ISA slots - why do they still exist?

[AnitaPeterson]

I was wondering... what's the use of the ISA slots nowadays. Does anyone even rememeber what they were used for?

 

[Desmoquattro]

i use them for my dial-up connection on my other computer...other than that...ummm...nothing.

 

[AndyHui]

Soundcards, hardware modems, serial and parallel add-in cards, older SCSI cards, and a few other still quite useful items.

I don't have any in my machine (no ISA slots either), but they still have their uses.

 

[FordLorider]

So I can power my 14.4!!!!! Dang!

 

[Imaginer]

It is like saying... PARALLEL PORTS, why do they still exsist?

 

[John]

Some people still choose to use legacy hardware.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Well, last time I checked, there were still printers, scanners and external Zip drives using parallel ports.

But what's the latest piece of hardware (meaning it's still in stores) that can be connected to an ISA port? I'm genuinely curious!

 

[Joemonkey]

some modems still use ISA slots, my creative modem blaster uses an ISA slot, and you can still buy it in the stores too.

 

[SleepyGuy]

i guess the manufacturer is targeting customers with some older hardware. some people have invested quite a bit of money on isa gadgets.

 

[bacillus]

<< But what's the latest piece of hardware (meaning it's still in stores) that can be connected to an ISA port? I'm genuinely curious! >>


I believe isa modems are still available!

 

[lhampel]

Several ISA network cards are still for sale. (Check out Pricewatch)

 

[Wah]

some motherboards don't have ISA slots... so they are on the way out.

 

[Noriaki]

ISA slots don't see much use anymore. But my Printer is Parallel, and my Keybaord is PS/2. Serial, Parallel, and PS/2 ports are all on the ISA bus.

I have no ISA slots on my board (well my K7M does, but I have a K7 Master in the mail).

 

[sak]

A stupid reason. just because some ppl would like to have it even thought they will never use it

 

[Supergax]

Noriaki beat me to it. I was gonna say that while some may not have ISA slots in their computers or see a need for them, a lot of devices still run on the ISA bus even if there are no ISA slots are on the motherboard.

 

[Pakman]

Hey, I wish I had an ISA slot in my main rig so I can transfer my modem to it. It's a hell lot more useful than that useless CNR slot. You see, I'm old skool.. hehe

 

[Asha'man]

where else would I connect my highquality SB 16 Value soundcard?

hehe too cheap to get a new one

 

[lilnnjaboy]

if I lost my ISA I would lose my 56K modem, and I would have to buy a new modem just so I can fax stuff....that's not cool. ISA RULES BABY~!~!~!~! I only need it for that...USR PCI 56K Sportster just not worth the money to upgrade for a modem. And I will not use anything else

 

[shathal]

Quite a bit of ISA stuff out there for the SERVER world - that's even slower than the desktop world in getting new technologies. Remember that there, machines have to run for X years on end - so no big surprised there. Slowly though, ISA is being phased out there too ...

 

[Dwight]

Try getting an 802.11b wireless PCI adapter working well using any operating system; most notably in Linux. The ISA adapter is perfect for this application. The Wavelan/Orinoco stuff is what I have experience in. Also as others have mentioned, hardware internal modems, legacy scanner SCSI cards when you still like your scanner, etc. I would never buy a mobo without atleast one ISA slot.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Actually, if I could find an ISA modem, here in Ottawa, it would be great... I would put it in my BlasterPC, since I only have 4 PCI slots.

Are ISA modems just as good as PCI modems? Do they still use IRQs?

Fellow Canucks, any ideas?

 

[CivilRightsLawyer]

i love ISA

my old Trident video cards, old 14.4 and soundcards are all ISA

 

[chaotic]

You guys ever try to set up a PCI software-based modem in Linux? Or how about a USB printer? Sometimes legacy hardware just works better with some systems, causing less headache (namely Linux....)

 

[nortexoid]

I own a 56K ISA winmodem (for sale)...uses a motorola chipset and can still be purchased in stores...

it uses an IRQ like everything else...no advantages to it other than freeing up a PCI slot...

 

[hausdave]

As much as I must admit that ISA is on the way out there are still many uses for them as listed above. I would rather have a mobo with an ISA than an AMR slot any day of the week.