Barely, minimally useful
Pros:
When you need an answering machine, but don't care what the messages say...
Cons:
One of the worst examples of audio quality of any modern consumer device.
The Bottom Line:
If you buy this, it's not because you checked with ePinions first.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Most of the usual functions are in there. Volume, Next [message], Previous [message], digital readout of number-of-messages, time stamp, records digitally using electronic memory instead of magnetic tape.
As much of today's modern technology demonstrates, recording digitally can be a hi-fidelity experience. Therefore, the incredibly awful message-playback audio quality of this answering machine can only be attributed to bad [cheap] design.
The volume can be turned up loud enough, but the intelligibility of the playback is so poor -- bordering on illegible -- that it's usually difficult to understand. If the person who left the message spoke loudly and clearly, you'll barely be able to understand the message -- the machine is not forgiving.
Therefore, a rehashing of all the basic functions is pointless. If understanding the messages is such a problem, then what does the rest of the machine matter?
I've been using this machine for about six months. Finally, as I make the decision to throw this thing away, I figure I should make an entry in ePinions. Thanks for letting me vent.
I guess I should mention an aggravating problem. Given the lousy audio quality, you can imagine that the next most important function would be to Reverse a few seconds to replay the last phrase or two. However, the function doesn't exist. Skipping to the next message(s) or the previous message(s) is easy as a push of the button. The users manual describes all the available functions and buttons for navigating around the messages, but the lack of any mention in the manual of a Reverse function confirms this most necessary function isn't available.
However, fast-forward does exist, so you can skip back to the beginning of the message and then fast forward to the phrase you want to re-hear. If you have to replay a phrase a few times, this can be a slow and tedious procedure if there's a lot of message to keep fast-forwarding through. Also, the poor audio quality doesn't get any better during fast-forward...
I think that beats the dead horse. (No offense to horse lovers intended.) When you see the thing on the store shelf with its miniscule price tag, remember that you get what you pay for.
My advice is to check with ePinions, first.
Best luck,
-Neil-
