<p>Decided that we need a new phone for the house. Requirements are that it be corded so it works if the power goes out, that it have an answering machine, and that it works. Have narrowed it down to buying from Costco or Amazon. Only problem with Costco is the only one that looks good comes with three other handsets which is more than we need. The two brands available are Motorola or Panasonic. Anybody have any recommendation between those two?</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> AT&T Corded Trimline Phone with 13-Number Memory (210): Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000050FZP/ref=oss_product]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000050FZP/ref=oss_product)</p>
<p>This is the one I bought. Very basic, no caller ID, but I have it on my other cordless phones. This one is just to make sure I have a connection in a power outage. It’s cheap and the sound is excellent.</p>
<p>I bought one at Target before this one that did have caller ID but it had buttons on the outside of the receiver and every time I tucked the phone between my shoulder and ear (while cooking, usually), it hung up on the caller - very poor design. I think it was this one [AT&T</a> Trimline Corded Phone with Caller ID - White : Target](<a href=“http://www.target.com/AT-T-Trimline-Corded-Caller/dp/B001S2PKP4/ref=br_1_3?ie=UTF8&id=AT%20T%20Trimline%20Corded%20Caller&node=10679151&searchSize=30&searchView=list&searchPage=1&sr=1-3&qid=1282151823&rh=&searchBinNameList=target_com_category-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin%2Cprice&searchRank=salesrank&frombrowse=1]AT&T”>http://www.target.com/AT-T-Trimline-Corded-Caller/dp/B001S2PKP4/ref=br_1_3?ie=UTF8&id=AT%20T%20Trimline%20Corded%20Caller&node=10679151&searchSize=30&searchView=list&searchPage=1&sr=1-3&qid=1282151823&rh=&searchBinNameList=target_com_category-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin%2Cprice&searchRank=salesrank&frombrowse=1)</p>
<p>I think my AT&T with answering goes out with the power outage. There is too much on the phones these days. If you want one for power outage, just get a cheap handset like the seond link that can be plugged in when you need it.</p>
<p>We’ve tried the cheap handset. Problem is when it doesn’t work, none of the other extensions work either. I already have a cordless on that line but it doesn’t have an answering machine, so now I want to get a corded with answering machine.</p>
<p>Really, this shouldn’t be that hard.</p>
<p>I bought this phone last year, and like it a lot: [Panasonic</a> KX-TS620-W Corded Telephone w/ Answering and Speakerphone](<a href=“http://www.jr.com/panasonic/pe/PAN_KXTS620B/]Panasonic”>http://www.jr.com/panasonic/pe/PAN_KXTS620B/)</p>
<p>I have an old phone just like the one in the first link provided by patsmom. I keep it in a cupboard with the other power outage supplies (candles, battery-powered lanterns, etc.), pull it out and plug it in only when the need arises, and it works great.</p>
<p>Just a word of warning: not all corded phones will work during power outage. If the phone also needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet, there is a chance it will not work when the power goes out (yup, had one of those).</p>
<p>Thanks Booklady. That one looks good.</p>
<p>Does anybody know if generally, Motorolla or Panasonic is a better brand?</p>