Gavin writes:

>The modem is a "win modem", i.e. a pithed controller and analog
>line interface which requires all the actual modem protocols to run as
>a driver within Windows.  Doesn't mean that it's not a perfectly useable
>solution, but you might have a wee bit of trouble getting it to work in
>a non-Windows OS, and it probably eats some percentage of the CPU when
>operating.

It's not just the modem controller that's pithed. The user is going to be
pretty pithed when s/he dithcovers jutht how unreliable the connection
can be, and jutht how bad the multitathking performanthe ith when the
modem ith running.

One of my clients, who supports 8,000 users dialing in over modems,
refuses to support users with (inaptly-named) winmodems. (The client is
in a position to specify the modem as part of a minimum-equipment list.)

One other note:

>It's the "good enough" nature of this new breed of incredibly
>cheap boxes that I think will put a serious dent in the profits of the
>traditional PC manufacturers.  There will still always be a market for
>the "workstation" class of machines, but I'm finding that I believe now
>that it will be a much smaller market than I would have guessed only a
>few months ago.

The battle here is really between $400 computers from e-machines and its
competitors, and $800 machines from the HP-Compaq-IBM tier. The $800 buys
reliability and service. It's easy enough to say, "for a $400 price
difference, I'll buy 20% spares" but that doesn't take into account the
productivity lost by a worker with a flakey system before he or she
finally declares the system dead and goes for the spare. Of course,
downstream user productivity is rarely part of a computer buying decision
in any case. I've learned the hard way that if I have to bet on the
outcome of such a battle, I'll put my money on price over quality.

-- Bruce




--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce Toback    Tel: (602) 996-8601| My candle burns at both ends;
OPT, Inc.            (800) 858-4507| It will not last the night;
11801 N. Tatum Blvd. Ste. 142      | But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends -
Phoenix AZ 85028                   | It gives a lovely light.
btoback AT optc.com                |     -- Edna St. Vincent Millay
Mail sent to [log in to unmask] will be inspected for a
fee of US$250. Mailing to said address constitutes agreement to
pay, including collection costs.