Modem...Internal or External???

[BChico]

I was looking at the SupraExpress 56 v90 56kflex deal, is that a good choice?

 

[Wizkid]

External...
Easy to move b/w computers and I have never seen a external winmodem, so it's probably hardware

 

[corkyg]

If you have the choice . . . external always! It is a lot easier to set up and it can be moved. Also it can be turned off independently of the computer . . . sometimes essential to clear buffers and stuff.

One of the best values in external modems is Zoom. They are especially good with dirty phone lines (like we have there in Arizona).

 

[Viper GTS]

External for me. Though I like the convenience of having everything in one box, I'm rather attached to my CL Modem Blaster 56II. Cost me $80 or so, but I consistently get 50K+ connections from out in the country. Plus it's incredibly easy to setup on other OS's.

Viper GTS

 

[borealiss]

i think the consensus is external.

 

[Noriaki]

I also favour good ol' external Serial port modems (USB are as basd as Windmodem, just use a damn COM port already )

Easier to configure, less problems, and no WinModems. They are also more O/S friendly

Just make sure your Serial ports have 16550 UART controller behind them If you only have an 8550 you won't be able to get 56k speed out of them *laughing*


(in case you have no idea what I'm talking about, don't worry about it, my 486 motherboard had a 16550 UART chip, I don't know what board you have, but any board that supports a P3-866 will have a 16550 UART)

 

[PowerJoe]

Get external if you enjoy the following clutter:
- Modem box
- serial cable, probably with an unused 25-pin plug dangling around
- phone cable
- power cord
- power brick (wall-wart)
As opposed to internal:
- phone cable

-PJ