HFISCHER%USC-ECLB%SRI-NIC@sri-unix.UUCP (12/24/83)
Qubie Modem Card I ordered a Qubie modem card, early last week, after checking out similarities between it and the IDE Assoc. modem card (the chips and their placement in the pictures of the cards were different, and the IDE was very much more expensive). Qubie said that they manufacture the card themselves in the LA area, in a factory owned by one of the partners, and since they had orders for "4000", that they could not ship before mid January (they also said there were "1500" delivered). Mine arrived as a Christmas present, this Friday, long ahead of when promised. The UPS shipment was uninsured, sitting on the doorstep when I came home. The card worked the first time I tried it. It is a professionally designed circuit card, solder masked and the like, and it does fit into the XT slot as advertised without bothering nearby cards. The parts (resistors, etc.) are hand-stuffed into the card, and somewhat askew; I guess even the small guy can make it in this business. The card appears to work well with Kermit, with an IBM system, with Arpanet, and with Telenet. My concern was that, since they make their own cards, what happens to me when I need it serviced in three years, when they are either out of business or making newer VLSI modems or whatever. No problem, they say; if they stop making it, they will, only then, give me the hardware documentation, even though they won't release it now (?)! Of course, they intend to supply servicing for it forever. Herm Fischer -------