dropping the modem
How many people actually still use a phone line modem?
And when do you guys think Apple will get rid of it or have an option to not include it?
I ask because I have not used the modem in my ibook once and:
1. I paid money for something I don't use
2. It takes up space and weight in my laptop, something I want to be as light and as small as possible.
Do a lot of people actually still use the modem? I don't know anyone who still does
And when do you guys think Apple will get rid of it or have an option to not include it?
I ask because I have not used the modem in my ibook once and:
1. I paid money for something I don't use
2. It takes up space and weight in my laptop, something I want to be as light and as small as possible.
Do a lot of people actually still use the modem? I don't know anyone who still does
Comments
It's 2004...yeah, for me I'd love the space to be used some other way...but they are small and I'm hard pressed to think of what would take it's place or if it would be at all noticeable.
They aren't as big as you might think they are.
Good to have I guess, though. Never know. But maybe a PC card slot would be more versatile (speaking for the iBook, since PB's already got them too.)
I don't think they are quite ready to be Steve'd yet. Maybe 2006?
2) It adds an even smaller fraction to the total price.
3) People use modems to send and receive faxes
4) It's optional on the BTO Power Mac G5s
Like id rather drop a PDF file in the Email, but one of these days I'll send a fax
Another thing...it could be almost more expensive to NOT include it for the simple fact that it is probably just built-in to some chipset they are buying/building already into the motherboard. So more of a waste to take it out.
Originally posted by Ebby
I use my modem when my cable is out or I am on vacation.
That's my situation. I very rarely use my iBook's internal modem. On the rare occasion when my DSL line is down or I can't find a Wi-Fi hotspot while I'm on the road, the modem is a god-send. And I do send an occasional fax with it as well (about 3 times a year to confirm trades with my broker).
Bottom line, I will continue to get modems, both for portable and desktop systems. See Eugene's post above for why it makes sense to include modems even without an actual need.
Escher
p.s. 1.5 yrs and no dsl outage, verizon service here is like a rock
But I do use Airport Extreme when I can. This weekend I was in Stockholm - and I was getting speeds of 3 Mbps in town and 1 Mbps at the airport.
I think eventually when computers get faster, that we will see a reemergence of 56K dial-up as normal.
It's absolutely insane to pay up to, or even more than $50 a month for internet access.
I can easily afford it, and $100 a night dinners as well.
But it's just a complete waste of money.
1. Dialup on bad telephone lines that never get above 28.8kbps
2. IDSL (144kbps) for $140 per month
3. T1, which is custom-installed for the customer, for $900 per month.
My dad's company pays for the $140/month IDSL. Because it's technically DSL, the service providers can pretend they lived up to their promise of providing DSL within a certain period of time. I remember, years ago (must have been 1998 or 1999), they claimed they'd have DSL within a year. A year later, it was six months. Ever six months after that, they claimed they'd have it within six months, until finally a few months ago they set up this IDSL crap and called it a day. I don't expect cable or ADSL access out here for another three to five years.
And while everyone out here has to put up with that crap, my friends in the city are complaining that their parents won't buy DSL. One of them is part of a VERY rich family, they have every gadget under the sun, nice cars, a huge house, satellite TV with more channels than you can imagine... and AOL dialup access.
Generally our connection gets about 128kbps (16 Kbytes/s) both up and down. It's pretty bad but a lot better than dialup, mainly for the convenience. Everyone can be using the internet at the same time, without the need for an extra phone line. That alone is worth a bit of a premium over standard dialup, but $140/month is still a ripoff.
P.S. I love my new sig.
I also have used it during DSL outages, and I have it set up so that if I go over to a friend's house that has no DSL or networking I can just plug into the phone jack and dial in. Most people don't realize that with your DSL service at home you get a complementary dial-up service for those times when DSL is out or you travel elsewhere.
I haven't faxed from it yet, but I like that the option is there. I'd be more upset if Apple nixed them.