Do Americans still use answering machines?

pickarooney

As in, the separate devices you plug into a phone where you can hear the message as it's being left?

That was handy, back in the day, now you have to take a gamble on picking it up or not (assuming you're part of the old guard who still has a landline).

m@cc@

You know what was good, longplay on VHS. Twice the length of videotape, just like that.

TheZohanS

pickarooney wrote: »

As in, the separate devices you plug into a phone where you can hear the message as it's being left?

That was handy, back in the day, now you have to take a gamble on picking it up or not (assuming you're part of the old guard who still has a landline).

I assume you're wondering for a creative writing piece. Yes Americans do still use answering machines and the majority of them will still have landlines for broadband.

pickarooney

TheZohan wrote: »

I assume you're wondering for a creative writing piece.

No, I just watched TV last night and in both programs a character ran to pick up half-way through a message. It's not all about the CW's man!

WindSock

Do people still use pagers? There was one in a crap film I saw last night. £7.

biko

It's a good movie effect as the audience can hear the message at the same time as the hero.
It would be the same if the hero just presses 1 on his mobile and listens intently for two minutes, then hangs up.

kodute

WindSock wrote: »

Do people still use pagers? There was one in a crap film I saw last night. £7.

Doctors still use them right?

pickarooney

Is that suspenseful 'keep them on the line for one minute so we can track them' plot now dead or is there still some basis for it in current reality?

Somehow, somehow, the bad guy always knew to hang up after 59 seconds but didn't cop that they would have a partial match by then and he'd be snared rapid even as he lit up his cuban with a maniacal cackle.

£7.

Was that the name of the film or the budget involved? Or did you buy it way down the country where they don't trust that Euro yoke?

AnonoBoy

pickarooney wrote: »

Is that suspenseful 'keep them on the line for one minute so we can track them' plot now dead or is there still some basis for it in current reality?

Somehow, somehow, the bad guy always knew to hang up after 59 seconds but didn't cop that they would have a partial match by then and he'd be snared rapid even as he lit up his cuban with a maniacal cackle.

Yeah well they won't get him if he patches the signal through one of the orbiting satellites and discombobulates from the mainframe before he makes the call.

"God damn it, he's using our own technology against us!"

MilanPan!c

In a land of 300m you can people that do anything.

pickarooney

MilanPan!c wrote: »

In a land of 300m you can people that do anything.

I read that in a really deep, foreboding voice. It sounds like an awesome movie.

damo86

work on ships, still use them there! good ol' motorola adviser 2, with multiple ringtones...ouuu!

Liam Byrne

MilanPan!c wrote: »

In a land of 300m you can people that do anything.

Is this a "guess the missing word" game ?

My guesses are

a) find
b) date
c) shoot

....and sometimes all 3, in that order!

cafecolour

My parents still do.

I'd say very few folks under 30 or 35 even has a landline though.