From: Ron Heiby (heiby_at_falkor.chi.il.us)
Date: Fri Dec 11 1998 - 11:04:16 EST
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Hi! My wife just phoned to tell me that my ThinkPad 770ED has arrived!
It is my understanding that this ThinkPad uses the Mwave DSP for its modem
functions. Now, I don't want to say anything bad about Mwave, but I *did*
choose to purchase a Megahertz modem for my 755CE.
I could use some help in figuring out what Ethernet and/or modem card to get
for the new ThinkPad.
Since I'm keeping my 755CE, I want to leave the Megahertz Modem / Ethernet
card with it. That means that I need at least an Ethernet PCMCIA card. If I am
going to find the Mwave in the 770ED to be very much like the one in the
755CE, I would like to learn that now, so I can buy another combo
modem/Ethernet card, rather than winding up with two cards.
While I am open to other suggestions, I have been favorably impressed with the
reliability and service related to my previous two Megahertz purchases.
At this time, I do not seem to have any need of 100 Mbps Ethernet, though I am
not opposed to products that have that additional capability, as long as it
does not require too much compromise or additional expense.
Looking at current MHz product at Computer Discount Warehouse, I find several
options. There is Ethernet only, and modem / Ethernet combos. Of the Ethernet
only, there is one with an XJack and one or two that take the dongle adapter
cables. Of the modem / Ethernet combos, there are some that have XJack for
modem and dongles for Ethernet, and some with dongles for both. I did not see
one with XJack for both modem and Ethernet. I *like* my XJack modem
connection.
I have the 10 Mbps dongles that came with my current MHz card, both 10Base2
and 10BaseT. I don't think I've ever used the coax dongle, so figure I am
unlikely to need to do so. If I did, would my existing one be compatible with
the new cards?
I have a Nokia 6160 wireless phone. Theoretically, it can be attached to
certain MHz modem cards, using a special cable. That would tend to imply that
if I want to make such connections, I want to make sure to avoid XJack, and go
with the dongle modem connection, even though I like XJack. But, since I've
wanted to make such a connection maybe once in the past five years, I would
guess that it is probably not worth it.
I suppose the big question is, "How is the 770ED Mwave modem implementation?
How is it's V.90 support? Does it give high speed V.90 connections on good
lines? Is it solid or flakey? Does it eat away at main memory?". Hmm, maybe
that's more than one question! Anyway, would I be happier spending an extra
$100-150 to get V.90 modem capabilities in my PCMCIA Ethernet card?
Also, as best I can tell from what I've read, the 770ED uses the PCMCIA or PC
Card style of interface (I think that's a 16 bit interface?), and not the
newer and faster CardBus interface (32 bit?). Is this correct?
Thanks much for any help or advice!
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-- Ron.
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