Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!visdc!jiii
From: jiii@visdc.UUCP (John E Van Deusen III)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Junk Fax (was Re: Request for poll of ten best/worst products of 88)
Summary: PC-based fax offers enhanced capabilities
Message-ID: <430@visdc.UUCP>
Date: 9 Jan 89 22:27:00 GMT
References: <210@imspw6.UUCP> <867@atux01.UUCP> <10@blender.UUCP> <2696@rti.UUCP>
Organization: VI Software Development Co., Boise, Idaho
Lines: 28

In article <2696@rti.UUCP>, bcw@rti.UUCP (Bruce Wright) writes:

> ... I really don't see much point in the fax-as-computer peripheral.
> In order to be really useful, you need a very high-quality output
> device (like a laser printer) and a scanner ...  By the time you've
> paid for [this] you've paid _more_ than what a real fax costs ...  but
> it is being sold as being _cheaper_. ...
> 
If a person has a need for a PC as well as a fax machine, I think that
PC-based fax makes a lot of sense.  Since a laser printer is a nearly
essential computer peripheral, the only "extra" equipment is a $600-$900
fax card and a $1,300 scanner.  A scanner like the HP SCAN-JET, capable
of 600 dpi resolution, is likewise a very desirable peripheral.  Among
other things, it will allow the PC to function as a plain-paper copier
and a telecopier.

It is possible to obtain a fax machine for $1,000, but plain-paper
capability costs at least $2,500, (electrostatic paper must be copied
onto plain paper for long-term storage), and no inexpensive fax machines
have a PC's flexibility for document manipulation and redistribution.

The real advantage of PC-based fax, however, is the growing availability
of optical character recognition software.  If someone sends a fax of
something written on a manual typewriter, a stand-alone fax machine is
of no use in transferring the information to your computer.

--
John E Van Deusen, PO Box 9283, Boise, ID  83707.  (208) 343-1865