Dial-up Modems no longer supported???

Ilija Milicevic engr3337 at gmail.com
Tue Feb 22 06:09:33 UTC 2011


Even in a technological black hole like Canada, most computer users have
access to broadband. This is a simple issue of priorities. Are the
developers gonna kill themselves writing drivers for a dying technology or
are they going to spend their time on relevant and emerging technologies? I
would rather have 3D acceleration and suspend/resume work on my laptop than
dialup. The beauty of open source is that if you've got an itch, you can
scratch it. If you don't have the coding knowledge (or the will to acquire
it), you still have 2 options:
1) Learn to do it in the CLI
2) GNU/Linux may not be the best solution for your needs
The general goal driving GNU/Linux development isn't to replace every other
platform. It's to offer a viable alternative to closed proprietary desktops.
Can't be perfect for everyone.

On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 6:43 PM, Hugh McDevitt <crustyasp46 at gmail.com>wrote:

> On 2/21/11, ubuntu-ca-request at lists.ubuntu.com
> <ubuntu-ca-request at lists.ubuntu.com> wrote:
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> > Today's Topics:
> >
> >    1. Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported???
> >       (Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre)
> >    2. Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported??? (Alfred)
> >    3. Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported???
> >       (Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre)
> >    4. Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported (Tek Ang)
> >    5. Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported (komputes)
> >    6. Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported (Tek Ang)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:28:58 -0500
> > From: Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre <mathieu.tl at gmail.com>
> > To: The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > Subject: Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported???
> > Message-ID:
> >       <AANLkTin0bMPu9GmK15Hj2VHBLPfEGiN6a4CK4E7DkSii at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> >
> > On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 10:38 AM, komputes <komputes at gmail.com> wrote:
> > [...]
> >> It is not because a certain technology is not used by the majority that
> >> it should be removed all together. I think we have made it especially
> >> hard on people who only have access to telephone to use ubuntuas a
> >> method of accessing the internet.
> >>
> >> Here is the third world use case:
> >> - User gets CD and installs
> >> - User tries to connect to the internet via telephone line
> >> - User hits speed bump
> >
> > But it's not removed; it's still available, just in an alternate
> > method given that supporting dial-up modems was complex and taking a
> > lot of space compared the the relatively low benefit. I think this is
> > reasonable in the vast majority of cases.
> >
> > I agree it's possibly tough for third-world countries, but I'm not
> > convinced pure dial-up it's as ubiquitous as you think it is.
> > Land-lines aren't laid everywhere. In many countries (e.g. India), it
> > makes a lot more sense to install long-haul wireless antennas or use
> > satellite rather than expect land-lines to be installed (and for them
> > to last).
> >
> >>
> >> At this point the user learns one of the following:
> >> - You must learn to use command line (and config files) to connect using
> >> pppconfig
> >> - You need access to the internet to download a graphical tool that
> >> allows simple PPP connection
> >> - You have a soft modem and require drivers (linuxant and such) that may
> >> have to be downloaded/purchased
> >
> > You don't need config files. pppconfig does everything for you. Plus
> > you'll never be able to work around requiring drivers. Most modem
> > drivers can't be redistributed for a variety of reasons (including
> > being in binary format, different for each device, and more), MM was
> > rewritten to support many other connection options, etc. Although I
> > agree it's not the best experience that could be given, there still
> > are choices that need to be made to support a great experience for the
> > vast majority of users, and that's what I think we achieve with the CD
> > in its current shape. I don't think the situation is that unrealistic
> > and desperate.
> >
> > Note, that's just my 0.02$. I certainly won't complain if someone
> > shows up with a nice patch to re-implement dial-up in modemmanager.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre <mathieu.tl at gmail.com>
> > Freenode: cyphermox, Jabber: mathieu.tl at gmail.com
> > 4096R/EE018C93 1967 8F7D 03A1 8F38 732E  FF82 C126 33E1 EE01 8C93
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:24:43 -0500
> > From: Alfred <alfred.s at nexicom.net>
> > To: The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > Subject: Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported???
