Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Decent, but not as advertised on Amazon.com, September 19, 2004
Pros: solid construction, good feel, excellent sound quality, works with power out
Cons: keypad isn't backlit, caller ID isn't backlit (contradicts advertising as of 9/19/2004!), if on table then caller ID visible only when looking down at phone
Neutral: caller ID and programmable buttons (3 of them) dependent on 3 AA batteries
I've been on a quest for the perfect corded phone. I wanted something with a cord so that there's at least one working phone in the event of a power outage, and I wanted caller ID since I enjoy knowing who I'm going to be stuck talking to when I pick up the phone. One of my requirements for caller ID is that it have a backlit display so I wouldn't have to turn on the light in the middle of the night if I got a call. I tried the AT&T 210 trimline paired up with the GE 29096 caller ID box, but that didn't work well since the box wasn't backlit and it kept clicking on the line as if it were trying to flash it.
So you can imagine my delight after having read the specs on the AT&T 240 corded phone. According to the information on Amazon.com, it had the trimline profile that I like, a heavier weight to the handset so it doesn't feel flimsy, and a backlit caller ID unit built into the back of the handset. Plus, it was inexpensive. I bought one immediately. When I unboxed it, I was happy with the weight and design of the phone, even though it doesn't have a backlit keypad like the trimline phones of old do, like the AT&T 210 that I was using. A pity, since that's a nice feature and one for which I would have been glad to pay more.
So anyway, I hooked it up and tested it out. The phone had a good feel to it, comfortable to hold as well as cradle between ear and shoulder. The quality of the sound was excellent, both clear and without the tinny sound that can result from the audio compression in cordless phones. I only had one complaint, but it was a major one: the caller ID wasn't backlit. Moreover, there was nothing in the instruction manual indicating that it was supposed to be, either. This was a big gripe since the real feature of this phone for me was the backlit caller ID that Amazon.com advertises.
A possible problem for others considering the 240 as a telephone would be the orientation of the caller ID window. As it's on the top of the handset, you have to be looking down at the phone if you decide to rest it on a table or nightstand, i.e., there is no accessory to clip on the back to give it an angled elevation nor, due to the location and style of the rubber feet, can an impromptu one be constructed. This essentially means that if you rest the phone on a table then the caller ID window is viewable only if you stand up, lean over, or pick up the entire phone along with the base and look at it. Of course, if you don't care who's calling then you can pick up the phone and just take your chances; to me, however, this defeats my main reason for caller ID -- not having to talk to people I don't want to. If you just use it as a phonebook of recent callers, then this isn't a problem. Also, if you wall mount the telephone then this isn't an issue at all. I use this telephone in my bedroom but have it wall-mounted next to the bed so I can see the caller ID just fine...in the light, that is.
So, in conclusion, the AT&T 240 is a corded phone with great sound quality and a good feel to it. I wish that the keypad were backlit and I'm quite unhappy that the caller ID window isn't backlit. This is a good corded phone that, with a longer cord, could be a great wall-mounted kitchen phone. I would not recommend it for a location where the lights may be out or the area could be dimly lit. I am presently using it for a bedroom phone, but if I find another corded phone in a trimline model that has a real backlit caller ID then I will probably switch and move this phone to the kitchen or in a spare drawer for storage.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
When electricity is not available., October 27, 2003
By A Customer
Great phone for the price.It's not meant to be the greatest full featured phone,but it has good sound quality and the Caller ID works on batteries.I have had Caller ID in power failures and it is great in rooms where the phone jack is away from an electrical outlet.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
At Last!!! A New Style Phone That Has Some Weight To It!!!, January 31, 2007
I purchased two of this phone model, tried them out for a spell and like them. I am online RIGHT NOW to buy three more so as to get rid of all the other phones (except the 1960's wall phone still in mint condition).
New phones today are light weighted pieces of plastic that screech instead of ring, and fling around the table that they are set onto because they weigh less then an ounce (joking - I think they weight right at 1.25 ounces) Not this model...not at all...it's a fat pup with some meat on her.
In fact, besides feeling REALLY great in the hand from the stand point of ergonomics, they are smooth, rounded and curvy. Hey, they look sweet no matter what you put them on top of, and they stay put while walking around with my 50-feet cords (Self-purchased. The phone comes with a 6 or 9 foot cord - I am guessing). No sudden slipping to the floor by this phone and this is so because they are well built.
I'd venture to say that they are built to last. And, they are built heavy enough to hug that table top, arm-chair's arm or stack of magazines which is a MAJOR plus in my book. Of course any thing is going to hit the floor if you pull too hard. I miss those phones we used to get directly from the phone company when services were ordered. Man they were good phones.
Would I absolutely recommend this phone to you? As of this date I would have to say that I have found the phone to be the better, by a large margin, of the lot of flimsy, light-weighted, bird-chirping pieces of doo-doo owned as of this point. The caller ID uses three AA batteries and is very clear. It is located at the top of the phone's hand device, so, you may need to turn the phone a little to the side if you are lying down in bed. I really do not feel that having to do this makes the phone a no-go...as did a few others. Man, talk about having to have your cake, and eat-it-too!
The dial pad and Caller ID devices ARE NOT back-lit, which would have been an extra good touch as I hate trying to feel around in the dark for a ringing phone, but then again I have taught my family and friends what the difference is between what they call an emergency, and what I consider an emergency, and thereby good reason for waking me up. Violation of this rule, with those who know me, know is a very big OOPS! So, rarely is this an issue. So, there really isn't a need for a telephone night-light.
So, would I recommend this phone? Yes.
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