Mac Fax Capability

QUESTION: A member asked: " We want to eliminate a phone line that was formerly reserved for Internet use and faxing. We rarely use the fax machine but, when we need it, we need it, mostly for incoming stuff. Do you know if the Mac has fax capability?  Is it basically just a question of setting up the software or do we need any hardware?"

ANSWER: The OS X fax feature is built into the operating system and as long as your computer accesses the internet, etc. there should be no problem.

Simply go to your system preference panel (blue apple, system preferences, hardware, print & fax). The Mac does a great job of sending faxes as long as the document is already in the computer. If not, you will need to scan it in. To receive faxes you will need to use your now single telephone line, which depending upon how many you receive, could be a bother.

You could use a stand alone fax machine, but it ties up your single line also.  However, there is another solution I like better. It's called eFax (http://www.efax.com/en/efax/twa/page/homePageFlash?CMP=OTC-bb).

There are three levels. The cheapest level which is free. They give you a fax number which you can give out to anyone who wants to fax you, The fax comes in as an email. You open the email and there is the fax. However, you cannot send with the free service. So you could use your Mac for the outgoing and eFax for incoming.