ok...noobie here...i'm slooooooooooooooooowly teaching myself linux, and i've come to the part where i need a modem (i have a conexant winmodem...need i say more?) that will work quickly and easily with SuSE...will a USB external 56k (yes, i'm still living in the 90's with dialup, so get the jokes out of the way quickly, please) work? i've heard many of those are simply external winmodems, creating the same aggrivation as an internal winmodem...or should i just keep looking for an affordable serial modem? i'm using SuSE 8.2 personal, and i also use Knoppix 3.3 (which is where i'm learning a lot from), and like i said...i'm still very VERY new, but determined to learn, so anything you can help me with is most sincerely appreciated...thanks

You have better chances with a serial external modem than a usb external modem. I would think of a USB kind of like a winmodem, driven by the drivers instead of the hardware itself like a serial modem would use.

thanks, i thought as much, but wasn't sure. and...one more question?
i was told today that i could also just install an internal fax modem? would linux easily recognize that? and would i install it along side the current winmodem, or would it actually replace the winmodem...i know these questions prolly seem simple, but i've been searching since pretty much october looking for the right answer...thanks again.

It depends on how much searching you want to do. If you get an internal modem, it's best to get a "hardware" modem, in contrast to a software-based modem. If you go the internal route, be prepared to do some searching. I, myself, gave up on that one and got an external serial modem. SuSE detected it right away.

I do not know squat about USB modems.
The trick is that external serial modems are almost always going to be hardware modems. The modem does all the work, the computer "talks to it". USR does make an internal modem that is a hardware modem. You just need to read carefully.
Good points for external modem. Leaves PCI slots open. For any paranoid types, it is nice to see the lights and have access to the on/off switch.
For any USB modem, I would make damn sure I found documentation that it worked well with Linux before even considering buying it.

thanks for all the info guys...i went with a zoom 56K external serial modem, and had absolutely NO trouble at all, in fact i'm typing this while logged in with SuSE...so far, i'm loving it!!!

I'm using an actiontec call waiting modem right now. You have to do a little work to get it going but it's not too difficult. You really have to do research to find a usb modem that will work. I have 1 and a usb switch so it will work on either of my pc's.