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- WinModems were originally designed as a less-expensive way to add modem functionality to a PC.
WinModems are less expensive because they are a controller less modem, meaning that there is no
microprocessor on the modem to control it. Since there is no controller on the modem, the
processor in the computer is used instead in combination with software.
- This can be a blessing or a problem. The good thing about WinModems is that when it is time to
upgrade the modem to a new standard, it's easy, because all you have to do is just upgrade the
software and you are done. Unlike traditional modems where you may have to replace the microprocessor,
or flash the ROM in the modem, OR overall replace the modem.
- The problem is that since it is using
software to drive it, and using your computer's processor, if you are in a older slower computer
and trying to use a WinModem, it can slow down your machine drastically, because your computer
is trying to control the data coming in on the modem while processing other things on the computer.
- The other problem is that since WinModems are software driven, most of the software is written for
Windows 95 and later, and not for Windows 3.1/NT, OS/2, DOS, and Unix. This means WinModems can ONLY
be used in Windows 95 and later.
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