Need a multifunction recommendation

[Jeff B]

Hello,

I'm looking for an all around good office device (printer and fax primarily,
but quality scanner would be very nice too). Inkjet is fine, would like
color. One thing that I'm having trouble finding is a machine that will
allow me to select whether I want incoming faxes to be printed as they come
in or alternatively sent to the PC so that I can view them and then
optionally print them. I have a problem with lots of unwanted (marketing
type) faxes coming in and I'd rather be able to delete off all this "spam"
before I waste ink and paper... I was looking at the Canon PIXMA MP780 based
on its cost and reviews but Canon says that it cannot do this. Is there any
extra software that would allow it to do it, or perhaps are they wrong that
it cannot do it? If it truly cannot do it, is there another all around
machine that will meet this need?

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[Michael Johnson, PE]

Hello,

I'm looking for an all around good office device (printer and fax primarily,
but quality scanner would be very nice too). Inkjet is fine, would like
color. One thing that I'm having trouble finding is a machine that will
allow me to select whether I want incoming faxes to be printed as they come
in or alternatively sent to the PC so that I can view them and then
optionally print them. I have a problem with lots of unwanted (marketing
type) faxes coming in and I'd rather be able to delete off all this "spam"
before I waste ink and paper... I was looking at the Canon PIXMA MP780 based
on its cost and reviews but Canon says that it cannot do this. Is there any
extra software that would allow it to do it, or perhaps are they wrong that
it cannot do it? If it truly cannot do it, is there another all around
machine that will meet this need?

I suggest looking at Winfax Pro. I used it for years and found it to be
very user friendly. One nice thing about it is you can perform backups
of your faxes and set many parameters to customize the program to your
needs. I have an archive of faxes that go back over 4 years that can be
sorted by date, user etc. Managing this number of hard copy faxes would
be nearly impossible. You will need a fax/modem installed it you
computer to use it though.

I also have the MP780 and think it is a great multifunction device that
is very economical to operate. Especially if you use compatible
cartridges. The 35 sheet paper feeder works very well and is very
useful for faxing or batch scanning. Also, the scanning software lets
you save scans as PDF files or multi-page scans as one single multi-page
PDF file. This option can be quite handy.

 

[Jeff B]

Thanks Michael!

Sounds like an MP780 + fax modem is what I need to do everything... can you
or anyone else here recommend a good fax modem? I haven't owned a modem in
about 7 years and when I did a quick search I saw PCI units for like $8 -
$15... I have a hard time putting faith in any hardware *that* cheap, but is
that just the nature of the fax modem "market" at this point?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Michael Johnson, PE]

Don't worry about the cheap prices on modems these days. The cheap ones
work just as well as the expensive name brand ones. I like the
combination of receiving faxes in the computer and having the MP780 to
fax documents out. The two compliment each other nicely for use in a
small business.

 

[zakezuke]

I haven't owned a modem in

about 7 years and when I did a quick search I saw PCI units for like $8 -
$15... I have a hard time putting faith in any hardware *that* cheap, but is
that just the nature of the fax modem "market" at this point?

Spend more money if you like... for something like a Diamond/Supra or
3com/USR... come to think about it there are not a ton of options for
big names. But chances are that c-net sub $20 will do the trick
perfectly well. Even those $8.00 modems are likely to come with a
voice/fax software application. This one is very common to see bundled
with fax modems...
http://www.smithmicro.com/default.tpl?cart=110385942613201825&group=product_full&sku=HMCWA0SESMS1250
While you likely don't need voice support, usually this is a good sign
that the modem has bundled software to support fax as well.

The problem you'll encounter is simply there are not a ton of reviews
of fax/modems... and some may fax better than others. It unfortunatly
is a process of trial an error.

If your application is electronic document faxing then there is little
point buying a printer with fax support. Windows it self supports
outbound faxing out of the box, inbound faxing typicaly is supported
with the bundled software of fax modems. Fax modems do the job
perfectly well, unless you have a network/wifi enabled AIO then it's
slightly more handy.

If your application is paper faxing, then onboard fax modem is very
handy.

But in the case of the mp780, from my understanding it's fax support is
poor in contrast to units from, dare I say it, lexmark. HP units are
typicaly better as far as software compliment and features and often
times support inbound fax to pc.

 

[budgie]

Hello,

I'm looking for an all around good office device (printer and fax primarily,
but quality scanner would be very nice too). Inkjet is fine, would like
color. One thing that I'm having trouble finding is a machine that will
allow me to select whether I want incoming faxes to be printed as they come
in or alternatively sent to the PC so that I can view them and then
optionally print them. I have a problem with lots of unwanted (marketing
type) faxes coming in and I'd rather be able to delete off all this "spam"
before I waste ink and paper... I was looking at the Canon PIXMA MP780 based
on its cost and reviews but Canon says that it cannot do this. Is there any
extra software that would allow it to do it, or perhaps are they wrong that
it cannot do it? If it truly cannot do it, is there another all around
machine that will meet this need?

