Modem? Mandrake?

[Digital Storm]

Hey peoples, I'm just a happy newbie and the only thing stopping me from going fully linux is a the lack of a modem. Mandrake reports that I have a "communcation device" is this a good sign or bad? Thanks in advance

[hamnose]

You really need a normal hardware type modem usually an external one that connects to the serial port. Most modems are winmodems and run on software. Your os. will recognize the device and there are drivers for some of these modems but what a hassle. I'd get something like a 3com or U.S.Robotics. Stay away from "flash" modems (ie. Creative modem blaster) they tend to lock up from time to time. And you don't need to spend a lot of money. I'm not very knowledgable about these things and I don't much want to be but: let the consumer beware... its a jungle out there. Any newer linux distro will set up your internet connection automatically (if you have a proper modem) which is how it should be.

[Digital Storm]

Okay cool thanks for the info, I guess I should just drop this weathered 56K and go for dsl now that my isp has started carrying it and they are pretty helpful in setting stuff up, thanks again

[bdg1983]

First you need to find out if you do indeed have a winmodem. You may not.

Get the model name etc. and do a little searching. You could try www.winmodems.org (http://www.winmodems.org) or www.linmodems.org (http://www.linmodems.org)