How to fax with iMacs?
March 6, 2011 7:18 AM Subscribe
Can a new iMac still be used for faxing?
At my office, we got rid of our fax machine years ago. But once in a while we still need to send or receive a fax. We've used Macs with fax software for this: first an orange iMac, then a white desklamp-style ones. Both had modems built in.
Now we want to replace that machine with a nice new Intel iMac. Of course Apple removed the built-in modems from their machines a few years ago, but they did sell an Apple USB modem. Now that's not available anymore either.
I know that there are third-party USB modems out there, but does anyone know for sure that the new iMac support them? Or even if there is fax software available? Does the "print to fax" function still exist or work in the new OS X?
If anyone out there is using a new iMac to send and receive faxes, let me know how you're doing it!
At my office, we got rid of our fax machine years ago. But once in a while we still need to send or receive a fax. We've used Macs with fax software for this: first an orange iMac, then a white desklamp-style ones. Both had modems built in.
Now we want to replace that machine with a nice new Intel iMac. Of course Apple removed the built-in modems from their machines a few years ago, but they did sell an Apple USB modem. Now that's not available anymore either.
I know that there are third-party USB modems out there, but does anyone know for sure that the new iMac support them? Or even if there is fax software available? Does the "print to fax" function still exist or work in the new OS X?
If anyone out there is using a new iMac to send and receive faxes, let me know how you're doing it!
I use Skype and Pamfax. So much easier that anything else.
posted by iamabot at 7:25 AM on March 6, 2011
posted by iamabot at 7:25 AM on March 6, 2011
If you can find a USB analog modem. You can't order an iMac with a modem.
If you just need a dedicated FAX Mac, you could find an old G5 with a Modem. More than beefy enough. I still use my DP 1.8GHz G5 for my primary Mac at home and it's got a modem.
posted by smallerdemon at 7:25 AM on March 6, 2011
If you just need a dedicated FAX Mac, you could find an old G5 with a Modem. More than beefy enough. I still use my DP 1.8GHz G5 for my primary Mac at home and it's got a modem.
posted by smallerdemon at 7:25 AM on March 6, 2011
Response by poster: Like I said, I know that iMacs don't have modems and that third-party USB modems exist.
I'd really like to know if anyone here is using a newer Intel iMac to fax and how they're doing it--which modem, software, etc.
posted by notclosed at 7:33 AM on March 6, 2011
I'd really like to know if anyone here is using a newer Intel iMac to fax and how they're doing it--which modem, software, etc.
posted by notclosed at 7:33 AM on March 6, 2011
Best answer: I know for a fact that a brand new Intel iMac can send and receive faxes with an old Apple USB modem (purchased from ebay for about $5) with no additional software installation required. Mac OS X 10.4 - 10.6 includes support for using USB modems for internet dialup as well as fax send and receive.
posted by RichardP at 7:55 AM on March 6, 2011
posted by RichardP at 7:55 AM on March 6, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks, RichardP! Exactly what I wanted to confirm.
posted by notclosed at 7:58 AM on March 6, 2011
posted by notclosed at 7:58 AM on March 6, 2011
One alternative that works quite well even if it's a bit costly is eFax.com. You send and receive all faxes as emails.
posted by brorfred at 10:20 AM on March 6, 2011
posted by brorfred at 10:20 AM on March 6, 2011
We're an exclusively Mac household and have tried everything out there and find PamFax (donwload the Mac software) the best, by far. Fast, simple, and about 12 cents per fax.
posted by Mertonian at 12:22 PM on March 6, 2011
posted by Mertonian at 12:22 PM on March 6, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mhoye at 7:23 AM on March 6, 2011