Original Message Information:
David Bowerman wrote to Darren Hamilton about: V90 question
Original Message Date: 03-14-1998
Hello David:
DB> Darren Hamilton wrote in a message to Bob Juge:
DB> 
DB>  DH> What ultimately ends up happening is that both "standards" become
DB>  DH> orphans and the people who "jumped the gun" by buying either type
DB>  DH> of modem are out of luck. Remember HST modems? They would only
DB>  DH> connect at 16,800 with other HSTs. Everyone else would connect with
DB>  DH> them at 2,400. I know that Flash ROMs might help some people who
DB>  DH> bought K56 and x2 modems but this is a kludge solution.
DB> 
DB> Hmmm.... I remember HST at 16K8.  I was getting reliable 
DB> connections at up to 16K8 with HST modems and up to 14K4 
DB> connections to v.32bis modems.  By the time HST was 
DB> upgraded to 16K8, most folks were buying the Dual 
DB> Standards.  OTOH, I found numerous occasions when a HST 
DB> connect could be established when a v.32bis connect could 
DB> not.  Until v.34, HST was the robust protocol.
I found that locally, if I wanted to connect with a BBS running a HST,
you had to have a HST modem, using anything else and it would connect
at 2,400.
 
DB> As for flash ROM being a kludge solution?  Flash ROM let me move
DB> my Couriers  from V.FC to V.34 to V.34+ to x2 and soon to V.90
DB> without  having to change the modem hardware.  On units without 
DB> flash ROMs, my options would have to been quite a bit more 
DB> expensive and limited.  My opinion is that manufacturers  are going
DB> to be releasing new updates and users are going  to be installing
DB> new updates when the process is convenient  and low cost.  Compare
DB> the cost and convenience of  downloading code from a BBS or website
DB> to update your modem  to the inconvenience and cost of sending your
DB> modem in for  a firmware update or waiting for a new ROM to arrive.
I quite agree, if it works, and if the manufacturer has an upgrade
path. USR has been, especially with the Courier line, very good in this
respect.
 
DB>  DH> The lesson to learn is to always wait until the standard committee
DB>  DH> and manufacturers come to a concensus on modem specifications. Then
DB>  DH> buy the new technology.
DB> 
DB> Or ensure that your hardware has an upgrade path.  However 
DB> by your "lesson", you would never buy any new hardware.  
DB> After all, faster implementations are not all that far 
DB> away.  Forget V.90, let's wait for ADSL.
I am *NOT* saying wait for better or improved technology. I'll buy the
new improved modem technology when there is a *defined* industry
standard. Not a hodge-podge of conflicting and/or incompatible
technologies. Before the ratification of the new standard (v.90), I was
quite content to let others be the x2-K56Flex guinea pigs.
Here is an example to clarify my position:
I saw high-definition television several years before people in North
American even heard of it. My father was involved with broadcast tests
between Teleglobe Canada and NHK Japan. Based on my observations, high
definition television is, by every criteria, vastly superior to current
NTSC technology. Despite knowing it is a superior technology, I am not
going to rush out and buy a high-definition television set until the
North American broadcasters, regulators, etc. decide on which
high-definition format they are going to use. Until they do decide, I
will wait, even though I could purchase a high-definition set today. I
*will* buy the new technology, but not until the industry has a
*defined, agreed standard*.
Likewise with modem technology, I could "buy in" early with x2 or
K56Flex that may or may not be compatible, upgradable, etc., or wait
until the ratification of v.90. It has been a painless wait.  :-)
Regards,
Darren                    
Internet: darrenah@interchange.ubc.ca
 * KWQ/2 1.2i * The Intel SatisFAXtion 400i: It'll tell you it has a 16450 . 
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