Who Knew - Free Access to Consumer Reports via the Library

Lord knows I'm not a big fan of physically entering any one of Toronto's public libraries.  I spent two months studying for professional exams years ago and saw some atrocious behaviour by my fellow plebeians.  It takes a real special someone to take the newspaper on a pole into the men's room.  My issue of the moment is that my cell phone contract is up and I'm going to break free from my cursed 3 year old Blackberry Torch. I'm all confused about Samsung vs. IPhone... what about Motorola, HTC, or Eriksson.   I suffered long with my phone that has problems accessing countless webpages (HTML 5), apps in limited supply and reminds me of dialing rotary phone just waiting for a weather update.   Just like being a Maple Leafs fan, I'm being punished for being a "Homer" with my Blackberry.

So, what I learned is ConsumerReports.org has 102 reviews of smart phones and actual methodology to evaluating them.  In the reviews you can see both the pros and cons.  A little easier to follow then all noise if you look you simply Google "What Smartphone should I get."  You can save the $40 annual fee by simply logging into the Toronto Public Library and using the search command.  You are already paying for the library via property taxes and they pay a fee to Consumer Reports.  So no need to feel guilty.  This probably likewise works in most regional library systems. 

The homepage of Consumer Reports:

Top half of a Smartphone review:

Some other fun things I learned today is that the busiest day for Smartphone sales (outside of product launches) is January 2nd of every year.  Apparently, we have too much fun the day before.  Actually, 1/3 of all smart phones in the United States are lost/damaged between the hours of 9pm and 2am at the local watering holes and clubs.   But, I still love you beer. 

Anyways, why do I love Consumer Reports is simply half the businesses you visit a salesman is pushing you to making a purchase and of course get the extended warranty.  You have to get the one with the most bells and whistles.  Of course you will never use most of the features. The other half of businesses  you could set off flares and get nobody's attention and when you do find a salesperson they read the signage with you. 

Consumer Reports has worked for us before when we bought our car and kitchen appliances.  It helped with the nagging doubts in the back of one's head when you spend a lot of money. Silence!  Just wanted to share what I learned.  It is nice when spending money that you have an independent third party that does this professionally, rather than strangers comments from Topeka.    Now to go torture a salesperson at a Bell Mobile store.