> 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?
If you look on any of the cards you have in your computer, you will
see several chips on them. These chips perform various functions,
(I guess you could call them "programs"), just like any of the programs
you ususally run.
In an effort to make an inexpensive modem, the designers of these
"winmodems" moved a lot of the functionality that was traditionally
handled by the hardware (chips on the modem card), and handled it in
software. Less-chips-on-card = lower-manufacturing-cost.
However, there are 2 problems:
1) You have just off-loaded processing from the modem to the CPU.
2) You need to have special software to use the modem.
Number 2 is the problem for Linux. The manufacturer won't release
the specifications for the modem, so the software can't be written
by anyone except the manufacturer, and U.S. Robotics/3Com has no interest
in supporting winmodems under Linux.
Bryan Scaringe
>
> I guess what I want is a technical reference put into terms I can understand.
>
> TIA
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
