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THE PLAIN FAX
STANDFIRST
Is this the end of the line for thin, curly,
disappearing faxes? Rick Maybury casts his critical eye over six plain paper
facsimile machines designed for small businesses and the SoHo market
COPY
Facsimile machines, capable of sending
documents and images on paper from one place to another by telephone, have been
around in one form or another since the 1920s. The modern office fax is a more
recent phenomenon though, dating back to the early 1960’s when they were mostly
used by businesses, and large well-heeled ones at that! Until the late
seventies even the cheapest models cost several thousand pounds and took up as
much floor space as a filing cabinet.
Fax machines really began to take off in the
early 1980’s, spurred on in the UK by a series of postal disputes. The market
grew quickly, microchips made them even cheaper and smaller, improvements in
communications technology made them faster, the world-wide fax population
reached a critical mass quickly once economies of scale kicked in, and the rest
is history.
One of the main reasons that fax machines are
now so cheap is due to the simple, low-cost, thermal paper printing system used
by most machines. It’s cheap because there are no moving parts -- apart from
the paper transport. Running costs are relatively small -- determined mainly by
the price of fax paper -- it is very reliable and the quality is acceptable.
The downside of thermal paper is that is curls easily, it is very thin,
difficult to write on and images fade over time. They disappear even quicker if
the paper is stored close to a source of heat.
Alternative printing systems using ordinary
plain paper have been around for the past twenty years. Most of them are based
on the ‘Xerography’ processes used in photocopiers, but they were and still are
prohibitively expensive for small business or home users. Within the past five
years that has begun to change and now there’s a new generation of plain paper
fax machines, that use a variety of low-cost printing systems.
Most of the new plain paper fax machines use
a thermal ink transfer system that is not dissimilar to the thermal paper
printing. Printing ink is coated onto a thin plastic film, which is sandwiched
between the paper and a static printer head. The head is a thin bar --
virtually identical to the ones used in ordinary fax machines -- made up of
hundred of tiny heating elements. As they heat up the ink on the film melts and
transfers across to the paper, as it passes across the head. The image is built
up from a series of closely spaced dots. It works very well, though the system
is rather wasteful. The film sheet can make only one pass, so most pages, which
have very little printing on them, leave behind a lot of unused ink, that
cannot be reused. Incidentally, if security is an issue, be aware that used ink
film retains a negative image of received faxes and printouts.
Several plain paper machines use inkjet
printing systems, the same technology that is on Inkjet and Bubblejet computer
printers, in some cases the mechanisms are identical. There’s no waste, ink is
only used to create the image but unlike thermal systems there are many more
moving parts, though reliability is not, as far as we’re aware an issue. Ink
cartridges can be quite expensive too, though most can be recycled using DIY
refill kits.
A growing number of plain paper faxes have PC
connectivity, usually in the form of a serial or parallel port, sometimes both.
Depending on the type of connection there are a number of possibilities. The
fax machine can be used as a PC printer, which represents a useful space saving
in a small crowded office. Some inkjet and bubblejet models have a colour
printing facility when used with suitable tri-colour ink cartridges.
A two-way serial connection means faxes can
be sent and received on the computer. Outgoing faxes are created using normal
word-processing software, and sent directly to the fax machine -- which acts as
a modem -- for transmission. Several
fax machines can be used as simple black and white document scanners,
converting images on paper into data that can be imported into the PC. Optical
character recognition (OCR) software can convert clean typewritten documents
into text files, that can be read by word processor applications.
Fax print quality depends on a number of
factors, including the capabilities of the transmitting machine and the quality
of the telephone line, over which you have no control. However, in general
terms quality can be expressed in two ways, namely greyscale, and resolution.
In a nutshell greyscale is a measure of contrast, denoting the number of
different levels of light and dark there is in the transmitted or received
image. All machines have at least 16 levels, 32 and 64 greyscales produce
better results, though normally at the expense of transmission times.
Resolution in the horizontal plane is denoted by the number of printing
elements (pels) or dots per inch or millimetre, and the number of lines per
inch (lpi) or lines per millimetre, in the vertical plane. A typical resolution
in the standard transmission mode would be 200 pels/98 lpi, rising to 200/390
in superfine transmission mode.
