Answering Machines - Outcome For Now

[Susan Kline]

I might add to Zen's list of real tape machine virtues the fact that you
can use standard tapes in them, and they will record phone conversations if
both parties are willing to put up with the (legally required) beeps every
ten seconds. 

My Panasonic, which takes normal-sized cassettes, has also been bombproof.
The tonal quality of the messages improves a lot when the tapes are taken
to a normal stereo system. I've never had anything tangle. Every year or
two I replace the message cassette (with a normal 60-minute tape) since all
that backing and forthing must surely wear and stretch the tape. 

Susan
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At 10:44 PM 8/10/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Dear Listmates!
>
>Many many thanks for your input on my answering machine problem!  I knew
>there were a lot of state-of-the-art options out there, but hearing about
>how well those options work for those of you who use them was a real
>learning experience.
>
>I'm going the old-fashioned route for now.  My favorite answering machine,
>a Panasonic KX-T5000 (2 micro-cassettes, remote capabilities, practically
>bombproof) is on the listed phone number.  The unlisted [family] line has a
>brand new, perhaps last-of-a-line single micro-cassette system.  It works,
>but it isn't nearly the machine the KX-T5000 is.  At least the sound
>quality is infinitely better than the digital *joke* that died on me,
>prompting this whole answering machine madness.
>
>OK -- some of you may not like the tape machines because of the moving
>parts that can go out of order or the tapes that can get tangled up, but
>when all is said and done, the tapes can be saved as future reference,
>momentos, evidence, whatever.  Furthermore, I can take them with me
>(leaving a fresh one in the machine) and play them back in a hand-held tape
>recorder.  Both machines have remote capabilities, so it's not a big deal
>to check them periodically while between appointments.
>
>Z! Reinhardt RPT
>Ann Arbor  MI
>diskladame@provide.net
>
>