Return-Path: Received: from F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU; 17 May 89 13:34:09 EDT Date: Wed, 17 May 1989 13:32-EDT From: Bernadette.Kowalski@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU To: bovik@k Subject: answering machines Message-Id: <611429538/bk@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU> Original Post for information: 05-May-89 11:28 Bernadette.Kowalski answering machines From: Bernadette.Kowalski@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU I am planning to buy an answering machine, and I am worried about all the reports I have heard regarding the frequency of repair required. I would like to hear recommendations/disrecommendations from people on answering machines regarding this specific characteristic. I will summarize to Bovik. -- Bern Date: Fri, 5 May 1989 11:55-EDT From: Mary.Ann.Pike@PROOF.ERGO.CS.CMU.EDU To: Bernadette.Kowalski@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Re: answering machines My husband and I have a record-a-call brand answering machine that's at least 5 years old, and we've never had any problems with it. Their new model has even more features, and is priced much lower than comparable machines. The only local place where I've seen this brand is Dahlkemper's. Hope this helps. Mary Ann Pike Date: Fri, 5 May 1989 12:25-EDT From: John.Kolojejchick@SPICE.CS.CMU.EDU To: Bernadette.Kowalski@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Re: answering machines My Bell Phones Answermate 1201 began to randomly hang up on callers about 2 months after I bought it. It now seems to take about 1 message in 4. The Bell Phones people, though difficult to reach, have been reasonable about fixing the problem. I am looking for a new machine, so can you forward me your results? -jake Fri, 5 May 89 12:35:45 -0400 (EDT) Fri, 5 May 89 12:35:22 -0400 (EDT) via MS.5.6.forbes.andrew.cmu.edu.rt_r3; Fri, 5 May 89 12:35:07 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 5 May 89 12:35:08 -0400 (EDT) From: Edward Zayas To: Bernadette.Kowalski@f.gp.cs.cmu.edu Subject: Re: answering machines Bernadette... A friend of mine and I both have the Phonemate top-of-the-line answering machine (I forget the exact model name or number). While I've only had it for a few months (and have had no problems whatsoever with it - in fact, it's a very nice machine), my friend had hers for a little more than a year when it was felled by a power surge. It fried its internals, and the machine began acting silly, like announcing things spuriously (it has a voice-generation chip). The chips cannot simply be replaced, and it was out of warranty, so it was a matter paying big bucks to fix it or just buying a new one (I got this model on sale for around $89, by the way). So, this model seems to be an all-or-nothing proposition: should its computer get hosed and you're out of warranty, you basically have to buy another one. Now, there's no telling how long the machine would have lasted if it hadn't been zapped, of course. Ed. Date: Friday, 5 May 1989 13:18:56 EDT From: Steven.Minton@cad.cs.cmu.edu To: bk@f.gp.cs.cmu.edu Subject: re: answering machine Ms. Kowalski, I would suggest not buying a Cobra answering machine, I just got mine last September and already I'm having problems with mine. - Steve Minton To: Bernadette.Kowalski@f.gp.cs.cmu.edu Subject: Re: answering machines Date: Fri, 05 May 89 14:51:10 EDT From: Pat Barron I have had a Panasonic answering machine for over two years. It has been in nearly constant use during that time. I have never had any problems with it. --Pat. Date: Fri, 5 May 89 18:29:33 EDT From: Oren.Etzioni@VIOLET.LEARNING.CS.CMU.EDU To: Bernadette.Kowalski@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: answering machines Bern, I've had a panasonic machine (don't remember the model) for over 5 years and have never had it repaired. oren To: bk@f.gp.cs.cmu.edu Reply-to: Tim Freeman Subject: Answering macines Date: Fri, 05 May 89 19:19:05 EDT From: Timothy.Freeman@PROOF.ERGO.CS.CMU.EDU I have a cheap Radio Shack version, and I have had it for about 4 years. The only repair I have had to do to it is to buy a new reply tape once, and to clean the heads and capistan once. This version doesn't have the feature that lets you call in from anywhere and hear your messages. My dad has a similar one, and he used to complain about it a lot, although he doesn't any more. I don't think he tried replacing the reply tape or cleaning it for a long time after it started misbehaving. Date: Sun, 7 May 1989 14:59-EDT From: Tom.Lane@ZOG.CS.CMU.EDU To: Bernadette.Kowalski@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Re: answering machines Hmm. I have an *old* Code-a-Phone, which was repaired just before I got it some four or five years ago; it's worked without a hitch since then. My wife has a Panasonic 1421 which is around 3 years old; it has worked reliably as well. Based on that limited sample, I would say that frequency of repair is not something to be overly concerned about. I *would* worry about whether it does what you want. (Before getting the Panasonic, my wife purchased and returned a Phone-Mate, which had been her first choice based on a Consumer Reports review. The P-M had some really bizarre behavior; I don't recall the details anymore, but we found it unacceptable.) tom lane Date: Mon, 8 May 1989 10:33-EDT From: Fil.Alleva@SPEECH2.CS.CMU.EDU To: Bernadette.Kowalski@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Re: answering machines I have had a GE and a Cobra. The Cobra had problems after a year and died altogther with in three years. The GE has been going strong for four years now. -Fil Date: Friday, 05 May 89 13:20:59 EDT From: kusbit (Gail Kusbit) @ basil.psy.cmu.edu Reply-to: kusbit (Gail Kusbit) @psy.cmu.edu Subject: ans machines To: kowalski @ f.gp.cs.cmu.edu We have had 2 answering machines (same make) in our offices: one for 3 years, and the other for at least 5 years. Neither has needed any repair. They are Record a Call models 625 and 675. The company is T.A.D. Avanti, Inc. We got them at David Weiss for about $150 each. --Gail Kusbit