In a message to Anthony about "Maestro Modem Prices!", Bill said:

BG> imports (I bet the USR never barfs at your dialtones),

AM> Almost never.  It gets and ATZ^M for it's pains if it does. ;)

BG> Interesting that although our tones are completely
BG> different, they're still recognised exactly for what they
BG> are by the Sportster.

I suspect the USRs and other good US modems concentrate more on tone
_patterns_ (ie. timings) rather than being pedantic about the frequency
of the tones in particular.  I suspect this is where the locals may be
going wrong.  Anyone know?

AM> The Maestro 2400 needed about 5 busy beeps and hung up in the middle
AM> of the next.  Pathetic.

BG> Worse than that, it's almost unforgiveable in a locally made modem.

Exactly what my acquaintance said when he discovered the problem.  The
exact opposite of what you'd expect.

AM> Same reason I have a 386DX40 instead of a 486DX33 - too little
AM> benefit except for Intel. Might as well wait till I feel like
AM> splurging on a super-duper 486...

BG> Buy a house first.  ;-)

Probably not. ;)

I noticed in Noels book about how if I put away 10k now and manage by
some miracle of self restraint not to touch it till I'm 65, and maintain
a return of 20%pa (presumably by means of shares or any means other than
term deposit interest rates), I'll have 36 odd million.

What do you more seasoned investors out there think about the
practicality of doing this?  The figures essentially say now or never.
It would however delay my purchase of a unit significantly.

'tnt, Amfony.                                                              
                                       
--- Maximus/2 2.01wb