payment in instalments are hard to miss. The deals are slightly expensive, but good if you need them. You pay a processing fee of around 1.5% and around 18% per annum. You might convert one or several of your payments to EMI. What you may end up doing in the bargain is exceeding your credit limit. This is because even though you are paying an instalment of say, 10 % of the total value per month, your credit limit is reduced by the total value the moment you make the
purchase. So, lets say your credit limit is `60 ,0 0 0 and you purchase a refrigerator from a store for `40 ,0 0 0 and will be repaying this amount in 12 instalments of `3,80 0 each with interest. In the next month, if you make purchases worth `25,0 0 0 , youd have exceeded your credit limit. This is because after the rst payment of `3,80 0 , your credit limit will be `24,40 0 ( `60 ,0 0 0 `40 ,0 0 0 `3,80 0 ). This will result in an over-limit charge of `50 0 to `750 , or 1.5-2% of the amount by which you exceed your limit, whichever is higher. This is usually not even mentioned in the MITCs. You need to gure it out. Another danger of incurring the overlimit charge lies in exceeding internal limits. For example, with Bank of Baroda cards, theres an internal limit on everything from restaurants (20 %) to online purchases (20 %). The penalty for exceeding your limit is 1% on the amount by which you exceed the limit. Our advice When you do convert your purchases into EMI, bear in mind the difference it makes to your credit limit. Also, credit card companies share information with credit bureaus. Too many EMIs would indicate a lesser ability to manage your money and, therefore, drop your credit score.
Possible silly mistakes

With mobile and internet banking it's inexcusable, but it is very possible to forget to pay your bill on time. You may be on holiday or just plain busy. The solution is setting up a direct debit facility so that the bill is paid on time. Dont give instructions to make the payment too close to the due date (see Jargon Buster, p69), though; a system failure or delayed payment would mean a barrage of charges, including late payment fees (up to `700 with HDFC). Not a rupee less A single rupee makes all the dierence. When card companies say they require a 100% payment, they mean it. The reason for this is that even if you pay a rupee less than you need to, youll end up paying interest on it and all purchases you make in the next month from the very day you make a purchase. Clear issue Payment is to be made by the due date, so if you are issuing a cheque, it needs to be in the drop box at least two days before for it to clear before the due date. There have been instances of cheques being lost in the drop box so it is advisable to make the payment online. Cheques issued to clear your own credit card are usually credited even if the signature does not tally. Up to you Its your credit card, so its up to you to pay it even if you dont receive the bill. It seems unfair, but the bank excuses itself from any consequence if it doesnt send you the bill. Axis Bank, for example, writes, Non receipt of statement would not aect your obligations and liabilities under this agreement and you shall be liable to settle the outstanding balance on the card within payment due date.
Money report
Credit cards
TRANSFERRING YOUR BALANCE

Let's say you have a credit card from Citibank (interest rate of 3.35%) and, after months of not making full payment, your bill is ` 75,000. You could consider transferring your dues to another bank card, thereby saving yourself quite a sum of money
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CONVERSION OPTIONS Citibank (3.35% per month) With Axis Bank (@0% for 3 months) With SBI (@1.7% for 6 months) 75,000 75,000 75,000 NA 1,500 1,500 3,750 3,750 3,750 73,636 71,250 72,461 3,681 3,562 3,623 72,298 67,688 70,008 3,615 3,385 3,500 70,984 64,303 67,638 NA 5,181 (includes processing fee) 1,846 (includes processing fee)
What to do
A credit card's convenience could turn dangerous if misused. The interest may not seem much if settled quickly, but the eect of compounding (interest on new purchases, interest on interest) can have a disastrous eect. If you nd yourself in a spot, consider the following options as quickly as possible. Take remedial measures before its too late
Rate increase? Don't pay

Your card company isnt required to inform you personally of changes to the MITCs. It could just put it up on the notice board at its branches or on the website. Usually, the notice period will be one month. Changes in interest rates, though, being dynamic, are immediate. Now heres the interesting part: if a change in the terms and conditions is to the disadvantage of the consumer, you have two months from the date of the notice to refuse to pay any of the charges that arise out of the change. Citibank, for example, says, If the changes are to the disadvantage of our customer, the customer may close the account at any time up to two months from the date of the notice without having to pay any extra charges or interest for doing this.
better introductory oer. This competition between banks, though, can really sort you out. Many banks oer balance transfer deals (see table, above) with an introductory rate of 0% (Citibank, for example) to less than 1% (Bank of Baroda) for the rst three to six months, which allows you to bring your debt back under control. With a balance transfer, your new card provider settles your bill with your old provider. This amount is then transferred to your new credit card, but at lower initial rates, if theres any interest rate at all.
Take your business elsewhere

