USB Modem?

In a few weeks I will going to buy another modem for my machine.
Recently I have seen USB modems advertised in the paper quite cheaply (AU$89). What I would like to know is it worth buying a USB one or just purchase a serial modem? Are there any major problems I would encounter?
Also which of these two modems would be better.
Swann Smart (USB)
Netcomm Rave (USB).

By the way, I have a dialup connection.
Thanks in advance.
Yuri.

PCI, then serial [external] and I would forget USB. My 2¢.

Hello,


My 2 cents worth.... USB, Serial, Then Pci. hehe


Usb uses no system resouces such as irq's. It will use a ghost IRQ but not really use it. This works because the com port has a Irq assingned to it in windows. But the USB Modem has no requirements for a Irq so the assignment is purely asthetic. Which means the Irq is available to be used by any other device without a Irq conflict.

Serial is my next choice. For these reasons. It is portable just like the Usb modem. Correct me if I am wrong here, all serial based modems have a Controller and a Dsp (Digital Signal processor) On Board and use now cpu resources. Pros to this is they are very stable, effiecient and portable. Cons, They need a external power source and can be a little hard to set up for novices.

Lastly PCI modems. There are literly tons of Pci Modems out there! Some are so crappy at connecting or maintaining a connection it's frightening! Some work with some machines and some don't. Intel based Soft Pci Modems for instance don't work in Dell Optiplex Gxi Computers at all from what I am told. Some have no controllers on board and rely on the Cpu to process the data coming in from the modem. Although I will admit in these days that is a very small amount of cpu processing on a modern machine but considerable on say a pentium 166 machine. Lastly the Pci modem is not portable unless you like tearing your computer apart all the time to use the modem in another machine. On the plus side of Pci modems... They are cheap and don't clutter your desk!

Wow I guess that was about ten cents woth LOL! :rolleyes:

Oh by the way... I don't know either of those two modems you mentioned but I recomend The following brand in usb modems.. Zoom! 7 year warrenty, Controller based, Great connects with all comps and isp's, No conflict probs ever, Lightening Protection, and easy to deal directly with, should you have a problem!

Thanks for the advice Train and JAL.
JAL, I think that I will get the netcomm usb modem and see how that goes.

Also another question, I haven't seen these modems yet, do they still require power supply or does the USB port supply all power needed?