14th
May
2008
May
2008
A question to Conexant: Why partiality to linux?
Modems are the major help for villagers to access net, since broadband connections haven’t reached much of the villages. And for Linux users, configuring a modem, which is originally designed for Windows(Winmodem) still stands like a giant wall.
Many of the modem manufactures are providing binary files of the drivers for Linux with the driver CD. Even though for a new user, its hard to compile, experienced persons could help in configuring it. But, take the case of Conexant, one among the leading Modem Chipset manufactures. Usually, with every piece of hardware we purchase, we also get the drivers needed for working with it. But, Conexant isn’t providing drivers for Linux with the driver CD. Its ok. May be Linux is now growing up and many hardware vendors don’t provide drivers for Linux in the driver CD, but it can be downloaded from net for free. So, when we search for its drivers, what we will come across is a site named Linuxant, who provide Linux drivers for Conexant chipsets. But, the free drivers they provide is somewhat like a trial version, which supports just 14.4Kbps, while the modem can support upto 52Kbps. It means, with it, we can use the modem in Linux, but maximum speed is limited to just above 2KB per second…
Another funny thing is that they are providing full drivers for 20US$. The modem costs below INR 300(around 7US$) and for the driver we need to pay extra money, which is thrice the cost of modem.
This is a fact to think about. Why is a company like Conexant behaving so to Linux?
I tried in every way to achieve the full speed, like what we usually do with softwares in Windows, but it doesn’t work. I even managed to make the driver say its full version, but still by calculating the data transfer rate, the speed is the old 14.4Kbps. Has anyone found any way to manage through this? If so, please help me…
[Quote] Another funny thing is that they are providing full drivers for 20US$. The modem costs below INR 300(around 7US$) and for the driver we need to pay extra money, which is thrice the cost of modem. [Quote]
I don’t see anything funny in it. The guys at Linuxant put lot of effort to make your Conexant Modems working properly. So, they have to be paid, that is, if you require full speed on you modem.
You said you tried each and every trick you could do to get full speed, but didn’t succeed.
Why waste your valuable time on it.
Instead, take little pain to write to Conexant. Ask for drivers. Though right now it won’t make much difference, in the future, they may consider a linux driver.
Oh. BTW, linuxant & conexant is not at all connected. Linuxant doesn’t belong to Conexant.
Thank you.
yeah, I know that Linuxant guys took lot of pain to have the drivers and I am not against them selling it. But, the price they sell is high(For people like me). As far as I am concerned, I’ll go for some other modem if I had known about this before.
My real question is not about Linuxant. Conexant, the company is providing windows drivers for free. So, why cant they provide Linux drivers? Hope you got what I meant.