Randy Kramer wrote: > George Jones (IT) wrote: > > Does it absolutely have to be PCI? External modems work far better. > Do you have some experience that says external modems work better? For > what reason? > In my experience, internal modems work very well (as long as they are > not winmodems), and are sometimes much more convenient to use. Often more convenient to use because because of lack of extra box, cable, & power supply. This applies to those who have one or few machines. If you have multiple machines or go through them quickly, or if your supply of phone jacks is something short of ideal, an external can give you a whole lot more flexibility at lower cost. How many PCI slots do you have? Can you afford to waste one on a lowly modem, something for which the PC has already provided via the built in serial ports? Put in Sound, NIC, SCSI, & Firewire. Do you have any PCI slots left? Getting one set up in the first place is no task for the less fully clued. PC compatible machines have IRQ/address limitations that make for conflicts for the unskilled installer. > I guess the one thing about an external modem is the indicator lights, > but software exists to display them on the CRT for an internal modem. More that just indicator lights. If the modem or your net connection go fubar, you can hit the modem power switch to reset and/or hangup faster than you can find the dialer window to exit, which you can't do or do quickly either if your desktop has gone fubar. Can't you reach the back of your PC to force a hangup? If you don't buy a cheap external, you get infinite volume control instead of 0 1, 0 1 2, or 0 1 2 3 volume choice settings through software only. One thing is for sure, if a modem is an external device with legacy serial hookup, you are guaranteed it does not require windoze. -- "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." President John Quincy Adams Felix Miata *** http://mrmazda.members.atlantic.net/
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