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Apple Ditches 56k Modem!
- Thread starter garzy
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Man, if you don't want a modem just don't buy one. You already have the option on the Apple store to deselect the internal modem, simple.
Internal modems are less reliable. Also if the modem really freezes, which can happen, you have to restart the computer to reset the modem. With external modems you can at least force quit any internet application that doesn't like what happened to the connection, and cycle the power of the modem without restarting the computer. For the longest time Apple didn't have internal modems on all lines. Some eMacs when they were first released didn't have an internal modem.
Re: Apple Ditches 56k Modem!
However, you forgot one thing. Even if people are using broadband for internet access, what if they want to send a fax (and not pay an internet fax service)? This is the reason I left the modem in the PowerMac I have on order.
On the PowerMac, you can delete the modem from the configuration. You save all of $29 by doing so.
However, you forgot one thing. Even if people are using broadband for internet access, what if they want to send a fax (and not pay an internet fax service)? This is the reason I left the modem in the PowerMac I have on order.
jayscheuerle
macrumors 68020
I had heard it was closer to 15%. It has actually dropped as people realized they didn't need it for checking email and basic surfing & saved themselves the money...
Broadband support has also dropped as companies providing broadband haven't always been exactly great at customer service, and people decide to leave the one year contract required by most DSL services. It is bad enough DSL services require you to buy the modem and don't take it back (where cable does take it back), but then if you cancel the service, they charge you a huge penalty for early cancellation. Some places only DSL is available, other places only cable is available, and then some places have DSL only slightly faster than dialup and they charge you more for service than those places closer to the central office. What a ripoff! The last mile is a huge problem when you have monopolistic phone and cable companies that don't want to spend money on upgrading their equipment. There are well to do suburbs of Washington DC only 3 miles outside the DC line with no broadband access.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Apple Ditches 56k Modem!
I have a feeling that people buying 17" iMacs aren't dialing up. $5 on every motherboard, risking upsetting the high end iMac buyers who want a 56k modem. Well worth it. Use the space for 512k L3 cache or something.
There are no Mac tablets and Inkwell is not a superior text input device compared to a keyboard.
Superdrive should also be an option on the high end machine. If you're going to say anyone buying a high-end iMac should want a DVD burner, then you can make the leap that anyone buying a high-end iMac should not be forced to buy a modem.
I have a feeling that people buying 17" iMacs aren't dialing up. $5 on every motherboard, risking upsetting the high end iMac buyers who want a 56k modem. Well worth it. Use the space for 512k L3 cache or something.
There are no Mac tablets and Inkwell is not a superior text input device compared to a keyboard.
Superdrive should also be an option on the high end machine. If you're going to say anyone buying a high-end iMac should want a DVD burner, then you can make the leap that anyone buying a high-end iMac should not be forced to buy a modem.
It's not quite so bleak:
U.S. Broadband Households, 2001-2007
Year Penetration Households (millions)
2001 17% 10.4
2002 23% 15.7
2003 30% 21.4
2004 35% 26.7
2005 39% 32.0
2006 43% 36.8
2007 56% 40.7
Source: Jupiter Research
And the majority of corporate and educational entities are using high-speed access.
That is wildly optimistic. It would be true if the economy was in better shape, or DSL and Cable was made as cheap as $30 a month or less (the cost of a second phone line plus the average cost of dialup). Around here, the best price you can get on significantly faster service is $50 a month. I only have broadband because I can afford and see it as a necessary luxury for keeping my system up to date.
Wow. That's a great price. I wish my city had affordable broadband.
Right now, the city council won't allow DSL companies to move in, and they are only allowing the cable company to provide cable access. So, only one company can provide broadband. On top of that, the cable company charges $45/month for broadband service, and in order to qualify to get broadband, you have to get digital cable which costs $60/month.
Right now, $105/month is too much to pay for internet and the 15hrs of TV I watch per week. I'm happy paying $23/month for dialup and $15/month for my extra phone line.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Apple Ditches 56k Modem!
That L3 cache of 512k is probably a whole helluva lot more than the modem cost... probably would add at LEAST $75-$100....
You're logic is funny... a superdrive, while not a neccessity, also ACTS as a dvd, cd-rw, cd AND dvd-r. So it's really just an add on of the dvd-r capabilties.....so who cares? you make it out like the Superdrive only burns DVDs
That L3 cache of 512k is probably a whole helluva lot more than the modem cost... probably would add at LEAST $75-$100....
You're logic is funny... a superdrive, while not a neccessity, also ACTS as a dvd, cd-rw, cd AND dvd-r. So it's really just an add on of the dvd-r capabilties.....so who cares? you make it out like the Superdrive only burns DVDs
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Apple Ditches 56k Modem!
I doubt 512k of L3 would cost apple anywhere near that much. That may be how much they would add to the base cost, and I'd gladly pay it. That was just off the top of my head, I'm sure if they wanted to put it in, they could find room already. I understand they want to manage the performance tiers. They could use the space for anything more universally useful and cutting edge in the high end machine.
The add on of DVD-R is $200-350. No insignificant for those who don't need it. Yet you cannot get a high-end iMac without it. Apple's logic appears to be anyone who is willing to buy the high-end iMac will wat DVD-R. I don't have a problem with that. And extension of that logic would be anyone buying a high-end iMac and would want DVD-R probably will not need an internal modem. And would rather pay more for higher performance, than anything for something useless.
