Broadband USB modem for MAC

poorcat

I've already posted this thread on the internet board, but then heard tell that this board was where all the techie types hang out, so thought I might juice your brains for some help.

I've got an Emac 10.4 OSX
I'm currently with Wanadoo, using a D-Link modem via my ethernet port.
Unfortunately I had a powercut a few weeks ago, and it appears to have blown up the ethernet port on my Mac - so no internet connection.
I then bought a Netgear modem that worked on either ethernet or USB, was meant to be Mac compatible - but guess what, couldn't get it to work, adn when I phoned Netgear, they said that the USB driver was only PC compatible. "Why don't you plug it into the ethernet port?" they asked. ARGGGHH!
Anyway, the upshot is I need some lovely techy person to recommend either
A: A Mac compatible USB modem (so I can stay with Wanadoo)
B: A Mac-friendly ISP who will provide me with a USB modem

or
C: How on earth I can go about getting my Mac's ethernet port fixed

No one told me it was going to be this complicated when I bought a Mac "ooh, they're very user-friendly" they said. Yeah, right, when they work, they're great, when they don't you need a computer degree (which I don't have) to sort them out.

Help me, please!

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Don't know much about Mac's myself, but could you not just buy an ethernet card, to replace the one thats not working

tigermatt

wonderfullife wrote:

Hi
Don't know much about Mac's myself, but could you not just buy an ethernet card, to replace the one thats not working

The trouble with Macs is you can't usually change any of the equipment inside. It usually has to be sent back to Apple for repair as the equipment is specially customised for the Mac.

Browntoa

speedtouch modems have support for Macs

http://www.speedtouch.com/supfaqusb.htm

Alcatel SpeedTouch USB Drivers X contains the drivers for the SpeedTouch USB "Squashed Frog" modem.

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/9261

I've got one of these laying around somewhere

firedog_2

tigermatt wrote:

The trouble with Macs is you can't usually change any of the equipment inside. It usually has to be sent back to Apple for repair as the equipment is specially customised for the Mac.

Well that isn't strictly true - it doesn't apply to Power Macs, for example.

But you're more constrained with the all-in-one devices. I'd certainly get it checked out at a repair shop to see what the damage is before going any further.

I wouldn't recommend any USB modem for any Mac - or any PC for that matter. Every single one I've ever seen has been awful.

What *is* worth investigating is Airport. Buy yourself a wifi router/modem, stick an Airport card in the eMac and you'll be set.

Browntoa

surfing on a wireless USB connected router modem here....been up solid for weeks with no problems, as did the USB modem before

not sure what you are on about ??

firedog_2

Browntoa wrote:

surfing on a wireless USB connected router modem here....been up solid for weeks with no problems, as did the USB modem before

not sure what you are on about ??

I'm on about the fact that every USB modem requires drivers, which can cause problems when a system is upgraded, other software is installed, or the driver itself becomes corrupted. In fact it took Alcatel the better part of two years to provide working Mac OS X drivers for the very Speedtouch modem you recommended earlier. And check the feedback on Macupdate.com to see how happy users are with that USB modem's drivers.

The upshot: the functionality of a USB modem depends entirely on the willingness of the supplier to update its drivers when necessary.
Of course, some people have no problems at all with USB modems, but many do, which is why I'd never recommend them, particularly to Mac users, who tend to come very low on ISP's support priorities.

Ethernet devices don't require drivers, which is why I'm a fan.

poorcat

Thanks everyone! Ironically, it was a Speedtouch modem that Wanadoo originally provided me with, I'd used it on my PC prior to getting the Mac, but had trouble loading the USB driver I needed to use it with the Mac, which was why I bought the D-Link ethernet modem!
Looks like I need to give the Speedtouch one another go!