Annoying: No fax in Home Basix or Premium

[dkkruse]

I pay a lot of money for Home Premium, try to send off a fax and nothing.... After searching control panel, internet etc. No Fax for home versions, only business and ultimate. AAARGH! That's basic stuff! At least I could fax from XP!

 

[Nothinman]

Faxing is basic home user stuff? I can count the times I've needed to fax something on one hand and all but one were business related, I think you're in the extreme minority in even noticing that it's missing.

 

[dkkruse]

Granted, faxes are becoming quickly antiquated, but we still have to deal with them from time to time. A *PREMIUM* OS should have that capability.

Anyone know a good cheap fax console? Am I really the only one annoyed by this?

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Faxing is basic home user stuff? I can count the times I've needed to fax something on one hand and all but one were business related, I think you're in the extreme minority in even noticing that it's missing.

There are a lot of things that are put into the home versions of Windows that almost no one ever uses, by your logic should they all be thrown out?


But the biggest issue is there are no faxing programs. The only good one was WinFax, but about 7 or 8 years ago the company was bought by Symantec, the product was pretty much ignored. WinFax is not even fully compatible with Windows XP. There are no alternatives. Period.


I'll try out my HP OfficeJet, though I'm almost positive FAX drivers are not written yet (they'd have to be built into Vista, HP offers nothing Vista on their site for any printer).

 

[Piuc2020]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Faxing is basic home user stuff? I can count the times I've needed to fax something on one hand and all but one were business related, I think you're in the extreme minority in even noticing that it's missing.

There are a lot of things that are put into the home versions of Windows that almost no one ever uses, by your logic should they all be thrown out?


But the biggest issue is there are no faxing programs. The only good one was WinFax, but about 7 or 8 years ago the company was bought by Symantec, the product was pretty much ignored. WinFax is not even fully compatible with Windows XP. There are no alternatives. Period.


I'll try out my HP OfficeJet, though I'm almost positive FAX drivers are not written yet (they'd have to be built into Vista, HP offers nothing Vista on their site for any printer).

What he means is, in this day and age faxes are mostly business related and even so their use is diminishing, the chances of a home user needing fax capabilities are so slim for Microsoft to just ax fax support on home versions without causing a big problem for anyone.

Why do you even need to send a fax for?

 

[Nothinman]

There are a lot of things that are put into the home versions of Windows that almost no one ever uses, by your logic should they all be thrown out?

Yes, it would be less maintenance for MS and they could work on things that people actually use.

But the biggest issue is there are no faxing programs.

Which should be a sign that there's no market or need for them.

 

[bsobel]

But the biggest issue is there are no faxing programs. The only good one was WinFax, but about 7 or 8 years ago the company was bought by Symantec, the product was pretty much ignored. WinFax is not even fully compatible with Windows XP. There are no alternatives. Period.

Not ignored, there is no longer a market. Most people simply use eFax or jConnect and a local scanner. In most cases, a scanner to pdf is the primary document transfer means. I've used it for everything from keeping track of bills to submitting loan documentation. Email has greatly overtaken faxing for this purpose.

Bill

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: dkkruse
Granted, faxes are becoming quickly antiquated, but we still have to deal with them from time to time. A *PREMIUM* OS should have that capability.

Anyone know a good cheap fax console? Am I really the only one annoyed by this?

I don't have vista and see where you're coming from, thanks for the heads up! I'm now just as annoyed as you..

 

[dkkruse]

Originally posted by: Piuc2020

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: Nothinman

What he means is, in this day and age faxes are mostly business related and even so their use is diminishing, the chances of a home user needing fax capabilities are so slim for Microsoft to just ax fax support on home versions without causing a big problem for anyone.

Why do you even need to send a fax for?

My photography is pro quality and often I need to fax in releases to get prints made, I had to send a reference letter by fax to the government, I have had to send something to our accountant and financial institution. Not all businesses are ready or willing to take electronic documents. My hospital still uses film for its X-rays. In an ideal world, all will be digital but that is far from the case.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Originally posted by: dkkruse
Granted, faxes are becoming quickly antiquated, but we still have to deal with them from time to time. A *PREMIUM* OS should have that capability.

You know what they say about assumption...

 

[Nothinman]

My photography is pro quality and often I need to fax in releases to get prints made, I had to send a reference letter by fax to the government, I have had to send something to our accountant and financial institution. Not all businesses are ready or willing to take electronic documents. My hospital still uses film for its X-rays. In an ideal world, all will be digital but that is far from the case.

I never said that absolutely no one ever will need to fax something again, I just said that:

A) it's not basic home user stuff
B) he's in the minorty for needing it at all

Which I still firmly believe.