Would there be any real benefit in going with Eurostyle phones for a Magix compared to MLX phones? The MLX phones are much cheaper by half. Or would the 4400 series be the better choice? Pros, cons?

This would depend on which type of cards you have in the system. Do you have MLX cards or TDL cards? or are you building one? Why Magix?

I have a customer with trashed MLX phones. I could just sell them refurbbed MLX phones but was wondering if more value could be added. They are happy with the Magix. A 16 port ETR card is not expensive and the Europhones are still available new. Then there is the 4400 series. Just wondering if there are drawbacks.

both are good phones. I like the back light of the Euro-18Ds but the 4412 & 4424 have a few more buttons and such.

Both MLX and ETR sets require two pair, while the 44xx series (getting cheaper all the time) run on just a single pair. That fact alone may make a big difference when attempting to light up phones in areas where pairs are thin or unreliable.

New plastics are available for all three set styles if that's an issue--you can make any of these phones look new.

Personally, I find that the 44xx and MLX sets are more "ruggedized" than the Partner phones. However, the Partner phones win the "sexy" contest every day and twice on Sunday when compared to the '70s look of the MLX sets. The 4400 series phones are a nice compromise, IMHO.

Lastly, I find that the ETR boards have a much higher failure rate in the Magix chassis than the digital blades.

To me, these points are the important ones. The cost of ALL Magix stuff is so low that anyone dwelling on the price difference between a clean 4424D+ and a new Partner 18D Euro2 is a hair-splitter. They're both inexpensive and ridiculously reliable.

Oh! And it's also important to know that, while Partner sets ARE supported on the Magix, they DO NOT behave as you might expect them to if you're familiar with Partner ACS. Magix support of these sets was to provide an upgrade path for Partner customers, and while the emulation is nice, it IS limited.

All great info, thank you gentlemen. I am thinking based on the knowledge I gleaned here I want to upgrade them to Partner Euro sets. They'll feel they have a whole new system and the cost will be quite low compared to an actual new system. I don't think they have had a glitch in 10 years. I'll possibly buy 2 ETR cards, one for a backup. Plus, in a few years, possibly I can upgrade them to an IPO Quick and already have the phones.

With the Magix, I'd gravitate towards the 4400 series sets....but....the backlit displays of the ETR sets is a plus.

Keep in mind that the support for 44xx phones might be gone in R9.