Should I get a fax machine or a fax program?

Question

I need to be able to receive/send faxes. I'm not sure if I should buy a fax machine or just install a fax program on my laptop. I think that a fax machine may get expensive if I have to constantly buy toner, and I don't want to receive junk faxes that wastes the ink. With my laptop, I may not have it at home plugged in all the time. I'm assuming that will prevent faxes from coming through if there is no laptop for it to be received on... Any suggestions?

Answer 1

i agree w/ vegasgirl.  go to myfax.com and check them out. the service works really well and no long term contracts (month-by-month basis).  for a small additional fee they'll even give you an 800# to use as your fax number so your customers don't pay long distance to send you a fax.  Faxes are delivered to you via your email so it doesn't matter if you're laptop is on or not.  

the only drawback to using any computer based fax system is that if you have document isn't on your computer (or for example, you have to sign which means you'd have to print it out and sign it).  In those cases, you'd also need a scanner so you convert the paper doc back to electronic format to fax it from your computer.  But if the majority of your stuff is faxing electronic docs, my vote would be MyFax.com

Answer 2

I use myfax.com  It is $10 a month & you can send & receive faxes electronically.  I love it.

Answer 3

Okay, if you are using a windows operating system, it should have a fax program built in, under Accessories, Communications, and then Fax.. I know my Toshie laptop has that and I'm using XP Service Pack 2..