When will Apple ditch the modem?

anders · June 5, 2002 2:37AM

Just a year ago 80% of my Internet access was done with modem but since then DSL, Cabel, LAN etc. has really taken off so it has been like 6 months since I last used it. I have a very non-geek network but none of them are still on modem. It makes we wonder when Apple is going to send modems down the same path as floppies.

I know there was a design issue with floppies and if they hadn´t taken up more space or money than a modem port it would still be in every mac. But at one point even the usefullness of a modem will be outweighed by its cost and space even how small it may be.

I´m talking about iMacs, iBooks, PowerBooks and eMacs here. Not Powermacs where you have the choice.

ebby · June 5, 2002 2:48AM

Well, it's nice you have a DSL connection, but most of the world still uses dial-up.

ghost_user_name · June 5, 2002 2:51AM

Well, there is a good bit of the country that...

1) can't get broadband

2) don't use their computer or the internet *enough* to justify spending more than $10/mo. on internet access.

3) They cost practically nothing to put into the machine.

4) When you're on the road with your laptop, there isn't always an airport network or ethernet jack to plug in to.

The thing about ditching the floppy was that there *were* other methods of getting data into the computer. If you remove the modem completely, users are forced to buy it seperately, or spend $30/mo. or more on broadband access.

Again, they don't cost a lot to put in the machine, and until the whole country can get affordable broadband, they shouldn't get rid of the modem. I think there are more mac users out there using the modem because it's all they can use than you think...

yurin8or · June 5, 2002 2:54AM

if ditching the modem will get me a G5 quicker...ditch the modem!

mack damon · June 5, 2002 3:14AM

DITTO the road thing. I've been using cable broadband since the day it came available in my neghborhood. I'm going to spend a month on the west coast coming up real soon, and getting cable for 1 month is more of a pain in the ass than it's worth. I'll be too busy to surf, but can't be disconnected from my e-mail. I'll probably shove a modem back in my G4/400 (all my comps have stealth serial ports) and resort to dialup.

Mack Damon

macmatt · June 5, 2002 3:16AM

Good Idea, Maybe instead of the modem have a built-in Bluetooth Adopter... <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

trevorm · June 5, 2002 3:32AM

The wont for a good while.

I have ADSL, however still require the 56K modem to use my banking software so i would be, and many others would be doomed not to have a 56K modem....

Second point, I would add that DSL is not all that cheap in all Countries (Aus is still too much

)

belle · June 5, 2002 3:40AM

In an ideal world, my ideal world, there'd be a 802.11 node every 100ft. I don't think it's going to happen somehow.*

It'll be a long, long time before modems disappear. As someone already said, they're essential in the 'Books for when you travel.

*Except, perhaps, in Manhattan. Thanks to an ongoing community WiFi scheme, and (****ing) Starbucks, you can get 802.11 coverage just about everywhere.

gizwald · June 5, 2002 3:44AM

Yeah, long live the modem. I think that the modem may be replaced, though, when bluetooth geets a good solid foothold. Modems take up a very small ammount of space, maybe Apple could remove the internal modem, and have an external, tiny modem that communicates via bluetooth. By the time bluetooth is actually wideley used, I imagine, most people will be on broadband. Or I'd hope so.

jeromba · June 5, 2002 3:44AM

when you buy a powermac on the applestore you can configure it without modem

woozle · June 5, 2002 3:49AM

Comments about internet access are all well and good, but you forget...

Faxes.

I use my modem to send faxes all the time.

And Im sure there are some other cool tricks you can do with the internal modem, what about caller ID? I know Id like a system where when I get a call, the address opens with the callers details right in front of me.

ebby · June 5, 2002 3:57AM

[quote]Originally posted by Gizwald:

I think that the modem may be replaced, though, when bluetooth geets a good solid foothold. Modems take up a very small ammount of space, maybe Apple could remove the internal modem, and have an external, tiny modem that communicates via bluetooth.<hr></blockquote>

Nah, <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> Bluetooth is close to 802.11. I've read about a 802.11b/bluetooth PCMCIA card that should be released sometime soon. If Apple does build their own bluetooth thingys, it will probably be integrated into the airport card.

Edit- What am I saying, apple dosn't make their own airport cards, they buy them. Then expect it!

