Completely agree with you. I also prefer external modems. However, since a laptop has only one serial port and I need a speech synthesizer. ..... -- Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV | From the pines down to the projects, Email: davros@ycardz.com | Life pushes up through the cracks. Phone: (972) 276-6360 | And it's only going forward, ICQ: 36621210 | And it's never going back.--Small Potatoes