Dear ConsumerSearch... Answering reader questions and comments

We at ConsumerSearch welcome reader feedback, be it a question, a comment or a complaint. From time to time, we like to answer reader mail on the blog; in some cases, the particular question or comment is a common one. Read on for a sampling from the ConsumerSearch inbox. In some instances, letters have been edited for length.

Dear ConsumerSearch: Just wanted to let you know I had Straight Talk phone service for 6 months.  I had to replace one of the two phones I had after 5 months (slider phone that cut its wire--I was told it couldn't be repaired).  Second phone worked for 1 month.  We renewed our minutes on Saturday morning, and neither phone has worked since.  I rate the company a minus Zero...spent over 3 hours in a 3 day period for naught.  Straight Talk hung up on me 3 different times...once playing like they couldn't hear me.  Plus, their employees speak English as second language only, making it very difficult to understand them. — Marcia

Dear Marcia: As we note in our report on prepaid wireless plans, many users complain about Straight Talk's phone selection and poor customer service. We're planning to update our full report on prepaid wireless later this year, and we'll definitely keep user opinion like yours in mind when we review services such as Straight Talk.

Dear ConsumerSearch: I want to ask is there any retailer or seller that ships the things I need such as double stroller to Malaysia? — Hafizah

Dear Hafizah: Many online retailers do ship overseas, although each company's policy is different. Amazon.com -- which sells a large number of products reviewed by ConsumerSearch -- is one such retailer that can ship to an international address. You can read more about their international shipping policies on their website.

Dear ConsumerSearch: I recently bought a Droid 2.  I read all the reviews and did not come across the inability to set font size for the display.  Thats a big problem for the visually impaired, usually anyone over 45.  Look at this link -- it's been a prolbem since late 2009: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=4547 — John

Dear John: When we review cell phones and smartphones, we praise models that offer accessibility features such as large font sizes and buttons, but we don't always point out phones that don't have such features. For now, phones that do have these features can be found in our Best Cell Phones for Seniors list, though, of course, these features appeal to a wider audience. We haven't yet completed our review of the Droid 2, but will surely bring up this issue.

When it comes to Android phones, the only place you can increase font size is in the browser, where you can also zoom in and out. There are some apps available that can help, such as Chompsms (for text messages) and Spare Parts (both free) - but these are limited as well. Android does offer some accessibility features including text to speech - the phone will read out messages to you, but there's still no way to adjust font size. (You can access these features, TalkBack, SoundBack and KickBack, under Settings > Accessibility.

Dear ConsumerSearch: In your A/V reviews a major one that you omitted was Windows Security Essentials. I have been using it since it was initially released and couldn't be more pleased. It updates automatically every day, though I generally trigger updates at least once a day.  Over the time that I've had it, it has caught a number of issues with the option of deleting each at my choice. I am far more content with it than I was with any of my previous A/Vs, and I truly think that Microsoft has evolved it into a very excellent product. — Charles

Dear Charles: Our reports are based on a consensus of professional reviews and user opinion. We do discuss Windows Security Essentials -- the free, scaled-down replacement for Microsoft's discontinued Windows Live OneCare program -- briefly in our full report on antivirus software, but as we note, experts have mixed opinions about it:

"Seth Rosenblatt at Download.com likes the new suite of programs, saying that it doesn't take up much in the way of system resources, and comes pre-configured and is easy to use. PCMag.com's Neil J. Rubenking finds that Security Essentials' detection isn't very effective. He says that 'it's not a big improvement over the now-defunct OneCare as far as malware protection goes,' and recommends AVG's free version instead. Most user reviewers weighing in at Download.com and PCMag.com are more positive in their appraisals, however..."

Ultimately, the opinion that matters most is the owner's, and as long as you are happy with your choice, that's what's important.