darrenb, I have been using the 900mhz phones in NYC since they came out. Cost then around $300+, made by Vtech & then Uniden. Now everyone makes them from $20 & up. Great reception, very secure. Best is one with digital spread spectrum.

Then came 2.4ghz, started at $300+ now can be had for $49 & up. Also best to get Digital Spread spectrum.

These phones have pretty good range, very good sound & are secure.

There is now a new 5.8ghz digital spread spectrum, I have not tried this yet.

You can find a great selection at:

Staples
Circuit City
Best Buy
I always buy phones at a store with 30 day refund policy, that way when you take home that fancy looking bells & whistles phone you can test it and make sure it works in your enviroment.
I live in an apartment , lots of steel & metal studs. The old original cordless phones would not work in here. No problems with these new models.
I myself like Vtech & Uniden.
http://telecom.hellodirect.com/docs/...y.1.031903.asp
Reg. Frank R.

Re: What is expensive?
 

researching white goods
 

I like to have european quality appliances

so far I have found:

dyson hoover - bestbuy
bosch kettle (same as siemens dsign in the UK
dualit toaster (william sonoma)

i am stuck for a washing machine - i would like a dyson one but it looks unlikely for the time being

I too think the top loaders are poor - although I do agree that the dryers work great - very strange

fridges: smeg do not have any sales channel in the USA , HOWEVER they are available in canade

are there any issues in getting stuff from canada to work in the states?

Canada has same power as US 110v.

Washing machine, Miele or Bosch. Very expensive but German.
Reg. Frank R.

thank you I will go down that route

something that no-one has mentioned is how awful dishwashers are

I was staying with friends and filling the machine after dinner

I was stopped by my horrified friend - who told me i had to wash the dishes before putting them in!!! wth? thought they were mistaken, and having experimented since it seems they were right - they come out dirty if not washed first

not sure to be honest if its the detergent or the machine itself

when they came to visit me they were in awe and wonderment (slight exageration :-)) of my amazing appliances - a dishwasher that you don't have to wash the dishes first and a washing machine that DRIES as well in the same unit!!!! shock horror

don't even mention cell, i mean mobile phones!!

i love america, but as someone who apreciates quality and high technology I have to get kicks from europe i think :-(

I don't wash my dishes before putting them in dishwasher......if you have a cheaper or older model dishwasher you usually have to rinse some before putting them in.....but why buy a dishwasher that doubles your workload....unless you're cheap.

Lisa

agreed, but I was told that they were all the same - maybe they were all old/cheap models....

oh well

We 'inherited' a GE model that was already built in when we bought the house. No idea whether it is cheap or expensive, but it is cr@p - only used it a couple of times in 6 months. Does make a good drying rack for when we've hadnwashed the dishes though:)

water, electric and health care:(

I started this thread sometime ago. So I take it you lot are coming back to good old moden, efficient, reliable, Britian hay?
derrr i think not.....:confused:

Yeah, they're all whingers.

If you're coming, take America at face value. There are no big problems with domestica applicances, at least none that give me sleepless nights! I really can't imagine getting my hi-tech kicks from a German dishwasher - some people must lead a really exciting life!!! :D

I told hubby about this thread and his reply was that everyone must not come from his area, for there if you whinged this much you'd be told to "shut up you old woman". Which I witnessed when he was whinging about something while we were out with friends in Derby, his friend told him off....was too funny to see my talkative hubby go quiet realising he was doing exactly what he hates to hear from others.........lol.


Lisa

We bought a Simmons Queen size bed, top of the range for $1900 only last week, so to that end I agree with Patrick on the bed costs.........High...but jesus did I have a good nights sleep.

Rob

Get a Dyson, best vac in the world....$399 from Best Buy or sears $499 for the top of the range Animal one. Thank god for James Dyson.

Re: What is expensive?
 

All the things you mentioned are much cheaper here. 1,000 US Dollar = 614.175 British Pound .. and don't forget your precious VAT

Gas (petrol) is far cheaper, again thanks to British taxation you're paying 3 times the price in order to encourage efficiency.. that doesn't fly here, but you'll be driving much longer distances on the freeways.

What is expensive: HEALTH CARE = the sky is the limit when you get sick, its no joke.. ask around. People go bankrupt and into enormous debt with medical bills that the family tries to pay off.

EDUCATION = those tuition bills and student loans pile up quickly too. student life means heavy debts that you hope to pay off. you'll need to save a lifetime for your kids' education. what, you weren't saving, don't have a college fund?

VEHICLES = the average American buys a new car every 3 years. you'll be putting many more times the mileage on them (maybe 75,000 to 100,000 miles per year) and that means lots of maintenance (tires, major services) and repair. unlike Britain, you can't just hop on a bus.. Americans don't like public transporation. Also, the traffic conditions (stop/start congestion, traffic lights & no roundabouts) are harsh on the vehicle. You'll want something new or low-mileage to be reliable.