Rating: 
Summary: 2 years and still going
Review: I know several people have had reliability problems. We've had our GE for two years and it still works great. It didn't lose anything after a 24 hour power failure. (Don't forget to install the battery!) However, we did get caught once when we moved the answering machine in our new place and disconnected the AC cord from the base. I love the many features. (See other reviews for details.) We use the GE as a traditional one mailbox answering machine, and we use the extra mailboxes to store messages out of the main inbox. 40 minutes of record time makes this easy. Switching between the primary and secondary outgoing greeting is as simple as pressing a single button. We've checked messages remotely with no problems. I, too, wish the time/date stamp was at the start of the message. I also wish there was some way to rewind a playing message by only a few seconds instead of having to go all the way back to the beginning.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Digital Answering Machine I Could Find
Review: I literally got a headache shopping for a digital answering machine (. . .)I quickly found out that it is really hard to find a digital answering machine with more than 5 to 20 minutes total record time (this is for both stand alone machines and for ones that are phone combos). Another problem is a lot of machines only give callers less than a minute to leave a message. I also saw review after review of terrible sound quality for outgoing and incoming messages. My husband cured my headache by finding this GE digital answering machine. I love that it has forty minutes of total record time, has a time/day stamp and remote access so I can check my messages when I'm away from home. I can also set this machine to give my callers from a minute to four minutes to leave a message. This machine is easy to use (I only needed to read the manual once). The sound quality for outgoing and incoming messages is really good. It is clear and understandable. I only detected very light background static that doesn't interfere with the messages. The machine's voice that gives instructions on use and time/day of messages is mechanical, but most of the time is easy to understand. This machine is loaded with features that work and are easy to use (I read reviews on other answering machines where the features did not work or were difficult to use). Here are some tips of use. Make sure to use a 9-volt battery (not included) for backup during power outages. I saw another reviewer state that this doesn't work. I had no problems with it. All my settings and messages were kept when I unplugged the ac adapter from the wall outlet (I left it unplugged for 15 minutes). Whatever you do don't unplug the ac adapter from the answering machine base. If you do you will loose all your messages and most of your settings.
Rating: 
Summary: stay away from GE answering machines
Review: I purchased two GE answering machines the same as this one except with one mail box and within a few months they both for no reason said the messages were full randomly for no reason. They also don't stand behind their products.
Rating: 
Summary: Crackling problem
Review: I see a lot of good reviews here. I must admit that the answering machine has a very good interface. The problem is that a few months after I bought it the speaker started making this crackling sound. It sits on a desk where we're working and it's very annoying to listen to this continuous random crackling noise. It was inexpensive, so I just bought another one. A few months later, the new one started doing the same thing! I assume there was some sort of manufacturing defect. I just can't figure out why I don't see anyone else mentioning this problem. Maybe this issue has been fixed by now, but let this be a warning that yours may do this too.
Rating:
Summary: I Do Not Recommend
Review: I'm not happy with this machine. I purchased it as a replacement for an AT&T digital answering machine that worked very well for about 12 years, but finally gave out. However this machine is inferior to my old AT&T unit. This machine: (1) consistently cuts people off while they are leaving a message (and the message length is set to 4 minutes), (2) gives time/date stamp information at the end of each message, and (3) is not as user friendly as my old unit.
Rating:
Summary: Don't recommend
Review: I've been through two of these things in about 6 months. You'd think I'd learn, but I'm always in a rush, and it was the only one I could find with 40 min record time. The backup battery often failed, it often cut off my callers, then twice, it outright died and I'd have to buy a new one. When it worked, it did work pretty well and has a lot of features for the money. But this time, I think I have to go AT + T.
Rating:
Summary: Great features, but unreliable
Review: In terms of features & price, this answering machine is one of the best deals you can get. With 4 separate mailboxes and 40 minutes of digital recording time, what's not to love, right? Well, after less than a year of use, the answering machine no longer answers incoming calls. After 4 rings, the outgoing message begins to play from the speaker, but the answering machine never picks up! It took my wife and I several days of not getting any messages to figure this out. Who knows how many important messages we missed because of this? Very infuriating. We have since replaced the answering machine with a Sprint SP-812 that we picked up used from Craigslist.org for $10. The SP-812 only has 1 mailbox and 12 minutes of recording time, but at least it reliably answers the phone... and that's the most important feature of all.
Rating:
Summary: Horrible Sound !
Review: In terms of features & price, this answering machine is one of the best deals you can get. With 4 separate mailboxes and 40 minutes of digital recording time, what's not to love, right? Well, after less than a year of use, the answering machine no longer answers incoming calls. After 4 rings, the outgoing message begins to play from the speaker, but the answering machine never picks up! It took my wife and I several days of not getting any messages to figure this out. Who knows how many important messages we missed because of this? Very infuriating. We have since replaced the answering machine with a Sprint SP-812 that we picked up used from Craigslist.org for $10. The SP-812 only has 1 mailbox and 12 minutes of recording time, but at least it reliably answers the phone... and that's the most important feature of all.
Rating:
Summary: Garbage
Review: IT seemed to cut off bits of words when recording. I keep losing numbers and I am about to throw it away. I think it trunticates words in order to delete dead recording space. If the caller dont speak very loudly it deletes them. -*( Going to try ATT next.
Rating:
Summary: Great features, reliability leaves a lot to be desired!
Review: Not many of these separate answering machines around. After reading the various reviews, decided to purchase this machine. The features are great. It was easy to program, and loved the four separate mailboxes. Outgoing message (you can program two different ones) was clear when calling in, and incoming messages also quite easy to understand. Good volume control. Very easy to set up for use. One unusual feature is the line cord to the wall jack; it's fixed to the machine, and it's pretty short. Would prefer a removable cord. Anyway, seems great, huh? Well, after only a couple of weeks, it's broken! Calls come in, and machine picks up, but caller can't hear the outgoing message, nor can leave a message. Tried all the fixes in "troubleshooting," none worked; tried all new cords, everything we could think of. Look somewhere else - poor quality control/reliablity, and it doesn't even have any moving parts! Have an older GE with tape (switched for the extra mailboxes), about 7 years old, still works great! Progress??
| 