> > Message-ID: <4D62ADEB.2030502 at nexicom.net>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> >
> > On 2/21/2011 10:38 AM, komputes wrote:
> >> On 02/21/2011 09:31 AM, Ilija Milicevic wrote:
> >>
> >>> As for dialup, it's not a viable
> >>> option any more in most of the world. I think they should still support
> >>> it
> >>> but I'm talking from a Third World perspective.
> >>>
> >> It is not because a certain technology is not used by the majority that
> >> it should be removed all together. I think we have made it especially
> >> hard on people who only have access to telephone to use ubuntuas a
> >> method of accessing the internet.
> >>
> >> Here is the third world use case:
> >> - User gets CD and installs
> >> - User tries to connect to the internet via telephone line
> >> - User hits speed bump
> >>
> >> At this point the user learns one of the following:
> >> - You must learn to use command line (and config files) to connect using
> >> pppconfig
> >> - You need access to the internet to download a graphical tool that
> >> allows simple PPP connection
> >> - You have a soft modem and require drivers (linuxant and such) that may
> >> have to be downloaded/purchased
> >>
> >> Doesn't make for a very good user experience IMO.
> >>
> >> -komputes
> >>
> >>    (]( -. .- )[)
> >>
> >>
> > Right ON!
> >
> > 9:10 cost me way more than Windows ever did, because of this little
> > Speed Bump! It took weeks to be able to get on the internet, with
> Dial-up.
> >
> > Alfred!
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 3
> > Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:17:53 -0500
> > From: Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre <mathieu.tl at gmail.com>
> > To: The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > Subject: Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported???
> > Message-ID:
> >       <AANLkTinB90FR73airwTxb_nrM-r3538TqWwcf7=F9HDS at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> >
> > On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 1:24 PM, Alfred <alfred.s at nexicom.net> wrote:
> > [...]
> >>
> >> 9:10 cost me way more than Windows ever did, because of this little
> Speed
> >> Bump! It took weeks to be able to get on the internet, with Dial-up.
> >>
> >
> > Hi Alfred,
> >
> > I appreciate the issues you've been facing. Let's see if there is
> > something that can be done *now* to make installing Natty as seemless
> > as possible. Perhaps you could tell us (or me offlist, if you prefer)
> > more about what you use to connect, or how you did to get your system
> > ready for connecting?
> >
> > If there is something we can get done in time, then we can improve the
> > dial-up experience a bit.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre <mathieu.tl at gmail.com>
> > Freenode: cyphermox, Jabber: mathieu.tl at gmail.com
> > 4096R/EE018C93 1967 8F7D 03A1 8F38 732E  FF82 C126 33E1 EE01 8C93
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 4
> > Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:58:34 -0800 (PST)
> > From: Tek Ang <rugbeeprop at yahoo.com>
> > To: The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > Subject: Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported
> > Message-ID: <51319.40822.qm at web88001.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > Well, this discussion intrigued me to test drive BlankOn:
> > http://tek-ubuntu.blogspot.com/
> >
> >
> >  :: Ang Tek Gie
> > :: rugbeeprop at yahoo.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Tek Ang <rugbeeprop at yahoo.com>
> > To: John.Hopkinson at kwictech.com; The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community
> > <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > Sent: Mon, February 21, 2011 12:22:05 PM
> > Subject: Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported
> >
> >
> >
> > Who is Ubuntu's audience target?
> >
> > I do agree with the availability of network access around the world. We
> are
> > fortunate living in North America where high speed Internet access is
> > relatively
> > available almost everywhere because we have the infrastructure for it to
> > happen.
> >
> > When I went back to Indonesia, the majority of areas use phone line for
> > their
> > Internet access with various range of speed. Wifi hotspots were available
> in
> > some areas like malls, coffee shops, etc. Growing up in Indonesia, the
> > mindset
> > regarding computers and technology are slightly different than us. They
> do
> > want
> > the latest and greatest things and this is where the 'pirates' come in
> play.
