What are your experiences of the various advantages and disadvantages of a computer fax vs. a standalone fax?

I'm interested in issues like concurrent use... if it's on in the background does it slow down other applications? Does it require computer on 24/7? Sending non-computer documents... does the scanner take any less room in your office than the fax would anyway?

Software... fax function of your operating system or dedicated 3rd party program?

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on October 08, 1999 at 07:13:21:

My computer is my fax. I use 3rd party software (FaxSTF). I have never owned a standalone fax machine.

I find it great! I do have a separate line for fax/modem, so I can send/receive faxes while talking on my other line. It is quick, very clear and sharp. The OCR software is getting pretty good, for converting to text when needed (I don't use that often, but it's nice when you need it).

The drawback, as you pointed out, is that you have to get the documents you send into the computer. Scanning works, of course (I just ordered a scanner, due next week). Just about anything file you have on the computer can be faxed.

I don't find it slows things down much at all. There is a slight pause when an incoming fax starts the software. Otherwise it works in the background, just like a printer, which is all it really is- it 'prints' to the modem. The software keeps a log of all incoming and outgoing, and most allow all sorts of file handling and manipulation. My now allows addition of notes, etc. Also, I can fax a page or a document from any application that I can print from, with just a keystroke.

And what I like best, you don't need paper! If you want a hard copy, you can print it, of course, but most faxes I read on screen. Only a few get printed for client files, etc. Old fax files get archived quarterly, to keep the hard disk clean.

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on October 08, 1999 at 07:13:21:

In the business section of the Minneapolis paper a once a week column on computing had a write up of two fax machines that piqued my interest. The first is Olitec's Total Office Deluxe. Contact Olitec: 800-221-2882 or olitec.com. The other one is the 56K Call Waiting Modem from Actiontec: 408-7852-7700 or actiontec.com.

With the second one you can be on line and still receive faxes on the same line. I am not sure about the first one.

I use WinFax Pro and have been happy with what it does. The hastle is that I cannot be online and recieve faxes.

Tom