Greg Olszewski wrote:
> > There's a good reason that those winmodems are cheaper. They're junk.
> How so?
>
> > as hell") so there is a little hope. But personally I would never use a
> > winmodem - in my opinion the disadvantages *far* outweigh the cost savings.
>
> What are the disadvantages you see to using software-modems?
> You repeatedly complain about them, but don't actually give any examples
> of what you find wrong. Could you clarify?
The purpose of Standardized interfaces is for limitation of proliferation of
variations.
The standard external modem uses a set of STANDARDS to perform its tasks. RS-232
and Hayes commands, basically. (I acknowledge that there unfortunately are
variations to the Hayes command set). The WinModem specification removes the
RS-232 and Hayes command set away from the modem and into a software API
instead, and allow the Modem manufacturer to implement the communication between
the modem and the computer in any way he chooses.
Now, I could easily claim that this is another Redmondian conspiracy to leverage
the Windows platform, and perhaps it is. How many modem manufacturers will
bother to do a driver for any other OS? NONE! Instead they give them the RS-232
(or USB) + Hayes instead. So isn't everyone happy?? Modem manufacturers can
compete more fiercly, Windows users get cheaper modems, Linux users get
standardized modems? Only the Windows users moving to Linux or Mac is stuck
with a cheap useless modem. So what?
However, there are more subtle undertones in the whole WinModem thing. Next
there are WinPrinters, WinMouse, WinKeyboard and WinMonitor, where the
manufacturers just provide the software API, removing the Plug/Play between many
OSes and hardware gadgets. Will that happen? Perhaps. Perhaps Redmond is
contemplating about it, maybe not. But as a USER, you could affect this process
by not purchasing those products. Be aware that one day you will end up with a
piece of useless hardware, maybe not because of changing from Windows to Linux,
but perhaps the manufacturer is bankrupt and the latest Windows needs an updated
driver...
Just a thought
Niclas
