[comp.dcom.modems] V.32 & < 1000$

flog@ethz.UUCP (Florian Gutzwiller) (12/08/89)

Multi-Tech & European Dealers

I recently tested the V.32 modems from Multi-Tech. They provide 
just about everything you need including built in dial back, mnp
5 (rom upgradable to 7), and great customer support. I sent  
a fax asking for ROM upgrades, because the dialback didn't support
2400 without MNP. It took only three days, and the ROMS were lying
on my desk at no further cost. The modems are available at a reasonable
price, if you live in the U.S, but getting them in Europe is more than
a pain. While Company X in Boston sells them for $~990, the swiss
representative wants $ 1600 !! Swiss dealers often think, that 
importing hardware from the US legitimates them to put more than
30% on the original US list price. Same thing with Sun Microsystems
Switzerland. Since we are a federal institution, we get 30% discount
on Sun hard & software. This fact makes it possible to get the Sun
products at US LIST PRICE! Wow$#!

Same problem with Trailblazers and other high quality products. 
I think that the international sales departments of should give
their representatives kicks in their asses ..., because they
slow down the technical evolution over here by keeping the prices
that high, so only big companies can afford up to date equipment.

So what ...

My employe doesn't care about the price, but many people here want
V.32 modems to use with a home X-Terminal at a reasonable price. Are 
there any other products than the USRobotics V.32 for $ 889 or the 
Prometheus V.32 for $ 699 ? Who's got experience with one of them ? 
What about the Telebit Usenet Offer ?


Thanks


Florian


Florian A. Gutzwiller				phone:  +41 1 256 3542
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology		fax:    +41 1 261 5389
Zurich, Switzerland				e-mail: flog@ethz.UUCP