I do want/need the DVD but I realize than many people who do not would like to be able to order the 1GHz iMac with a combo drive and save a couple hundred.
BTW, there's a 7-10 day delivery time on my iMac, on or by 3/3/03. I can't wait.
I doubt 512k of L3 would cost apple anywhere near that much. That may be how much they would add to the base cost, and I'd gladly pay it. That was just off the top of my head, I'm sure if they wanted to put it in, they could find room already. I understand they want to manage the performance tiers. They could use the space for anything more universally useful and cutting edge in the high end machine.
The add on of DVD-R is $200-350. No insignificant for those who don't need it. Yet you cannot get a high-end iMac without it. Apple's logic appears to be anyone who is willing to buy the high-end iMac will wat DVD-R. I don't have a problem with that. And extension of that logic would be anyone buying a high-end iMac and would want DVD-R probably will not need an internal modem. And would rather pay more for higher performance, than anything for something useless.
I do want/need the DVD but I realize than many people who do not would like to be able to order the 1GHz iMac with a combo drive and save a couple hundred.
BTW, there's a 7-10 day delivery time on my iMac, on or by 3/3/03. I can't wait.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Apple Ditches 56k Modem!
As for it's usefulness. I've made a couple of Video DVD's with it, but where I've used it most is making backups of data. I have 3 DVD's of photos I've taken, and that's only going to grow.
3 DVD's or 21 CD's what a difference in storage space. Not to mention less media to handle in case I need to restore stuff. And photography is only part of what I use the Mac for.
(I think the backup of my static data is up to 20 DVD's. - Try that with CD-R's... no thanks.)
Actually the list price difference going from the combo drive to the superdrive is $200 (On machines that have that option)
As for it's usefulness. I've made a couple of Video DVD's with it, but where I've used it most is making backups of data. I have 3 DVD's of photos I've taken, and that's only going to grow.
3 DVD's or 21 CD's what a difference in storage space. Not to mention less media to handle in case I need to restore stuff. And photography is only part of what I use the Mac for.
(I think the backup of my static data is up to 20 DVD's. - Try that with CD-R's... no thanks.)
I have to agree that although it's ancient and slow, dial-up is still awesome in an emergency or when traveling. HTML pages load fast enough on 56k. Also, if you have cable internet and the cable goes out in a storm, you lose web access too. I've never lost my phone line, even in the worst storms and my laptop and 56k modem kept me online. I say dial-up should never die, atleast until something as reliable comes along.
DSL here is at best $50 a month for 768 x 128.
Cable internet here is $55 minimum if you are lucky to live where the alternative cable supplier, RCN/Starpower, and are willing to wait 5 and a half hours for the service technician to show up to install. Otherwise it is $65 a month via Comcast.
$29.95, I wish!
Ugh, statistics. About as reliable, trusted and looked up to as The Weather Channel.
I'm on the same boat as many dial-up users. We have been barely able to afford dial-up for 10 years, and we may eventually live somewhere without anything available faster than dial-up. If Apple decided to drop internal dial modems, should our family change our moving plans and live where we can get cable?
And I haven't noticed much of a decrease in Cable/DSL prices in the past couple of years, either. Around a solid $50 or $60 for DSL and still a constant $20 all per month for dial-up.
What about satellite connections. High speed access anywhere on earth (that the satellites cover). I know that when i go out to the middle of the desert and cannot plug into a phone line it comes in handy. And the satellite dish isn't inconvenient at all. Why be constrained by phone cords?
Dialup internet is still useful, especially in places where broadband is not yet available or in places where lack of competition results in high prices. Also, for many people who just use the internet for email and a little web surfing, there is no need for the extra speed or cost.
Earthlink DSL has a plan where you get broadband piped into your house and like 10 hours of dialup a month for when you go on the road.
MorganX: You are a lucky one. I ordered a new PowerMac 1.25 through MacMall, along with a 20" Cinema Display, Apple Pro Speakers, AppleCare...the whole 9 yards. I got everything today...except the actual tower. I went to order status on Macmall.com, and they have my PMac listed as "Back ordered". Considering the ADC connector is all but incompatible with my G3, I'm stuck waiting...:-(
Still a frickin nice display though!
MorganX: You are a lucky one. I ordered a new PowerMac 1.25 through MacMall, along with a 20" Cinema Display, Apple Pro Speakers, AppleCare...the whole 9 yards. I got everything today...except the actual tower. I went to order status on Macmall.com, and they have my PMac listed as "Back ordered". Considering the ADC connector is all but incompatible with my G3, I'm stuck waiting...:-(
Still a frickin nice display though!
Yes, dial-up may be inconvient but for some people (myself included) it is the only internet access available for them. No companies offer it in my area or surrounding towns. Right now not everyone in the world can get broadband internet access. And until everyone can, I really don't see Apple ditching the 56k modem. I know that I wouldn't be able to get on the internet without buying an external modem. Not to mention the monthly cost. Dial-up is a lot cheaper than some broadband plans.
Not everyone has access or the means to have a faster internet service.