Balance transfer is simply one bank trying to poach another banks customer with a
Get free help

If you have a serious problem managing your debt, consider talking to
professionals. Many commercial banks have set up free nancial counselling centres to help those who have made mistakes with their nances to reduce their debt. Advice from such centres can be helpful in keeping creditors or recovery agents at bay. It shows that you are sincerely willing to resolve the matter. Counsellors will suggest ways to lower the debt burden and possibly changes in your lifestyle and spending. You may visit a centre opened by your own credit card provider or you can also go to any other banks centre. ICICIs counselling centre, for example, is called Disha, while Bank of Indias is called Abhay.
Spin doctor
Feature
Do oil massages keep your hair healthy?

assaging ones hair with oil is a tradition that is so ingrained in India, that most of us consider it an integral part of hair care. It may have been practised for generations, but we dig deeper to see if this treatment really makes a difference to the quality of your tresses. Head oil massages are most commonly associated with relaxation and enhancing circulation. Its the massage rather than the oil that is helpful, says Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon, New Delhi. A good oil massage done in the right manner helps reduce stress a reason for hair loss.
Does the most age-old method of hair care really help or is it just an archaic ritual? We nd out
that causes dandruff is lipophilic, which means it grows better in oily conditions. This in turn can cause formation of dandruff and boils and also severe itching which can lead to hair loss.
follicles is necessary for the hair as it is fed by the nutrients in the bloodstream. Oil massages help to keep the scalp healthy, nourish the hair and improve the look of dry and damaged hair, explains Shahnaz Husain, beauty expert, New Delhi.
BOTTOM LINE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?

Despite the benets, oil massages arent completely harmless. If there are hair loss issues and the roots are already weak, the hair should not be massaged, as it may aggravate the problem, cautions Husain. You need to keep in mind the texture of your hair and surface of your scalp before oiling. Those with already oily scalps should avoid oil massages. Dr Vinay says that oiling should be done only when hair feels dry or requires conditioning. Excessive application of oil can increase the formation of dandruff. The organism Oil massages have more positives than negatives if you gauge your hair type correctly before indulging. It may not yield results as effective as promised by a legacy of ancestral practice, but balanced application and a good massage should do no harm.
GETTING TO THE ROOT OF IT

Dr Vinay Gopalani, dermatologist, Mumbai, says that oiling helps in conditioning dry, tangled or unmanageable hair. It usually gives immediate benets and long term use would help keep your hair in good condition, he adds. The application of oil with a light massage does soften the texture of the hair and also stimulates blood circulation to the follicles. Good blood circulation to the
Right way to apply oil

Hair oil, if applied, should be massaged in the right manner for maximum benet. The action of massage can help in increasing the blood ow on the scalp. The right way of applying oil is by gently massaging it onto your scalp in a circular motion, with the help of your ngertips to improve blood circulation in your scalp, says Heena Duneja, hair expert, Berkowits Hair and Skin Clinic, New Delhi. It is advisable that you oil your hair one hour before you shampoo and wrap it with a hot towel for better results.
Ask the experts

Car tyres
I just bought a new car and want to know how to maintain the car tyres. Rahul Arora, Delhi Check the tyre pressure (when cold) every fortnight and before long journeys. Low tyre pressure leads to lower sideways grip, higher fuel consumption and excessive wear and tear. Check your tyres weekly for stones in the tread and remove any you nd. Inspect the tyres for cuts, bulges and wear. If they are in bad shape, go to a tyre tter to x them. How you drive also affects tyre life. Avoid harsh braking, rapid acceleration, fast cornering and kerb strikes. Replace tyres when the tread depth falls below 3mm. The performance will deteriorate below 2mm or thereabouts. As a guide, a new tyre will have about 8mm depth. If you use a pressure washer, avoid aiming the jet directly at the tyres. This can damage the tyre by washing away additives in the rubber that protect them from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light.
Online banking
How do I protect myself from fraud while banking online? Zareen Sheikh, Mumbai Dont click on any links in emails that say theyre from your bank. Instead, type your banks full website address into your browser. If you want to double check whether a message is genuine, ring your bank. Protect your computer with good security software such as Bullguard Internet Security 2013, (84%, `1,652) or Avira Free Antivirus (75%, Free). Keep it and your browser up-to-date. Before you enter your account details into a website, make sure there is a padlock symbol in your browser and that the beginning of the web address changes from http to https, which means the connection is secure. Avoid accessing your bank account from public computers and check your bank account statements regularly for suspicious transactions. If you spot something unfamiliar, report it to your bank as soon as you can.
Pop-ups
I get several pop-up windows when Im surng the net on my Firefox browser. How do I block them? Mrinalini Tyagi, Kolkata Pop-ups are additional browser windows that are opened by a website. Often annoying, as theyre frequently used to push advertisements at the viewer, pop-ups can also be harmful. They can contain malicious links or unsuitable material. Most browsers these days come with lters and controls that automatically block popups or only allow those from benign sites. Heres how you block pop-ups in your Firefox web browser. Go to Tools and select Options. In the dialog box that appears, click on the Content tab. Make sure theres a tick next to Block popup windows. If you wish to allow pop-ups for a certain website, click on the Exceptions button next to the Block popup option and type the address of a website. Click Allow > Close > OK to nish.
Ask your questions

