5. Faxes - pros and cons
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Faxes are a fairly inexpensive method of sending a message - just the cost of a telephone call along with paper and ink for receiving faxes |
If the fax is using the same number as the telephone then it can prevent callers from getting through or calls being made. |
They are simple to use and require very little training |
There is no immediate response or feedback from the recipient like there is with a telephone conversation |
They allow exact copies of hand written information or images to be transmitted without having to prepare it in any special way. |
You might dial the wrong number and send your document to someone else |
As long as the fax machine is switched on, messages can be received at any time day or night. |
If the receiving machine is busy, your Fax will not be delivered, although you can set it to re-try a few times |
They don't need any specialist installation or cabling as they make use of the existing telephone line |
The quality of the document which is received is often poor and might have lost some of the fine detail. |
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If the receiving machine is busy, your fax might end up under a whole load of other faxes which arrive after it |
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It can take a long time to transmit if you have many sheets of paper |
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The fax machine can run out of paper without noticing it. |
Challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you
Click on this link: Fax