Productopia

The $320 Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow electric fireplace -- perhaps better known as the "Amish Heater" in advertisements -- is a space heater that's designed to resemble a traditional wood fireplace. The infomercial suggests that the Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow was invented by the Amish, who disavow the use of electricity. The validity of this claim has sparked many media probes, including an article in The New York Times. If you read the fine print, you'll find that the so-called "Amish Heater" is actually made in China, but the Amish are responsible for the handcrafted wooden mantle that encloses it. So, is there a reason to pay more than $300 for this space heater?

The $320 Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow electric fireplace -- perhaps better known as the "Amish Heater" in advertisements -- is a space heater that's designed to resemble a traditional wood fireplace. The infomercial suggests that the Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow was invented by the Amish, who disavow the use of electricity. The validity of this claim has sparked many media probes, including an article in The New York Times. If you read the fine print, you'll find that the so-called "Amish Heater" is actually made in China, but the Amish are responsible for the handcrafted wooden mantle that encloses it. So, is there a reason to pay more than $300 for this space heater? Read more

In the latest update to our ConsumerSearch report on the best can openers, we highlight three models that are worth your money. We also discuss one can opener that's best left on the shelf: the battery-powered One Touch Can Opener (*Est. $20). This can opener is a staple of as-seen-on-TV telemarketing, promising a "fast, easy way to open cans." But according to professional reviews and user opinion, the One Touch doesn't work as well as the commercials suggest.

Higher costs for gold, unskilled labor and French hens has helped push up the cost of Christmas by a modest 1.8 percent this year. So says the 2009 PNC Christmas Price Index. Calculated annually by PNC Wealth Management, the Christmas Price Index measures how much all of the gifts in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" would cost. For 2009, the price of the gifts mentioned in the last verse totals $21,465.56 -- a little over $385 more than last year, and the smallest increase since 2002, when the index actually fell. In case you're feeling especially generous, the cost of buying all the gifts in all the verses is $87,402.81, an bump of just under 1 percent over last year.

Toyota has just unveiled the 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan (pictured) at the Los Angeles auto show. It replaces the current best-reviewed model early next year. The 2011 Sienna is all new, and from the looks of things, Toyota's tried to make it all things to all families, with new styling, a reconfigured interior, two engine offerings, available all-wheel-drive (they're still the only ones to offer it in their minivan), and a fairly dizzying array of entertainment and convenience features. Basically, it's the kitchen-sink approach to delivering a family room on wheels.