Jeff

You may be better off splitting your requirement into separate parts. But this
depends on the volume of faxes you actually receive.

Using Winfax or similar software-based solutions requires the PC be on 24/7.
Fine if that's your MO, but many people don't want that. If you're not a
24/7-er then you require a standalone fax Rx capability. This can be either a
MFC-type machine or a "memory modem" style made by 3Com/USR when they were a
team. The MM's provide soft copy and your later deliberation on whether you
want to waste paper on them, but they are limited however in two significant
ways. They can only Rx in standard resolution (not fine, unless they've
improved since I last looked), and their Rx capacity is about 50 pages - hence
my comment about inbound volume.

If you do split off the fax function, you certainly improve your selection among
MFC's for the remaining functionality.

My personal choice - in a SOHO situation where space is at a premium - is a
memory modem, a dedicated printer, and a dedicated USB scanner which sits high
on a shelf and only gets pulled down when needed. That way, I can pick the best
for each riole rather than the best compromise mix, and if one function/machine
fails the remainder still work. When a MFC has a haemhorrage it often stops the
lot. YMMV.

 

[Michael Johnson, PE]

Jeff

You may be better off splitting your requirement into separate parts. But this
depends on the volume of faxes you actually receive.

Using Winfax or similar software-based solutions requires the PC be on 24/7.

The way I had it set up was to have the computer fax/modem set to pick
up a call after 2-4 rings and the multifunction fax to pick up at 6 or
more rings. This way is the computer was off the regular fax would take
the call and receive the fax. This was also a good backup for when the
computer crashed, was turned off or otherwise wasn't able to receive faxes.

 

[Don Phillipson]

. One thing that I'm having trouble finding is a machine that will
allow me to select whether I want incoming faxes to be printed as they come
in or alternatively sent to the PC so that I can view them and then
optionally print them. I have a problem with lots of unwanted (marketing
type) faxes coming in and I'd rather be able to delete off all this "spam"
before I waste ink and paper... I was looking at the Canon PIXMA MP780 based
on its cost and reviews but Canon says that it cannot do this. Is there any
extra software that would allow it to do it, or perhaps are they wrong that
it cannot do it?

It is software that directs an incoming fax to disk (saved
as a file) or to a printer. Canon's reply no doubt refers to
the fax software they distribute with the printer.
1. You are not obligated to instal this software.
2. You can instal any fax software that supports your
preferred hardware and has the functions you want.

 

[budgie]

The way I had it set up was to have the computer fax/modem set to pick
up a call after 2-4 rings and the multifunction fax to pick up at 6 or
more rings. This way is the computer was off the regular fax would take
the call and receive the fax. This was also a good backup for when the
computer crashed, was turned off or otherwise wasn't able to receive faxes.

sounds fair enough, except for the implied "answer after 2 rings" for a fax.
service.

 

[Michael Johnson, PE]

sounds fair enough, except for the implied "answer after 2 rings" for a fax.
service.

I'm not sure what you are referring to but it worked fine for me. With
Winfax the number of rings can be set as it can with a traditional fax
machine.

 

[budgie]

I'm not sure what you are referring to but it worked fine for me. With
Winfax the number of rings can be set as it can with a traditional fax
machine.

In this country (at least) we are officially obliged to meet the ITT standard
response of fax machines answering after two rings.

 

[Michael Johnson, PE]

In this country (at least) we are officially obliged to meet the ITT standard
response of fax machines answering after two rings.

I see. Here in the USA we don't have any regulations of that nature.
I'm curious though, why do you have such a rule there?

 

[budgie]

I see. Here in the USA we don't have any regulations of that nature.
I'm curious though, why do you have such a rule there?

Ask the ITT. Our P&T simply follow their lead.

 

[Bill Martin]

Jeff B wrote:

I have a problem with lots of unwanted (marketing

type) faxes coming in and I'd rather be able to delete off all this "spam"
before I waste ink and paper...

I'm curious why you put up with that even. I'm presuming you're from the U.S.
from your userid. It's illegal to send such spam by fax here. U.S. congress
passed laws against it after some bad cases of emergency fax machines getting
overloaded by spam. Get the spammers, don't just let them get away with it.

The second hit on a Google search produced a government web site with the following:

JUNK FAXES

Unsolicited advertisements faxed to you without your prior written permission
are prohibited by the Federal Communications Commission. If you have received
such a fax, file a complaint with the FCC. The agency has an on-line Consumer
Complaint Form at www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html.


Bill