As far as new modems that work with linux (and other OS's) there are a handful of pci hardware modems that work with linux, but almost all pci modems require some "fiddling around" to get them to work as most use a non-standard COM port by default. I've used the action-tek call-waiting pci modem, on a dual boot system, I cheated, I set the modem up in windows 98 and then reassigned it to COM2 (instead of COM5) then it was very easy to get it to work in linux. Go to the following page for info on linux compatable modems (modems with a green box with OK on the left work in linux):

**http://www.idir.net/~gromitkc/winmodem.html

If you run from CD a pci modem that you have to set up will be a pain, if you do a hd install it wouldn't be so bad. Another option is an external modem, most external modems are hardware modems and should be easy to get up and running, I've used both 3Com and Zoom external modems with linux.

HTH

rock