erik wrote:
> 
> Has anybody compiled a "Top Linmodems" list based upon performance, compatibility,
etc?  It would be a great
help to those who want to get an inexpensive modem for their Linux
machine and need to know what ones work
the best. It would be a great contribution to the Linux community. 
Maybe a simple poll on the Linmodems.org
page?
> 
=====================
Your question is useful, but the issue is not simple that of the modem.
The issue is more a combination of Chipset+Support.
Modem CHIPSETs are made by a relatively small number of manufactures,
but are incorporated into a much broader range of add-in modem cards,
motherboards and PCs.  With exception of the few specialists in Linux, 
these post-chip assemblies are configured for functionalilty under MS
Windows with no concern for support of other OS. 

At the top of http://linmodems.org, there is a listing of the Winmodem
chipsets with ANY Linux support. The Top5 listed have
compiler kits available, meaning it is possible to upgrade the drivers
with kernel changes.  With Conexant, a User is at the mercy of a
trialing
provision of binaries, despite Jacques Goldberg's initiative (in French)
to elicit a more prompt delivery of drivers from Olitec/Conexnant. ESS
is making no further effort to support Linux. 3COM/US Robotics in not
supporting its Winmodems under Linux as yet, despite continuing
requests.

The Top5 are to be credited with a Good Effort at supporting Linux.
Certainly for these Five, there have been experiences of Easy Usage by
many.  But for each, there have also been particular PC hardware cases
for which Configuration problems have had to be wrestled with.  All
require the importation/compilation of kernel-header resources for
compiling a driver with each kernel change.  The Linux distros also
differ in the "friendliness" of provision of kernel-header resources,
with idiosyncrasies of Suse having become a nuisance.  

Compared to CPUs, modem chips are NOT rocket science.  Rather the issue
is that there is no continuity of support for Linux from chip
manufacturers, through modem assemblers, to the PC.  But again the Top5
are to be credited with making efforts to alleviate the situation, in
diverse ways.  As a volunteer ltmodem (Lucent/Agere chipset modems)
maintainer, I'll defer from further doing a rating among the Top5.  The
Ltmodem.html which I periodically update and send to this List relates
various problems met and overcome. But this type of experience will
likely be common to all the supported Winmodems, as their usage is
expanded.

It would be useful for the Linux community to have a miniLinux which
could serve Just to boot a RAM disk, from which to test whether the
modem in some PC hardware was easily served under Linux.  Some
discussions in this direction have been initiated. However currently,
the unfortunate most common situation is that initial hardware buys are
done without information/concern for Linux compatibility.  Then members
of this List try to help as possible as belated queries arrive.

MarvS