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Re: Comparing the 8825 to the Panasonic 2000 (Reply to this comment)
by haysdb
blues4evr,
I'm sorry I missed your comments. You have asked some excellent questions. I don't have answers for all of them, but I will answer those I can.
HOME-USE SCENARIOS THAT DON'T WORK WELL with the
PANASONIC 2000. How does the siemanes 8825 handle these problems?
(1) A call comes in. You screen the call via the answering machine and decide you want to pick it up. You can't just pick up the handset and start talking. To pick up the call you must go to the base unit and press a few buttons to transfer it to your specific handset.
Answer: I don't have a definitive answer.
(2) A call comes in. It is for your spouse or child, and you want them to pick it up. You must first physically find them in your house, because there is no way to page every phone from a handset - you can only page specific handsets. Once you find them, you need to ask them which handset number they are using and then press a few buttons to transfer the call.
Answer: It is possible to page every handset with the Siemens.
(3) A call comes in and you want to know who it is before answering. If you pick up the handset from its power cradle to view the caller ID, the phone answers automatically. So you must bend over to view the caller ID without picking up the phone.
Answer: this is configurable on the Siemens handsets. You can set them to auto answer or not.
(4) You answer a call at the base unit and want to take a message for your spouse or child. Ideally you could press a "memo" button on the base unit to record a message for them. Unfortunately there is no way to do this from the base unit - you must do it via some awkward voice prompts from any handset.
Answer: I have had this feature on answering machines in the past and I agree, it's very handy. I haven't figured out how to do this on the Siemens. It may be possible, but if it is, it's certainly not obvious.
(5) You want to use the multiple mailbox feature so callers will hear something like "To leave a message for Bob, press 1. To leave a message for Sue, press 2." The problem is that Bob can then only pick up his messages from his particular handset, and Sue can only pick up her messages from her particular handset. Since these cordless handsets are likely to roam around your house, this doesn't work well.
Answer: any Seimens handset can access any of the four mailboaxes.
(6) You want to program a bunch of speed dial names into the phone. You have to do this on EVERY handset - there is no way for the system to share an address book.
Answer: This is one of the welcome features on the 8825. Directories can be transferred between handsets and between handsets and base.
(7) You listen to a message and realize it isn't for you - it is for your spouse. You want to mark the message as "unread" so the voicemail light is still flashing when your spouse comes home. There is no way to do this. NOTE: This problem exists because scenario (5) doesn't work well in a home with roaming handsets.
Answer: if you exit the voicemail before the end, it will remain "unread", but there is no (obvious) way to mark a message unread once it has been marked "read". I definitely agree, this would be a welcome feature.
(8) You receive faxes and voice calls on line 2. There is no way to prevent incoming faxes from ringing throughout your house without also turning off ringing from voice calls.
Answer: I don't know. I only have a single line.
David
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Jul 21 '03
10:59 am PDT
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Re: The manual (Reply to this comment)
by haysdb
Lazylizard, I didn't mention this things because I haven't experienced them. I don't have call waiting. I have not heard the loud clicking sounds on the handsets.
This phone system is not perfect. It is, however, considerably better than the Siemens system it replaced, and on an absolute basis, a very nice system. In particular, the handsets are proving to be durable and reliable. It is possible to transfer directories between handsets and the base, a big complaint I had with the old system.
The only negatives I can think of have to do with the speakerphones, both on the base and the handsets, both of which could be a little better. Both are functional, however, and 95% of the time they work fine. It seems to have a lot to do with the quality of the phones on the other end.
I have replaced the rechargeable batteries in the handsets already, but that's no big deal because the handsets use standard AA batteries.
David
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Jul 21 '03
10:43 am PDT
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The manual (Reply to this comment)
by lazylizard
I felt like you were just repeating the information you could find in the manual on this phone. I didn't get a sense of your personal opinion about it. I have the same phone and it has a lot of problems. Like the low quality of the outgoing voice mail message. The way the conversation gets totally dropped when call waiting goes off and the way the volume increases on your call after call waiting goes off. And the loud clicking sounds you get on the handset - problems I've seen many others mention. I don't understand why you didn't mention any of these problems.
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Jul 19 '03
11:53 pm PDT
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The manual (Reply to this comment)
by lazylizard
I felt like you were just repeating the information you could find in the manual on this phone. I didn't get a sense of your personal opinion about it. I have the same phone and it has a lot of problems. Like the low quality of the outgoing voice mail message. The way the conversation gets totally dropped when call waiting goes off and the way the volume increases on your call after call waiting goes off. And the loud clicking sounds you get on the handset - problems I've seen many others mention. I don't understand why you didn't mention any of these problems.
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Jul 19 '03
11:49 pm PDT
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Re: Comparing the 8825 to the Panasonic 2000 (Reply to this comment)
by lkrucks
Your review is exceptional -- my only problem is that I need clarity. Which phone were you describing -- the Panasonic 2000 or the Siemens 8825??? I've been thinking of purchasing the Siemens, but if you're referring to it in your review, I certainly won't buy it!!!
