[comp.sys.mac] modems

jav8106@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (Doctor FORTRAN) (03/20/91)

In article <1991Mar15.175639.18226@roundup.crhc.uiuc.edu>, hull@uicsltc.csl.uiuc.edu (Andrew W. Hull) writes...
-I am interested in buying a low cost modem for my Mac SE.
-Does anyone know about "Zoom Modems"?  They advertise a
-2400 baud modem for $99.  Is this a good buy?  If not,
-what else should I consider?

We have a Zoom Fax-Modem, 2400 baud. The modem itself isn't bad at all. The
Quick-Link Fax software that comes with it (which is needed to use the modem as
a Fax transmitter) is absolutely horrendous.

Group 3 faxes have special provisions for run length encoding, vertical
slewing, etc. For example, there is a token, about 6 bytes long, for
transmitting a completely white line. Apparently, the Quick-link software does
not avail itself of this important feature.

The page setup dialog is one of the weakest links in the package. There is no
provision for landscape vs portrait! I have had documents converted into
landscape (rather creatively) by this brain-dead piece of chooser software.
Makes you want to kind of rip your hair out!

If you want an inexpensive data modem, it ought to do the trick. It's hard to
beat at the price. If you want to send an occasional fax, it _might_ even be
worth ordering it with the SendFax option. But be forewarned!

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