is it okay if i buy a laptop without modem? what is the main purpose of having modem in a laptop?

Answer 1

Ok you can connect to the internet without a modem BUT it has to use a network of usb cable. The modem is the peice that the phone wire connects to. Or a faxer if u have one of those.

"modem (a portmanteau constructed from modulate and demodulate) is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data. Modems can be used over any means of transmitting analog signals, from driven diodes to radio. Experiments have even been performed in the use of modems over the medium of two cans connected by a string.

The most familiar example of a modem turns the digital '1s and 0s' of a personal computer into sounds that can be transmitted over the telephone lines of Plain Old Telephone Systems (POTS), and once received on the other side, converts those sounds back into 1s and 0s. Modems are generally classified by the amount of data they can send in a given time, normally measured in bits per second, or "bps".

Far more exotic modems are used by Internet users every day, notably cable modems and ADSL modems. In telecommunications, "radio modems" transmit repeating frames of data at very high data rates over microwave radio links. Some microwave modems transmit more than a hundred million bits per second. Optical modems transmit data over optic fibers. Most intercontinental data links now use optic modems transmitting over undersea optical fibers. Optical modems routinely have data rates in excess of a billion (1x109) bits per second."

Answer 2

Yes, it's ok. The main purpose of a modem today is to connect to the Internet using dial-up connection, which means, to use the phone line to connect to a host that provides Internet access.

Other uses of a modem are to connect to your company's network through a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or dial your friend's modem to play a multiplayer game. Both cases can be accomplished also using the Internet through a network adapter (which is mandatory in a notebook today).

I would recommend a modem only if you will travel a lot with your notebook to places where no other type of internet access will be available.

Answer 3

It all depends on what you are going to use your laptop for. When I traveled extensively for business, having the modem in my laptop was a good thing. You can not be sure if the destination has a wide-band connection, but you can be assured there will be a telephone line.

But, if you are not going to travel with it, or even if you do, having an access is not critical, then it really doesn't matter to you.

You can always get an aftermarket PC card based modem and put it in PCMCIA port if you have to. (assuming your laptop has the PCMCIA slot)

Answer 4

If you want to connect to the internet you either need a modem for a phone line connection, or a wireless network that you can access. In an area where you have no wireless network available, you need a modem so you can get connected to the internet.

Answer 5

It's OK if you buy a laptop without a 56K phone/fax modem. Just be sure that you always have access to a LAN or a broadband or cable internet connection.

Answer 6

A modem is so you can plug in a phone line to use a dial up connection to the net.

Modems are pretty cheap, and one day, when your wifi hotspot is down, and your dsl carrier goes bankrupt, that phone line may be the only way you can connect to civilization.

Answer 7

The modem is for dial-up internet. You really don't need one if it has a cable connection. So, yes, it is okay if you purchase one without a modem.

Answer 8

Many laptops come with modems but if yours doesnt they arent that expensive i suggest you get one if you ever want to get on the internet plus if you ever sold it it wouldnt sell as good as one with a modem on it

Answer 9

As long as you won't ever be using dialup Internet access, or need the ability to send and receive faxes, you shouldn't need a modem in your laptop.

Answer 10

Yes, in fact, I would consider that a bonus. Unless you have dial-up service then it is all but useless to you. Of course, if you wander outside the broadband area, like in the middle of Nevada, then you might wish you had at least one way to get online.