[BC] RE: Fax Software

[markc]

---------- Original Message -----------
From: "Tom Taggart" <tpt at eurekanet.com>
To: Broadcast at radiolists.net
Sent: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 07:54:32 -0500
Subject: [BC] RE: Fax Software

> Fax machines are not going away soon.  Too many clients and 
> agencies want  to fax you something, rather than use e-mail.
> 
> Typical scene:
> 
> Sales manager types up copy on her typewriter, faxes copy to 
> client.  A  few minutes later client faxes back copy with an OK, 
> sales manager types  up order for traffic.  Her daughter in law 
> the office manager sticks the  order into the billing computer,
>  while complaining that her mother in law  needs to learn how to 
> do this hereself, she is busy with the GM's  proposals and billing 
> and,,,,.  (The sales manager, with a smile on her  face, ignores 
> her daughter-in-law and goes out to kill...err sell  something,
>  and drag it back in later that day.)
> 
> Fax machines are people friendly. Computers are not. People 
> oriented folks  pay the bills in this business. You need to keep 
> them happy with simple  devices.

I just bought a new Panasonic dedicated FAX machine for one of my
stations--less than $200. Laser printing engine. Replaced a nine-year-old
Brother machine that was used up. Even my usual tricks for restoring paper
feed operation couldn't get the TBJ (time between jams) to more than a few
sheets. I decided I wouldn't even try to order parts for it, considering its
age.

I got to work over there on Monday morning and all the hot stock tips and
vacation scam faxes were printed and waiting in the tray. Before, we had to
stand there and feed the thing a couple of sheets at a time to get our junk
faxes  :-)

Seriously, we don't get *that* many faxes at this particular station. Which
is why we could run a hand-me-down FAX machine for the last 4 and 1/2 years.

The office manager at this station isn't afraid of the PC, but she isn't
*all* that computer-literate. She's also not there all that much of the
time, so other people would potentially have to learn to use a PC-based FAX
if we went that route. So we picked up another standalone FAX machine. I
wanted a laser engine, rather than inkjet, and not an all-in-one. 

This solution was simple for me, and for the users. Took me all of 5 minutes
to program in the one-touch buttons needed for our most common business
functions. Took longer to run through the setup menu and get our ID
programmed in and that sort of thing.

Mark
MN