Hope to hear from you soon...
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Mar 05 '03
8:57 am PST
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Comparing the 8825 to the Panasonic 2000 (Reply to this comment)
by blues4evr
HOME-USE SCENARIOS THAT DON'T WORK WELL with the
PANASONIC 2000. How does the siemanes 8825 handle these problems?
(1) A call comes in. You screen the call via the answering machine and decide you want to pick it up. You can't just pick up the handset and start talking. To pick up the call you must go to the base unit and press a few buttons to transfer it to your specific handset.
(2) A call comes in. It is for your spouse or child, and you want them to pick it up. You must first physically find them in your house, because there is no way to page every phone from a handset - you can only page specific handsets. Once you find them, you need to ask them which handset number they are using and then press a few buttons to transfer the call.
(3) A call comes in and you want to know who it is before answering. If you pick up the handset from its power cradle to view the caller ID, the phone answers automatically. So you must bend over to view the caller ID without picking up the phone.
(4) You answer a call at the base unit and want to take a message for your spouse or child. Ideally you could press a "memo" button on the base unit to record a message for them. Unfortunately there is no way to do this from the base unit - you must do it via some awkward voice prompts from any handset.
(5) You want to use the multiple mailbox feature so callers will hear something like "To leave a message for Bob, press 1. To leave a message for Sue, press 2." The problem is that Bob can then only pick up his messages from his particular handset, and Sue can only pick up her messages from her particular handset. Since these cordless handsets are likely to roam around your house, this doesn't work well.
(6) You want to program a bunch of speed dial names into the phone. You have to do this on EVERY handset - there is no way for the system to share an address book.
(7) You listen to a message and realize it isn't for you - it is for your spouse. You want to mark the message as "unread" so the voicemail light is still flashing when your spouse comes home. There is no way to do this. NOTE: This problem exists because scenario (5) doesn't work well in a home with roaming handsets.
(8) You receive faxes and voice calls on line 2. There is no way to prevent incoming faxes from ringing throughout your house without also turning off ringing from voice calls.
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Mar 01 '03
9:19 am PST
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Re: Two Questions (Reply to this comment)
by haysdb
I am also a glutton for punishment and have ordered an 8825 system. I stopped by Office Max to see what they had and read through the manuals on an AT&T system and a Panasonic system. The AT&T system is very limited in features: Directories cannot be transferred between handsets and additional handsets cannot join a conversation. The Panasonic system has these features, but I was put off by the old-fashioned styling of the handsets, which are large with long antennas, and I want the base phone to have a corded handset which won't walk off to my sons bedroom.
So I came to the same conclusion - despite the systems warts, it still has the advantage in features and ergonomics over the other expandable base-handset systems.
I am also hoping that since the 8825 and 8000 have been around for a good long while now that the initial bugs have been worked out. Part of my problem with my 2420 is I had the "old" 2420, which had a few 'misfeatures' which were corrected in later production.
David
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Nov 13 '02
7:31 am PST
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Two Questions (Reply to this comment)
by haysdb
I have an older model of the 8825 system, a 2420 base and several 2400 handsets. I have two major beefs with the system, not counting the fact that ALL of the LCD displays have failed in one way or the other:
1) When a call is picked up on one phone, is it possible for another phone to join in on the conversation without having to conference or transfer the call (which I can never remember how to do)? I want to disable this security feature and allow anyone in the house to just pick up any handset and join in on the conversation.
2) Can directories be transferred to and from the base? On the 2400, only the add-on handsets can exchange directories - the base is left to fend for itself, meaning duplicate entry of all phone numbers.
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Aug 05 '02
10:05 pm PDT
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Hopeless! (Reply to this comment)
by suktsang
I'd expect something about how the phones perform, how easy or hard to use, or other problems, and comparisons.
Not a copy of their web site or the user's manual or the sales brochure!
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Jun 30 '02
4:04 pm PDT
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beautiful (Reply to this comment)
by ImThinking
wow, this is one of the best looking coolest sounding phones i have ever seen. Great review!
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May 12 '02
5:11 pm PDT
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Great review (Reply to this comment)
by techie6890
Great review, but I think the price is just a little out of my range.
However, I think you discussed *every single* feature in great detail on that phone. Great job!
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May 04 '02
8:26 am PDT
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This really sounds great! (Reply to this comment)
by pamelita3099
I told my husband about your previous review similar to this one and now this one is being sent to the office. Keep your fingers crossed and maybe we will have twin phones.
peace and hope to you and yours,
Pam
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Apr 27 '02
11:49 pm PDT
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nice... (Reply to this comment)
by SParkfan77
this looks to be a great investment, unfortunately, my $35 portable phone will have to do the job for now, i cant afford this phone system right now, although i would love it!
excellent review
::SParkfan77::
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Apr 27 '02
9:10 pm PDT
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