Too Complicated!! Satellite Handsets Break Quickly!
Pros:
Phone, fax, copier, answering machine all in one.
Cons:
Non-intuitive menu; can't change date/time without manual.
The Bottom Line:
I like figuring out machines intuitively. For this one, I need the manual, so I don't like it. Also, I'm mad that the cordless handsets broke yearly! Don't buy it.
|
|
Overall Rating:
|
 |
|
Author's Review
I have had this machine for about two years now. We got it because we live in an older home, and didn't have phone lines in every room. We could get the cordless phones that plug into a regular outlet for use in any room, plus have a fax and answering machine. It seemed to fit all our needs.
At first, we thought it was an ok machine. Then, the batteries in each handset went bad after about a year ($20 a battery to replace them, which I did, only to have them both go bad again after a year - got replacement phones of a different brand this time).
Now that I have misplaced the manual, I REALLY dislike this machine! I cannot change the date and time without the owner's manual. I am not kidding! This machine has the most complicated, non-intuitive menu I've ever seen. When you push the function button and try to scroll through the menus, one or two words will appear on the little screen, but they're words like "Listing Mode" and "Entry Mode", which don't make sense to me. So, I try scrolling through the Listing Mode menu, realize it's not what I want, and I can't just back up to where I was. I have to hit "Stop", then "Function", then scroll around to another menu. Luckily, I just found a manual online. I can finally change my OGM!
There are a few pro's to this machine. The fax works well, uses plain paper. The replacement ink rolls are pretty cheap. The fax also works as a copier; you can run an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet through, hit "Copy", and it does (the copy looks like a fax - a little blurred and grainy). You can have up to 4 different mailboxes for voice messages, but I have yet to be able to check messages in a mailbox from another location (i.e. calling the machine to get my messages). I have only been able to check messages in the main "0" mailbox (yes, even with the manual in front of me and following the directions!).
If you're like me, and like to be able to intuitively figure out your machines, do not get this one. If you want cordless phones that plug into outlets, do not get this machine. If you want a machine that can fax, copy, and take messages, look around first. The price on this one has come down considerably since I bought it, so I suppose it's worth it now.
