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To: Clarence Dodge who wrote (2726)	10/2/1998 10:10:00 PM
From: Howard R. Hansen	Read Replies (1) of 14778

Are there any opinions favoring external modems over internal? External modems cost more. For many internal modems a lot of the cost savings comes from using the CPU to do a lot of the signal processing built into external modems. I believe these are called Win modems. Many internal modems use a lot more CPU computing cycles than external modems. This can be a draw back if you try to run a another task while receiving data in the back ground. Unfortunately none of the advertising literature for internal modems tells you how much of a load the modem pus on a CPU. Hence it is very hard to determine how much you are giving up with the cost savings that come with an internal modem. As a side issue I just bought a 3Com U.S. Robotics 56K Universal Serial Bus, USB, external modem to save a COM port for other uses and with the expectation a USB modem would use fewer CPU cycles than a serial port modem. After I got the modem I read the fine print on the outside of the box. "USB connection available only after release of Windows 98. Will require software download from 3Com." No further information was available in the box on where to find the software on 3Com's web site, on how to install the software after you downloaded the software and on the USB capability of the modem. When I went to 3Com's web site and after doing a search on USB modem all that I found was two options. One option is to sign on as Beta tester for the software. The other option is to put your name on a list and they will notify you when the software is available. Several conclusions. One. I definitely recommend you do do not buy a 3COM U.S. Robotics 56K USB modem. Two. I expected 3Com would be conducting business in a much more professional manner than this. Three. I am going to keep the modem as I can use the modem on a COM port until the USB software is available. Four. I get connection speed that ranges from 44 to 49K with this modem.

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