Advantages: Easy to fit, good software package included, good brand
Disadvantages: only one line in - no audio sockets or line out

...From the well known Creative (SoundBlaster) stables comes this internal V90 PCI 56K modem. Complete with cable, drivers and some usefull software - Mediaring talk, Quicklink Message Centre and Bitware fax/communications. It only has a line-in socket on the back so you cannot 'daisy-chain' your telephone from this modem. I found the card easy to fit and configure and was up and running in less than 10 minutes - just fit the moden into your case and boot-up, Windows discovered it had new hardware installed and then asked for the location of the drivers, I pointed it at the correct directory on the CD drive and that was it! It connected first and every consequent time at a minimum of 48K and once at 50.3K Good product well worth considering for home use.... Read review

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Advantages: cheap
Disadvantages:

...The World Wide Web offers businesses and families a range of resources no one could imagine only a few years ago. But to see the detailed graphics and lifelike motion built into today's most advanced sites, or to hear near-CD quality sound, computer users need the fastest downloads possible over analog phone lines. Now the V.90 U.S. Robotics? 56K Faxmodem gives users faster downloads for a more exciting, rewarding online experience. The ITU has now decided on an international 56K standard: V.90 . U.S. Robotics is the first V.90 -compliant modem brand available. So U.S. Robotics modem users can now get all the Internet they want from any service provider offering either V.90 or x2 technology. Internet service providers in more than 11,000 North American cities (and worldwide), including America Online, CompuServe, IBM Global... Read review

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Advantages: reliable, fast
Disadvantages: None

...My ZOOM 56K V90 Dual Modem has been the best modem I have ever had. When I purchased a new machine it came with its own PCI modem, however this soon came out and was replace with my trusty zoom when I started getting cut off from my ISP. I regularly axchieve speeds of up to 52K and with a usual connection at 49,333 bps. The modem is fitted internally and has been in service now for almost 2 years without any sign of breakdown. Trusty, reliable and fast are the best way I can describe it. With a Flash Circuit I can even upgrade it should the need arise. A great modem at a very reasonable price. Customer support is excellent too.... Read review

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Advantages: Top speeds, ease of installation, excellent reliability
Disadvantages: Price

...I have owned this modem for 3 years now, since the launch of Freeserve. It is the only modem I have ever bought and the only modem I will ever have needed to buy, it is amazingly reliable. The manual is clear and concise and there was no hassle installing it with Windows 98. It comes with SuperVoice software to handle voice messages and faxes, which is also easy to use and effective. The package includes a bundle of free internet access trials, which would prove very useful to the first time modem buyer. I have always got the best connection speeds available over a phone line. Perhaps the only negative point about this modem was it's price, I did find it a little high.... Read review

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Advantages: Its brilliant, reliable and fast
Disadvantages: a little expensive but worth it

...The 3COM 56k External Fax Modem I have been using for the past 2 or three years is great. When I got it the highest speed I could get was 33.6 (before X2 and 56Flex were ready) but the modem still outperformed my friends internal PCI and ISA modems. As soon as the X2 56K technology was available I flashed the modem and was soon surfing at 56k speeds. Again my modem outperformed the K56Flex internal modems my friends were using by a long way. When the V.90 56k standard was finally sorted out I upgraded and again saw an improvement in speed. Three years after buying the modem its still working well and a lot faster than any other I have tried. The ammount I payed was a bit high when I first bought it (£150) but the investment has been well worth it as I have had no trouble with the device on a variety of PCs and operating systems... Read review

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Advantages: Fast and reliable
Disadvantages: Lacking 25-pin serial connector

...This modem was the second I bought just after unmetered ISP's first went hot and I got my registration disk for ntlworld (sorry to anyone who hasnt got theirs yet). Until this time I refused to get an ISP from home because I knew that I would be on for an average of 12 hours a day and simply could not afford that. The first modem I bought was a cheap "hayes compatible" 56K flex external from the local shop which I had numerous problems with and took back 24 hours after purchase. At this point I actually decided to find out which modems were considered as good and discovered that Diamond have a very good reputation and are not that expensive. I nipped out again to a different retailer and bought the "Diamond SupraExpress 56e PRO". When I got it home I plugged it on the machine and it went off like a charm connected perfectly... Read review

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Advantages: Fast, cheap and well built
Disadvantages: Poor technical support on Creative's webpage.

...Having stuck with my 33.6K modem for far too long, I decided it was time to take the plunge and buy me a decent external 56k one. After browsing through a number of e-tailers stocks of modems, I cam accross the Creative Modem Blaster 56K which was extremely well priced. For around £50, you get a well built, quick 56k modem that does everything the box says it should. Installation was a breeze, connect to your serial port, insert CD-ROM, done. Since then, I can honestly say I've not had one problem with it, connections are fast and reliable and that's as much as anyone can ask from a modem. The unit is also flash upgradeable, so once the new V.92 standard is agreed, upgrading and getting a further speed boost should be no problem. If I had to point out a failing, it would be Creative's support with regard to this product... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to install, Fast enough,Extra features
Disadvantages: There are cheaper 56k modems but won't be better

...After my internal modem got tragically killed in a storm I needed a good value modem with a good enough spec to get by. The Rockwell 56k V90 is exactly that. With the funeral of my old modem out of the way I got to work on bringing this new modem into the family household. The first point to make is that its an external modem which is good-this means it can be disconnected before a storm, thus avoiding irrepairable damage. An alternative to this is to buy a surge protector-these are about a fiver and definitely worth the investment. Another good point is that it is extremely easy to install. It took me under 10 minutes, from when I opened the box to when I started dialing. A CD is enclosed with the modem and all you have to do is get to the Rockwell directory and take it from there. All self-explanatory, nothing to worry about. Oh... Read review

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Advantages: reliable, fast connection
Disadvantages: quite expensive

...on the line. Try not to use too long a telephone extension cable. If you need 10 metres buy a 10 metre extension, DON'T use two 5 metre cables. Don't take as gospel, what Windows says your modem speed is. Above 52K is telling lies. Check out www.windrivers.com where they have a way for you to test your modem speed. Modem speeds are always referred to as 56K or 33.6K BUT that is kiloBITS not kiloBYTES. 56 KiloBITS = 7 kiloBYTES (approximately). Hope this is a help.... Read review

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Advantages: Fast shared internet access
Disadvantages: See op

...3Com Office connect Dual 56K LAN Modem (3Com Part No. 3C888) This little box does virtually everything that can be done with a modem / phone line system shared over an ethernet network, but configuration options could be more flexible and there are too many flaws still to be ironed out. ~Why would anyone want one?~ Anyone who has read my Ciao opinion on Telewest’s SurfUnlimited will know that I have a 24/7 dial up account for just £10 per month. With a home network (LAN) and 2 other internet addicts wanting to share the internet I needed some way to allow us all to surf simultaneously. Having tried several software solutions (my favourite, incidentally, being Comsocks for www.linkbyte.com for ease of installation and use, with the widest compatibility) I decided that I really needed a hardware router. The problem... Read review

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