Despite the advent of email, online file depositories and live video chat, there's still no substitute for the reliable old facsimile machine. Sometimes there's just no replacement for the ability to send an exact copy of a document to be printed out at the recipient's desk without needing to deal with computer files and email attachments. Fortunately, there are services and software available that let computer users easily send documents directly to fax machines.

Make Sure You're Equipped

You'll want to make sure you're properly equipped to handle the types of documents you want to send. If you'll be sending papers with handwriting or drawings, you'll need a scanner to turn those papers into a format that your computer can handle. The other useful accessory is a 1990s-style fax/modem which uses a telephone line. While there are Internet fax services that will accept your to-be-faxed documents by email, a fax modem will work even when the Internet won't. For as little as $15 to $30, you'll maintain your ability to send and receive faxes, regardless of the health of your Internet connection.

Consider Your Options: Service or Software

You have two basic options for computer faxing: An online fax service or using computer-based software. Online fax services have the advantages that come with Internet communications: You can send your to-be-faxed documents by email (eliminating the annoying wait by the fax machine), and receive documents in your email inbox wherever you are. They sometimes come with software to help you organize your faxes. Fax software programs, on the other hand, reside exclusively on your computer and don't rely on any outside company or subscription. As such, they leave you in full control of the fax process. You'll need a fax modem to use these programs. You only need to pay for fax software once, instead of by the page or by the month. (Although you may need to pay long-distance telephone charges depending on where you're faxing.) While most online fax services can handle a wide range of file formats, they aren't good at dealing with exotic or highly uncommon file types.

Services

EFax is one of the best-known online fax services. A subscription includes an incoming fax number and a monthly send-and-receive allowance. Its software is compatible with Windows and Mac. FaxZERO lets you send up to three pages twice a day to a U.S. number for no charge. For $1.99 per fax, you can send 15 pages at a time. FaxZERO doesn't use a software program. MyFax lets you send and receive faxes from email or a website. The subscription includes a local or toll-free fax number, a monthly page allotment, and fax transmission to over 40 countries for no extra charge.

Software

EssentialFax allows you to send and receive faxes by fax modem in Windows XP, Vista and 7. Snappy Fax sends and receives faxes in Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7. PamFax lets you send faxes through your Skype account. 4-Sight Fax is available for Mac and Windows users with variable pricing. It allows you to establish a personal or business fax server that can be reached over the Internet. Note that if you use Windows 7, Windows Vista Business or Ultimate, or Mac OS X Tiger, Leopard or Snow Leopard, the ability to send and receive faxes with a fax modem is already included in your operating system.

Source:

Microsoft: Windows Fax and Scan

4-Sight Fax: Existing Features

Mac OS X 10.4 Help: Sending a Fax

More Information:

Microsoft: How to Enable and Configure the Fax Service in Windows XP

Fax Compare