Frank McCoy said:
....
Usually you can figure out if it's got its own internal processor
from the specifications on the box. Often the specs on the net
don't tell.
Yup, I had a hard time finding one the last time. I guess they
figure nobody knows better so it's not worth touting the fact. You
might need to skillfully separate reams of common buzzwords from a
description that touts its abilities for gaming and stuff.
I'd be stumped though to try and tell somebody not very literate
in these things what to look for ON said box.
Generally though: If it says "WinModem", you don't want it.
At the same time, if you look for "WinModem", you might do a lot of
wishful thinking on all of the garbage that doesn't say it. They
don't want you to know. Naturally they give you paragraphs of
trivial information. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack.
If Newegg sells them, go there and look at the reviews, some of the
authors will tell you. They should list "controller-based" as a
specification, but apparently they don't. Even searching there for
controller-based modem is like pulling teeth, so you know finding
one won't be easy. Doing a search, they list three external modems.
One doesn't work with Windows, the other one is a PC card, and the
third from Diamond installation routine gives you a runtime error
even though apparently the modem works okay.
I still have a controller-based dial up modem as a backup. It's PCI
from USRobotics/3Com/whatever (maybe called an Internet Gaming
Modem). Be sure to use a telephone line surge suppressor in front of
your dial up modem. Finding/identifying updated software was a pain
too, I distinctly remember that part of the ordeal.
Good luck.
