Ron Johnson, Jr. wrote: > Stephen Bosch wrote: > > "Ron Johnson, Jr." wrote: > > > Just like anything else: it depends... > > > All winmodems are PCI-based, but not all PCI-based modems are > > > winmodems. > > Sorry? Not all Winmodems are PCI based. I have several ISA Winmodems. > Really? I didn't know that. ISA PNP hardware modems are often confused with ISA winmodems. ISA winmodems are always PNP, but not all ISA PNP modems are winmodems. ISA winmodems are relatively rare. > > > If it costs more tham $65, it *probably* is a > > > "hardware" modem, as opposed to a winmodem, which is a.k.a. > > > a software modem. > > This is a dangerous way to determine if something is a Winmodem or not > > -- it's better to look for "hardware controller" modems and avoid "HCF" > > and "HSP" modems. I've seen enough $100 Winmodems. > > Generally speaking, manufacturers like to hide the fact that their > > modems are Winmodems, because bad news travels fast and people are > > starting to figure out that Winmodems are crap in general. If it doesn't > > say boldly "Hardware modem" or "hardware controller" then it's probably > > a Winmodem. > We are talking about the same thing, but yes, you are more specific. > Most winmodems are now much cheaper. The absence of the hardware controller is why they are cheaper. > > The only surefire non-Winmodem is a serial external. > Totally true, but it's yet one more box to clutter the desk with, > and 1 more "little brick" power supply to plug into the > power strip and partially block a 2nd outlet. > You can see the flashing (or not flashing) lights, though, > and turn it off if something gets hung. Barcode 14227 00158 by Power Sentry at WalMart is a cheap power strip with space for 3 bricks and 5 normal plugs. If people would quit buying those cheap strip plugs that don't accomodate bricks maybe the manufactures would get a clue. If you buy an external modem, then every PC you own can use the same modem, and there's no need to keep track of various setup differences for the circumstance when you swap parts around, particularly hard disks. One external is a heap cheaper than a bunch of internals. An external modem can be reset via a power off without rebooting your machine. Shop carefully and you can even have real volume control, besides useful status indicator lights. An external modem uses an IRQ that's probably already been allocated by the BIOS, while a PCI internal is far more likely to require sharing a precious IRQ with something else that may not like to share. Lotsa good reasons to go external, beside being assured it will work with every OS. -- A man of knowledge uses words with restraint . . . . Proverbs 17:27 NKJV Team OS/2 Felix Miata *** http://mrmazda.members.atlantic.net
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