re: satisfied customer

["W. Curtiss Priest" <BMSLIB@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>]

  I have appreciated the various responses to what we call
  digital vs. analog.
  
  The information about the digitization of inter-office voice
  connections was most informative.
  
  In summary, I back away from referring to digital transmissions
  as "analog" for, although they are "technically" analog, it has
  been pointed out that that would label every transmission analog
  as there could be nothing referred to as digital (there is always
  a finite "rise time" in even the digital computer -- limiting the
  processing speed, or CPU clock).
  
  Nonetheless, I gather there is agreement that 28.8 Kbps modems
  are as "digital" as ISDN "modems."
  
  There was an argument that ISDN traffic moved by a digital network
  between COs while voice traveled by an analog route -- but given
  the statements that almost all inter-office voice is handled by
  the "digital network", this distinction, apparently, does not hold.
  
  So when we compare 28.8 to ISDN we really are talking about comparing an
  unconditioned local line with a conditioned local line with repeaters
  (if necessary).  Once at the CO both data travel digitally.
  
  Does anyone know if there are inherent advantages, efficiencies in
  using ISDN vis a vis a 28.8 modem where the connection is made
  at the CO?
  
              W. Curtiss Priest, Director, CITS
        Center for Information, Technology & Society
           466 Pleasant St., Melrose, MA  02176
         Voice: 617-662-4044  BMSLIB@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
   Fax: 617-662-6882 WWW: gopher://gopher.eff.org:70/11/Groups/CITS