Best way to fax something with modern computers

[coomarlin]

Long gone are the days of 56k fax modems. I need to fax a delivery receipt to LG Electronics and I have no fax machine. I have a scanner in which I can scan the recipt to an image file or PDF. But what do I do from that point. I guess I could go to kinkos or something like that but I was wondering if there was a better way to fax in the modern era with cable modems and high speed internet. I did a quick google search for online faxes and all of them seem to be pay sites where I have to sign up for monthly service. Anyone know of a good free site?

 

[bigddybn]

Scan and email to a friend with a fax at work?
Email directly to LG?

 

[corkyg]

Scan to PDF. Attach the PDF file to email directly to the same LG office the fax would go to. Or . . . like you said, go to a nearby Kinko's, Pakn'Wrap or UPS Store and fax it.

Today, the PDF attachment is the way to go. My tax man just sent in both Federal and State returns with 20 pages of PDF attachments.

 

[HarryLui]

You'll spend more time figuring out what to do than just a trip to Fedex Office.

 

[jjmIII]

I have a Fax Machine at work (own storage units) and use it all the time. It's a Sharp that was less than $30 after rebate. Simple stand alone unit. Power cord, phone cord.

I Fax for $2 first page, and $1 each additional page...that machine buys me lunch a couple times a week!

 

[corkyg]

I Fax for $2 first page, and $1 each additional page...that machine buys me lunch a couple times a week!

I salute the return of the entrepreneurial spirit. WTG!

 

[jackschmittusa]

This question made me check. I have an old Diamond Supra Express usb fax/modem. I plugged it in, and Win7 64bit identified it and loaded drivers for it. Says it is ready to use. lol

 

[Red Squirrel]

Facsys... kinda pricy I think though.

 

[RaiderJ]

There's online services that can do it for free. Try http://faxzero.com/.

I think they limit you to 3 pages, and put an ad or something on the cover sheet. For a simple fax it would work. Forget going to Kinko's

 

[ZXT]

For sending out just a couple of pages then go with the free online fax services.

Faxzero - http://faxzero.com/
Gotfreefax - http://www.gotfreefax.com/
Myfax - http://www.myfax.com/free/

For cheap unlimited incoming fax service at $1/month, go with Onesuite Fax - http://www.onesuite.com/products_OneSuiteFax.asp

 

[gsaldivar]

I've used these guys for many years, and have been very happy with the service:

http://greenfax.com/

Get a Send-Only account, and simply forward the fax to phonenumber@greenfax.com.

You deposit $25 to open an account. There are NO monthly fees. Your account credit never expires, and you never pay for unsuccessful transmissions. Anything you send is deducted from your balance at 7 cents per minute. I've had the same account open with them for several years and its the most convenient way I've found to send faxes. Just email the phone number with any attachments and its sent instantly. Then just use a free receive-only account from eFax for incoming faxes.

 

[Horsepower]

I use MyFax, as well as a cheap modem in system (W7 Ultimate 64). my 2 cents

 

[Lemon law]

Sadly, IMHO, old fax technology which was initially based on 14.4 kb/s or slower modems
using phone line has never made the jump to modern higher speed internet connections. And until that is corrected, we will never reach fax nirvana, and instead remain mired in primitive.

But the best way to fax, is well duh, with a fax machine. But I should qualify that remark two ways.

1. It only applies to fax machines with their own built in modem, not the case in all fax machines. And to use a fax machine, you have to have a conventional voice telephone line at that location.

2. We have to make one huge distinction with fax machines, because there are two kinds of faxes, outgoing and incoming. With incoming faxes, you must be connected to a phone line and your fax machine must have some means of processing and then printing the fax. With outgoing faxes you can buy all kinds of used ink jet printer AIO with their owns modems, for dirt cheap at your good will store. No damn need to feed them expensive rip off rate ink jet cartridges, they outgoing fax fine without them. But with incoming faxes, you have to have a means of printing them, and then with an ink jet, you fall into the trap of rip off rate ink jet cartridges.

Its why I have two backup outgoing fax machines, and one laser based AIO for incoming or outgoing faxes I got used for $60.00 two years ago.. Because I live in a rural area, I estimate I save $10.00 I would other wise have to spend on gas on a trip to town every time I fax. Most of the time my faxes are outgoing, and since I do not have a dedicated fax line, I need advance notification for incoming faxes.

With the laser AIO, 99% of the time it remains powered off and disconnected from a phone line to prevent lightning damage, but in less than a minute I can power on and connect to a phone line, to fax, and it also doubles as a compute printer.

If I need ink jet technology, I use my networked wife's non chipped Canon ink-jet I refill.

 

[MagickMan]

I bought an old fax machine at a pawn shop for $10. I plug it in when I want to fax something.

 

[vbuggy]

efax
pamfax
etc