[comp.sys.mac.comm] Magic V.42/MNP5 modem - opinions?

dce@smsc.sony.com (David Elliott) (10/05/90)

While browsing through the November 1990 issue of MacWorld, I stumbled
upon an ad (page 339) for Magic modems.  I had been thinking about
buying myself a ZOOM modem, having tried one out recently, and the
modem in the ad looked like the ZOOM and was a better price than I had
seen elsewhere ($99, but I think you have to buy a $20 cable).  The
modem is advertised as the Magic 2400 baud modem, and has a different
sticker on the front, but it sure looks exactly like the ZOOM.

Anyway, right below it, there is an ad for a 2400 baud V.42 bis MNP-5
modem with the legend "Send & Receive up to 9600 Baud", and the price
is $199.

What exactly is the difference between this and the standard 2400
baud modem?  Is the extra functionality really going to buy me
anything for BBS download use (assuming the BBS supports V.42),
or would I be paying extra for something that is very specific?