What's A Good Digital Answering Machine?

[BruiseLee]

What\'s A Good Digital Answering Machine?

I have an old Casio digital answering machine. It's been a good machine, unlike the 1/2 dozen old cassette answering machines that died after 2-3 years of use.

There are some features that I want it lacks though:

1) It has a really short memory (recording) time - about 10 minutes? I'd like to get a machine with double that time or longer, since some of my friends can leave 5 minute messages even though I keep telling them to keep it short!

2) This machine does not allow you to delete individual messages remotely. This is a must since I'm away from home a lot, and I need to clear up memory for more recording without deleting some important messages.

3) This unit does not have a led or lcd counter to display the number of messages. That would be a big plus.

It does have one feature I've really grown to like: you can slow down the message. This is GREAT when people leave you their phone number and/or name, but say it really fast in like 1/2 a second. This happens to me all the time, and has allowed me to call back people who otherwise would have been unreachable.

I would prefer a stand alone digital answering machine because I already have a nice 2.4 Ghz digital spread spectrum cordless phone.

Digital is a must, those tape machines just have too many moving parts that always break down.

Anyone using or know of a good machine that meets the above requirements? Oh, I only need it to handle one line.

Bruise

 

[Mike Painter]

Re: What\'s A Good Digital Answering Machine?

Have you considered another solution?
I have delayed call forwarding on my line. it goes to my cell phone and if I don't get it there it goes to my voice mail. AT&T voice mail lacks some features but works OK for me most of the time.

 

[greenLED]

Re: What\'s A Good Digital Answering Machine?

we've tried a couple of different ones and they all pretty much stink. Recording quality is horrible, small capacity, lack of options, etc.

 

[Glenn]

Re: What\'s A Good Digital Answering Machine?

I have an AT&T 1725
http://www.epinions.com/elec-Comm-Answering_Machines-All-ATT_Digital_Answering_System_1725
that I like.
It does not have the "slow down" like you want but, does have a backwards repeat button.

Glenn

 

[BruiseLee]

Re: What\'s A Good Digital Answering Machine?

[ QUOTE ]
Mike Painter said:
Have you considered another solution?
I have delayed call forwarding on my line. it goes to my cell phone and if I don't get it there it goes to my voice mail. AT&T voice mail lacks some features but works OK for me most of the time.

[/ QUOTE ]
The problem with this for me is I'm an ultra cheap *******. I don't want any addition bills at the end of the month, even if it's just $2.00 for voice mail. I figure even if a new answering machine only last 3 years, say voice mail is $2.00 a month (how much is it?), weel then that's $2x12 months= $24x3 years=$72. I think I got my Casio over 5 years ago and only paid around $30 for it.

Besides, like a flashlight a digital answering machine is an actual device you can play with. Voice mail is just pushing buttons on your phone. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Not a bad suggestion, though, just not right for me.

Bruise

 

[Wingerr]

Re: What\'s A Good Digital Answering Machine?

5 minute messages? Are they having a conversation with themselves the whole time? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Most machines I've seen have an optional time limit on the incoming calls for that purpose; that Casio doesn't have that feature?

I'm using a Motorola digital answering machine that I've had for a long time, and it has all the features and then some, but unfortunately they're not in that business anymore, so it doesn't do you any good. Seems odd that your Casio can't delete individual messages remotely; that defeats the major advantage of the digital message storage.
Panasonic had a good digital machine in the past, but I've heard their quality has declined, so I don't know how they rate now.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Re: What\'s A Good Digital Answering Machine?

There's a cool voicemail system that runs on Linux. More features than you can shake a stick at, if you're not shy about dedicating a PC and voice/faxmodem to the application.

Oh, and the voicemail software and the OS are free. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Sub_Umbra]

Re: What\'s A Good Digital Answering Machine?

The GE 29869 series will do all of that dirt cheap. (I paid about $22 for mine a couple years ago)

1) 40 min memory.

2) Delete individual messages remotely.

3) LED status feedback.

Aside from that, it also has four separate mailboxes, so my message goes something like this:

"If you don't want your message to be flushed away with all the telemarketer calls, don't wait for the beep -- just push three and start talking."

The SPAM all ends up in the the default box, #1.

 

[BruiseLee]

Re: What\'s A Good Digital Answering Machine?

Yes, some of my friends are extremely long winded.

The Casio I have definitely doesn't let you limit the call time of an incoming message - I wish it did!

The only problem I have with the Linux/PC idea is that I think a PC will use a lot more energy being left on 24 hours a day 365 days a year than an answering machine.

I went on the Office Depot website and they have a GE machine with 40 minutes worth of record time for $35. It also alllows you to choose a time limit on messages. Yay! Also, it has 4 voice mailboxes, so I can do Sub_Umbra's cool telemarketer trick! Wait a minute - the Model I'm talking about is the GE 2-9869, same as Sub_Umbra's! Dude, where did you get it so cheap?

Bruise

 

[Sub_Umbra]

Re: What\'s A Good Digital Answering Machine?

Err...I dunno. I just now did a search for that model and that's the price I came up with, too. Maybe I was thinking of something else. Sorry. On the upside, I haven't had a lick of trouble with it.