Modems and other crap • j********o@***.com 10/06/1996 00:00:000 UTC Hello all and sundry: I purchased a 14.4 Sportster Fax/Modem for 100$ at Staples; yet I see ZOOM Fax/Modems of the same speed for 75$ at Caldors. Is there any good reason for me not to return my Sportster? It says it's Plug 'n' Play, but my computer isn't, so maybe that's it. I don't do much Faxing with the computer, so any superior software isn't much of a consideration. AOL people: I am not getting all of our newsgroup postings (ever)! Is this some AOL prejudice against other nets? Also, aside from clipping to the clipboard, how do I edit/spell-check mail/postings somewhere else, then send them? Those dratted Indian drummers may have some kind of grudge against me (blankets, schmankets! how was I supposed to know?) GORNO Tres Goot! • s******j@**.com 10/06/1996 00:00:000 UTC I'm CCing this via email so you know it went out! In article <4ph8ju$***@n*******.****.***l.com>, JohnGorno wrote: >Hello all and sundry: >I purchased a 14.4 Sportster Fax/Modem for 100$ at Staples; yet I see >ZOOM Fax/Modems of the same speed for 75$ at Caldors. Is there any good >reason for me not to return my Sportster? It says it's Plug 'n' Play, but >my computer isn't, so maybe that's it. I don't do much Faxing with the >computer, so any superior software isn't much of a consideration. I'd stick with the USR Sportster. Zoom isn't a *bad* company, but they are not top-notch. When it comes to repair, returns, etc., USR will do a better job. You will appreciate faxing when it comes time to send out resumes! A resume faxed "from memory" is quite readable. >AOL people: I am not getting all of our newsgroup postings (ever)! Is >this some AOL prejudice against other nets? It's just a matter of propagation. Some nets get messages later than others. Perhaps AOL is killing off messages that are older than a certain date? >Also, aside from clipping to >the clipboard, how do I edit/spell-check mail/postings somewhere else, >then send them? That's about it. Maybe the new version of the AOL software will have some sort of advanced newsreader. It's certainly something to bitch to Steve Case about. >Those dratted Indian drummers may have some kind of >grudge against me (blankets, schmankets! how was I supposed to know?) I think AOL is great for mail. That, at least, gets through quickly. Note that this posting is from io.com, however. -- +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+ ***@***.com ~ s*****s@a*****.***u.edu ~ s******j@**.com http://www.ini.cmu.edu/~sjones/ • a****4@f******.********n.ca 11/06/1996 00:00:000 UTC JohnGorno (j********o@***.com) writes: > I purchased a 14.4 Sportster Fax/Modem for 100$ at Staples; yet I see > ZOOM Fax/Modems of the same speed for 75$ at Caldors. Is there any good > reason for me not to return my Sportster? It says it's Plug 'n' Play, but > my computer isn't, so maybe that's it. I don't do much Faxing with the > computer, so any superior software isn't much of a consideration. First, US Robotics is named after the company in Asimov's _I, Robot_...if that sort of thing matters to you...they also are one of the best makers of Modems on this planet...Even better than Hayes...(of course, that comment dates me...) > AOL people: I am not getting all of our newsgroup postings (ever)! Is > this some AOL prejudice against other nets? Also, aside from clipping to > the clipboard, how do I edit/spell-check mail/postings somewhere else, > then send them? Those dratted Indian drummers may have some kind of > grudge against me (blankets, schmankets! how was I supposed to know?) If you are worried about getting newsgroups, there are some places that let you do newsgroups for free via the WWW, and a couple of free NNTP servers as well. Or, if AOHell let's you telnet, you can get yourself a membership at one of the Freenets. They are either free, or have a one-time registration cost to cover the admin over head...and the one that I am posting from is one of the better ones on this planet...there used to be a really good one in Finland that allowed you to read all the sex & bin groups...."those were the days...". ttyl Farrell • h*****d@a****.******a.net 11/06/1996 00:00:000 UTC JohnGorno (j********o@***.com) wrote: : Hello all and sundry: : I purchased a 14.4 Sportster Fax/Modem for 100$ at Staples; yet I see : ZOOM Fax/Modems of the same speed for 75$ at Caldors. Is there any good : reason for me not to return my Sportster? It says it's Plug 'n' Play, but : my computer isn't, so maybe that's it. I don't do much Faxing with the : computer, so any superior software isn't much of a consideration. Don't return the sportster.... USR makes a good modem. I had a Zoom ONCE.... I returned it and purchased a Sportster..... Never had a problem with USR, but major headaches with the Zoom... (Really turned up when I was attempting to call into some BBSes that I needed to call into. (The problems of being a BBS list author....)) Harold S. