Jerk My Digital Leash And I’ll Growl
Written: Aug 15 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Light weight, ease of basic feature use
Cons: More features than I need
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| gungian's Full Review: Audiovox CDM-4000 Cell Phone |
This old dog has finally been dragged [kicking and screaming] into the digital age. No longer the unfettered spirit, I am tethered with a “digital leash”.
BACKGROUND
I have had a cell phone for years. It was reserved for “emergencies only” and slept in the glove compartment of Mrs. G’s car. I woke it every few weeks to charge the battery and give it some air. I think we made five calls in twice that many years.
My old cell phone utilized outdated analog technology but it served my limited requirements well. I value my privacy and do not feel the need to be at everyone’s beck and call. So I was very reluctant to join the “connected crowd” and invest in a more advanced model.
Some time back the old cell gave up the ghost. I was finally forced to enter the modern digital era. It has been over six months and I think I am becoming acclimated to this “digital leash” that connects me to the rest of society.
THE INSTRUMENT
My new leash is the Audiovox CDM-4000XL handheld portable telephone. [We actually have two units, one for Mrs. G and one for yours truly.] It came fully equipped with a battery pack [BTR-4000], desktop holder [DTH-4000], AC Adapter [CNR-4000], and a wrist strap.
This is a dual-mode instrument that can operate with either the older analog or newer CDMA digital technologies. That is a distinct advantage in this metropolitan DC area where we are served by so many different systems. I need not be concerned with “service area” restrictions. [The Audiovox claims seem to be true as I have yet to get a “no signal” indication.]
There are two lithium ion batteries available. Mine is the Slim BTR-4000. It can provide up to 190 minutes of talk time and 170 hours of standby time in the CDMA mode [analog times are much less]. The other option is the Extended BTE-4000 that can deliver 380 minutes of talk time and 340 hours of standby in CDMA mode.
EASE OF USE
This phone is very light [less than 5 ounces] and I bought an inexpensive belt holster for mine. Mrs. G has a similar protective holster but keeps her holstered phone in her purse. She claims that it does not weigh her down.
I am seriously technologically challenged and Mrs. G cannot even spell CDMA [just a figure of speech, folks]. It took me some time to program the myriad features into both our instruments. But after just a bit of practice we can both retrieve numbers from the address book, place and receive calls, and access voice mail. [At least I think we still know how. We only gave our numbers to four people each so we do not get many incoming calls.]
We really have our phones for emergencies. The “One Touch Emergency Call” feature puts us both at ease. This will place an emergency call even if the instrument has “Phone Lock” or “Keypad Lock” activated. The emergency number came preset to 911 but you can change it if you like.
Other than sleeping close by waiting for emergencies, ours get used primarily to make dinner reservations. [If you are familiar with my opinions you are not surprised with that!] We both feel safer having these digital links to the outside world. As purely casual users, we remain quite pleased with these Audiovox CDM-4000XL phones. Pick one up and call someone.
Oh, and don’t call me. If you jerk my digital leash I will growl!
SOME REFERRALS
The phone has many advanced features but frankly we just don’t use them. Some of my fellow Epinionaters have more to say – some good and some not so good – about the Audiovox CDM-4000XL. To give yourself the full range of opinions you might want to give them a read:
[Listed in order of posting]
LilTame “The Best Phone Yet" (Tue Dec 21 ’99)
DonGiaconia “Great Quality, Sound, and Battery Life" (Fri Jan 28 ’00)
Creabs “Why so complicated???" (Fri May 19 ’00)
Chilantro “Seems Fine to Me" (Sun Aug 6 ’00)
SPECIFICATIONS
* Dual Mode, 800 MHz Amps/CDMA Operation
* Weight 4.5 oz/128 g
* Two Battery Choices [BTR-4000 or BTE-4000]
* 15 Ringer Options
* Enhanced Phonebook [99 alpha-numeric memory locations]
* Full dot matrix LCD display
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
gungian
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Location: Falls Church, Virginia
Reviews written: 222
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10/16/06 - Life is hectic - but good! Write On!
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