Looking to buy a cable modem

[Turner]

Thinking about buying my own cable modem...any recommendations? we're using a Motorola Surfboard 4200 right now. I'd really like an Ethernet/USB connection. The sufrboard has that, and I use my laptop on it. I'd rather not set up the router and what not as I've already got s/w firewalls set up on the machines. And I don't want to buy the extra componets.

So...what good cable modems are out there?

 

[CruddyLeper]

To be honest... I doubt there's that much difference in terms of performance. Might be an idea to trawl the Net for "bad" (ie defective) models, but the standards and specifications for cable modems are pretty tight.

What DOES make a difference is in whether you use USB or Ethernet. Personally I'd recommend Ethernet. USB is used for everything (mice, printers, drives, cameras etc) wheras Ethernet is dedicated to your network connection and nothing else.

In other words - you'll get faster Internet access and won't slow down your mice, printers, drives, cameras, etc. OK so a lot of laptops don't have Ethernet as standard (have to get a card) - but I tried my deskop both ways (USB and Ethernet) and Ethernet was by FAR the best.

Software firewall on Windows XP? Ah, some cable providers insist you turn it off. If so, Zone Alarm does a pretty good job (the commercial version if you can afford it).

 

[Turner]

I'm actually looking for a modem that has both. I use the Ethernet on the desktop, where it has a dedicated nic card, and want to use the USB for the laptop. I could go the wireless route, with a router, but would rather not do that right now.

But I do agree, ethernet is best.

 

[fret]

Id never use a software firewall. Place a piece of software onto the machine you want to protect...hmmm.. cant see the sense in letting a packet get into your PC before its been inspected. Kind of defeats the object if you ask me.