Little box, little price, little quality
Written: Aug 26 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent (for what I need it for)
Cons: computerized voice sounds like it was recorded in 1990.
The Bottom Line: For business or primary family answering machine, no. Small machine for small uses and small price...excellent.
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| coocoobaby's Full Review: General Electric 29878GE1 Digital Answering Machin... |
I purchased the GE 29878GE1 for $19.99 CND, which is probably around $15 USD. I got it on sale from $27.97 which seems to be the average price for this unit in Canada.
You get 14 minutes of record time which for someone like me who only gets 1 or 2 messages a day and checks them at the end of the day, that's more then enough.
It has a voice/time/day stamp feature that is a little hard to understand how to set up if you just listen to the machine talk, because the lady's voice is really difficult to understand. It sounds like GE used a cheap computer simulation voice program from 1990 to record on there. You got to read the book when getting this all ready to go...at least the print is quite clear.
It has remote functions with a voice menu. That's what it says on the box. I am presuming that means the remote access where you can get your messages from any touch tone phone. With this, you need a password (security code) that is 3 numbers long. No biggie, it's pretty easy to get going.
It has an electronic volume control which is basically a + or - button for the volume instead of a dial. That's a prime feature you know!!!
It has a message indicator which basically is a little light in the front that is constant when there are no messages and flashes when there are. It does not say how many messages until you push play (the computerized lady will say something like "one message....message one (then play the message)" and if you can figure it out, cudos to you). If it flashes fast it means that your machine is full. Morse code I guess :) "S.O.S. Captain!! She's going to blow!!"
It does have call screen which is basically an auto disconnect feature. That simply means you can listen to who is leaving a message and pick up half way through their ramblings to say "ya, I really am here" and the machine should turn off (if it doesn't, you can push stop on the unit).
The playback of the other person talking is pretty decent. I listened to a few messages already and it was good. I can complain about the quality of the automated voice, but you should be able to hear your friends and family quite well and if you speak clearly on your "leave a message" speech, then they should hear it well too.
Although it is not that special of a machine, I will tell you why I think this product is worth buying.
First you have to consider the circumstances of why you want this. If this is something that is going to be a long term investment, I wouldn't really consider buying this machine. If you want to buy something that's decent and will do "for now" or price is an issue, then I would get it.
In my situation, I bought it because I am looking at cutting down a few costs for a few months (going back to school) and I was previously paying for the one that comes with my phone company. I would rather the "boxless" version that comes with the phone company as a service and when I finish school I will go back to having that one. In the meanwhile, I need to save money on expenses for a few months. I bought this machine to use in the meanwhile because it was cheap and it does work and will do the job that I need it for. It's a temporary solution to a temporary situation and it's EXCELLENT for that. I don't think I will be keeping it after I start working again, I will probably donate it to the poor. Considering what I need it for though, and how much I paid for it, I think this is a fabulous little answering machine. I also know a few people with older machines that they paid good money for "back then" and this is far better in quality. I have had problems with other answering machines I had before I started using the phone company service where as someone would leave a message and you would -iss cer-ain p-rts of the -essage and worse you would get choppy phone numbers!! I haven't had that problem with this one....yet...
I also have a cell phone and pager. Most people don't leave me messages but simply try another number...so for those that do leave messages, this is a good machine.
If I were to have bought a machine because I wanted to use it full time, I would not have selected this model. You do get what you pay for and for a long term investment, I probably would have gone with something that was much clearer and had more features and record time.
I could see this machine best suited for someone whose machine broke and they need a quick fix until they can afford the Ferrari's of machine's. I could see it being good for a teenager who has his/her own phone line. It might be a good inexpensive gift for someone who doesn't have one or has an outdated one on the verge of dying. Students in dorms or even young adults getting an apartment of their own for the first time would probably appreciate this.
A family using this machine as their primary answering machine probably wouldn't like it. I wouldn't use it for business either.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
coocoobaby
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Reviews written: 13
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