Help with cable modems plz

Computer Forum Networking and Computer Security
1

Will someone plz explain some things about modems to me and therefore help me shop?

For example, why is the “MOTOROLA Surfboard SB5120 38Mbps Downstream, 30Mbps Upstream Cable Modem” $72, whereas the “D-Link DCM-202 42.88Mbps Downstream,10.24Mbps Upstream High-Speed DOCSIS 2.0 Cable Modem” is only $58 AND with a $20 rebate?? Isn’t the D-Link a way better deal? Or do modems never operate at max speeds anyway?

These are the motorolla ones here
And here is the D-Link

And the motorolla one has fax, whereas D-Link doesn’t. Is that what’s causing the huge price difference? What does that mean if it has the fax feature anyway? That I can receive fax without a fax machine, as long as I have a printer?

Help will be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks in advance

2

Whatever you do, get a modem with an ethernet interface, not a USB one. They may seem simpler to a novice, but they’re actually more complicated.