[ 06-05-2002: Message edited by: Ebby ]

anders · June 5, 2002 3:59AM

Okay bad idea <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

[quote]Originally posted by Belle:

It'll be a long, long time before modems disappear. As someone already said, they're essential in the 'Books for when you travel.

<hr></blockquote>

The thing is that I never use the modem in my PowerBook. Whereever I go there seems to be a ethernet solution even when I travel. Neigbourhood LANs seems to be the thing here (>1000 apartments or houses pooling together for a 10 or 45Mbit connection to the Internet) for a relative small cost ($15 including phone).

But I guess not everybody lives in large (university) cities. How easily it is to forget

matsu · June 5, 2002 4:16AM

[quote]Originally posted by woozle:

Comments about internet access are all well and good, but you forget...

Faxes.

I use my modem to send faxes all the time.

<hr></blockquote>

I'm glad somebody mentioned this. This might be one of the most useful things I do with my PC's at home/work. I'd want the same functionality for my mac, not just for travel, but also at home.

thereubster · June 5, 2002 4:43AM

Well maybe they might drop them in some territories but lets not forget Apple's expansion plans into places like China and India where they're lucky to have 56k let alone broadband!! Here in London still only 39% of properties have access to Broadband (according to BT).

the_unknown_source · June 6, 2002 1:51AM

[quote]Originally posted by Thereubster:

Well maybe they might drop them in some territories but lets not forget Apple's expansion plans into places like China and India where they're lucky to have 56k let alone broadband!! Here in London still only 39% of properties have access to Broadband (according to BT).<hr></blockquote>

They very well do have DSL in India! At least in Madras

posterboy · June 6, 2002 3:16AM

[quote]Originally posted by Ebby:

.....Bluetooth is close to 802.11. I've read about a 802.11b/bluetooth PCMCIA card that should be released sometime soon

[ 06-05-2002: Message edited by: Ebby ]<hr></blockquote>

In the fact that they are wireless yeah, but bluetooth is a cable replacement and 802.11 is a network cable replacement. They operate in different frequency ranges as I recall, the max speed of 802.11b is 11megabit and Bluetooth is 768 kilobit. 802.11 (dependingon the transmitter) has a range of 150ft for nominal speeds, Bluetooths mac range is around 35ft.

That card you mentioned? It has two transmitters on it and wont be cheap.

--PB

[ 06-06-2002: Message edited by: PosterBoy ]

ebby · June 6, 2002 3:37AM

Yes, they are different protocols, but both technologies can be incorporated onto the same PCMCIA card. Therefore they are similar enough. Prices should not increas much, since "Older" card's prices will drop sharply.

[ 06-06-2002: Message edited by: Ebby ]

gizwald · June 6, 2002 5:07AM

[quote]Originally posted by Ebby:



Nah, <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> Bluetooth is close to 802.11. I've read about a 802.11b/bluetooth PCMCIA card that should be released sometime soon. If Apple does build their own bluetooth thingys, it will probably be integrated into the airport card.]<hr></blockquote>

Do you mean they would use Airport instead of Bluetooth? I don't see what you are getting at. Bluetooth and Airport are two very different things. That's like saying Apple wil abandon USB, because firewire is faster.

woozle · June 6, 2002 5:14AM

Airport and Bluetooth operate in the same frequency range - 2.4 GHz.

Therefore they shouldnt have any issues sharing the airport antenna in modern Macs.

It is an obvious step to add bluetooth capabilites to the airport card, so that both protocols can be used simultaneously.

You would be networking with airport, and using the bluetooth to sync your phone, and for your wireless bluetooth keyboard and mouse.

junkyard dawg · June 6, 2002 5:14AM

Modems aren't going anywhere in the near future. They are indispensible on a laptop (easy access anywhere).

For many areas, modem internet access is all that is available. Other people simply don't need a faster, more expensive connection. If you use internet access primarily to check email, and do only light surfing, then a 56k modem is more than good enough. I know MANY people who use a modem by choice, they could get cable or DSL, and they have plenty of money for it, but they simply would rather spend the money on something else.

I think that modems are going to be like keyboards and mice: they are going to be an integral part of a computer for a long time to come. For many consumers the modem satisfies all of their needs for next to nothing in terms of price.