Message-ID: <39FCFFD0.1B538BF2@sympatico.ca>
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 20:57:52 -0800
From: Val or Dean <dtwo AT sympatico DOT ca>
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To: opendos AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: Public Buying (was: Re: DRDOS FDISK)
References: <Pine DOT LNX DOT 4 DOT 10 DOT 10010282011420 DOT 20914-100000 AT smarty DOT smart DOT net> <00bd01c04204$c6fd8620$6f1e0404 AT dbcooper>
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Reply-To: opendos AT delorie DOT com

Patrick Moran wrote: 
  First I think I need to get a new modem, as what came
> > with my box was apparently one of those cheesy "Winmodems."  (BeOS
> > would not use it, and somebody on a BeOS list called it a Winmodem.)
> 
> Okay, I have the perfect fix for that WinModem! First you take the WinModem
> out of your computer, then you trot down to your local hardware store and
> find their bench vise. You then open the jaws on the bench vice enough to
> put the card into it edgewise. Them you close the jaws on the vise all they
> way as far as you can. Then you pick up the pieces and drop them into the
> trash can on you way out of the store. The you go to your friendly computer
> store and buy a good modem.
> 
> I could not believe those thing when they first came out with them. They
> left half the hardware off of them and provided software to do the work that
> the hardware was supposed to do. They claimed that no one would know the
> difference that the WinModem would be hogging a bunch of resources and
> slowing things down. It cost them much less to build them, then they had the
> guts to charge more for them!!!!!
> I suggest that when you do buy another modem, that you check and see if it
> is both PNP and Legacy. Many use no jumper on it to make it PNP and have
> jumpers on it to configure it manually. These are the best types because
> they will work with any OS. These do not cost much more than any other type
> of modem. You can go to websites and check out their modems and download the
> documentation for most modems. I suggest a known brandname modem and one
> that has a flash ROM. That way you can get updates easily and not have fool
> around with installing a new ROM if one is ever needed. There are many good
> modems available like these at low prices. After finding a good one you
> would like, you can go to ebay or yahoo auctions or others and find a new or
> used modem of the type and model you want. You can even ask the seller
> questions about the modem.
     
    Funny, that Winmodems seem to be the ONLY ones available anymore. I
do agree that they are crap, and most informed users I know also agree.
Then WHY can't we convince the big names to give us "real" modems
again??  Can you give me a list of brand names that STILL make AND
support non-winmodems??  ANy that I have seen are either crap, or old
stock.  So, I have a choice, crap Winmodems, or crap non-winmodems.
<bg>  Thanks for writing what I wish everyone knew!!  -Dean Dancey