Laporte On Computers

From Cyberspace Today March 1, 1995

Ask Leo!

Q: Are all modems alike? Is it important to buy a recognized brand name?

A: I think your question boils down to: what's the difference between expensive and inexpensive modems?

My advice is to just don't buy just any modem. There really are differences between brands, and the best modem isn't always the best known, or the most expensive.

Modems all do about the same thing, true, but there is a big difference in how well they do it. The problem is, it's impossible to tell how good a modem is by looking at it.

Before you buy a modem, get recommendations from friends and check the reviews in magazines. We've also found that a great source for modem reviews is the people who run bulletin board systems (BBSs). Not only do they really put their own modems to the test, but they have a very good idea of what modems have trouble going on-line. If you can, ask some BBS operators for recommendations.

Modems are categorized by speed and features. The slowest modems you can buy today transfer data at 2400 bits per second (bps). That's about the equivalent of 40 words per second, somewhat slower than a good typist. The fastest modems on the market send data at a blistering 28,800 bps, or 28.8 kilobits per second (Kbps). That's the equivalent of an entire typed page per second, about as fast as standard telephone lines can go.

These speed ratings are maximums, by the way. Modems can travel at any speed lower than its top rated speed, too. So a 28.8 Kbps modem can communicate with 14,400, 9600, and 2400 bps modems, too.

All modems send and receive data so that you can communicate on-line, but some modems have more advanced features. Many of the modems on the market also have the ability to send and receive faxes. These 'fax modems' cost only a few dollars more, so we think they're a good deal. Our general recommendation: buy the fastest fax/modem you can afford, and leave the other frills for the folks on an expense account.

One other thing to note. Internal modems - the ones designed to go inside the computer - are manufactured to work with either PCs or Macs, but not both. External modems will work with any machine as long as you have the right cabling. So if you own a Macintosh, you can buy any external modem that performs well, just make sure to get the appropriate cable.

When magazines review modems, they rate them on three criteria: reliability, interoperability, and throughput. Let's take them one at a time.

Reliability

This is how long a modem will last. Some modems are prone to failure due to overheating. Make sure you buy a modem that's well ventilated, especially if you plan to leave it on for long periods of time. And lately, with margins shrinking and demand increasing, modem companies have suffered some quality control problems. We've seen an increase in the number of modems that don't work when you get them home. So make sure you can get quick repair service directly from your dealer. Otherwise, a modem is about as reliable as any other piece of solid-state circuitry. If it works OK for the first few months, it probably won't ever fail.

Interoperability

All modems that follow the standards set by the Consultative Committee for International Telephone and Telegraph (CCITT) are supposed work well together. They don't. You can buy modems from two different manufacturers, both claiming to be fully compliant with the CCITT V.34 standard, and for some reason, they still won't be able to talk to each other. That's why you should check the magazine reviews before you buy.

Throughput

Most people buy modems by speed. They're certainly priced that way. But not all modems rated at 14,400 bits of data per second are really that fast. Again, here's where the reviews will tell you the truth.

Excerpted from the forthcoming book "How Do I Get the Dog Hair Out of My Disk Drive?" Published by Ziff-Davis Press, © 1995 Ziff-Davis Press, all rights reserved. Call 1-800-688-0448 x323 to order or e-mail laporte@crl.com for correspondence. Also, listen for Laporte On Computers on KSFO-AM 560 Saturdayss at 10:00 am.

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