At least with USB, when the next thing comes along, you could probably
buy a converter. With an internal card, once the standard is dumped,
you are forced to maintain an older PC to use the card.. [Plenty of
people had to dump ISA GPIB cards and buy expensive PCI cards. I'm not
sure how long PCI will last since the new PCs use PCIE. ] On that
alone, I would get the USB radio if you really want to go the black box
route.

I use my gear at home and in the field, so computer controlled radios
are not high on my list. Notebook computers draw too much power for
field use, plus they generate noise.

Mark S. Holden wrote:
wrote:
Dear Mark

Should I be considering one or two more machines in this mix.

I really like the WiNRADiO WR-G303e standalone usb machine but it is
slightly out of my price range (and could bring the wife descending
upon me--presently flying under the radar,)

thanks

Paul



I've heard generally good things about the winradios, but have no
personal experience with them.

I think an external winradio (the USB one you mentioned)would make lots
more sense than an internal one though, as odds are the radio will still
be a fine performer long after whatever card standards we're using now
are impossible to find on new computers.

I advise researching the heck out of purchases and buying whatever you
really want even if it means waiting a couple weeks or months to fit it
in the budget. In the long run, you'll end up with nicer stuff, and
save money.