||| ROUGH GUIDE for Linux ||||||||||| http://www.o2.net/~gromitkc/rg/ ||| ||| usual disclaimers apply -- everyone makes mistakes ||| 2000-03-20 ||| ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Life is rough enough without having to shop for modems at.... ____ _________ ____ __ REVIEW OF / __ \/ __/ __(_)_______ / __ \___ ____ ____ / /_ AVAILABLE / / / / /_/ /_/ / ___/ _ \ / / / / _ \/ __ \/ __ \/ __/ HARDWARE AT / /_/ / __/ __/ / /__/ __/ / /_/ / __/ /_/ / /_/ / /_ A PARTICULAR \____/_/ /_/ /_/\___/\___/ /_____/\___/ .___/\____/\__/(R) STORE ON A /_/ PARTICULAR DAY EVER NOTICE HOW chain stores tend to resemble their competitors? Waldenbooks is a lot like B. Dalton. McDonald's and Burger King shadow box. And Office Depot has a twin called Office Max, except I haven't figured out which one is the evil twin. On closer inspection, though, there are differences. Office Max hides the valuable stuff in the back. Office Depot likes to tease customers by putting the expensive items in a glass case with a lock. Security cameras catch your every contortion as you try to read the writing on the sides of a carton through the glass. Finally, you give up and ask for a salesperson to open the case. You have now entered into an unwritten compact-- you have escalated the transaction from "browsing" to "seriously considering" and now will need a darn good excuse to put the item back behind the glass. In any case, the salesperson is waiting to relock the display...WHAT WILL YOU DO?!? Fortunately for you, the situation is pre-scoped for you by Team ROUGH GUIDE. Office Depot only carries a few different popular modems plus the obligatory cheapskate model in case of sticker shock. WINMODEMS TO AVOID FOR SURE: 3COM/U.S. ROBOTICS PCI WINMODEM MODEL 5699 -- $ 49.99 3COM/MEGAHERTZ PCMCIA MODEL 3CXM356 -- $149.99 3COM/U.S. ROBOTICS PC CARD MODEL 3013 -- $ 99.99 ZOOM TELEPHONICS PCI MODEL 2925L -- $ 49.99 STERLING COMMUNICATIONS PCI MODEL S10 -- $ 49.99 Well, that Sterling modem is a new one, but you can't fool us Zoom-- that's a rebranded 2925L, isn't it? Just like the Award Technology was also a 2925L. Nice try, guys...better luck next time. PCMCIA fans will like the ZOOM 2975L for $89.99, it's confirmed "OK" for Linux. Love 'em or hate 'em, you'll always find an external Sportster, in this case the 3COM/U.S. ROBOTICS 5686-03 for $129.99. Alternatively, the popular ZOOM 2949L at $99.99 is another good choice. Both modems are confirmed "OK" for Linux. Just remember to figure in the cost of a modem cable, because it's not included. Office Depot is a terrible place to buy cables, BTW. .-""-. .-""-. Only one ISA modem in the place-- the ZOOM / ,.`. ____ .' _ \ TELEPHONICS 2919L, another popular choice \ / \ `" "' ,' \ / for Linux users at $79.99. `-' Y Y `-' | _ _ | For $99.99, the 3COM/U.S. ROBOTICS 3CP5610 | (O)(O) | is one of a few PCI modems that support / __ \ Linux. | /# \ | | \__/ | \ / BOTTOM LINE: Something for everybody at a `.____.' decent price despite the limited selection. --" "-- hjw Bring Windex.