Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!ucsd!ucbvax!agate!nucsrl!telecom-request From: gld@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Gary L Dare) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Northern Telecom Maestro Message-ID: Date: 10 Mar 91 19:10:33 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Reply-To: Gary L Dare Organization: Curious Goods (formerly Louis Vendredi Antiques) Lines: 33 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 195, Message 12 of 12 fleming@cup.portal.com (Stephen Fleming) writes: > Good-looking set (I have mine wall-mounted), seemingly solid > construction, keys feel right when you press them. Nice features > like on-hook dialling using the LCD display (with a backspace key), > a Link (hookflash) button for Call Waiting, a Hold button so you > can run to an extension, adjustable handset volume, and a lamp that > lights whenever any extension in the house is off-hook. I'm a huge fan of NT phones. They have a certain "heft" to them that feels nice in your hands if you like to walk around when you talk or if you move the phone around on your desk. Not heavy like old dial telephones, and surely it doesn't feel like an empty plastic container from last night's Chinese take-out. The keys have just the right resistance, too. I wasn't able to buy one of the newer Bell Canada type phones to bring down to New York, but did buy a refurbished Contempra phone in Montreal. Visitors constantly ask me where to buy one of them (they're not made anymore, and Canadian telco's have phased them out of their offerings). NorTel's R&D arm, Bell-Northern Research (BNR) has an ergonomics unit working out of Ottawa whose raison d'etre is to make their telephones look and feel just right. Having checked out ROLM units and various frail-feeling Japanese makes (except for Sony, which also feels real nice) I always go back to my beat-up Contempra. Disclaimer: I'm a former summer intern for BNR, but I've been a telephone consumer long before, during, and long after that gig. Gary L. Dare gld@cunixB.cc.columbia.EDU gld@cunixc.BITNET