How to Choose a Faxing Product

Should you choose a computer fax modem or an actual fax machine? Is a multifunction device (scanner, printer and fax machine in one) worth it? It depends on your needs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Fax Modems
• Flat-bed Scanners
• Multifunction Fax Machines
• Plain-paper Fax Machines
• Thermal Fax Machines

1. Choose a fax modem to send and receive faxes if you create all or most of your documents on a computer, and if you won't send or receive faxes that often. Print received faxes if you need a hard copy. You can scan any nonelectronic documents you need to fax, but it's time-consuming.
2. Consider a fax machine if you'll receive lots of faxes. Receiving a fax can cause your computer to slow down, and you might not be able to work on other materials until the fax is completely received.
3. Choose a thermal fax machine if you'll send more faxes than you receive, or if permanent copies of received faxes are unnecessary.
4. Buy a plain-paper fax machine if you send and receive many faxes per day.
5. Choose a multifunction device if you need a plain-paper fax machine, a printer or secondary printer, and a limited-use scanner, and if your desktop space is very limited.

Tips & Warnings

• The speed of your fax modem is irrelevant, unless it predates 1995, as you cannot fax faster than 14.4 kbps.
• If purchasing a thermal fax machine, make sure it has an automatic paper cutter and anti-curl technology. Because most multifunction devices have sheetfed scanners, you cannot use them to scan books, magazines, or originals larger than 8 1/2 by 11 inches.
• Some multifunction devices print in color but scan and copy in black and white.
• Multifunction machines, especially those made by Hewlett-Packard, are often dependent on the computer to fax or copy.
• The printed image will begin to flake off thermal paper within a few months.
• Multifunction devices represent a considerable sacrifice in quality and reliability.

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