Best Fax Machine Shopping Guide
Since fax machines are still an essential part of the business world, even in the era of smartphones, there are a few things you should know when shopping for one.
Features To Look Out For
All fax machines tend to have the same basic role: you can send one or more printed pages using a fax number. However, this is the basic function these fax machines initially came out with. Now the technology has evolved by heaps and bounds and there are more features that you should look out for, depending on your requirements.
All-in-one functionality
While you can always buy a fax machine that does all the tasks a fax machine is supposed to do and nothing else, you can also buy an all-in-one scanner/printer/fax machine. This will help you save money and space by having one solution for all your needs.
WiFi
Many fax machines today also come with built-in WiFi so you can easily send documents directly from your smartphone, computer or tablet to a specific fax number. This is a lot like wireless printing, an amazing convenience that will leave you hooked for life!
Speed dial and memory
Anyone who has used fax machines in their life knows that faxing can take a while. Even if you get the fastest fax machine in the world, it will still go one page at a time, which can be troublesome if you have multiple pages to send and a deadline to meet. However, this problem has been combated by newer models that have managed to cut down on the time that a fax takes by having local storage for numbers that are often used and offer speed dial for them. If you know you’re going to be sending faxes to the same numbers then you can rid yourself of the inconvenience of redialing by getting the best fax machine equipped with features like memory and speed dial.
Caller ID
You’ll be surprised to know that caller ID doesn’t exist on every fax machine, even though it should since it can make it easier to see who’s sending you a fax. If you’re using your fax machine to receive an abundance of faxes daily then you should consider investing in a model that supports caller ID.
What Is The Difference Between Fax Machines vs. Internet Faxing Services?
When you’re shopping for a fax machine online, you might come across internet faxing services. But what is it and how is it different from physical fax machines?
Well, we’re glad you asked. Internet faxing services help you fax documents from the internet straight to your machine. While this does sound great, there are always pros and cons to everything; physical fax machines and internet faxing services both. Lucky for you, we have everything you should know:
Fax machines
Fax machines are designed to use traditional phone lines in order to establish what we call a one-to-one connection. They can be pretty loud and heavy while also being reliable and secure, making them the best partner for every business. If you opt for a physical fax machine, you will have to bear the cost of ink, paper and a phone line. However, this way you won’t have to worry about your cost per page being higher over the long term than you could expect with a web faxing service.
Internet faxing services
These services charge a per-use fee in order to send electronic documents to other fax machines. Even though you can opt for an internet faxing service because of its convenience, it can be less secure and far more expensive than physical fax machines. Moreover, most online faxing services also tend to make you sign a user agreement that violates your privacy. This way they get the permission to read the documents you fax. So if you’re a private person or just sending confidential documents, this can be an issue for you.
Tips You Should Know
If you’re looking to fax a document that is printed on both sides then you will have to send each side as an individual fax. Since most fax machines don’t happen to support double-sided faxing, you will have to take the longer route for this. The first step would be to fax one side of a double-sided document and then the other in order to send the complete document to the recipient.
When buying a fax machine, keep in mind that you should be noting down the measurements of various models while making sure you have enough room on your workstation to accommodate the device. Since it can be pretty boxy and bulky, it can take up a decent amount of space and you might even need to buy a printer stand for it. Although this doesn’t get in the way of you buying a fax machine, these decisions need to be made before you’ve done the deed.
Moreover, if you are looking to send a fax to a phone number that has an extension line then make sure to include that extension when you dial the number on your fax machine. Although there are most modern machines that can understand and fully support additional numbers when dialing a phone number, you should always make sure to put in the correct sequence so that your fax reaches the person you had intended it to reach and not anyone else. You don’t want your confidential fax to fall in the hands of the wrong person now, do you?
FAQs
Do I need a landline for a fax machine?
It is possible to not have a landline phone line and still have a fax number. You can use an online fax service to host a fax number that will be accessible through the internet. However, in order to use a physical fax machine or a computer with fax software, it is necessary to have a landline phone line.
Can I fax from a printer without a phone line?
You can plug the fax machine into a phone jack in order to send a document using a WiFi printer. The only possible way you can fax from a wireless printer when you don’t have a phone line is when you have a special fax machine. This should have a setting that lets you connect to your mobile cellular network.
How do I fax without a fax machine?
Just simply use an online faxing service or an mobile app called eFax available on the Google Playstore for Android and the Apple App Store for iOS. This app can help you send and receive faxes directly from your smartphone or tablet without ever having to use a fax machine.