Hayes Optima 33.6 Internal Business Modem

Hayes Optima 33.6 Internal Business Modem

SUMMARY

PRO: Fastest on chart, cross-ship replacement. CON: Expensive, no weekend support, long 8.5-inch card may block other PC components. 16-bit ISA card, Flash ROM, 230.4-kbps PC-to-modem speed, Distinctive Ring, voice mail, callback, password protection, Caller ID, SmartCom Message Center LE fax/data software. Hayes 770/840-9200 www.hayes.com

The $189 Hayes Optima 33.6 holds this month's Best Buy spot for internal 33.6-kbps modems. Although it's the second most expensive 33.6-kbps modem on the chart, the Optima 33.6 is also the fastest. It smoked on clean telephone lines, and when we tested it on poor lines, it was less likely to throttle back to a slower speed than most of its competitors.

Hayes' top-of-the-line analog modem, the Optima 33.6 Internal is aimed at the business market. It doesn't include any games, but comes bundled with Hayes' own SmartCom LE fax/data software--a solid package. The metal mounting bracket of the ISA card has both microphone and speaker jacks, so you can use your PC as a telephone or an Internet phone, providing you supply the microphone and speakers. The Optima supports Distinctive Ring and Caller ID and is Flash ROM upgradable.

The Plug and Play installation was flawless. The only potential problem is the card's size: At 8.5 inches long, it's the biggest on the chart and could get in the way of cables or other ISA cards. The Optima 33.6 has a terrific printed installation guide, but little documentation other than that. Its documentation for technical users is available only on disk, not in printed form, which might be a hassle for some people. Hayes' telephone support policies are barely adequate at 10 hours a day on weekdays with no weekend or toll-free support, but the company will provide cross-ship replacement of your modem, which means Hayes will send you a new modem while you send the company the inoperable one.