On Mon, Mar 31, 2003 at 04:49:22PM +0800, Pablo Manalastas wrote: > External serial modems are not too expensive. Recently, I bought > a D-Link 56Kbps Data/Fax/Voice external serial modem for less than > P2,000 (or less than USD40) from Villman. I used to have a 14.4 > external serial modem which kept disconnecting (faulty off/on switch). > Now I do not have the constant disconnection problem anymore, and I am > connecting at the fastest rate my PLDT line will allow. If you connect > to the Net on a regular basis, it is good to invest in a reliable modem.
My experience with modems is that external modems are sturdier and more reliable than internal ones. The payoff in the long run with external modems is worth the extra cost at the onset. Internal modems add to the heat inside your computer chassis and draw power from your computer's power supply. This may be minimal with newer models, but I tend to prefer having control over what sucks juice from my power supply and not having so many cards inside my computer case. With an external modem, you have control over its power and the heat stays outside your case. The status lights on an external modem itself are good indicators about modem activity and health as well. Internal modems tend to die quicker on me than external modems do. It's anecdotal, so this might not be the same experience that others have, but it seems to me that external modems have been designed and manufactured to last longer than their internal brothers. I've had internal modem cards lasting only a few months before they went kaput, but the external modems I have only got replaced because they were really slow compared to the newer models. Otherwise, I'd probably still be using my 2400 bps modems. :) [No. I will resist the temptation of telling the story of my life with 300/2400/9600/14.4k/24.?/26k/33.6k/56k bps modems.] Another thing to consider is that with an internal modem, you have to go through the trouble of taking it out of the case if you plan to transfer it to another machine. If you have multiple machines, you will find yourself transferring the modem from one machine to another at one time or other. With the cost of external modems dropping to fairly affordable rates, it makes sense to save up for the extra benefits they provide. Just adding my two bits worth, eric -- ___ _____________________________ eric pareja (xenos AT maharlika.upm.edu.ph) \e/ [ Philippine Linux Users' Group ] Linux User #8159 http://counter.li.org _v_ [Python Power!] [Debian Rocks!] [Ubiquitous Computing] Software & \\\\/ Free the books! [http://www.bookcrossing.com/referral/pusakat] Freedom .\\/ http://www.livejournal.com/users/pusakat | www.upm.edu.ph/~xenos/weblog _ Philippine Linux Users Group. Web site and archives at http://plug.linux.org.ph To leave: send "unsubscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fully Searchable Archives With Friendly Web Interface at http://marc.free.net.ph To subscribe to the Linux Newbies' List: send "subscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
