Pros: Huge array of features, excellent sound clarity and talk time, easily expandable, great design.
Cons: Nothing major to point a finger at.
The Bottom Line: My conclusion is that there is no better phone to buy right now. Whatever your needs and preferences are, KX-TG2730 is going to handle them with style.
hedgehogs's Full Review: Panasonic KX-TG2730 2.4 GHz 1-Line Cordless Phone
UPDATED 9/18/2002:I added notes on my KX-TGA272S (add-on handset/alarm clock combo) ownership experience, as well as more long-term observations of KX-TG2730S itself. Please scroll down to the end.
I acquired this unit at DataVision store in Midtown Manhattan for $129, and I my satisfaction with it goes beyond words. I had high hopes for this unit, and there is absolutely nothing that'd disappoint me in it. You'll get a lot of information by visiting Panasonic site at http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/telephones/multitalk_phones.asp. I am just going to cover the things I found most interesting and deserving attention otherwise not given on their website or in marketing hoopla you'll encounter in a brochure.
First things being taken care of first, the sound quality is impeccable, once again proving Panasonic's undisputed lead in this area. Sound remains clear and crisp when roaming around the big house, walking outside and strolling to the end of the block, all the while having a 802.11g wireless network working in the same 2.4GHz spectrum range between our two PCs. Recorder messages sound clear and free of compression-induced distortions. Normally, handset operates in a battery-saving mode, but it also sport a "Booster" feature that increases the signal output for noisy conditions. I haven't had to use at all yet -- not a single time!!
Both the base station and the handset are absolutely sleek and downright handsome. Silver finish seems robust and sturdy and likely won't wear off after a year of active use. The handset is very light and ergonomic, buttons are nice and clicky, and like the big 4-line LCD, are illuminated with in a soft shade of Homer Simpson's Atomic Donut Green. The handset sports 4-way rocker switch for menus navigation, and three "soft buttons", similar to those first appeared on Nokia cellular phones. These buttons, however, were seemingly not a part of the initial design, as only a few select menus use them, meanwhile the majority of menus is driven by the rocker switch. Speaking of cell phone analogies, there is a choice of 6 different ringer tones!!
Handset has a speaker-phone, which works flawlessly, with excellent noise canceling and sound quality. Imagine that -- if your whole family or a group at friends at your house wants to talk to someone on the other end, you don't have to crowd around the base station. Just take the handset with you to a dinner table or a couch, or even outside the house. Other handset speaker-phone scenarios I discovered are such as when you have to wait on hold for a long time (such as Dell's customer service), and can simply carry the handset around the house with you, going about your business unhindered and listening to their "your call is important to us" muzak until a human eventually responds to you. And, never forget that the handset also has a 2.5mm headset jack, so you can use that one as well. A belt clip attachment is provided for your convenience.
There are three separate mailboxes for voice messages, which in total (plus a custom greeting if you record one) have 15 minutes worth of memory available. Also, you can record a voice memo for other members of your household. By default the messages are recorder in mailbox #1, but you can record a greeting that will instruct them to press #1 for mailbox #1, #2 for mailbox #2, and #3 for mailbox #3. I guess it's convenient if you have a teenage daughter with her secrets. And if she takes the handset to her room and locks up, you can always use the keypad on the base station if you need to make a call or two in a pinch.
A duly disclosure: I don't actually have a teenage daughter.
Like the marketing materials boast, the system can be expanded with additional headsets, up to 8 in total. The models available for the expansion vary in functionality and appearance from a replica of a bundled headset with it's own stand/charged (can also be mounted), to a rugged, splash-proof version of it, to an absolutely beautiful nightstand version with an integrated alarm clock in it. I really, really like it. Each headset comes at a reasonable $99, MSRP; $79 deals are a commonplace. New handsets are introduced to the base station through a process of "registering" to keep the security of the conversations, similarly to how you train a garage door remote to work with your garage door opener.
