GE Digital Answering System (29888GE1)

List Price: $19.95 Discount Price: $5.24

Features:

• Digital recording with 8 minutes recording time for incoming and outgoing messages
• Auto disconnect when phone call is answered
• Memo function to leave messages for other members of the household

Customer Reviews:

reliable if boring [Posted on 2005-06-02]
I've been using this machine for a year. I originally purchased it in December 2003, but when I set it up, the phone ceased to work. My roommate and I decided that it was the ancient hardware within the apartment, so we simply didn't use an answering device. I moved in June 2004, and using the same equipment--both telephone and answering machine--it has worked almost flawlessly since it was set up. I say "almost flawlessly" because the only trouble I've had with it since moving is the timestamp. The date and time kept getting messed up, so now I simply don't set it. I believe it was our frequent power burps that messed up the timestamp, rather than the actual machine. I think the machine simply doesn't keep the time in its memory if it's momentarily without power. I haven't suffered from lost messages though, and if I was choosing between accurate timestamps but no messages, or messages with inaccurate timestamps, I prefer what it gives me--messages without accurate timestamps. My phone has caller ID which keeps the proper time, and I use that timestamp when it's important for me to know when a message was left. If that's not an option for you, choose another machine, but otherwise this one is a great low cost work horse. Clarity is acceptable. There aren't many exciting options, but it's cheap, reliable, and compact. I do use the remote access occasionally. It's possible to tweak the options pretty well, even though there aren't many options to begin with. If you want to save a message as new so the phone will continue to pick up after two rings, or your roommate will know to check the machine, you simply have to press "stop" prior to the completion of the last message. The light continues to blink and it behaves as if you'd never touched it.

Nothing fancy, just records messages [Posted on 2007-12-17]
There is nothing special about this machine. It has worked well for us so far. The speaker is not great and the voice is sort of annoying, but it is easy to use and does what it is supposed to do. No complaints for the amount we paid.

Too short recording time. [Posted on 2007-12-28]
Though I knew that I purchased a cheap one, the recording time is still too short.

didn't last long [Posted on 2008-03-28]
I had this for a very short time and it quit working one day. Would not waste money on another.

Good value [Posted on 2008-04-30]
Just your basic answering machine. Very simple and easy to use and a good value. I bought 10 recently for my employer. They last for years, there's no battery and no maintenance. Never had a failure or a DOA.

The settings are intuitive and you don't need the manual to use it. I pair them with low cost commodity cordless phones. Initial total cost is comparable to expensive phones with built-in answering machines, but answering machines last longer; cordless phones die after a few years, and models change every few months. Replacement phone batteries cost as much as a cheap phone, assuming you can even find one that fits. If you do, it has probably been on the shelf for years and is as useless as the original. The only downside is an extra wall wart and another cord to trip over.

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