New...but improved?

In "LCD & Plasma TVs" (December 2008), I did not find an answer to my question: If I buy a 40-inch high-definition LCD TV but don't have HD cable, will the picture be as good as that of my current analog TV on regular cable?

Scott Way
Charlotte, NC

A good HDTV won't make the analog cable signal any worse, but it might reveal flaws in standard-definition images more clearly than your old TV did, especially if the new screen is larger than your old one. The picture might not look that bad, but there's no doubt you would have better picture quality with HD cable programming.

Making the grade

"Do You Need Premium Gas?" (Up Front, December 2008) doesn't talk about octane numbers. I checked my owner's manual, and it says to use 87 octane. Where I live, 87 octane is plus (midgrade) gas, whereas in most of the country 87 octane is regular grade. Why?

Jim Springer
Idaho Falls, ID

At higher elevations, octane ratings are lower because engines operating in thinner air are less prone to pre-ignition. A car that runs fine on 87 octane at sea level should also run fine on 85 octane in the mountains. (Running a car on 85 octane at sea level might damage the engine over time, but one tank of 85 octane gas probably won't do significant harm.) Use the octane level recommended in your owner's manual.

Fill in the blanks

"Zyrtec or Zantac? Beware of Medication Mix-Ups" (Up Front, December 2008) didn't mention an insidious one: The autocomplete function on the pharmacy computer. Two years ago, a prescription for the antibiotic Amoxicillin was filled for us as the adult antidepressant Amoxapine in the antibiotic dosage. The prescription was for our 15-pound dog, which went into convulsions after taking it. The pharmacist attributed the error to the computer, which finished the drug name after the first four letters were entered.

Karen Alcorn
Brevard, NC

Change of heart

"Let the Patient Decide" (Health, December 2008), left out the most vital choice: lifestyle change. I had angina and a heart attack at age 46. I was told that I would need bypass surgery and be on medication the rest of my life. With the help of a doctor who treats heart conditions with methods that include nutrition and exercise, my atherosclerosis has been reversed, I've had no bypass surgery, and I take only a low-dose blood-pressure medication. I am now 75 and live a very active life.

Gordon Reymore
Ridgecrest, CA

Off the map

In the article on GPS navigators (December 2008), the sidebar states that owners rated Garmin and TomTom slightly above Magellan. Why don't the Ratings or article mention any Magellan models?

Steve Shendelman
Irvine, CA

Our report included only Select Ratings of 14 models with the best combination of performance, price, and innovation. While the Magellans performed adequately, they were not among the best choices. We've since tested the Magellan Maestro 4350, and it was among the top-rated models.

Free to charge

Kudos to you on the December "Selling It" item, "Smile & Pay." There is almost no offer on TV that includes "free" additional items, since all the products are packaged and advertised together, and there are almost always additional shipping and processing costs. This is just outright fraud.

Howard Tisch
Sarasota, FL

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