[plug] Fw: [plug-ctte] Modem problems

[Milan Pospisil]

>>> bernard at blackham.com.au 07/21/04 07:01pm wrote:>>>
----- Forwarded message from Terry Hunt <scarf3b at yahoo.com.au> -----

Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 01:51:08 +1000 (EST)
From: Terry Hunt <scarf3b at yahoo.com.au>
Subject: [plug-ctte] Modem problems

>Hi there,
>Just seeing if there's any-one at P.L.U.G. that can point me in the right
>direction in regards to actually being able to get a modem to work on my new
>Mandrake system. I was at the installfest at the week-end and got Mandrake put
>on my computer but no-one explained how difficult it would be to be able to get
>this thing to work on-line. I'm sorry I have no expertise with the inner
>machinations of this magical device I'm sitting in front of, I'm used to
>Windows doing all the work, even if I have to pay Microsoft every time I need
>to actually do something with the thing. I thought I'd try Linux to see if the
>claims of new user-friendlyness were true. I've talked to Linux IT about a
>modem to work on Linux and only get blank stares as if I've asked a rude
>question. A computer shop sold me a new modem saying that they thought it may
>work ( No-one was prepared to put thier name on the line).
  Have you actually bought a new modem? If yes, what brand and model?  If it does not work I would take it back! Clearly, they should have been able to tell you if the product what they are selling works with Linux or not!
 There is a shop in Osborne Park called Navada Computers which is Linux-friendly; in most other cases your average computer shop assistant may or may not have an answer to your  Linux related question/problem for various reasons. 
 Having said that a word of warning: Stay away from Austin Computers in Osborne Park as they are clearly hostile to Linux and rearly will miss an opportunity to have a go at anyone who dares to mention Linux in their shop; Austin Computers in Cannington are OK.
>I have looked up a few sites on the net ( thank god for Explorer ) and it seems
>to me that user-friendly and modem are not words that go together in the Linux
>world.
 Go to Gogle(http://www.google.com)  ->Advanced Search -> Linux - Search all penguin-friendly pages,  click on the blue highlighted word Linux and in the new search promt type: external  linux modem
 or go to Google and in the URL(address) promt type: http://www.google.com.au/linux  and as above in the search promt type: external linux modem
>The crux of the matter is: Can I go out and buy a modem that I can plug into
>this computer to make my shiny new Linux system work on the Net.
    Yes, you can. Generally, most of the external modems will work with Linux as they do not rely on the operating system(Windows) to work.
I am using a Cougar Spirit modem which I bought some years ago(bit old now) and never had any problems with it as to Linux compatibility.
> If so please,please, please point me in that direction.
>Thanks very much for your time and any help you may be able to supply.
>Terry Hunt
>snip<

There is a PLUG workshop meeting every fourth Monday of the month(ie this comming Monday 26.7.04) at the University of WA (Cameron Hall loft, UWA. Upstairs from the Tavern. at 7:30PM till 11PM )
http://www.plug.linux.org.au/events/workshop
Perhaps you could bring your computer and your modem with you.
                                                                                                       Regards
                                                                                                                   Milan Pospisil