[Retrograde]

Ok, so I am finally leaving my university residence room for the greener pastures of private accommodation. A good thing, I think, but unfortunately I am having to give up my fast ethernet connection (100baseT) in favour of the not so green pasture of analog surfing.

Now, I need a modem seeing as I dumped my old one when I hit 100baseT but I don't have a USB port and so either need an external serial modem or an internal PCI modem. PCI modems seem to be much cheaper but they all seem to be specified for Windows and not for Mac.

My question, then, is:
If I buy any stock PCI modem off the shelf will I be able to download Mac drivers from the maker (assuming the maker is USR or Hayes or some bigger name manufacturer that does Mac drivers) and have it work without problems on my Mac? Or do I have to blow bigger bucks for a clunky external modem that is Mac specific?

I know, probably a stupid question, but hey I'm feeling a little stupid about modems right about now

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally posted by Retrograde:
My question, then, is:
If I buy any stock PCI modem off the shelf will I be able to download Mac drivers from the maker (assuming the maker is USR or Hayes or some bigger name manufacturer that does Mac drivers) and have it work without problems on my Mac?

Nope. To my knowledge you won't find any PCI modem for Windows that will work in a Mac. You won't find drivers for such either. WOuld be cool though.

Or do I have to blow bigger bucks for a clunky external modem that is Mac specific?

Pretty much. Why not get a USB card and a USB modem? Yes, initially it's a little more expensive, but the benefits of having USB should more than balance out.

Maybe find another Mac user who has moved on to broadband, and see if they have an external modem thet no longer use. Personally, I have 4 USR and ZOOM modems laying around since I went DSL.

[Retrograde]

Originally posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE:
<STRONG>
Why not get a USB card and a USB modem? Yes, initially it's a little more expensive, but the benefits of having USB should more than balance out.
</STRONG>

That sounds like pretty sound advice. I think I will start looking around for a cheap card and modem. I have been looking for an excuse to get into the USB thing for a while now anyway... maybe I will get a new mouse too

Too bad about the PCI problems though... I just hoped it might work seeing as I have done this before but with generic PCMCIA card modems that were specified for peecees but I managed to get working by downloading a mac driver.

&lt;goes to DealMac and enters "USB PCI card" into search engine. smacks lips&gt;