Send your questions or ideas to editor@ whichrightchoice.com or write to Ask the Experts, Right Choice, c/o Hill Road Media, 76, Pali Village, Pali Naka, Bandra West, Mumbai 400 050
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Suitcases Blu-ray players

I want to buy a good Blu-ray player without shelling out too much. Can you tell me which one to go for? Madhav Shah, Baroda Blu-ray players make watching movies even more enjoyable. Right Choices LG BP620 and Panasonic DMP BDT220, both scoring 83% and costing `13,990 are the top-scoring players from our tests. Less expensive at `11,490, is the Right Choice Samsung BD E5500, which scored 78%. Its picture quality is good whether youre watching HD Bluray movies or standard denition DVDs, but its not the most feature-packed. If all these sound costly, dont worry the Philips BDP 3380, costing only `7,990, gives good results as well. But be warned it can be a bit frustrating to use and so just misses out on being a Right Choice. I am going on a holiday and need to buy a trolley bag. Should I go for a hard-sided or soft-sided one? Aniket Pandit, Pune Hard-sided luggage has an exterior that is stiff, while soft-sided luggage is made of exible fabric. The major advantage of hard-sided suitcases is that they can offer greater protection than soft-sided luggage and are also more water-resistant. On the other hand, the exible fabric of soft-sided suitcases makes them relatively easy to store and increases the suitcase capacity. If you choose a hardsided suitcase, we recommend the Samsonite Cosmolite Spinner (88%, `26,200). For a soft-sided trolley bag, pick the Samsonite X-Blade (87%, `9,100)
Sandwich-makers
Im looking to buy a sandwich-maker for quick breakfasts. Which one toasts bread the quickest? Viveka Rana, Mumbai The Right Choice Oster CKSTSM 2222 (79%), priced at `1,295, is a slim and light sandwich-maker. Crisp, golden brown sandwiches can be made quickly the appliance is ready to use in just over 2.5 minutes and toasts bread in about the same time. You can make two sandwiches simultaneously.
Focus: Getting a piped gas connection

Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections are a safe, environmentally friendly and convenient way to get a continuous supply of gas in your home. To switch to PNG or to get a new connection, heres what you need to do:
Installation procedure
On completion of the safety survey, the team will decide on the location of the pipeline and other such technicalities. The technician will also convert your LPG appliance to PNG, install a meter and pressure regulator and make other necessary ttings for the PNG connection. Check how the connection works, under their supervision, and get your queries answered before the start of your tenure.
Book your connection

Inform the company about your interest in getting a PNG connection and get your application form from the company.
Submit documents
Duly ll the application form and submit it along with your address, identity and ownership proof and the registration fees.
Necessary inspections
Once you submit the application to the provider, a technical team will be sent to your home to carry out a safety survey of the premises.
Final Settlement
Additional charges, like extra pipe length, may be incurred during the process of installation, based on the requirements.
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Blu-ray players
Which one do you own? Is the picture quality worth the extra price? Wed like to know.
Laptops
What features do you look for in a laptop? Let us know what you couldnt live without.
All-in-one computers
Does your PC have enough power to run smoothly? Tell us how you zeroed in on your choice.
Air-conditioners
Does your AC cool well? Write to us with your views.
Phablets
What size is your phone tablets screen? Is carrying it around a hassle? Give us your inputs.
Ebook readers
Do you mainly read on an ebook reader? Write to us.
Camcorders
How much did you spend on your camcorder? Is it a highdenition model? Let us know.
Washing machines
How old is your washing machine? Has it ever needed a service? Wed like to know.
Been ripped off or got a good deal? Email editor@whichrightchoice.com with your story. Dont forget to include your contact details so that we can get in touch with you.
Index
May 13 Laptops DSLR cameras MP3 players Music phones Microwaves Gyms Skin care Dec 12 Bridge cameras Geysers Ebook readers Dual-Sim mobiles Cheese taste test Credit card survey
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Our scientists put products through the hardest tests. To make your decisions really simple
When testing mattresses, we measure support for various parts of the body head, shoulders, torso, hip and heels.
In laboratories in India and seven other countries around the world we buy and test washing machines, microwave ovens, cameras, batteries and diapers around 100 product categories altogether. Our consumer surveys cover a similar range of services, from banking to airlines and from broadband providers to cinemas. Just so that when you buy something we have recommended, you know you have made the right choice.
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MOBILE PHONES Pick a Right Choice phone to suit your budget
DIRECT TO HOME We explore the options available for direct to home services so you can check your options
FINANCE PLANS FOR CHILDREN What you should know before investing in these plans
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Mobiles
Our extensive report on mobile phones helps you choose the best Right Choice according to your needs and budget. Weve tested everything from budget mobiles to high-end mobile phones with cutting edge technology
Portable hard drives

