Fax Machine Buying Guide

For sending a range of documents securely and quickly, including text documents, photographs and artwork, fax machines are easy to use and reliable. Here are some useful hints and tips to consider when choosing a fax machine.

How to Choose a Fax Machine: Introduction

Fax is short for facsimile, from the Latin phrase meaning to 'make similar', and a fax machine does exactly that - although today-s versatile fax machines incorporate many extra features and functions.

Each page that a fax machine sends is scanned, with images converted into light and dark dots. The fax machine translates these dots into audio tones, so they can be sent along a conventional telephone line. At the other end, another fax machine receives the audio signals and converts them back into light and dark dots for printing, so that an exact replica of the original document is ready for use.

Because a fax is sent via telephone lines, you can send it to another fax machine anywhere in the world.

You Want To Buy a Fax Machine - But Which Type?

Although fax machines send documents on the same principle - scanning and sending information via telephone lines - there are different types of fax machine based on printing design. Depending on your budget and the print quality that you need, one of the first things to consider is the type of fax machine that would best suit you. Here are the main types:

Thermal transfer fax machine - Using heat to transfer ink to the paper, thermal transfer fax machines have proven reliable and affordable, and are especially popular for home office use. With average print quality - curled pages that are sometimes hard to read - thermal fax machines can be slow and noisy. Due to the popularity of newer types of fax machine, there is only a small range of thermal transfer fax machines available now.
Inkjet fax machine - Ideal for low to medium use, and typically used in home offices, inkjet fax machines deliver crisp text and sharp images and are usually within the budgets of most households and small businesses.
Laser fax machine - Reliable and hardwearing, the laser fax machine delivers fast, high quality printing at high volumes. They are the most expensive fax machines but can work out cheaper to run, making them still popular for small business and domestic use as well as large corporations.
All-in-one printer with fax - Typically with a built-in inkjet fax machine, the all-in-one printer with fax is a space-saving way to get printing, scanning and copying - as well as a fax machine - in one easy to use unit.

Features to Look For When You Choose a Fax Machine

Here are the main features to look out for when choosing a fax machine:

Memory - Many fax machines now come with built-in memory, which greatly increases their functionality in a variety of ways For example if your machine runs out of paper, it can store the incoming faxes until paper is loaded up again. Memory can also enable the fax machine to scan the document then send it, so you don't have to wait for the entire document to feed through. Some faxes have dual scan facilities, allowing it to send and receive faxes at the same time, a function that would not be possible without built-in memory.
Sending speed - The cost of sending a fax is measured by the amount of time that it takes to send it. Fax sending speed is determined by the speed of the modem, which is usually at least 14 kbps (kilobits per second), rising to 36 kbps on more expensive models. Therefore, you could save money by purchasing a more expensive fax machine with a higher sending speed.
Paper handling - Most fax machines work with up to A4 (8.5-inch x 11 inch) paper size. If you are likely to want to send larger sized items, such as legal documents, you should check that the fax machine can send and receive larger pages.
Data compression - Nearly all fax machines come with data compression protocols. This reduces the time taken to send a fax. Most data compression protocols will only work with same brand models, so if you are going to be regularly sending faxes to another machine, it could be worth buying the same brand or model.

Do I Need To Buy an Extended Fax Machine Warranty?

A warranty ensures that your fax machine will be repaired or replaced under certain conditions. The terms and conditions of warranties vary, so it's worth comparing those offered by different retailers and manufacturers. For more expensive fax machines, you may want to pay more for an extended warranty.

Set a limit on the amount of money that you're prepared to spend on your new fax machine, but remember that a less expensive model may have higher running costs, and as a rule, the more you pay the better the quality. However, by shopping around online, comparing prices between different retailers and taking advantage of special offers and discounts, you might get a better model of fax machine for your money.