From: poffen@sj.ate.slb.com (Russ Poffenberger)
Subject: Re: Zoom modem
Organization: Schlumberger Technologies, ATE division, San Jose, Ca.
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 92 19:50:12 GMT

cliffp@StarConn.com (Clifford Porter) writes:
: In article <N41ViB1w164w@seanews.UUCP> caladan!seanews!finneyk@seattleu.edu (Ken Finney) writes:
: >The latest issue of CompuServe (tm) Magazine (probably also tm)
: >has an ad by a company called Direct Micro for Zoom modems.  The
: >feature modem is a Zoom #VFXV32bis which is a V42, V32, V32bis,
: >MNP5, V42bis, and a 14.4 bps fax modem.  It comes with a 7 year
: >warranty and while the list proce is $449, Direct Micro is selling
: >them for $289 (+$9.50 shipping).  Can anyone tell me anything about
: >this modem?  Anything about Direct Micro?  Thanks is advance.
: 
: I got one from the local Egghead for $299. Comes with fax and modem
: software for the PC and MAC. Binary xfer at 1650 cps so it does do 14.4k.
: 

I too just picked one up, here are my impressions so far.

The store I went to had only one. The guy said they just got it in. They have
had trouble keeping them in stock. The price is certainly right.

So far, it seems to work well. The price is VERY reasonable, and in some
aspects it shows. For example, they seem to use one of those cheap tinny
speakers for monitoring call progress. Much crappier sounding than the
speaker in a T3000, but, who cares? I don't use it for listening to music,
it is there strictly for monitor the progress of the call, and it is adequate
for that.

Also, the LED's on the front panel don't align real well, but good enough. They
are also of inconsistent brightness. Again, not a major thing.

Those were the negatives, now on the positive side..

1.) Price.
2.) LOTS of LED's. It has indicators for v.32, fax, v.42, EC(Error Correction),
    DC (Data Compression), OH, AA, DTR, CD, SD, RD, MR, HS, 14.4, and FC. So
    you can tell at a glance EXACTLY what mode you are running in. This is the
    most number of LED's I have seen on a modem. In contrast, the T3000 only
    gives you HS for High Speed. You don't know if this is v.32, v.32bis, or
    (with the PEP upgrade) PEP.
3.) Price.
4.) Small, about half the size of the T3000.
5.) Price.
6.) Seems like it uses less power. The power cube is about 1/3 the size of the
    one that comes with the T3000.
7.) Did I mention price?

Anyway, I have had NO problems so far. I have connected to a few bulletin
boards, and to the T3000 at work with no problems. I even sent a fax to work,
and when I got to work, it was there. Looked REAL good too. I then sent a FAX
from work to home (it went through, I will see how it looks when I get home.)

It does come with FAX software for DOS and MAC, but it is kinda junky. I also
got WinFax Pro with it, and that is MUCH better. Very easy to setup, and very
easy to use for novices, and also has enough power for more sophisticated
users.

I will followup if I find out anything else.

Russ Poffenberger               DOMAIN: poffen@sj.ate.slb.com
Schlumberger Technologies       UUCP:   {uunet,decwrl,amdahl}!sjsca4!poffen
1601 Technology Drive		CIS:	72401,276
San Jose, Ca. 95110             Voice: (408)437-5254  FAX: (408)437-5246