Productopia

Government officials and window-covering manufacturers have issued an immediate recall for all Roman shades and roll-up blinds for homes with small children. The reason: Tiny tots can easily become tangled in these product's cords -- an occurrence which can lead to strangulation.

Strangulations in Roman shades most commonly occur when a young child places their neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind. Similarly, a child's neck can also become constricted when entangled in the lifting loop of a roll-up blind. "Parents need to understand that these are hidden dangers, that a child can get entangled or strangled on these cords very quickly," said Inez Tenenbaum, a chairman for the CPSC. Parents who have Roman or roll-up shades in their homes should discontinue their usage right away or contact the Window Covering Safety Council at (800) 506-4636 to receive a free repair kit.

To learn more about this serious recall, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site. For other solid baby-safe product suggestions read our recent reports on monitors, cribs and carseats.

Let's say you've spent upwards of $200,000 (probably well upwards) on your shiny new Bentley -- hand-picked paint-color, fully customized interior appointments, the works -- a sybaritic tour de force. This is a gorgeous place to be, but a store-bought child seat or booster will bring the cabin's ambiance downmarket in a hurry -- at least it will if you live in the U.S. But if you live in the U.K. (and, possibly, other markets in Europe), you have options. Lots of 'em. Just bring money. (That shouldn't be a problem, right?)

Read a few user reviews of paper shredders and it's quickly clear: when these things don't work, they drive their owners nuts. The biggest complaints are of jammed-up paper, motors that overheat, gears that shred into plastic bits and noise that's jet-engine loud. For our latest report on paper shredders, we took a close look at models that make jam-proof claims. Some, like the Fellowes Intellishred line, actually guarantee it. But do they hold up to scrutiny?

If your computer needs a refresh, but you're not ready to buy a new one, replacing the keyboard is an easy upgrade. Standalone keyboards are often more comfortable and reliable than those bundled with desktop PCs. Logitech continues to dominate reviews with top-performing keyboards in the gaming, media center, and budget categories. Meanwhile, Saitek's Eclipse II continues its reign as the best general-purpose keyboard.

Most reviewers concur that the illuminated Saitek Eclipse II (*Est. $50) is an excellent general-purpose keyboard. The Eclipse II offers many color options for illumination, a variable dimmer option and a cluster of multimedia buttons to control volume and to play and pause music tracks.

Those on a budget can grab a wireless keyboard for just 25 bucks. The HP Wireless Elite Keyboard (*Est. $25) is an excellent value because, unlike nearly all other budget keyboards, it offers wireless connectivity. It also takes up very little desktop space due to its slim design. Users on Amazon.com and Newegg.com praise its comfort and clean look, although a few complain of build quality issues.