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You'll get a strong suggestion from MS Windows XP not to install it for that reason. Aside from that problem, another is that it's controlless, meaning forget about using with Linux, and expect poorer performance (for instance, I could not download Open Office with it though I tried about ten times, my old serial modem did so the on first try). Also, it lacks modem lights, which are useful for a quick check of whether or not it's on, and/or receiving/sending data. It's marketed for travel use with a laptop, and may well be fine for that purpose; I was wrong to think it could be used as an all-purpose desktop modem.
Looking at the connection signal at the bottom of the window, after about 30 seconds, the transfer signals are off. What's the point of having a modem if it doesn't work properly. I haven't been able to stay connected to the internet. Shortly after I can disconnected. First I thought it was my computer or my ISP but I barrowed another modem and I stayed connected for hours.
when i had just purchase this item it was good because i was running window 98 but now i had upgrade to window xp and it require for your computer to run 730mg and faster my computer only run 500mg. so if i want it to work again i would have to go back to window 98.
It was the cheapest external I could find (and even cheaper with a rebate from Zoom). Sorry, no speaker. In the modem I got, these are replaced with pieces of opaque plastic that don't light up at all. Sorry, it's supported only under Windows. - No need to plug into a serial port.- In my tests of FAXing and connecting via dialup, the modem works fine. Minuses: - See the little colored lights in the picture above. I got this product because my old faxmodem died and I needed something. - Want to use it on Linux or Mac.
The verdict. Probably as another cost-cutting measure, the sound comes out of your PC speakers (and is rather loud even on the lowst L1 setting). I'm keeping it because I rarely use a modem any more except for the occasional outgoing FAX (I'm on DSL). Sorry, no lights any more. Plusses: - USB means you don't need an AC adapter (it supplies power as well as connectivity). As for the problems connecting that other people have experienced, I didn't see them.
I like seeing the lights -- helps me know what's going on. Probably a cost-cutting measure.- See the area where sound is supposed to come out of the speaker. I think perhaps they have been resolved in current versions of the drivers. But without lights, a speaker and simple compatability with other systems, this is a modem I would pass up if I had to really rely on it all the time.
33,600 is somehow slower than 2,400 and there's just no excuse for that. Since the day I installed it it's been non-stop frustration. I bought this modem to overcome terrible phone lines made worse by constant construction and HOW this modem made the top of a multi-unit comparison I'll never know. It's difficulty with XP is only surpseed by its obnoxious tech support whose sole piece of advice is always "reboot your computer," who are easily some of the rudest tech support operatives I've ever encountered. Even as late as 2002 the XP drivers for the modem--online or not--cause more trouble than they solve. Even at the highest speeds I can connect with, all I usually get are "Cannot Find Server" screens because of the transmission lag, despite Zoom's highly touted increase in speed with USB. The whole experience with it has been far far more trouble than it's worth.My recommendation is to avoid this product as if your life depended on it. If Zoom is your only recourse to solving connection difficulties, you're better off without the Internet in your life at all.
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