MacBook incompatible with modem

[Hobbit]

Hello there,

My macbook arrived today but....
the USB modem for my broadband internet is not working. I installed the drivers, the modem is identified in the system profiler but doesn't show up as an option in network settings port configuration.

I contacted apple support and they said...the modem is probably not compatible with intel based macs

The modem i use is called SpeedTouch 330 (manufactured by Thomson). This modem has been working perfectly fine with my iBook G4.

Anyone has any similar experiences?

If i have to buy a new modem now...how can i know if it is compatible with intel macs...i couldn't find a list of compatible modems in Apply website.

Any suggestions around this problem?
Also..if i have no other alternative but buying a new modem, i'm thinking of buying a wireless one..would it be slower than direct usb modems?

Thanks Alot for your help.

 

[PatrickF]

The best advice for any broadband modem is to make sure that it's got ethernet connectivity. That way you don't need to install any drivers on your Mac - simply connect the modem to the ethernet port and off you go.

 

[gekko513]

Wireless should be fast enough for current broadband speeds, but I agree with PatrickF. Get a broadband modem with an ethernet port. If you want wireless, get ethernet AND wireless or get a separate wireless base station.

 

[savar]

Maybe you could buy a router which supports a USB-based modem?

Honestly USB based broadband is a "bad idea"...I dont know why they even make those.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Before ditching my USB modem (Sagem) for a router, I had to download the most recent patches and updaters from Sagem's website in order to use it in (PPC) Tiger. Have you done the same for your model?

Apart from that, forget about USB modems. They're a source of grief, pain and endless misery. NetGear make some good basic routers.

 

[iGav]

Thomson haven't released drivers for the Intel Macs yet, though they're supposedly working on them, no work around as far as I'm aware.

 

[iGav]

Though... if you've still got your iBook G4, and you don't want to pony up the extra £€$ for a router whilst waiting for the Intel drivers you could just connect the iBook with the SpeedTouch, and then connect an ethernet/crossover cable to the MacBook and share the connection.

 

[mkrishnan]

Apart from that, forget about USB modems. They're a source of grief, pain and endless misery. NetGear make some good basic routers.

Just another not-particularly-helpful agreement that they're rubbish and shouldn't be made or sold without ethernet ports. Yours doesn't happen to support both ethernet and USB, does it?