PE> 1. You said the modem manufacturers were gouging.

RS> I was mainly talking about the top of the line class modems
RS> like the USR VE and the retail price, not the sysop price. At
RS> typically $800ish IMO they are gouging for what isnt a particularly
RS> electronically complex device. The parts count isnt that different to
RS> a taiwanese V32bis modem, at a vastly higher price, the gouge factor.

BG> You've unfortunately chosen a rather
BG> poor example re the component count, Rod.

Nope.

BG> In fact, the Courier ain't twice the size of your average
BG> Taiwanese V.34 modem for nothing, and it does indeed have
BG> more than twice the componentry, although I'll be the first
BG> to agree that it shouldn't translate to twice the price.

Yep, and since they are OTW gp ics, not sp ones, my point about there
being very visible gouging in the Courier retail price remains.

RS> But at say $800 for a USR VE, its pretty obscene
RS> compared with say a 486 motherboard and cpu.

BG> True, but street price of the Courier is closer to $695 now.

The Modem Superstore is still advertising it at $800, tho I agree
that some are lower, Rod Irving at $729 surprisingly enough.

BG> Still obscenely overpriced,

Yeah, no argument there, tho I do agree that the V34s in general,
particularly the Austel approved ones, have seen rather less obscene
prices than the V32bis modems did at the same time since first release etc.

BG> although compare that to the US price, and our version is actually
BG> cheaper!  In the US, the Courier sells for just under US$500, so
BG> we do quite well once the exchange rate is taken into consideration.

Interesting the way that swings around at times.

BG> Why do you think I didn't bother importing one?  :)

Yeah, tho I agree about that point you made about
the rate of getting the Austel flash version too.

--- PQWK202