Topic: Baud Rate

The hosts reminisce about the evolution of modem speeds, from 300 baud acoustic couplers to 56k V.90 technology. They discuss the "modem wars" between vendors like Hayes and US Robotics and the distinct sounds associated with different connection speeds. One host recalls using a TRS-100 laptop with an acoustic coupler to file news stories from the field.

Calculations regarding the New Horizons mission to Pluto suggest that transmitting 64 gigabytes of data at the reported slow speeds would take nearly a decade, rather than the 16 months claimed by NASA. This discrepancy leads to skepticism about the mission's technical transparency and funding motives.