While a USB port may be faster,  it is a meaningless fact, in light of the
tiny bit of bandwidth a cable modem requires. Any old ISA 10bps NIC would
work just as well.
Until I started using a router as my NAT, ... I used an old 486 with a just
such NICs as my NAT. I was able download and upload at speeds in excess of
3 megabytes per minute. Personally I would use a NIC and save my USB port
for something else.

Rode
The NOSPIN Group


you wrote:
>I just installed a cable modem, which is great so far. The cable tech who
>came used the USB port, stating that it's faster than using a PCMCIA card
>in my notebook. Was he right? Any differences other than speed?
>When I get a new desktop, he said to use the USB port vs the built-in NIC
>port. Right again?
>Rob
>
>

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