Panasonic 5.8 GHZ Single Handset System Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System (KX-TG4321B) by Panasonic
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Digital camera reviews of Panasonic 5.8 GHZ Single Handset System Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System (KX-TG4321B)
Digital camera Review: Panasonic single Handset answering system
Summary: 4 Stars
The only thing we don't like is that we can't seem to program it so we don't hear the messages while they're being left without having the volume turned down(it's very distracting or could even be embarrassing when everyone in the house can listen to incoming messages). and have to turn up the volume when we want to listen to messages that came in while we were gone. Other than that it seems to work just fine. I called Panasonic for instructions and the wait time was just a couple of minutes.Digital camera Review: Poor Volume; Poor Speakerphone; Junk
Summary: 2 Stars
This phone could have been good, but:
1. Can barely hear the person you're speaking to even when you turn up the volume all the way in normal mode.
2. Speaker Phone drains the battery quickly. And speaker is on the back of the phone! Why??? So when you put the phone on speaker for those long customer service/tech calls, get ready to have to recharge the phone overnight before using it again, and be ready to turn the phone around so you can hear better.
You get what you pay for. Junk.
Digital camera Review: Quite happy so far (UPDATE: JUNKED IT)
Summary: 1 Stars
Call quality on the handset--both on the earpiece and the speakerphone--is nonproblematic. The base for the handset has a very small footprint (I'm estimating it at no more than 40 square inches) but is highly functional at the same time. For example, recording a hilarious outgoing answering-machine message is an absolute cinch. Checking messages is likewise a breeze.
My only issues are that the handset feels a little light in the hand (although that may be something you're looking for--I was expecting something with a little more heft). But that's a petty complaint. More seriously, although the battery (at least on first charge) lasts for a few days' idle time plus several hours' talk time (approximately), the handset readout says "Charge for seven hours" when the battery's near dead. You probably don't need to charge it for the full seven, but I feel compelled to.
All in all, however, the Panasonic KX-TG4321B is an aesthetically pleasing and eminently competent phone.
UPDATE (9/15/2008): I need to add that the phone craps out frequently. Sometimes it's because it's getting low on juice (but nowhere near empty), and other times, for no apparent reason. And by "crap out," I mean the equivalent of the Windows "blue screen of death." It comes back to life after a minute or so, but it's immensely aggravating when someone calls you, you pick up, and your phone goes blank. Or when you try to dial out, and the same thing happens. I would lower my rating to two stars if Amazon would let me, but it won't.
Also, three months in, it doesn't seem to hold a full charge for as long as it used to. A couple days' idle time and a couple hours' talk time, I'd estimate.
UPDATE (11/10/2008): I want my money back. The GD thing barely holds a charge at all anymore. And this despite the fact that, in the beginning, I religiously made sure to drain the battery before recharging.
Also, the crapping out has gone from frequent to normal behavior. I would estimate that only about 20% of the time am I able to dial out on the first try. And I would say that at least 80% of my calls, if connected, are cut off by this phone. I would knock this junk down to one star if Amazon would let me. DO NOT BUY.
UPDATE (3/21/2009): If you can train yourself to return the phone to its cradle after each use, it'll serve you well. This defeats to some extent the purpose of having a cordless phone, but whatever.
UPDATE (2/13/2011): Two things: First, at some point, it started crashing even if I put it back in its stand after every call. Second, even if it didn't crash, after a few seconds, it would either mute me or the person on the other end of the line, so that we couldn't hear each other. Having finally had my fill, I threw it out.
Digital camera Review: So far so good.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was looking for a new cordless phone to replace my old one which I have had for over 5 years. When I started shopping around, of course Amazon was the first place I looked. This phone has everything I wanted- speaker phone *bonus, this one's in the handset which is pretty cool. I also needed something simple and small- nothing too big or clunky because my work area does not provide much desk space and I didn't want to have to hang it on the wall (which is an option with this phone). As for the range, I haven't yet tested it- but I'm sure I will at some point because I am outside quite often and my last phone wouldn't even allow me to check the mail 40 feet from the base, so I was forced to make calls from my cell phone. Of course, time will tell how well this phone does regarding battery life, etc. I will update this review accordingly because I always appreciate when others do the same.
The one downfall to this phone so far is that the numbers (on handset) do not light up in the dark. This was something I completely overlooked when shopping, but it's funny how some manufacturers just ditch this feature. I have gotten used to it on my cell phone and other phones I've had in the past, so I was bummed that this phone did provide that. Overall, the phone is great thus far. You can program phone numbers into the "phone book" like your cell phone. And one of my favorite features is that you can check your messages from the handset speakerphone away from the base and without having to input some annoying password like with voicemail. It's just cool. I rated the phone 5 stars because it meets my expectations, despite the numbers on the handset not lighting up for dialing in the dark.
Digital camera Review: Started Out Okay.....
Summary: 4 Stars
I have had this phone for 3 years and never had a complaint until about 6 months ago when it didn't seem to hold a charge. I bought this phone because the booklet stated that it had 300 hours of talk time. That's what I was looking for. A phone that would stay charged. Well...lately it goes dead after 30 minutes of talking. I thought maybe it was just me or maybe I left it off the hook....but that is not the case. So...I have ordered a new battery pac and I am hoping that is all it needs. I thought the batteries would last a lifetime, but I guess not. I will see how the phone operates with the new batteries. All in all...it's a pretty nice home phone.