OK, I could understand the point about how bad winmodems are. But, I can proudly say that my winmodem is working really fine with Mandrake 8.0. It is a Motorola SM56. Probably the CPU is working harder but it is its duty ;-), after all I bought an Athlon 700 to be plenty of computational power :-).
By the way, I want to say that Linux Mandrake is a wonderfull OS, and it is the first distribution that started fighting Windows in its own territory: "being user frendly". My humble opinion is that if Linux wants to grow up as a real alternative OS, it has to be user friendly. I mean that people in general want a OS that "melts" with the hardware without work, cause they want the computer just like a tool in order to connect to internet, play a game, edit documents, etc. And I have to accept that Microsoft understood that need and acted accordingly. Of course I understand too, that Windows is very unstable, that is hardware greedy, that it might be considered like a pseudo OS, etc. but people paradojically is happy with it :-(. I think it is because it is easy to install. I think that if Linux does not support software modems, it is limiting its potential market and if you don't have market you don't have power to lure the hardware companies in order to support your operative system. I think it is a vicious circle and I think Linux has to give the first step in order to break it. Mandrake has done it, making an almost perfect and easy way to recognize hardware. Summing up, software modems are not real modems, but they are cheap and they are very common (in fact almost all PCI modems are software modems), a lot of people have them, and if trying Linux means to throw it away many of them quit trying Linux, and that is not good for Linux itself. Regards, Rafael Lepra -----Mensaje original----- De: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]En nombre de Ric Enviado el: mi�rcoles, 03 de octubre de 2001 17:07 Para: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Asunto: Re: [newbie] MODEMS vs Winmodems Alan Shoemaker wrote: > etharp wrote: > >><snip> >> >>>Joe....the real winmodem problem is better explained >>>below by the two selected quotes from Rick Moen's >>>linuxmafia.com website: >>> >>>http://www.linuxmafia.com/~rick/faq/ >>> The link is well worth a vist. Also, to put this in a better light for those that don't get the point of winmodems (IE: Can't understand why they need to buy a "real" modem) In short (I hate typing long winded explanations). Winmodems were produced to accomplish 2 things: 1) Reduce the cost of computers by reducing the cost of the components. Winmodems are much less expensive to produce since they lack the circuitry of a real modem. It's basically just a interface to a phone jack. The OS then has to act as the modem, putting asignificant load on the CPU. Yes, the CPU can usually bear the load of doing the work the Modem is supposed to. And if you're only interested in running games, and surfing the net, then you won't notice this, and probably don't need Linux anyway. Personally, I use my Linux boxes for other things, and I want the hardware to do what it's supposed to, so that my CPU can do what "it's" supposed to. 2) To marry you to Windows. Once you're running Win(crap) hardware, you "can't" defect, and run an alternative OS. Usually the cost & inconvenience of upgrading that $100 speed demon box to a real computer is more than the average user will bear. Thus cementing their aligence to M$. Afterall, why change when M$(crap) is so cheap?!? Why should I spend more on hardware just to run Linux... If you want to run a real OS, you'll need real hardware. Haven't you wondered why a "workstation class" machine is so much more expensive? It's build to last, with quality parts. The bargain basement "Multimedia Windows" desktop machines just don't have that quality. They're the ones that cause so many people, so many "odd" problems. You gets whats you pays for. Ok, enough of my rant. Ric JHMO >> > > You're quite welcome. :) > > >><'nother snip> >> >>>Theoretically, programmers could write substitute >>>"engine" software for non-MS-Windows operating systems. >>>This would have to be done separately for each OS and for >>>each modem-type crippled in some distinctive way. >>>Further, it would entail reverse-engineering each such >>>design's programming interface, without cooperation from >>>manufacturers who classify this as proprietary >>>information. In any event, programmers seem highly >>>unlikely to bother, because they find it far easier to >>>buy real modems, instead. >>> >>not to mention a jail term in the USA due to the DCMA. >> > > True, that's a definate possibility, and I'm somewhat > surprised that Rick hasn't yet updated the paragraph to > reflect that danger. :) > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? > Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com > > message.footer > > Content-Type: > > text/plain > Content-Encoding: > > 8bit > >
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
