I'm sorry, what did you say?

The day my old telephone finally dialed its last number was a sad day in my home. I tried everything I could think of to get it to come back to life. I begged it to work, gave it mouth to mouthpiece, and in a last stitch effort I pushed WD40 into its little buttons. It was no use, it was gone. In my sadness I buried it in the trash so I did not have to look at its blank face. With the state of grief I was in I forgot to look at the brand. AHHH!

I spend at least 4-5 hours on the telephone everyday. It may sound pathetic, but it's true. My best friend moved away and now we spend the day together attached at the ear.

As soon as the sun peaked over the mountains I ran to my local Wal-Mart in search of the lifeline I needed to keep me connected to my best friend. There were so many phones to choose from. If only I could call her from each one and see which one worked best, but sadly, I could not.

I read all of the promises on all of the boxes and then I saw it, the GE digital 6.0. The box promised me that with the new wave digital sound, audio boost for enhanced hearing, exceptional clarity I would be able to hear all of our conversations crystal clear. The buttons would be bright so I would see them easier. Not to mention the 33% longer battery life, now I can talk an extra hour! It was as though the heavens opened and light shown down on this box. The silver telephone sparkled, the base was just as beautiful, very modern looking. It will look perfect in my kitchen. The display screen was big so I could easily read the caller ID names and numbers. It had an answering machine too, but I never use them because I don't like to call people back. Upon closer observation, I noticed it had no external antenna. My children always seem to break them off and then the phone does not work, so this is getting better and better. Just as I start to hear the angels sing their praises, I see the price tag. Ouch, it is $85, but I look at it as an investment into a lifelong friendship. SOLD.

I take it home and start the 24-hour charging period. After a long restless night sleep and even longer day, the 24-hours is over. I quickly dial my friend and she answers the phone... Did she say hello? I check the volume, whew, its only on 2. The volume is now on the full 4 and I am ready to converse. Maybe I am going deaf in that ear so I switch ears. Still nothing but a garbled voice in the distance. She used her landline to call my cell phone so we can be sure that her phone is working. Can it be? Can this wonderful phone that promised such clarity and volume be a lie? Yes, I never took the phone back in hopes that someday it would work but it has not improved at all. I use to wear a headset so I could work and talk and now I can not hear with even the best headsets. Now I no longer wear the headset and I have to hold the phone with my shoulder. Half of our conversations consist of "Are you listening to me?", and "Sorry, what?". Not to mention the kink in my shoulder and neck. It's just gotten too hard to talk anymore. What use to be a 5 hour conversation is now maybe 2.

On a positive note the battery does last a really long time. I have left the receiver off of the base over night and it still works the whole next day.

The numbers really do light up very bright, so bright that at night you can't see the number because the light is so bright. On the other hand, it makes an excellent flashlight when you are finding the base to hang up the phone.

The display screen is very big and the letters and numbers on it are equally as large. I think there is a 50watt light bulb in this phone. The display screen has the same problem as the buttons. The light is shinning so brightly, you can't read any of the words or numbers if your house is not brighter than the phone.

Not having an external antenna has worked out great. The phone has been dropped a number of times and there is no antenna to break off.

Its shiny silver color is no longer appealing as it is rubbing off to reveal the black underneath. It is loosing the modern look and taking on a kind of rustic appearance.

I have been most disappointed with the volume quality. On a bright day I can see the numbers to dial, there is no antenna to break off, and the battery will last for 6 hours of talking. What does this all matter if you can't hear the conversation? This phone was so expensive that I can not justify throwing it away. So I will use it until it dies. I guess that is another positive thing about the phone, it is 2-years-old and the buttons don't stick the battery is not fading and overall it shows no sign of dying.