Productopia

Garment steamers are touted as a substitute for ironing and a way to freshen clothes between trips to the dry cleaner. But don't get your hopes up: Most experts agree that a garment steamer cannot completely replace an iron for all of your clothing.

In a Good Housekeeping review, editors note that while a garment steamers can be an alternative to traditional steam irons, the steamers struggle with "sharp creases and stiff fabrics, like dress shirts."

Own any Baby Einstein DVDs? Unhappy that your child isn't smarter as a result? Well, now you can get your money back. Depending on which articles you read, the refund offer -- which has been available since September but was only splashed around in the media this week -- is either a hangdog admission of fraudulent marketing or the result of a one-woman smear campaign against Disney, the parent company of Baby Einstein.

Touted as a "gym-free" way to trim down, sales for Skechers Shape-Ups continue to soar. In fact, earlier this year, the company even launched a men's and more conservative work-shoe line. So what's the real scoop on these shoes?

Skechers claims that its Shape Up shoe line, which features rocking, slanted soles, naturally activate more muscle fibers to quickly and better tone a walker's thighs, buttocks and core. Some enthusiastic striders even say the shoes improved their posture and decreased cellulite. Reviews we found said the shoes "took a little getting used to" but were generally comfortable to wear. Sound appealing? Sure. Is the science solid? Skechers says yes.

Logitech and Microsoft are the primary competitors in the computer mice space. In the latest crop of reviews, Logitech's MX1100 Cordless Laser Mouse takes the lead for general-purpose mice, earning high marks for its ergonomic, contoured shape and full-size design.

Gaming and graphics professionals who need precise pointer control will like the Microsoft SideWinder X8, which beats out competing mice from Logitech for the first time. What makes it so great? The Sidewinder features Microsoft's BlueTrack system for working well on nearly any surface, and is capable of processing 13,000 images per second.