Experts Rate Five Popular Pieces of Exercise Equipment

Just when we really must know which exercise machines do the best job of burning off a couple of thousand unnecessary calories, the New York Times delivers, in more ways than one, with a thoroughly useful piece in which 10 experts – physiologists, researchers, doctors and personal
trainers – rate the five most popular cardio machines according to three criteria: Which machine will get the pounds come off quickest? Which
will do it without undue joint stress? And which will best condition
the heart?
And the hands down (no pun intended) winner is: the elliptical trainer. The experts admired its low-impact, high-energy workout that works the muscles of the central
core as well as the lower body. 
Choosing the second best piece of equipment was, apparently, a bit more strenuous, and the experts found themselves locked in a tie between the rowing machine and the treadmill. Geezer votes for the rowing machine.
The piece also links to clickable slide show describing the pros and cons of elliptical trainers, stair climbers, stationary bikes, rowing machines, and treadmills, and to a chart rating each piece of equipment according to calories burned, muscle groups used, monotony factor, cardio benefit and wear and tear.  Got all that?  Great. Now we just have to do the work.