Each handset can engage into a "conference" with others (two or more) much like a walkie-talkie, with no intervention from base station. Moreover, calls maybe transferred from one unit to another, even to a base station itself (if you want to forward someone to the voice mail). Handsets can join the ongoing conversations, just like regular parallel phones, but you can shut everyone out using "Privacy" soft button (again, your teenage daughter will sure appreciate that function). Further, each handset maintains it's own directory, but can share select or all entries by sending them to another handset's memory.
Directory, meanwhile, has been expanded to 50 numbers (up from 30 in previous model I owned). You can populate it by entering records manually or by saving them from Caller ID list. In latter case, you can chomp off "1" and area codes if you want. Caller ID and Call Waiting Caller ID work just as they should, ho-hum. In a welcome development from older Panasonic phones, however, Caller ID is now used for the transparent date/time setup of your answering machine calendar and your Caller ID history.
With all that sophistication, the unit is not confusing at all.
I can't really pick any nits on this phone -- most likely simply because there are none. Even thinking hard, I can't make up a viable complaint. It will be interesting to see if you can come up with one -- please post a comment!
UPDATE
By now, I've been using this unit for about 3 months, my satisfaction with it only grew. Sound quality is superb everywhere around the house. Battery life is sufficient for the handset to be left without recharging for a couple of days on end, with my wife engaging into long phone conversations with her friends at times. Speakerphone in the handset truly does add a tremendous utility to this phone. Some other things I haven't mentioned in my initial write-up, like a cell phone-like redial list (as opposed to just a redial-last-number function in most phones) adds nicely to everyday convenience.
Since writing this review, however, I purchased an add-on handset with an integrated alarm clock for our bedroom. The model number is KX-TGA272S, and it comes with the same silverly finish with a slight touch of lilac to its color scheme, and with a black recharger base. I personally don't know why did they made it black, honestly. You can survey the high-resolution pictures by searching for KX-TGA272S at Epinions and following a link to Crutchfield.com who sell it for $99. It is the same price I paid for it at Best Buy.
This add-on handset replicates all aspects of operations of the one that comes bundled with the main product, and adds a new function -- an alarm clock. It also has a different shape -- sort of a straight block, looking like a uniform triangle in intersection. It allows it to be put upright on a flat surface in a bit shakey, but sufficiently stable manner. It's got large backlit LCD, 3 "soft" buttons, speakerphone and alarm/snooze buttons and 4-way rocker switch are located on the outer face of the handset, so that they can be seen when the handset is cradled in the recharger.
This model makes much more consistent use of the "soft" buttons than the handset that comes with the base. These buttons control voice mail functions, alarm on/off functions etc.
LCD is really large and shows the current time in large type, as well as current date, and, depending on circumstances, either the time to which the alarm is set or received calls alert. You can configure LCD to stay lit when the handset is cradled, but unfortunately, it's not as bright as you'd expect your nightstand clock to be. Luminocity of it isn't very high. Even if you increase the contrast, you can't see it across the room, but it's perfecly OK and legible when it's put on your nightstand and you're looking at it from your bed.
Sound quality and battery life should be expected about the same as the main unit's handset. A selection of 6 ringer tones is available, but they all only affect the rings for incoming calls, meaning that you can't change the alarm clock's chime. You can change it volume, though. When the alarm kicks in, you can put it to 9-min snooze by pressing large function/snooze button, or put it out completely by following it with a "Stop" soft button. Speakerphone button is located conveniently enough to be located and pressed when you're asleep and want to answer a call without opening your eyes and fumbing for a handset.
My overal opinion on KX-TGA272S is very positive. Like the base model, it gets its job done extremely well. It's functional, convenient to use, dependable and very well built. My only two wishes would be to have a tad brighter LCD and a recharger stand that would match its color scheme. Still, I consider it a great product and would wholeheartedly recommend it to you.
2.4 GHz frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology Caller ID/call waiting For use with Panasonic KX-TG2700S, KX-TG2720S, KX-TG2730S, or KX-TG2740S B...More at Amazon Marketplace
2.4 GHz signal, frequency-hopping digital spread spectrum technology Expandable to 8 handsets, 1 included Built-in digital answering system Caller ID ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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