Our tech experts have invested their time carrying out rigorous testing to nd out which external hard drives are the best performers. Find the results explained in plain language in our list of Right Choices
DTH services
With direct to home (DTH) mandatory, you need to pick one of the ve operators or your local cable operator. You may think picking one of them is easy enough, but have you checked prices and considered the options?
Printers
We take the hard work out of choosing a printer with our testing for print quality, print speed, durability and ease of use. Also read our tips on cutting running costs to ensure your new printer doesnt burn a hole in your pocket
Finance plans for kids

Sold as products that will go a long way to securing your childs future, we tell you why investing in these kinds of plans is not always the best route to ensure your offsprings future nancial wellbeing
Pest Control
From choosing the right method and the precautions to take, to what companies are offering and what contract is advisable, we take a good look at the pest control options available for your home
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37
The time, in seconds, taken by the Right Choice Morphy Richards Smart Chef to grind coconut nely
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The distance in metres up to which youll get a strong signal and clear picture of your child from the Right Choice Motorola MBP36 baby monitor The exceptional battery life on calls from the Right Choice Sony Xperia Tipo budget phone
The dierence in battery life between the Right Choice Asus Transformer Pad TF300 (with keyboard) and the Micromax Funbook, when playing HD video continuously on a single charge
523 minutes
4.5g
The amount of sugar in a tablespoon of Maggi Rich Tomato ketchup the equivalent of almost a whole teaspoon
`42
The cost the Right Choice Samsung UA55ES8000 TV adds to your average monthly electricity bill
`8,000 1,018
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June 2013, ` 150

Unbiased Expert Advice. Always.

Online shopping Dental check-ups

the UKs largest consumer organisation

Your complaints resolved

02 I Right Choice I June 2013

Unbiased Expert Advice. Always.

rigorous tests. rigo

WRONG per perform poorly get CHOICE

The ones which this label.

Pe Perform well in ou our tests and are rel relatively low-cost.

June 2013 I Right Choice I 03

MAHARASHTA HOSPITALS FOLLOW SUIT

BEWARE OF SUB-STANDARD QUALITY

IS GENERIC MEDICATION SAFE TO USE?

Combiam Amoxil, Amox, Mox

04 I Right Choice I June 2013

Faulty transactions on credit card

RBI guidelines for disputed transactions

June 2013 I Right Choice I 05

Electricity company to return wrongful charges

Contributed by the Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC)

HSBC held decient in service

06 I Right Choice I June 2013

Airline forced to pay `1 lakh compensation

Sin tax on tobacco

TRAI to deactivate inactive mobile numbers

If baggage is lost in transit, the airline is guilty of deciency in service

Get in touch with Right Choice

Contributed by the Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC)

June 2013 I Right Choice I 07

Your complaints resolved

College refunds fees to international student

Samsung waives repair costs for senior citizens

08 I Right Choice I June 2013

Passenger protests booking inefficiency by airline

Car undelivered for over six months

June 2013 I Right Choice I 09

59% HTC WINDOWS PHONE 8S, `18,500

These The new

66% YAMAHA PDX11, `9,490

10 I Right Choice I June 2013

Google Nexus 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S III

Samsung Galaxy S III

Samsung Galaxy S III

Samsung Galaxy S III

Samsung Galaxy S III

June 2013 I Right Choice I 11

SAMSUNG UA55F8000, ` 2,30,900

69% BARNES & NOBLE NOOK HD, `17,350

12 I Right Choice I June 2013

69% LENOVO S300, ` 29,790

Google Play Movies

Wishtels IRA Capsule

FUJIFILM SL1000, ` 29,999

Micromax Viva Style A72

June 2013 I Right Choice I 13

77% MIELE S6210 POWER, ` 27,990

51% REMINGTON D 4444 HAIR DRYER, ` 3,999

MIDEA MASTERCHEF AW925 CONVECTION OVEN, `12,900

14 I Right Choice I June 2013

VGUARD VIC 400 INDUCTION HOB, `4,670

TEFAL FRESH EXPRESS, `6,999