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ h*****d@n*****a.net URL - http://www.i-con.com I-CON XVI Staff The East Coast's Largest's Convention of Science Fiction, Fact and Fantasy. Internet Services Provided by NetUSA.net. For Info email - o*****e@n*****a.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ h*****d@n*****a.net Promotions Coordinator Public Relations For information about our service, send E-mail to: all-****@n*****a.net 516 AC BBS list webpage - URL: http://www.netusa.net/~harold/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ • k******d@d*****i.com 21/06/1996 00:00:000 UTC In article <4ph8ju$***@n*******.****.***l.com>, j********o@***.com (JohnGorno) writes: > Hello all and sundry: > I purchased a 14.4 Sportster Fax/Modem for 100$ at Staples; yet I see > ZOOM Fax/Modems of the same speed for 75$ at Caldors. Is there any good > reason for me not to return my Sportster? It says it's Plug 'n' Play, but > my computer isn't, so maybe that's it. I don't do much Faxing with the > computer, so any superior software isn't much of a consideration. I found an interesting FAQ at: http://web.aimnet.com/~jnovas/modem/faq.html The author doesn't have a very high opinion of the ZOOM modems...I'd stick to the Sportster. --Doc • s******r@s**.***.*****n.edu 22/06/1996 00:00:000 UTC In Article <9606211851591.The_Win-D.*******d@d*****i.com>, k******d@d*****i.com (Kevin Conod) wrote: >In article <4ph8ju$***@n*******.****.***l.com>, j********o@***.com (JohnGorno) >writes: > Hello all and sundry:   >>   >> I purchased a 14.4 Sportster Fax/Modem for 100$ at Staples; yet I see   >> ZOOM Fax/Modems of the same speed for 75$ at Caldors. Is there any good   >> reason for me not to return my Sportster? It says it's Plug 'n' Play, but   >> my computer isn't, so maybe that's it. I don't do much Faxing with the   >> computer, so any superior software isn't much of a consideration. >I found an interesting FAQ at: >http://web.aimnet.com/~jnovas/modem/faq.html >The author doesn't have a very high opinion of the ZOOM modems...I'd stick to >the Sportster. Here's my advice (probably too late for Gorno, but what the hey). Ditch all 14.4 modems and get a copy of the MacWarehouse catalog. Order a FastMac V.34 28.8 external modem for $100.00. The secret is that what makes something a Mac modem instead of a PC modem is simply the cable that they include. Shitcan the cable they give you and use any old RS-232C cable you have lying around the house. Some manufacturers are no longer making 14.4 modems. Why sell 'em when 28.8 modems are just as cheap to make? -- K. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin L. Sterner | U. Penn. High Energy Physics | Smash the welfare state! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • The pres 25/06/1996 00:00:000 UTC Kevin Conod wrote: > In article <4ph8ju$***@n*******.****.***l.com>, j********o@***.com (JohnGorno) > writes: > Hello all and sundry: > > > > I purchased a 14.4 Sportster Fax/Modem for 100$ at Staples; yet I see > > ZOOM Fax/Modems of the same speed for 75$ at Caldors. Is there any good > > reason for me not to return my Sportster? It says it's Plug 'n' Play, but > > my computer isn't, so maybe that's it. I don't do much Faxing with the > > computer, so any superior software isn't much of a consideration. > I found an interesting FAQ at: > http://web.aimnet.com/~jnovas/modem/faq.html > The author doesn't have a very high opinion of the ZOOM modems...I'd stick to > the Sportster. > --Doc I agree, keep the Sportster. Zoom is very good and you'd probabaly no problems with it but USR is the best. (no, I don't have one but I work with them everyday) The Courier model is actually the best. Don't get the Winmodem or any other Class 1 software error correcting modem. You'll get dropped a lot. Just had to throw in my two cents worth. • g*****o@k****.****t.net 25/06/1996 00:00:000 UTC : The author doesn't have a very high opinion of the ZOOM modems...I'd stick to : the Sportster. I work with modems all day long. I would suggest that you would keep the USRobotics Sportser. In fact, you should purchase a 28.8 modem if you plan to do any high-graphic Internet viewing. If you plan to use a 14.4 or 28.8 External modem, make sure that your I/O card's Com ports have the newer & faster 16550 or 16c550 UART chips in them. If you use the older I/O cards, your transmission speeds over a Slip/PPP connection will be painfully slow. Hope that helped. --Glen