Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!emory!hubcap!rbrink
From: rbrink@hubcap.clemson.edu (Rick Brink)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.appletalk
Subject: Re: Networkable FAX modems
Message-ID: <11316@hubcap.clemson.edu>
Date: 1 Nov 90 16:10:45 GMT
References: <9010311908.AA08493@aquarium.ecn.purdue.edu>
Organization: Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Lines: 55

From article <9010311908.AA08493@aquarium.ecn.purdue.edu>, by moyman@ECN.PURDUE.EDU (James M Moya):
> I asked the following a ways back and didn't get much response so here it
> goes again.  I would appreciate *any* information on Networkable FAX modems
> and associated software.  By "networkable" I mean I want to set it up in
> one place (zone) and let everyone on the network be able to send and
> recieve using the one FAXmodem.  Please let me know of your set-ups,
> hang-ups, etc.. whether you use it along with MS Mail or QuickMail,
> etc...Thankin

We bought a FlexFax Modem about 5 months ago.  Although generally pleased,
it's use has been less than trouble free.
 1) It uses BackFax to send and receive in the background under multifinder
    on the mac direct connected to it.  That is pretty standard.

 2) It is "networkable" by using MicroSoft Mail or QuickMail to send files
    to the server, which then routes the fax out.

Things we don't like:

 1) Faxes received are viewed as image files, and can only be printed from
    within the FlexFax software, or opened within a page layout program
    or graphics program.  If you want to incorporate something into a 
    simple Word doc, you have to go the extra step and process the fax 1st.

 2) Although it is multifinder compatable, many applications that take
    liberties with memory usage (most Microsoft applications) often cause
    crashes and freezes when sending or receiving a fax.

 3) It is driven by inits.  Think of any good init/CDEV and it seems to 
    conflict at times with BackFax, Onetimer or MailSaver init that the
    FlexFax system relies on.

 4) We don't use a mail program currently, still deciding between MSMail
    and QuickMail (Our campus is divided between the 2, and different
    factions are pulling us both ways), so we can't really shair it.  I
    don't know if the "shair" part of the system works at all.....

Conclusions:

We have a $6000 Cannon fax with a laserprinter used in another dept.  We
relied on it before we got the modem, and after 5 months, we are back to
relying on shairing the Cannon again.  It's only when something confidential
or financial is being sent, that the prime user bothers to mess with the
modem.  The $500 we spent on it would have been better spent on a conventional
desktop fax box.  I realize the pricing is better now, some FaxModems are
in the $300 range.  If I were considering it again, I would only get a fax
modem if I were also in need of a conventional modem.  And what good is a
9600 baud modem these days anyway.  Unless you are calling up another 
"Person", no one supports 9600b anyway.

My complaints are not about the product we purchased, but about the way we
have been able to integrate it into our office.  I'm worry everytime a new
sys release comes out, will the inits work with the new stuff?

Buyers beware.