Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!cs122aw
From: cs122aw@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Scott Alfter)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Modems (was Re: Apple ][+)
Message-ID: <1990Feb19.234622.25527@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 19 Feb 90 23:46:22 GMT
References: <7363.apple.net@pro-realm>
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Lines: 51

In article <7363.apple.net@pro-realm> kirk@pro-realm.cts.com (Kirk Kamberg) writes:
>I disagree with this. I would never buy an internal modem. Here are my
>reasons:
>
>1. It draws power from your computer's power supply. More strain = faster
>   fail, and the II+ power supply was kinda weak anyway.

It doesn't draw that much power.  OK, so my IIe has run a bit warmer lately.  A
cooling fan costs about $15-$20, or you can get a bigger supply.

>2. No indication of what is going on with the modem when you are using it.
>   Sure, you can hear it connect, but having the indicator lights telling
>   you exactly what it is doing is very useful.

Maybe so, but they aren't absolutely essential, and only add to the clutter I'd
like to avoid.

>3. This is the big one. Portability! I have one modem, and I can use it
>   on my IIe, IIgs, and Amiga just by using a T-switch. If you buy an
>   internal modem, you are stuck *forever* using it on the machine you
>   bought it for. Pay the extra couple bucks for an external so you
>   don't hate yourself later if you want to switch to a different computer.

Fine for you if you have more than one computer.  The only computer I'd
consider switching to is the IIGS, and I can just move my DataLink from the
IIe to the IIGS.  If, for some reason, I decided to switch to, say, a
Macintosh (perish the thought!), I'd just sell the modem with the computer.

>4. If you use the super serial card + modem, you can also use the serial
>   card later on if you want to drive an Imagewriter or other serial printer.

I already have a Super Serial Card driving an Imagewriter, and I didn't want to
have to switch the SSC between the printer and a modem.  Not only would you
need a switch box, you'd also need to either get a null modem for the printer
or flip the terminal block on the SSC every time you want to switch between the
printer and modem--too much work that you avoid by keeping the printer and
modem on separate cards.  An external modem and second SSC (even an SSC clone,
instead of the genuine Apple SSC that drives the printer) would cost more than
an internal modem card.

>That's about it. Just my opinion...

You are entitled to your opinion, as is everyone else.  My opinion is that
external modems aren't worth the clutter and expense, especially if you intend
to use a modem with one computer or one family of computer (IIe-->IIGS).

Scott Alfter-------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet: cs122aw@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu    _/_ Apple IIe: the power to be your best!
          alfter@mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu/ v \
          saa33413@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (    (              A keyboard--how quaint!
  Bitnet: free0066@uiucvmd.bitnet    \_^_/                     --M. Scott, STIV