> > You
> > can find any software for literally less than the price  of a bag of
> > peanuts.
> > And most of the users (almost like any general users in North America),
> > updating
> > for the latest packages/updates is not as crucial as all of us in this
> forum
> > (which I am assuming that we run updates on a daily basis).
> >
> > So, what I think are:
> >
> >       * Dial up should be made available for now (can someone confirm
> that even
> > Windows 7 still support it?)
> >       * Humanity has come a long way from using stone. The success is due
> to our
> > ingenuity, creativity and looking outside the box. So, lacking high speed
> > access
> > may not prevent anyone from obtaining anything.
> >       * There are a few Linux distributions that are developed in some of
> these
> > countries. Balinux and BlankOn comes to mind from Indonesia. I know there
> > are
> > several distributions comes from China (I don't remember the name, but
> one
> > of
> > them made the look and feel like Windows XP).
> >       * So I am sure that these distributions may address the challenges
> that we
> > are
> > discussing.
> >
> >
> >  :: Ang Tek Gie
> > :: rugbeeprop at yahoo.com
> > -------------- next part --------------
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> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 5
> > Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:44:27 -0500
> > From: komputes <komputes at gmail.com>
> > To: The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > Subject: Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported
> > Message-ID: <4D62DCBB.80605 at gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> >
> > On 02/21/2011 03:58 PM, Tek Ang wrote:
> >> * Dial up should be made available for now (can someone confirm that
> even
> >> Windows 7 still support it?)
> >
> > Following this guide, it seems to be quite simple.
> >
> >
> http://support.earthlink.net/articles/dialup/create-a-dial-up-networking-connection-on-windows-7.php
> >
> > -komputes
> >
> >   (]( -. .- )[)
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 6
> > Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:06:48 -0800 (PST)
> > From: Tek Ang <rugbeeprop at yahoo.com>
> > To: The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > Subject: Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported
> > Message-ID: <948545.68822.qm at web88005.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > Interesting. Thanks Komputes
> >
> > I have to make a correct regarding Balinux. I was mistaken as it is the
> name
> > of
> > Linux user group in Bali, not Linux Distribution.
> >
> >  :: Ang Tek Gie
> > :: rugbeeprop at yahoo.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: komputes <komputes at gmail.com>
> > To: The Canadian Ubuntu Users Community <ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > Sent: Mon, February 21, 2011 4:44:27 PM
> > Subject: Re: Dial-up Modems no longer supported
>
> > On 02/21/2011 03:58 PM, Tek Ang wrote:
> >> * Dial up should be made available for now (can someone confirm that
> even
> >> Windows 7 still support it?)
> >
> > Following this guide, it seems to be quite simple.
> >
> >
> http://support.earthlink.net/articles/dialup/create-a-dial-up-networking-connection-on-windows-7.php
> >
> >
> > -komputes
> >
> >   (]( -. .- )[)
> >
> > --
> > ubuntu-ca mailing list
> > ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
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> > ------------------------------
> >
> > --
> > ubuntu-ca mailing list
> > ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
> >
> >
> > End of ubuntu-ca Digest, Vol 71, Issue 37
> > *****************************************
> >
> Windows 7 does support dial-up, My wifes Toshiba laptop came equipped
> with a dial up modem factory installed and hooking to the dial-up was
> a very easy experience and seamless task.
>
> I am very disappointed that most Linux flavours do not support those
> of us on dial up. Yes you can lug that bulky desktop to your friends
> 20 KM down the road to update and install the necessary pkgs. and
> fiddle around for a month as a newbie just trying to figure out how to
> make dial-up work, and then another month trying to get it to work.
> hmmm, I wonder why people still shy away from Linux and stick to their
> user friendly Windows???
>
> --
> ubuntu-ca mailing list
> ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ca
>
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