The print method also has a bearing on
quality. Theoretically there’s little to choose between thermal paper and
thermal ink,. However, blacks tend to be a little more solid with thermal ink.
Plain paper can be a lot whiter than thermal paper so subjectively they do look
a little crisper. Inkjet and bubblejet printouts have the potential to look a
lot better though on faxed documents they’re constrained by the technical
limitations of the system and the absorbency of the paper. Cheap paper tends to
be quite fibrous and the ink can run, making sharp edges look ragged. Some
slow-drying refill inks can also make fine print look hairy, so it’s a good
idea to use specially formulated inkjet paper when quality is an issue. When
used as PC printers, with appropriate software they can produce excellent
results, especially in colour.
All fax machines have a photocopier facility.
The quality varies, generally in accordance with levels of greyscale and the
capabilities of the machine. None are as fast or as cheap to run as a
conventional photocopier though.
REVIEWS
BETACOM PPF700
This reasonably compact desktop fax machine uses
a thermal ink printing system. The specification is very straightforward, the
only extras -- over and above basic faxing facilities -- are connected with the
phone, which has a second keypad on the handset, 10-number one-touch dialling,
and a 40-number autodialler. It is very simple to operate; receive print
quality is satisfactory though the limited greyscale means it’s more at home
handling text and simple graphics, than detailed images or photographs. No
frills, just a solid workaday fax machine. The price is fair, for those
prepared to pay a little more for plain paper operation.
Typical price £350
Consumables 400 page print film £14
System thermal ink transfer
Features 16-level greyscale, 10 page document
feeder, auto TAM/fax switching, 10 one-touch number memory, 40 number
autodialler, integrated handset hands-free dialling, integrated handset Mercury
compatible
Dimensions 408 x 300 x 123mm
Contact Betacom plc, telephone 0181-344 6200
Print quality ***
Features ***
Ease of use ****
Value for money ****
HO Verdict 75%
BROTHER FAX 1020
The 1020 is a fairly chunky piece of kit but
just look at the list of features. The paper handling features, out of paper/multiple
location transmission memory, caller display and copy enlarge/reduction
facilities are simply not the kind of thing you expect to find on a sub £400
machine. Print quality is remarkably good too -- nothing like as heavy-handed
as the other thermal ink machines we’ve looked at. Excellent value for money
and a good all-round performer. Recommended.
Typical price £370
Consumables 200-page ink ribbon and cartridge
£20, ink ribbons only, two for £35
System thermal ink transfer
Features 64-level greyscale, 60-number
autodialler, 20-page memory for multiple location transmission and out of paper
recording, 200-page paper holder, copy enlargement/reduction facility, auto
TAM/fax switching, integrated handset with keypad, Mercury compatible, on-hook
dialling, auto reduction paper/ink saving feature, Caller ID facility, optional
PC connectivity
Dimensions 394 x 385 x 213mm
Contact Brother International, telephone
(0345) 535100
Print quality ****
Features ****
Ease of use ***
Value for money ****
HO Verdict 85%
PANASONIC KXF1100
The KXF1100 looks every inch the serious
business machine and the price puts it well within reach of SoHo users. The
integrated answering machine saves a little more desk space, and it has a
number of advanced features, like the voice mailbox facility. It feels very solid and built to take the
punishment of a busy office. The 300 metre the ink ribbon cuts down on routine
maintenance and the cost per copy works out a little cheaper than most of its
rivals. Print quality is better than average for an ink ribbon machine. Well
worth considering.
Typical price £587
Consumables 300 metre print film £23.50
System thermal ink transfer
Features 64-level greyscale, digital
answering machine with 3 voice mailboxes, pager call, auto TAM/fax switching, hands-free speakerphone, integrated handset,
84-number memory, Mercury compatible, , 250-sheet paper tray, junk fax filter,
paper save (image reduction) facility
Dimensions 228 x 396 x 366mm
Contact Panasonic UK, telephone (0990)
357357
Print quality ****
Features ****
Ease of use ***
Value for money ***
HO Verdict 80%
PHILIPS PPF 35
With a footprint only a little larger than a
sheet of A4 paper, this has to be one of the smallest plain-paper fax machines
on the market. One of the ways they’ve saved space is to use an external,
brick-shaped mains power supply. In spite of its size it has a remarkably long
list of features, including a built-in digital answering machine and microchip
memories for recording incoming faxes -- when the paper runs out -- and outgoing
faxes, for multiple location transmission. It can also be used as a backup PC
printer, with an optional connector kit. It is rather noisy in use; print
quality is adequate for text and graphics. The paper feed can be temperamental.
