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DSL uses the phone line, but it does not use dial-up modems. Rather, a DSL modem connects to the computer via Ethernet and to the ISP via the phone line. The reason DSL is able to be so much faster than dial-up and not tie up the phone line like dial-up even though it uses the phone line too is because only a small fraction of the phone line is actually used for voice, and DSL uses the large part that's left over.

As macnuke mentioned above, Apple does sell a USB modem. However, from what I've heard it's a very poor quality software modem and has caused many kernel panics for some other members here. Although I'm a broadband user, I don't agree with Apple's decision to stop including built-in dial up modems in all of the current Macs this soon.

Last edited by Macskeeball (2006-08-20 9:07 pm)

Thanks for the answers guys!   IF I do need a modem, I'll get another brand, but right now our house is connected to DSL and looks like we'll keep that for now... Well, I'm off to the Apple Store in Brookline this morning; we're VERY close to geting a new Intel iMac!  Dell may still be in the running though... this computer is for my mom and her tech guy at work suggested a Mac...

Too late...  Guess that's why MacMall had the iMacs for a $100 rebate?  It'll be fine for Mother's use; she doesn't do DVD movie making or extreme gaming. Right now she can swing the extra bling... we're fine with our decision.  But she claims I'm going to be jeleous of her with her new fast iMac compared to me with my punny Pismo... SHE'S RIGHT!!!!!!!

Because broadband isn't available where they live? Just a guess.

Signed,
'Been There'

PS: the Apple usb modem is the worst product Apple has ever put it's name on. Plus I had to pay $50 for it. A product that causes a kernal panic everytime you unplug a peripheral is very, very bad.



I think dropping the modem at least from consumer grade Macs was a bit premature. It's also problematic for people who depend on their Mac for faxing.

I bought the USB modem for our new intel iMac and have had no problems with it, worked great. We bought it because it took AT&T over a month to get the DSL activated in our new house and we needed to get online.

I would recommend returning your modem as it sounds defective.

on a side note - Avoid AT&T at all cost. I hate this company, but our area does not have cable modems so DSL was my only choice. We have had latency and speed issues with our DSL since day one. AT&T has sent out techs twice and charged us both times because they "could not find any thing wrong". Sorry for the little rant but any time I mention AT&T I feel compelled to let every one know how much they suck!

Well, I don't think the external USB modem is all that different from the internal one they used to include. So they may have a point, actually.

,xtG
.tsooJ

Macskeeball wrote:

mdensch wrote:

Why would one buy a super fast, super sophisticated Core Duo machine and then saddle it with a dial-up modem??

There was a power outage here last week, and even though I had a laptop with a fully charged battery, the DSL modem and router did not have power. Dial-up was my only way to get online at that time. Good thing my DSL includes free dial-up access.

a good UPS will run the modem and airport longer than your laptop battery will hold out.

power goes out here, I still have high speed.

mdensch wrote:

Dropping the modems from newer Macs makes the same perfect sense and shows the same forward thinking that Apple showed when it started phasing out floppy drives years ago.  Since our household has gone broadband (and wireless shortly thereafter) I just haven't had occasion to use a telephone modem, even when traveling. Ever.

Why would one buy a super fast, super sophisticated Core Duo machine and then saddle it with a dial-up modem??

For a laptop, it make perfect sense only if open wifi is everywhere, or the very least when you can get a ExpressCard/34 slot based wireless card with your celphone company that does not cost 59/79 a mt.

For desktop, I am ok with leaving it out, just like printer never package with a usb cable, it is just something for a company to make some extra moneyon.

Last edited by pcguy (2006-08-28 8:14 am)

Alien wrote:

mtpalms wrote:

The internal one was a hardware modem, the external one is a software* modem.

Are you quite sure?

Not 100%; it's my understanding that Apple went to internal software modems shortly before eliminating them altogether (I'd forgotten that detail when I posted before, mine are all hware types) - people didn't like those either, but I have no 1st hand experience with them. It was mentioned on the Apple Discussion boards that the usb modem is a software modem. So I figure it's safe to assume it is a software modem, but even if it isn't, it still doesn't work very well for most people.

Lots of unsatisfied customers on the Applestore's web site.

Alien wrote:

mtpalms wrote:

*I don't even know what that means exactly, beyond being an inferior product, no matter who makes it.

It means that a hardware modem is a smart part that is just sent commands over a serial connection and takes care of the rest itself. A software modem is just a signal processor that is controlled by the CPU.

,xtG
.tsooJ

If the Apple usb modem is more than likely the same as this one, is this a hardware or software modem? I can't find any specs on the Apple one.

mudogramx wrote:

iZoe wrote:

Why do the new iMacs have no modem?  Is Apple's thinking along the same lines as the original iMac and it's lack of a floppy drive?  Do they believe dial-up internet access is a thing of the past?   Does this mean that a DSL connection doesn't use a modem?

Thanks for your help... iZoe

Dial-up is dead.  You can get DSL for $14.95 a month.

Dial-up is not dead, because as mtpalms mentioned not everyone can. I think it will be dead 2-5 years, but it's not there yet. Dropping internal modems from the Mac laptops in particular already was a bit soon.

Pariah wrote:

mudogramx wrote:

iZoe wrote:

Why do the new iMacs have no modem?  Is Apple's thinking along the same lines as the original iMac and it's lack of a floppy drive?  Do they believe dial-up internet access is a thing of the past?   Does this mean that a DSL connection doesn't use a modem?

Thanks for your help... iZoe

Dial-up is dead.  You can get DSL for $14.95 a month.

Huh, dead is it? Funny how 60% of people use that "dead" technology to access the web.

Actually, take a look at these search results. More than 50% of Americans with Internet access now use broadband. Dial-up is still not dead, however.

Last edited by Macskeeball (2006-08-29 1:36 pm)

Macskeeball wrote:

Dropping internal modems from the Mac laptops in particular already was a bit soon.

Most people said that about the lack of Floppy in the iMac too.  I disagree - I worked for a dialup provider, it is dead.