Powershred shredder

When the time came to buy a new paper shredder, I sought out the advice of someone who knows a thing or two about shredding documents: my husband's bookkeeper. He steered me in the direction of Fellowes Powershred PS-77Cs, the "Bulldog of Shredders," as the box says.

Pros: After our last two shredders left me longing, I splurged on this purchase to get a machine with a pullout bin and quiet operation.

The bulldog didn't disappoint. The PS-77Cs easily shredded 12 sheets at a time, as promised, and didn't jam once during my tests.

It shredded CDs and staples with ease and performed flawlessly even after 10 minutes of continuous operation.

It's quieter than other shredders I've owned, and it even has a safety sensor that stops shredding when hands touch the paper entry. Resulting confetti is small enough to ease fears of identity theft, and best of all, the 7-gallon bin was easy to remove and empty.

Cons: This shredder is a bit pricey for a home-office machine, but in the past I've found cheaper models to be too loud, too heavy or to jam too often. I'm willing to pay a few extra bucks to avoid those problems.

Joy's verdict: Thumbs up.

$139.99 at OfficeMax (www.officemax.com).

This is an occasional feature in Weekend Living to help readers become more informed consumers. The Seattle Times purchases the items.