A NIC device known as a ethernet controller is used for Network connection and works when it is assigned an IP address from the DHCP server i.e a router. You can share files and connect to a LAN network at 10 - 100mbps.
A modem is a device which works as a dial up device, to get connected you should insert the phone jack and dial a connection, its always at low speed.
There are also ADSL modems, for high speed connection!
Yeah.. and a little inaccurate. Modems are for accessing a wide area network ( WAN, like the Internet itself ) - NICs are strictly LAN-based technology ( non-Internet ).
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