Pass on this slowpoke

I just returned my second 3090 to Best Buy and this time got a refund, rather than an exchange. The reason: 24kbps connection every single time. That speed was unacceptable eight years ago, let alone today.

The best modem I've ever used was a Creative Modem Blaster hardware/controller-based ISA modem. I consistently got 44-48kbps speeds with that one, which was much faster than with U.S. Robotics and Jaton winmodems I had previously. Unfortunately, the ISA format is basically dead and when I upgraded motherboards, I discovered that all I had were PCI slots, so I traded-in the Creative. The next modem I bought was a generic, Intel chipset V.90 hardware-based, PCI modem that I bought off e-Bay for $18 shipped, which worked well and was the simplest install I've had with any computer product; it usually got 41-44kpbs, a bit slower but not too bad.

Two weeks ago I bought a new Dell Dimension 4550 desktop (2.66gHz P4, 640mb DDR 2700 RAM, GeForce4, WinXP Home with Service Pack SP1a) and bought a Creative Modem Blaster 5633 winmodem, which, after a lot of hassles with incompetent Creative tech support, proved to be defective. I then spotted an open box Zoom 3090 for $35 at Best Buy plus a $20 rebate, so I bought that unit. It installed ok, but connected at only 24kbps. I downloaded the latest driver, had some troubles installing that, but eventually got it working and experienced an increase in speed of ...... zero kbps. No difference at all. I e-mailed Zoom tech support, but despite the fact that I expressly stated I had been getting >40kbps on the exact same phone line with my old computer/modem only a few days before, the response back was that I shouldn't be surprised at different connection speeds when I switch phone lines ?!? Idiots.

I then called Zoom's non-toll free tech support line and dealt with someone who seemed reasonably helpful and knowledgeable. After trying several different command codes in the Windows device manager, we got no difference in speed. The tech guy concluded that I had a defective modem and told me to exchange it for a new one.

I exchanged my open box Zoom for a new, sealed box 3090 and noticed that there were now four more discounted, open box returned 3090's on the shelf of my local BB. I uninstalled all old modem drivers, reinstalled the driver with the new modem's driver CD and experienced the same 24kbs speed. Ditto after reinstalling the most current version of the driver I downloaded from Zoom's site. This turkey went back.

Currently I'm using a $9.95 Best Data 56HP winmodem from OfficeMax that will be free when I receive my $10 rebate. It installed very easily, but only gets 30-35kbps, an improvement over the Zoom, but only adequate as a free, back-up, spare modem. I'll be getting something else to replace it soon, but it won't be a Zoom or Creative. On the off chance my computer is partially to blame, I'll give this Zoom a 2* rating rather than the one* it probably deserves.