Electronics : Panasonic KX-TG8231B DECT 6.0 Cordlesss phone System with an All Digital Answering System |
|
|
see more 
see more
Rating:  - * Terrible Phone ... This was a terrible phone. From my limited usage, I found two major problems. First, it is impossible to turn off the screen when the phone is in the base unit. So, it becomes a very bright night light... regardless of whether or not you want it. I ended up taking the handset off the base every night so it the phone would not light up the bedroom. Second, and more seriously, there is a terrible echo with this phone. You hear yourself when you're speaking into the handset. This was so distracting that I called Panasonic Customer Support. They told me that the "phone is designed that way." They further advised to use the phone as much as possible for two weeks and that it would self correct (to some extent). The representative refused to explain either why the phone would be designed with an echo or how it would "self correct." That was enough to convince me to return it. I recommend avoiding Panasonic phones. Rating: - * Solid Phone! Good sound! ... I just reviewed the "GE - DECT 6.0 - Ultra Slim speakerphone" which was a piece of trash. Don't buy that one. This Panasonic, though, is very good! I was basically happy with it. PROS: You can set 2,3,4,5,6,7 rings for the answering machine. Many phones only give you 3,5 or 2,4,6. I researched this before buying it. The phone stands up nicely so you don't have to lay it on its face or its round back. That's nice. It feels solid and strong. The speaker phone is on the handset and has great sound, even at the lowest level. I could hear great whether I was on the speaker or holding it up to my hear. What's nice is that no one will even know if you're using the speaker phone or not. Great feature! They claim the battery life to be 11 hours and other Panasonic DECT 6.0 phones are only 5; even ones with the same batteries. I don't know about this, but, I wouldn't count on it being any longer than the other phones. In fact, it may be less because the colored back light is ALWAYS on. The batteries in the phone are great. You could stick Duracells in there if you had too. They are just AAAs! Great! So, when they get old in 2 years, you can just buy regular rechargables and they'd fit. The batteries Panasonic gives you are some of the best non-lithium batteries you can get, though. As far as range goes, this went the 200 feet out to the road and that's about it. It went a little further than the GE, but only about 10 yards more. My old 900 mhz phone went further (our 2.4 ghz Panasonic only goes 50-100 ft). The menu button is now the 4-way nipple pad Panasonic used to use in its Japanese cell phones. It works nice and is much faster. They've had time to develop this "nipple" (I owned one of the first phones with this feature) and it really works nicely. You press it for CONS: I like the phone, but there was one main con that made me take it back: WHEN CHARGING, OR WHEN ON PHONE, THE LIGHT STAYS ON! There is no reason for the phone to stay on in either situation. During a call it simply kills the batteries faster. When it's on the base it's bright and annoyed me when I was trying to sleep. The light will turn off after 1 minute when not in use and not on the base, but in any other situation the light is on. And I couldn't live with that, and returned the phone to the store. Another con is the finish of the phone. It's that shiny black that SCRATCHES VERY EASILY! Mine had a few small scratches right on its face when I pulled it out of the box! And, when the base rubbed against the metal of the plug, it was scratched too. I'd be surprised if Panasonic were to use this shiny finish again. And on the next model I'd be VERY surprised if there weren't an option to turn that darn screen light off after a minute. Oh, regarding the color screen: it's nice, but it's not necessary to have color. I prefer non-color so you don't need to have the darn light on all the time! I will buy the Panasonic KX-TG9331T (link below). It has all the good features of this phone, but the light turns off and it won't scratch as easily. It doesn't have the cool nipple or the color screen, but I won't use those phone menus too much anyway. It was also have talking caller ID so I won't have to even be looking at the screen! Rating:  - * Cell phone sound quality ... I like the size and functions of the phone but its sound quality is about that of a cell phone. It replaced an ancient ATT unit 3 times its size when the buttons died, but it lacks that land-line sound. I like the recorder and the menus and the small footprint but sound quality should be the central concern if a product design team . I specifically bought this model as it does take a headset. Slightly cheaper cousins of it do not. Battery life seems exceptional and the ability to swap out batteries in an emergency is a real asset. Rating:  - * Need a house phone? Take a look.... ... Cordless phones have come a long way. This one has the latest Security features and nice clear audio. Easy to navigate and looks good too. Has a great digital answering system. I am completely satisfied with my purchase. No problems here. Rating: - * Panasonic Phones are my favorite ... This is a very nice phone. Easy to set up and use. My last phone was a Panasonic too. The phone at the camp was not and needed to be replaced so I got a new one for my home and took the other one to camp. I trust Amazon and have bought things here before. I have told many people about Panasonic Phones too. sincerely,Marilyn DeSoto |
