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Top 10 Modems

56 kbps or bust: Hayes's Optima 33.6 is the lone 33.6-kbps holdout on our chart.

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SUMMARY
Diamond Multimedia SupraExpress 56i Sp


PRO: Loaded with features, long tech support hours, smooth installation.
CON: Slowest 33.6-kbps transfer rate.
K56flex protocol, 16-bit ISA card, 230.4-kbps PC-to-modem speed, V.80, Distinctive Ring, voice mail, speakerphone, Caller ID, microphone, audio cable, COMit and FaxTalk fax/data software.

Diamond Multimedia
800/727-8772
www.diamondmm.com

Diamond Multimedia's new $139 SupraExpress 56i Sp is a feature-rich modem that's affordably priced. Unlike its bare-bones $120 SupraExpress 56i sibling (which appeared in fourth place on our November chart), this modem includes a lot of SOHO functions, including voice mail, speakerphone, and Caller ID. It also comes with COMit--an adequate communications package--and FaxTalk software--a very basic fax program. One drawback is that the SupraExpress 56i Sp was a bit slow in our tests.

The SupraExpress 56i Sp did manage to install without a hitch in our test PCs. The documentation was easy to follow but is a little technical in some places and could use more illustrations. If you run into installation problems, tech support is available 14 hours on weekdays and 8 hours on Saturday. The call to tech support is not free, however. Diamond backs its modems with a five-year warranty, average for the industry. The only thing that's a little worrisome is the company's upgrade policy. Diamond is currently promising to only provide a free software upgrade to the future 56-kbps standard.

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