hazard@ihuxe.UUCP (Bryant S. Hazard) (03/21/84)
Thanks to all who responded to my query on answering machines. Some of your letters suggested that I post results to the net, so here are all the responses: ----------------------------------------- Check out the Sony RS-30. It has most of the bells and whistles, but not all. The most important feature is that it has good audio. e.g. you can actually understand the messages. It runs about $150 via mail-order, etc. But most stores don't carry it. :-( Consumer Reports included it in their comparison a few months back. ----------------------------------------- Consumer reports recently reviewed a few answering machines. it was valuable for listing features. ----------------------------------------- I recently bought a RECORD-A-CALL 625 for only $79.95. So far so good. I like the VOX incoming and up to 60 sec outgoing. I bought it from DAVID WEIS Jewelers and Distributors. A discount catalog store here in Pennsylvania. ----------------------------------------- I have a Record-A-Call model 580 here at the labs. It is full featured, and works quite well. Our department has just ordered a few more of them. ----------------------------------------- The Panasonic KXT-1515 is a good answering machine with variable incoming and outgoing message lengths and remote. It sells for as low as $104 in New York City (47th St. Photo is one place; also try the Sunday NY Times news and arts & leisure section ads). Panasonic has several more expensive models, some of them new. The main additional feature I'd want would be variable # of rings (the 1515 always answers after 2 rings; if it isn't variable, 3 would be better than 2). Of course, some of the others also integrate phones, speakerphones, autodialers, etc. - END OF RESPONSES - I myself ended up purchasing a Record-A-Call model 625 from a local catalog house. Besides VOX out-going and in-coming messages, it also does clever things like aborting if you pick up your phone to talk to the caller. Bryant S. Hazard ihnp4!ihuxe!hazard