However, it is remarkably compact and just the job for SoHo users, with light
faxing requirements and limited desk space.
Typical price £430
Consumables 200-page print film £16
System thermal ink transfer
Features combined TAM/fax, 16-greyscales,
10-page document feeder, 30-page paper holder, 40-number autodialler, out of
paper memory, 20-page transmission memory, digital answering machine with
remote access, Mercury compatible, clock/alarm, optional PC connectivity
Dimensions 260 x 220 x 90mm
Contact Philips (0645) 282828
Print quality **
Features ****
Ease of use ***
Value for money ****
HO Verdict 80%
SAMSUNG SF4200
The SF4200 or ‘Multijet’ is an imposing
beast, it looks like a serious piece of office equipment. In fact the range of
fax functions isn’t that extensive, though it does have a transmission memory,
that stores documents for sending to multiple locations. The inkjet printer mechanism and ink
cartridges are very similar to a Hewlett Packard Deskjet designs. Fax and PC
print quality from are both excellent, colour is particularly good, some
patterning is evident on copy prints though. A big, chunky, no-nonsense machine
with a useful dual personality, that PC owners should find useful.
Typical price £750
Consumables Black inkjet cartridge £XX, colour £XX
System colour/black and white inkjet
Features 32-level greyscale, parallel &
serial PC port for printing scanning and faxing (Winfax lite, Windows and DOS
driver software included), 99 page
copier, 50-number auto dialler, integrated handset, transmission memory Mercury
compatible
Dimensions 263 x 323 x 454mm
Contact Samsung UK Ltd., telephone 0181-391
0168
Print quality ****
Features ****
Ease of use ***
Value for money ****
HO Verdict 78%
SANYO SFX-P500
The P500 is
based on a Canon colour Bubblejet printer mechanism, it has both parallel and
serial ports, for full PC connectivity. Unlike the others models in this
round-up it doesn’t have an integrated telephone handset, which saves a little
space; a two-into-one phone socket adaptor is supplied, so it can be used with
a phone on a single line. It has a fairly routine set of fax facilities --
sufficient for moderate throughput in a small office. Image quality is good,
using high grade paper. The printer/copy facility is fairly slow though, a
colour page can take several minutes to
emerge, but its fine for low demand applications. A convenient, space-saving
solution for PC users.
Typical price £600
Consumables ink cartridges £15 black, £25 colour
System colour/black and white Bubblejet
Features 64 greyscales, parallel & serial
interface for PC printing, scanner and modem applications, (Winfax and driver
software supplied), multiple copy, 100-sheet paper holder, 20-page document
feeder, 30-page transmission memory, 48-number autodialler, auto TAM/fax
switching
Dimensions 365 x 188 x 290mm
Contact Sanyo Electric UK, telephone (01923)
246363
Print quality ****
Features ***
Ease of use ****
Value for money ***
HO Verdict 80%
SHARP FO-1450
Sharp have opted for a thermal ink transfer
system, this time using a 660-page capacity film roll. It’s quite large too,
and with the 300 sheet paper holder in place, it takes up a fair amount of desk
space. Nevertheless, it is very well specified and with the kind of features
needed to handle a demanding fax workload. Print quality is a little better
than average for an ink transfer machine, with a good contrast range and
resolution. Worth considering for small busy offices, expecting to send and
receive a lot of faxes.
Typical price £500
Consumables 660-page print film £27
System thermal ink transfer
Features 64-level greyscale, 300 sheet paper
holder, integrated handset, Mercury compatible, auto TAM/fax switching, on-hook
dialling, 2-in-1 print (two pages per sheet), 33-page out of paper memory,
99-number auto-dialler, anti-junk filter
Dimensions 363 x 488 x 188mm
Contact Sharp Electronics UK, telephone
0161-205 2333
Print quality ****
Features ***
Ease of use ****
Value for money ***
HO Verdict 78%
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Ó R. Maybury 1997 1607
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