daahhhh. ******mit.
i have tried to run internet on 2 linux machines in my entire life and both times the modems were not compatible. firstly the winmodem in my desktop and now a conexant modem in my laptop. THIS IS JUST STUPID. ill prob end up downloading the free conexant one just to make it work albeit slow. i solved the desktop by getting an external serial one (worked beautifully) but the laptop has no serial port.
paying for drivers is just plain stupid. i mean oooohhh they are free as long as you use windows.