| Product: |
Ascom Avena 233 plus |
| Date: |
31.08.03 (257 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: flashing lights
Disadvantages: user interface, build quality, completely useless
After about a year with this phone I finally succumed to my inner most desires; grabbed a 2lb sledge hammer and... well, you can work out the rest for yourself.
I'm a fan of digital cordless and at the time this model seemed to be the best looking of an ugly bunch. A bit ostentatious perhaps and the laughable picture on the front of the box (featuring a selection of advertising stereotypes creaming their united pants in its presence) didn't really help.
I was happy enough for the first few weeks and enjoyed the little flashing light show every time someone called. The pre-recorded answer phone messages in a variety of different languages were sort of fun as well.
But then it started to annoy me.
The interface is pathetic. Pick up the phone while someone was leaving a message (pretty normal if you tend to screen your calls) and you'd have to scroll through the menu, pressing no less than three buttons, just to be able to say 'hello'.
Added to that, the phone system 'crashed' on a regular basis - often when answering a call. Unplugging the power cord so the b***** thing could re-set its self became something of a ritual manoeuvre.
After six months I accidently knocked it off the desk and it fell three feet onto a wooden floor. OK, that's my mistake, but even so - three feet was enough to break it. Took the case apart and nothing had broken inside but the internal speaker had become dislodged. Discovered it was held in place by nothing more than a wing and a prayer. A truly awful example of cheap industrial design.
Ended up having to take the case apart on three further separate occasions when the speaker started rattling about, after I don't know - whispering in too loud a voice perhaps.
As far as I'm concerned, the sooner Ascom goes out of buisiness and stops conning people out of their money the better.
Avoid.
Summary:
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Last comment:
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delawney - 04.09.03 Hiya and welcome to dooyoo ;)
A good first review - shame the phone was a pile of pants!
Try and read and rate as much as you can while your here - it will get your name noticed, so you should get more reads ;)
delawney (Electronics Guide) |
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