I meant to post this last week, but the flu kind of got in the way.

Two weeks ago, we purchased 2 products that had some unexpected features.

The first was a handset for our Uniden phone system at home.  This is one of those systems that has a 'base' that is connected to a phone line, and the ability to add numerous 'handsets' to the system.  One of our handsets needed replacing, and when at the store, saw a handset which claimed to work with 'any Uniden 5.6 MgHz phone system. I was a bit skeptical as the phone system was several years old, but it was cheap, and could easily be returned if it didn't work.

I was amazed that all I had to do was drop the handset into the base for a few seconds so it could be 'registered' with the base, and it worked.  What surprised me most is that the new handset fit into the old base.

The second product was a car kit I bought for a new handheld satellite radio I received for Christmas (It's a Pioneer Inno).  I already had an XM radio in my car, and was not looking forward to having to run a new wire for a new antenna.  Not that it was difficult, just rather time consuming and annoying.  I was surprised to find out that not only could I continue to use the same antenna, but I could use the same plastic base on which the radio is installed.

I was impressed with how easily these new products worked with older equipment, and thought it was very 'forward thinking' of the companies involved.  A co-worker pointed out, though, its kind of sad that something like that would impress me as much as it did, since stuff should work that way anyway.  But, considering it doesn't, or usually doesn't, I am still impressed, and hopeful that other companies follow their lead.