Annoyed with Apple usb modem

Question

I am very disappointed in the Apple USB modem and its disconnecting probelms. I called Applecare on this, and the first thing the tech said was I should have gotten the internal modem. Yes. On an iSight iMac. I had to tell him it wasn't an option.
After a few seconds of silence, he went through a litany of things You Must Absolutely Not Do With A USB Modem. Like do not start the computer with the modem plugged in (I have no idea how one does a restart since one is also advised not to unplug it when the computer is running). Do Not unplug the modem when it is in the 'interminable disconnect loop' (I already found that this causes kernal panics which generated the call), Do Not open any applications while the modem is connecting (this causes it to immediately disconnect). Do Not plug in any USB or FW devices while the modem is running. The list went on. He also said that he would email a Kbase article on these modems and how to use them. Well, the article I got was a 2 year-old article on internal modems. No matter, it was in Japanese. No help from Applecare.
What annoys me most is that it constantly disconnects when using any app more processor intensive than Safari. I can't burn CDs or DVDs, or any Photoshop work. When it does this, it takes at least 10 minutes to disconnect if it does it at all. I was compressing some video which still had an hour left to go when the modem disconnected. I had to wait until the compression was done, so I could do a restart and get the modem to stop.
I am getting very upset about this. This modem should perform as well as the internal modem it replaced since the internal isn't an option. When I get back home from Christmas, I'll be calling again, but my first call was very disheartening, since it appears the tech sent me some arbitrary article to get rid of me.

Answer 1

I doubt the tech sent you an arbritary article to get
rid of you.
The fact is that USB Modems are in fact problematic
NO MATTER who the manufacture.
That being said the reason the article that he sent
you was outdated is because the technology is the
same outdated.
You must remember that the technology has progressed
well behond the 56k modems of old, and yes I am aware
that in many instances that is all one has available
for whatever reason.
That is the reason that the DSL was developed to get
away from the inconsistancy of straight dial up.
Bear in mind that the USB has shown to be unreliable
, innconsistant, and fair at best.
So the fact is that when the tech gave you the do's
and the dont's of USB modem use it was so you would
understand the problems you will face if they are not
followed.
Cheers Don
He was able to give me the information regarding all the do's and don'ts over the phone, and I doubt if he pulled the info out of a hat - so why didn't he just send me what he was reading? He gave me a litany, far more than I could remember, hence the request for instructions on (what you yourself mentioned) is a faulty device. Intructions not included in the manual btw. It seems to me that if doing a certain action, like unplugging it during an unstoppable disconnect loop, causes kernal panics, then Apple should mention it. Publish it, actually.
  Mac OS X (10.4)  
  Mac OS X (10.4)