Well Dick, if you don't remember then let me remind you about how Faxing from my Mac, a conversation with Steve's secretary and Jane in 1998 concluded with Apple sending me a free copy of MacComCenter.
I had purchased the G3 Telecommunication Package from Apple; a Special Computer according to their ads and the modem didn’t work. After many days of phone calls to Apple techs, billing, and up the food chain my first Apple experience almost turned into a legal matter. It was in pursuit of a solution to this issue that brought me to NoWonder to begin with. Apple finally sent someone from CompUSA to my office because they could not refute the conclusion that the telephone engineer made when he stated that the modem was bad. The CompUSA tech had never worked on a G3 or a Tower before, but rambled through the modem swap.
There was an abundant variety of extra software included in the Telecommunication package but what was noticeably missing and primary to my purchasing this expensive computer was the fax option. Back on the phone, back to dealing with service, and now on to my attorney. I had the advertisement of proof in my hand and Apple was claiming the their was reliable no fax option, I asked then why advertise it if it’s not true, “well there is an option but it doesn’t work well” they claimed. “What’s the option?” I asked? “MacComCenter” they said, “where is it” I asked? “You have to buy it” they said. Yuh right, see you in court….
I have had a detailed experience with fax software, had I known what I was doing I would have just bought a cheap G3, a fax machine and saved myself the hundred dollars in phone calls, special communication packages and hours of frustration. I knew more about fax software than any other segment of my computer. For some reason Apple was discounting MacComCenter as being a solution, stating on the phone that it did not work.
One day, shortly there after a call came in when I was out and Jane answered. The person on the other end was Steve’s secretary, (recorded) responding to our attorney’s inquiries no doubt, but after looking into our argument apologized profusely and offered to send us something called MacComCenter.
We can still use MacComCenter today, even on a VoIP phone.
It is very detailed, professional software with many, many options and preferences. It is not only a fax program but a answering and recording center. FaxSTF is also very detailed about sending and receiving Faxes. (90 page instruction PDF) Many choices to make, many ways of making mistakes when setting up your preferences.
I can understand why you had trouble with it Dick, so did I, but I studied it all until I was blue in the face and once I understood the language and options it worked. It’s far more complicated than Mac Users are used too and maybe that’s why Apple didn’t promote it.
QUOTE
Apple Power Macintosh G3 Adds Communications Package
New Power Macintosh G3 Configuration for Retail and Reseller Channels
MARKHAM, Ontario March 6, 1998 --- Apple Computer, Inc. today announced the availability a new communications package for the Power Macintosh® G3 (233 MHz Minitower model). Available through retail and Apple® authorized resellers, this configuration offers a built-in 56Kbps modem and a suite of top-of-the-line communications software.
With a built-in 56Kbps modem and latest in communications capabilities, the new Power Macintosh G3 retail configuration is ideal for customers seeking easy access to the Internet and email.
Communication Software
Software provided with this configuration include Apple1s latest operating system, Mac® OS 8, which offers both Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator web browsers, in addition to America Online software. The communications package includes Adobe PageMill, a web page design package; SurfWatch, an Internet filter; and FaxSTF BE send and receive fax software. Personal productivity software packages include Microsoft Bookshelf '98, reference works that enables users to expand their searches on the web; Now Up-to-Date & Contact, a personal information and schedule manager that lets users drag and drop information into web pages. Also included are popular game software, Master of Orion II, which lets users play with others over the Internet; and Jack Nicklaus 4, which lets users play among opponents via LAN, Apple Remote Access or the Internet.
Pricing and Availability
The new Power Macintosh G3 (233 MHz Minitower model) configuration is available in United States and Canada through Apple authorized resellers for an estimated retail price of $2,899 CDN.
The retail configuration of Power Macintosh G3 (233 MHz Minitower model) with communication bundle includes: 233MHz PowerPC G3 RISC processor/56Kbps modem/32MB RAM (supports up to 384MB)/4GB Hard Drive/24x-speed CD-ROM drive (maximum)/512K level 2 backside cache/66MHz system bus speed/ATI 3D RAGE II+ 64-bit graphics accelerator chip/10BASE-T Ethernet/16-bit audio playback and recording/three 122 PCI slots.
http://www.apple.com/ca/press/1998/03/G3Communications.htmlQUOTE
STF Technologies Announces the Release Of FAXstf Pro 5.0
Business Wire, June 22, 1998
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 22, 1998--STF Technologies, Inc. has announced the release of FAXstf Pro 5.0, its next generation faxing system, which builds on the FAXstf 5.0 product that Apple now bundles with its new G3 Powerbooks and G3 Desktops with modems.
FAXstf Pro 5.0 offers a NEW elegant FaxBrowser interface to simplify fax management. This brand new interface is unique in its simplicity and intuitiveness, yet is powerful and robust. The FaxBrowser interface allows users to manage faxing from one window with full Drag and Drop support.
Some of the powerful new features include: fax markup and editing, custom cover page editor, custom page headers, AppleScripting for fax processing, Caller ID support and new and improved QuickNote with live preview. Additionally, users can also import other vendors' archived faxes (including Global Fax) directly into FAXstf Pro 5.0.
Also, included are STF standard features of Smart Dialing, background imaging, Fax scheduling, calling card support, superior gray scale of 256 shades of gray, fax broadcasting, the ability to combine faxes and support for over 400 modems.
