Fax machine - keep or bin?

50Twuncle

If it is a thermal one - can you even get the paper these days ?

twhitehousescat

50Twuncle wrote: »

If it is a thermal one - can you even get the paper these days ?

yup , but only black/white

John_Gray

SouthUKMan wrote: »

Sorry, but the reality is that there is no practical use for a fax machine in 2017

The reality is that some - a very few - businesses still use them, like some people still use Windows XP. The technology still works, slowly, and does a job for those organisations who still prefer it.

onomatopoeia99

RumRat wrote: »

Apparently, they could make a comeback while we have a Government that spies on everyone....They say that the message cannot be intercepted, so is more secure than other forms of communications....
:think:

It's a phone call and those can be intercepted. Always used to be more difficult to intercept telephone calls on the PSTN than internet data (in terms of the level of oversight / authorisation required), but that may have changed with the most recent batch of legislation trying to monitor communications (I haven't read any provisions related to the PSTN).

There is no security on the data transmitted, so once intercepted it's easily read.

sillygoose

I visit a few small businesses that still have one in use, although they always seem to have an out-try full of spam, car lease deals, storage facilities, takeaway offers.... Not sure why anyone would want to buy a cartridge and a ream of paper every month, plus the dedicated phone line rent to receive that!

RumRat

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

It's a phone call and those can be intercepted. Always used to be more difficult to intercept telephone calls on the PSTN than internet data (in terms of the level of oversight / authorisation required), but that may have changed with the most recent batch of legislation trying to monitor communications (I haven't read any provisions related to the PSTN).

There is no security on the data transmitted, so once intercepted it's easily read.

You may be right....I've never looked into it in any detail. I know the Sony execs took to using fax machines again since their major hack.
I guess it could be done, but takes a bit more effort on the part of the hacker than with email etc.
Anyway, it's a mute point as I can't see them making a major resurgence. Last fax I received or sent was about 7 years ago.

PROLIANT

Take it to your local Makerspace Electronics group, there is loads of parts such as motors, gears and other bits that can be salvaged and used in projects.