Alan Shoemaker wrote: > etharp wrote: > >><snip> >> >>>Joe....the real winmodem problem is better explained >>>below by the two selected quotes from Rick Moen's >>>linuxmafia.com website: >>> >>>http://www.linuxmafia.com/~rick/faq/ >>> The link is well worth a vist. Also, to put this in a better light for those that don't get the point of winmodems (IE: Can't understand why they need to buy a "real" modem) In short (I hate typing long winded explanations). Winmodems were produced to accomplish 2 things: 1) Reduce the cost of computers by reducing the cost of the components. Winmodems are much less expensive to produce since they lack the circuitry of a real modem. It's basically just a interface to a phone jack. The OS then has to act as the modem, putting asignificant load on the CPU. Yes, the CPU can usually bear the load of doing the work the Modem is supposed to. And if you're only interested in running games, and surfing the net, then you won't notice this, and probably don't need Linux anyway. Personally, I use my Linux boxes for other things, and I want the hardware to do what it's supposed to, so that my CPU can do what "it's" supposed to. 2) To marry you to Windows. Once you're running Win(crap) hardware, you "can't" defect, and run an alternative OS. Usually the cost & inconvenience of upgrading that $100 speed demon box to a real computer is more than the average user will bear. Thus cementing their aligence to M$. Afterall, why change when M$(crap) is so cheap?!? Why should I spend more on hardware just to run Linux... If you want to run a real OS, you'll need real hardware. Haven't you wondered why a "workstation class" machine is so much more expensive? It's build to last, with quality parts. The bargain basement "Multimedia Windows" desktop machines just don't have that quality. They're the ones that cause so many people, so many "odd" problems. You gets whats you pays for. Ok, enough of my rant. Ric JHMO >> > > You're quite welcome. :) > > >><'nother snip> >> >>>Theoretically, programmers could write substitute >>>"engine" software for non-MS-Windows operating systems. >>>This would have to be done separately for each OS and for >>>each modem-type crippled in some distinctive way. >>>Further, it would entail reverse-engineering each such >>>design's programming interface, without cooperation from >>>manufacturers who classify this as proprietary >>>information. In any event, programmers seem highly >>>unlikely to bother, because they find it far easier to >>>buy real modems, instead. >>> >>not to mention a jail term in the USA due to the DCMA. >> > > True, that's a definate possibility, and I'm somewhat > surprised that Rick hasn't yet updated the paragraph to > reflect that danger. :) > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? > Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com > > message.footer > > Content-Type: > > text/plain > Content-Encoding: > > 8bit > >
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
