D-Link 56K V90 External USB Fax/Modem

Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: Installation was smooth and easy, then the problems started. Every time I used a dial-up connection all my system became so slow that even reading e-mail was almost impossible. Even the mouse pointer seemed almost frozen. The box mention free technical support, but no tech support is mentioned in the documentation. Not a phone number, not a web site. I had to perform a web search to find it. I wrote down 3 (three) times, explaining in detail my problem, and after more than one month I did NOT get any reply from them. I ended up returning the modem to the vendor. I have a Pentium II - 350, Windows 98, with USB ports working fine, so no compatibility problem should have been present. But I will never know what happened, since their ridiculous "customer support" never bothered so send me a reply. If you buy this, good luck!

Rating:
Summary: Try to stay away...
Review: This modem by D-link is now leading a revolution of cheap(not the inexpensive kind), software driven modems. When D-link first released this modem it contained all the hardware necessary for the modem to dial out and communicate by itself. Starting in mid-May of 2001 they started replacing the hardware driven variety with a software controlled version, meaning that this modem sucks up YOUR system resources and processor time instead of using its own. This is why one of the previous reviewers was having problems. There are many many real hardware USB modems out there for less money than this one and they work great with Windows, Mac, Linux, you name it, but don't buy this one before you think about it really hard.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent buy & performance
Review: This modem is great for the dial up user because of it's reliability and speed. The performance ranks right up there with other 56k modems including modems from US Robotics and Diamond. Also remember that the speed at which your modem connects at also depends on such things as line quality and the area you live in. This modem does it's job quite well if not exceeds the performance of other modems if you have the good lines etc. as stated above. The simple USB connection is also a plus saving you time and headaches from opening your PC case and figuring out how to install it!