Re: First WinModem for Linux

Jelle Foks (jelle@flying.demon.nl)
Thu, 12 Aug 1999 23:44:33 +0200 (NST)


On Tue, 3 Aug 1999, Fred Reimer wrote:

> I understand the problem, but I think the solution is all backwards.
> The problem being that (DSP) chip vendors charge too much for their
> product. So, if you want a "real" modem you are going to have to pay
> (you say) $50 to include it in a computer. The issue though is that
> you can apparently include a CPU that is sufficiently powerful enough
> to do HSP and not have to pay for the DSP on the modem. How can this
> be? How can Intel, AMD, whoever produce a CPU that is so powerful yet
> so cheap that it makes more sense, economically, to move the 'SP
> functions from a dedicated DSP chip inside the host CPU? The answer is
> simple, the DSP chip vendors are charging way too much for their
> products. When one technology (generic function CPU) can perform the
> work of another (special function DSP's) at a lower cost overhead it is
> obvious, from a capitalist supply and demand viewpoint, that the DSP
> vendors are overcharging.

I definitely would not say so. The ratio of MIPS per dollar is much better
for DSPs than what it is even for overclocked celerons. The reason
winmodems are popular is because many people are overbuying their CPU.
Fact is that 'megaherzes sell'. You read in the ads '550 Mhz Pentuim III
computer!', you're not reading '1600MIPS DSP Included!'. Including a DSP
on a modem in a computer adds to the cost, but it doesn't sell any more
computers, which makes it senseless to do in our capitalist world... Until
people start asking for DSPs in their computers, which they currenly just
don't.

It's not overcharging by the DSP manufacturers, DSPs are used in many
economically effective ways in various high performance or embedded
applications. They just don't make much sense on a modem in a PC.

Cya,

Jelle.

>
> fwr
>

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