Submitted 02-Nov-00 by Brian J. Murrell:
> I agree that he probably does have a winmodem, but I take issue with
> your "WinModem checklist".
True, his list is rather draconian, but it generally holds true.
> How is it that any of these first four items mean you have a winmodem?
> There is no relationship between PCI and winmodems.
The relationship there is that > 90% of all PCI modems are winmodems. There
are fewer than a dozen models of PCI modem that aren't.
> There is nothing stopping a "real modem" manufacturer from
> making a PCI modem.
Correct, and a handful do.
> The lack of jumpers is related to it being a PCI card, not a winmodem.
His statement was with regard to a jumperless ISA modem, not PCI
> What's the size of actual card got to do with what kind of modem it is?
The modems that are as small as what he described are riser cards that plug
into a socket on the motherboard. The "guts" of these particular winmodems
are also the onboard sound card.
> And the only modems that ever come with computers are winmodems? There is
> nothing stopping a computer maker/seller from putting "real" modems into a
> computer.
This is true. However, most manufacturers supply winmodems with their boxes
unless it was specifically ordered with a hardware modem. It is an issue of
cost, it costs them less to stuff a winmodem in the box.
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