"We are extremely proud of the tremendous development effort involved in creating this world class product," said W. Rick Wyand, STF President and CEO.
FAXstf Pro 5.0 can send and receive faxes to and from any fax machine or computer. Users can send faxes from within most applications such as Microsoft Office 98. FAXstf Pro 5.0 is the ideal faxing system for the home or office. The American Facsimile Association has selected FAXstf as the best Macintosh fax software for the last three years.
To order, FAXstf Pro. 5.0, contact STF at 1-800-700-1299 and/or visit our web site at
www.stfinc.com. It will be available for shipment by July 1, 1998. However, you can reserve your copy by calling now.
STF Technologies, founded in 1988, is the original developer of fax software for the Macintosh. The company is currently broadening its product line to include fax, data, voice, Internet, and e-mail communications for business and home users. STF software has millions of users worldwide. For information on STF Technologies, visit the companies web site at
www.stfinc.com or call 816/220-0100 ext. 121.
FAXstf is a trademark of STF Technologies, Inc. Apple is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Microsoft Office 98 is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Global Fax is a trademark of Global Village Communications, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: STF Technologies Inc., Blue Springs
Richard Connelly, 816/220-0100 ext. 121
rconnelly@stfinc.com
QUOTE
BRMUG
BRMUG August 1998 Newsletter
* This is the index of the August 1998 BRMUG Newsletter: Features:
o Faxing on the Macintosh by Douglas Szot
Front Page News
August Meeting
Faxing on the Macintosh
by Douglas Szot
My experience has been fairly pleasant. I run system 7.5 something with a external practical pheriphical 14.4 modem with MacComCenter software (I finally did order a new USRobotics 33.6 last week) the two were very easy to set up and test out after you load the software which didn't take much more than inserting the disk and highlighting a few simple choices.
Then you plug in the modem to a power source and a telephone line. To test things out there's a pull down window that opens which gives you a keypad choice and looks something like the keypad on a phone set. As soon as you open this window you'll hear the dial tone. If you don't you forgot to plug in the phone line or somebody is on your line already. Next step just dial a number any number this will then give you the key tones and the connection ringing of course somewhere after that you'll need to hang up. Which is under the same pull down menu that the key pad was found if all goes well, and it most likely will with this combination, you just need to start working with it.
You may set up there standard fax cover page by entering your name or company's name. Also if you have graphics to be used on your cover such as logo then it can easily be put in as well or just skip over this and do as we do and create a special file in Filemaker Pro this is a template we us to just fill in the blocks so to speak that has our Company letter head, automatically dates the document, then I enter the TO and ATTN portions plus a small text area to explain what we need or are offering etc.
Once this is set under the file menu drag down to the word Fax and release this automatically activates Mac-ComCenter weather the program is already open or not.
Now enter your fax number or choose from your preset up list of fax numbers, which may be updated on the fly as I like to say in other words if you just entered a new fax name and number which is not already on your list just hit the add icon and you'll have a addition to your list of numbers, press the send Icon and away it goes if at first it does not succeed say the line is busy it'll automatically re dial in three minutes under the default setting. Which can be adjusted to your preferences. There is also a import feature where you can import fax numbers I haven't used it though.
There are several others options such as FAXing to multiple numbers although it's not a demon dialer. Upon start up of your Mac MacComCenter is activated automatically through a extension if your not plug in to a phone line or it does not hear a dial tone it'll advise you, at that point you can just ignore it or correct it by plunging it in to a phone line.
Now on as for receiving it works pretty cool as well. I leave my 7100 on all the time because we receive FAXes at all times of the day and on the weekends as well. We let it do it automatically all the time. A little window opens up in the lower left hand corner which tells you the area code and telephone number of the incoming fax none of which interrups what your currently working on. After it completes receiving there is a little message left in the center of your screen stating you have received a fax and how many pages are involved. With opening a window you may now review the document then file it away ,trash it or print it out. I use this a lot for keeping track of things on a per project folder, weekly folder, quarterly, etc. basis less paperwork.
You may receive fax's on a manual basis if you choose but you do need to understand there is several different types of ways fax machines connect and don't connect. What I'm trying to point out is most will stop trying to connect after x number of rings then there is a limited number of connect attempts they make after the other end picks up. Its only takes highlighting and releasing on the manual connect button as far as the software goes but these other factors play in so it just works best for us to let it do it automatically.
The down falls I have come across with our particular situation was since I didn't have a dedicated phone line for the fax alone and we have a multi line phone system it took a good amount of understanding of how to hook in a switcher box on the line we use for the fax but overall another thing because the fax is run off one of the Mac's in the office it needs to stay on 24 hours a day which was not a problem just that if we have a power surg that shuts off the mac then it does not come back on automatically and were not ready to receive FAXes until the next morning when we reboot the machine. Third I do have some problems with the connection not closing or something of the sort. Some situations where say a wrong number comes in and the caller hangs up but the software doesn't recognize it as completion or termination of a call this then builds a small file of 9k of course there's nothing in it and if I don't look at the get info before opening the file I'll get lock up. This is a somewhat common problem but not as long as I review the file size first anything with only 9k goes to the trash. But hey I need to reboot once in awhile anyways.
http://www.brmug.org/newsletter-html/nl-199808.php
