OT: does a PC still need a modem?

[Amy]

This may seem like a ridiculously obvious question, but I have been
configuring a new PC on the Dell website, and it seems that a built-in modem
is not included as standard. But I can't understand this, since surely
everyone these days uses their computer for the internet? And it made me
wonder whether with wireless and broadband the modem was in fact extinct,
and not needed except with a dial-up connection.
If I purchase a PC with a wireless card, for wireless connection to cable
broadband, do I still need to add the modem to my configuration?
Thanks in advance for your help! I know this doesn't have anything to do
with parenting (well it does, indirectly, since the PC is for my
children...!)
Amy

[Chris French]

Post by Amy
This may seem like a ridiculously obvious question, but I have been
configuring a new PC on the Dell website, and it seems that a built-in modem
is not included as standard. But I can't understand this, since surely
everyone these days uses their computer for the internet? And it made me
wonder whether with wireless and broadband the modem was in fact extinct,
and not needed except with a dial-up connection.
If I purchase a PC with a wireless card, for wireless connection to cable
broadband, do I still need to add the modem to my configuration?

No, you don't need a modem for broadband connection, only if you want to
use dialup.

A modem is very occasionally useful for a backup dialup connection if
the broadband goes down (no often, but it does happen). I use our old
external modem for this.

[Amy]

Post by Chris French
No, you don't need a modem for broadband connection, only if you want to
use dialup.
A modem is very occasionally useful for a backup dialup connection if the
broadband goes down (no often, but it does happen). I use our old external
modem for this.

Thank you for your answer - it's good to know for sure!
Amy

[Martin Rich]

Post by Amy

Post by Chris French
No, you don't need a modem for broadband connection, only if you want to
use dialup.
A modem is very occasionally useful for a backup dialup connection if the
broadband goes down (no often, but it does happen). I use our old external
modem for this.

Thank you for your answer - it's good to know for sure!
Amy

You still need some sort of box between the PC and the phoneline - at
least if you are using the sort of broadband that operates over a BT
line. You could do this using an ADSL modem (that's a different beast
from a dial-up modem but is still called a modem) if you just want a
single computer wired up to the phone line. But, given that you're
getting a new computer and a new broadband connection, it's more
likely that you'd get a broadband router which, if necessary, allows
several computers to use the broadband connection at once

Martin

[Amy]

Post by Martin Rich
You still need some sort of box between the PC and the phoneline - at
least if you are using the sort of broadband that operates over a BT
line. You could do this using an ADSL modem (that's a different beast
from a dial-up modem but is still called a modem) if you just want a
single computer wired up to the phone line. But, given that you're
getting a new computer and a new broadband connection, it's more
likely that you'd get a broadband router which, if necessary, allows
several computers to use the broadband connection at once

Yes, we already have a broadband router in place, as the new computer will
replace the children's very old PC which is on its last legs. We have cable
broadband which connects directly to my PC, with the children's PC and my
laptop using wireless connections. Thanks for your reply!
Amy

[Mogga]

On Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:34:44 +0000, Chris French

Post by Chris French

Post by Amy
This may seem like a ridiculously obvious question, but I have been
configuring a new PC on the Dell website, and it seems that a built-in modem
is not included as standard. But I can't understand this, since surely
everyone these days uses their computer for the internet? And it made me
wonder whether with wireless and broadband the modem was in fact extinct,
and not needed except with a dial-up connection.
If I purchase a PC with a wireless card, for wireless connection to cable
broadband, do I still need to add the modem to my configuration?

No, you don't need a modem for broadband connection, only if you want to
use dialup.
A modem is very occasionally useful for a backup dialup connection if
the broadband goes down (no often, but it does happen). I use our old
external modem for this.

Or fax things ... But how often do you do that?