Alice, I'm no expert on the matter, but what I've read says that modems
ad printers of the traditional sort have some pretty formidable
computers in them, and those computers aren't cheap, because they have
to be fast.
The idea of these modems and printers is to use the main computer's CPU
to do the computations that previously had been done by the embedded
computers.
By eliminating the computer in a modem or printer, the selling price
becomes quite significantly lower.
For one Famous Make of printer, the computations to create an ordinary
line of type are quite complicated, apparently. Similarly, modern
modems require some pretty-fancy computation, I'd expect.
I'll let the Linux developers comment about why using the main CPU is a
Bad Idea. It's quite possible that the tech. specs. for a given unit's
interface to the main computer are available only to those who have paid
for the information, perhaps signing a non-disclosure agreement. It
seems that the job of creating a Linux interface for these beasts is a
Pain, and even a Royal Pain, so nobody wants to do it. Can't blame them.
This is how I see it; I'm open to corrections, etc.!
=========================================
On Wed, 9 Sep 1998 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
}This is a newbie question I guess....
}
}I know that a WinModem uses more software than hardware, and so is cheaper.
}They also only run with Win95 & WIn98.
}
}My question is about the details: Why exactly is there only support with Win95
}& Win98? What is left up to the software? Why is it so different that Linux,
}WIN-NT, etc will not do it?
}
}I guess what I want is a technical reference put into terms I can understand.
I tried.
|* Nicholas Bodley *|* Electronic Technician {*} Autodidact & Polymath
|* Waltham, Mass. *|* -----------------------------------------------
|* [EMAIL PROTECTED] *|* The personal computer industry will have become
|* Amateur musician *|* mature when crashes become unacceptable.
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