 Review: Uniden TRU-8885Posted 10:42AM October 29 2004 Overview 
With the recent purchase of two additional handsets for this 5.8Ghz Uniden phone system, I decided that I might know enough about the package to give it a review. At $129.99 for the base station and two handsets, and $50 for each additional handset, the system
isn't considered as budget-friendly as the $89 GE 2.4Ghz Bundle or $40 Northwestern Bell single 5.8Ghz phone.
Physical Aspects The clear, orange back-lit screen and numeric keys allow the phone to be seen easily in low-light conditions, but the B/W LCD technology is no comparison with Vtech's new color screen on the i5867, although a multi-pixel display allows vivid words and numbers. With a 23 button layout and multi-purpose "soft keys," the TRU-8885 may be too complex for anyone not wanting to read the 92 page product manual. Noteworthy buttons include a Voice Mail "soft key" that can be programmed to call any Voice Mail number (*98 in this area) and an orange light near the top of the phone that flashes when any messages are present. A 100-entry Caller ID feature is accessed with a dedicated "CID" button and a name-and-number phonebook button is near the bottom of the handset. User Interface  Menus are controlled with the phone's three "soft keys" and up and down volume buttons. The standard tiered interface allows "global" configuration spanning the phone system as well as individual handset setup. Different ring tones can be selected, and when coupled with the phonebook, distinctive ring tones can be assigned for indivual numbers. A text banner can be set to always be displayed on the phone in "standby" mode, using the numeric keys and assigned letters to type in the message (ours reads "MillerHome").
Component Quality Complete with a full-duplex internal speakerphone and "Integrisound," the TRU-8885 features optimal sound quality. The unit itself feels durable and has a nice weight that adds to the perfect cell-phone like size. The silver and black color scheme seems to blend well in most enivironments and the back-lit screen can be seen from a distance. The charging base for the handset, however, feels very plastic-like and weighs not more than a few ounces. It is a simple device with a sole charging light and two terminals that the phone fits into nicely. Unfortunately the handset CANNOT be used when it is in either the base station or charging base and therefore deems the speakerphone useless unless the phone is set free-standing. Final Words  Although I don't have the most experience with cordless phones, with a rating of 8.3/10 and an Editor's Choice award on C|Net, I can obviously see that this system would be considered a prime choice for a family's home or a small business office.
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