After having sworn off the local telephone company VoiceMail service many, many years ago after taking inventory of just how much I would spend over the years of use, I've been sticking with answering machines ever since. Starting with my very first Radio Shack cassette answering machine and now ending with the GE Digital Answer #29869, I will pack the machine away almost with sad lament.
I say "ending" the reason being that AT&T unfortunately took over my local (Bell South Service which after 25 years remained virtually perfect), and started it's slamming, deceitful, and unkosher business practices all over again. Therefore, refusing to continue with AT&T and subject myself to more aggravations and hassles, I am now turning to cell phone usage instead. Hence, no more land line phones and answering machines. Alas and woe.
I really enjoyed this GE Digital Answerer and if you'll bear with me, I'll try to persuade you to get it if you continue to use the ever reliable land line phones.
I'm on my 3rd year with this baby. I've averaged 5 years with other answering machines in the past but this of course, is still too soon to call it quits and is going strong as ever.
This machine comes with it's a/c power supply and telephone line cord.
YEAHS: Unreliability for me has not been an issue. I have not as yet missed any messages nor has it ever malfunctioned in any sense.
This machine is featured-rich. (At least for me it is because I don't require too many features anyway).
It's built is fairly solid yet light weight. It does not look nor handle as a cheaper model. One's fingers can easily glide from one button to another without accidently pushing another button or bumping into anything you don't want to bump into. The machine's system and design flow is also quite easy to navigate and I who hate gadgets in general, find it quite smooth to function and manipulate.
It runs on a 9-volt battery which is supposed to be accessible using a Phillips. I couldn't get it open using 1 ton of dynamite. The screw grooves are just not there folks! However, the machine's feature of announcing to you when the battery is low is appreciated and kind of compensates for it not being so easy to open the battery compartment.
THE SETUP:
The recording time memory for messages is approximately 40 minutes which I will never come near consuming but it's nice to know it's there for the use.
It features room for two greetings plus the default message and is fairly easy to switch between one greeting and another - piece of cake. This machine also has a Two-Way Record feature which allows one to record both sides of a conversation. Very in-te-rest-ing!
I find setting up the time, date, rings to answer, etc. not as simple to do as I would have liked but I don't find it extremely difficult either. However, I do have to have the little User's Guide handy at all times as when the power goes, I have to re-set everything and the backup system doesn't always kick-in as advertised.
I really appreciate the 4 voice mail boxes it has plus a Message Move feature which enables the user to move messages from one mailbox to another. Also, I really think cool the leaving a Memo Message feature which allows the user to leave a memo for someone in another mailbox.
All in all, the machine has way more features which I need but just enough for having one's own little virtual office, almost. I will miss not using it. It has had no problem other than the battery changing experience (not good) and has up to now shown itself to be holding it's own in the area of dependability. Definitely worth buying into and investing in a good little machine where you can't really go wrong for $27.00 which I paid for it brand new.
NEAS: Color is black - "icky." I'm sure some persons like the "grey on black" electronics world but I'm sure not one of them. Anything I can't see well, does not invite my attention and sends me looking in another direction for another product. Voice quality is not as clear as I've heard on other machines but it is adequate. Not too "tinny" if you know what I mean.
Whenever the power goes, (which in hurricane-prone Miami is often), the backup battery system goes with it. (Come to think of it, the power often goes down here in Miami hurricane or no hurricane!)
The worst feature in my opinion is the horrible battery compartment. I've been known to spend over twenty minutes and more of frustration in what should be an easy and quick procedure when changing batteries. I just can't get the compartment to unscrew and open. Finally giving up after so much wasted time, I've decided to leave the door open and just hold the battery in place with some tape. Very annoying.
