HM>  KD>> For a Sysop, (and one that runs a multi-line, multi-computer BBS)
 HM>  KD>> FAX is not a issue... No one really needs it....  I'd like to see
 HM>  KD>> what others think about not having FAX in the SupraFAXmodem
 HM>  KD>> 28.8K externals...
(sorry, missed original post - this is to the person whose initials are KD)
I beg to differ. When you call our BBS, you get a short pause before the
modem picks up - that is called Silent Answer.
We use FAX on our BBS modem because we receive a small volume of faxes, and
only run a 1 line BBS. We can afford to not get our faxes instaneously if a
user is online - the sender can try again later. And it saves alot of money
on junk faxes that would have gone to print on a standard fax machine.
Lack of FAX would take alot of functionality AWAY from the computer, rather
than give it. My opinion is if Supra (or anybody) were to take the FAX out of
FAXModem, we'd be taking a big step backwards. The FAX/VOICE/DATA modems are
part of the next step in modems, and are essentially the thing that the a
computer, especially those in home situations (admittedly not multi-line
BBS), uses to interface with the "real world".
The goal in computers is integration, not de-integration, because if all the
parts which used to be seperate were taken apart again, we'd be in awful sad
shape. As for those running the big multi-line BBS's, having FAX isn't
necessarily useless - you can make use of it even if you never in your life
send a personal or a business FAX of your own. You are already providing a
multi-line service, probably with fees to pay for the equipment, and email,
fidonet and maybe usenet, so why not add another service for a small use
charge, and let your users make local FAXes through your system. There is
software available to do this, and if you can set it up, it's a popular
service.
The point is, Fax is *not* useless these days.
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