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Cable and Wireless CWP200
by bilbobaginz
Corded, simple looking 'home phones' are becoming rarer and rarer as time proceeds. Wireless technology, especially the local type, is exceptionally cheap and reliable after recent technological advancements. You can fit wireless into more complex devices which deliver a wider range of features operating across the wireless network - but ... anyway, this product doesn't have it. Is that an advantage or a disadvantage? Well price wise its the latter, I got one of these 'Cable and Wireless CWP200' for under £10.00.
It is white (as many home phone designs were in the recent past) and is made from a plastic material of moderate quality. It doesn't feel great under touch but has a decent level of durability which seems as though it will see the phone through to its dieing days. Every element of the design is made from the same plastic, and the keys are perhaps the materials most important sector for usability and feel. They are large and numbered in black to stand out as much as possible from the pale background, and they are bulky and strong-feeling under touch. I think the simplicity in layout of the buttons and the clear labeling of them is the products greatest advantage.
The phone sits on a sturdy base and is corded to the housing via a spiraling rubber wire - I think the idea of the spiral is to stop it from tangling up over time? Anyway, it seems to work and is definitely long enough for users of the phone to stand a fair enough distance from the base. Because of the cords flexibility, you are unlikely to pull the whole contraption off its table which another added benefit.
- A line up of the products abilities -
Tone dialing - each key has its own individual tone - pointless.
Direct memories (3) - the amount of numbers you can program into the device.
Indirect memories (10) - the amount of numbers which the device can remember its self.
Mute button - to shut up people you find boring?
Visual ring indicator - a flashing light...
Last number redial - self-explanatory.
Recall button - giving you the power to quickly call back the last caller.
Ringer volume control - quite a variety of volume settings is a good bonus.
Pause button - used for pausing answer-phone play backs, etc.
Wall mountable - this is a nice addition, adds to the products usability if mounted. All the controls work just as well with the phone vertically placed.
I like the model because its simple. For someone not content to follow the newer products (most of which seem to have more faults than new abilities anyway) then this is the home / work phone for you. There aren't many features though, and the amount of numbers it can store is very poor (probably the most likely thing to put you off).
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Tesco Value TH100 Slimline Gondola
by JJJJ
Looking for an incredibly cheap phone that's also surprisingly functional? then the Tesco TH100 may be for you. This ultra-budget model retails at only £4.28, and it's available from most of the larger Tesco Extra stores and from the Tesco Direct website. As you would expect, a phone which costs just over four pounds is always going to ... be limited in terms of its features, but how does it perform?
Design & Appearance
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White in colour, the TH100 is made from a sturdy white plastic and is shaped in the classic 'gondola' design. The base can be wall mounted if required, although it's just as functional when placed horizontally on a surface. The overall appearance isn't bad for the price, and overall it looks fairly professional. The handset is comfortable to hold, and easy to replace on the base without too much fiddling. In terms of the features, the phone offers very little in terms of gimmicks - there's the adjustable ringer volume, a mute button, and a last number redial facility - pretty much standard fare for every phone made in the last twenty years! The keypad feels quite rubbery, but the numbers are big enough to see, and the buttons are easy to press.
Sound Quality & Final Word
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To be honest, I was surprised at the TH100's sound quality when I used it for the first time - the earpiece is very clear and quite loud, and i've never had any issues hearing what the person on the other end has said. The ringer is similarly easy to hear, and there's a high and low volume setting to play with. Overall, the Tesco TH100 Gondola phone is a impressive product for the price - it does all the basics and it does them well. There's no answer-phone or LCD screen, but as a secondary house phone you may not need such distractions anyway; recommended.
Technical Specifications
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Dimensions 7 x 20 x 7 cm
Phone Book Memory: 5 Numbers
Adjustable Ringer Volume: Yes
Wall Mountable: Yes
Hearing Aid Compatible: No
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BT Studio 3500 Single
by grayh
We originally bought one of these phones around 3 years ago because we were looking for a cheap cordless phone with an answering machine. However, we had to replace it after just over a year as it stopped working and was just out of warranty! Nonetheless, we were happy to replace it with the same because despite its` faults, it is very ... good value for money.
Generally the phone is adequate. Plus points are that it's cheap, fairly small, has an answering machine with a reasonable message capacity and the handset has a reasonable battery life. Minus points are that the sound quality isn't great - it's quite crackly (although if you've got reasonably good hearing, this probably won't bother you too much) and the microphone in the handset is quite directional i.e. your mouth has to be in just the right place for the microphone to pick your voice up well. I really struggle to be heard when I`m using this phone yet I have no problem at all being heard on my mobile. However, my husband has no problem at all!
Would I recommend this? Yes, providing the crackly audio won't get on your nerves!
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