| A fax machine or facsimile is an affordable device | | | | transfer type. Heat is used to print texts from ink |
| capable of sending document copies using the | | | | ribbon onto a thermal or shiny paper. Thermal transfer |
| telephone line. The first model that came out was | | | | fax machines are cheap, reliable, and usually found in |
| developed in 1861. But the fully functional telephone | | | | home-office environment. However, these types offer |
| was invented in 1876. It popularity only increased in the | | | | a poor print quality. |
| last decade however. | | | | Some of fax machine features include dual access. It |
| Fax machines are undisputed king in the office | | | | allows transmitting a fax while printing incoming |
| environment. This important home or office equipment | | | | documents from the memory. The data compression |
| has improved with time. Internet-based document | | | | protocol Modified Read (MR) and MMR or Modified |
| transmission is its closest rival. But still fax machines | | | | Modified Read increase the transmission speed making |
| have the edge in transmitting sensitive materials. This | | | | the machine more effective. Another important feature |
| made it a very reliable equipment in the office. The | | | | is it receives and stores incoming fax in the memory |
| popular brands include Brother, Canon, Panasonic, | | | | when the machine runs out of paper. |
| Epson, HP and Sharp. | | | | Some model offers a hook up to the computer. It |
| Small and big offices alike send and receive large | | | | allows faxing through the personal computer. The |
| volumes of fax transmissions in their daily transactions. | | | | most sophisticated fax machines can serve as phone, |
| The manufacturers appreciate the positive feedbacks | | | | scanner, copier and printer. It is known as Multifunction |
| and reward clients with further innovations. Modern fax | | | | Device or MFD. The most common yet essential |
| machines provide many features for the convenience | | | | feature is the speed dialing. Quick scan lessen the time |
| of the user. Facsimile machine now offers more than | | | | needed to scan the original document making the |
| just transmitting and receiving document. | | | | machine more efficient. |
| There are things to consider before buying a fax | | | | Here are some basic procedures in using fax machine. |
| machine. The most important aspect is the type of | | | | Include a cover letter on the document you are |
| printing technology. The most inexpensive is the film | | | | sending. Always write the name of the recipient |
| cartridge fax machines. The inkjet fax machine is | | | | before faxing the document. Keep the documents in |
| reasonably priced while the laser fax machine is the | | | | order on the tray if you are using automatic fax |
| most expensive. Take a good look at the printing | | | | machine. Dial the phone number starting with the area |
| capability because a document is deemed useless if | | | | code of the recipient of the documents. The machine |
| one could not read the prints and images clearly. | | | | will start sending the document. You can press the |
| Fax machines using inkjet printing is suitable if you | | | | speed dial feature if the contact is already saved on |
| receive from 20 to 30 documents every day. It cost | | | | the phonebook. |
| relatively low and it provides clear texts. But for heavy | | | | Older machines require you to wait for the fax tone. |
| users it is not cost-efficient because of the recurring | | | | Enter the area code followed by the phone number of |
| cost of ink. Laser fax machines use laser or LED in | | | | the recipient. When you heard the fax tone, manually |
| printing documents. This type proved to be | | | | transmit the document by inserting it in the scanner |
| cost-effective for its heavy duty use. It uses a toner | | | | with the head facing downwards. If the machine at the |
| that produces a high quality text on plain paper. A | | | | other end is not set to automatically receive incoming |
| toner can print a big bulk of documents. | | | | fax, someone will pick up the phone and you can ask |
| The oldest technology in fax machine is the thermal | | | | the person to manually receive the document. |