Multi-Function Office Machine

October 9, 2014 9:53 AM

My office is trying to upgrade our scanner. The difficulty is that the machine has to also be a fax, and I'm looking for solutions.

Our "scanner" is a pain in the butt. It is accessible by our little network as a printer, but you can't actually send the scans to the computers, so SD chips are involved. But we scan things a fair amount (and want to scan more), and our scanner is slow and the rollers stick from time to time, so its time to upgrade.

The problem is that the machine also serves as our fax machine. We still receive occasional faxes, and still send some. We receive maybe 5 a week, and send maybe one a week.

Normally, I would put technology to work, and use Windows' Fax or similar service for those rare times we receive faxes, but the only computers in the office are laptops, and are frequently offline (i.e., not plugged into the fax line). Unfortunately, we don't have a tolerance for services that charge monthly.

I am looking for recommendations either for how to resolve this situation (no stand-alone computer for an e-fax machine), or for an all-in-one machine that works fine as a scanner, and can easily connect to multiple computers via wi-fi or CAT5 network. Our budget is around $300-500, but under-budget is good.

I have reviewed this question, but it doesn't really solve my problem.

Thanks in advance!!

posted by China Grover to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

I don't understand the bit about no tolerance for services that charge month. Aren't you already paying monthly for a dedicated fax line? In general that monthly charge will dwarf any internet fax service.
posted by bswinburn at 10:05 AM on October 9, 2014 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure this is an option at your price range, but the copier in my office has fax and scan functions included, and it is THE BEST. It just works. Every time. It wouldn't surprise me to discover that there's an added charge with the copier company, but it's worth looking into.

Also the ability to scan directly to email is a gamechanger.
posted by Sara C. at 10:18 AM on October 9, 2014

your best bet is to find a scanner that will scan to a network folder. That way you'll be able to access it from any of the computers that have access to that network folder.

you will not be able to connect a single scanner to multiple computers via wifi or ethernet.
posted by noloveforned at 10:18 AM on October 9, 2014

Best answer: I still stand behind my recommendations to get a Brother networked MFC. I can scan from any of the computers on the network, as well as scan to email. No monthly charge.
posted by Runes at 10:56 AM on October 9, 2014 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Seconding the Brother networked MFC, it works great and is dead simple.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:22 AM on October 9, 2014

Best answer: The Brother MFC is fantastic, I used one for years and still do although I'm replacing it soon. The document feeder to the copier/scanner has started acting up and fixing it just doesn't make economic sense.

To give you an idea of the life span I bought it in 2007/8 and am only replacing now.
posted by bswinburn at 11:25 AM on October 9, 2014

Best answer: I'm seconding a Brother MFC. I have this exact model, and it works wonderfully.
You need to install Brother's proprietary software, but it's easy peasy to use.
I think I got it on sale at Best Buy for $199.
posted by John Kennedy Toole Box at 11:46 AM on October 9, 2014

Response by poster: Thanks for all the input! We'll go with the Brother MFC.
posted by China Grover at 11:56 AM on October 9, 2014