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ComputerTalk Magazine 5
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ART10
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1992-10-27
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73 lines
╓───────────╖
║ ZOOM 9624 ║
║ FAX/modem ║
╙───────────╜
by Tony Curro
I will be reviewing several FAX/modems over the coming months. This
month I took a look at the ZOOM 9624 external FAX/modem. This modem
transmits a fax at 9600 baud, and is a 2400 baud modem. ZOOM has several
internal and external modems in this line. They do have one that is also a
14.4 modem.
You can buy the modem without Windows software if you are not a
Windows user. I tried out both the DOS and Windows portion. For DOS you
receive MTEZ Comm., which is both communications and FAX software. While
both portions worked well, I was not overly impressed with the FAX portion.
Both incoming and outgoing faxes were readable and had a sharp look to them
when printed out on my LaserJet IIP.
WinFAX, a slimmed down version of the popular WinFAX Pro is the
software that is bundled with the modem if you opt for the Windows
software. I was very impressed with this program. You can have it start up
as a default if you desire. It is possible that the Windows environment had
something to do with this, as it is a graphical interface.
I have had a few readers ask me: "Why would I need a FAX modem if I
already own a FAX machine?," "How do you send a FAX over a modem?" There
are many times, as we do use our computers for word processing, when we are
typing a letter that has to be FAXed. It requires us to send it to our
printer, and then via a FAX machine to its destination. I found myself with
a 31 page document that I had to FAX. I printed out all the pages, and then
stood by my FAX machine feeding several pages at a time. A FAX/modem would
have eliminated these extra steps.
To answer the second question, it is the same as a printer. When
you install the software it asks which com. port are you using. You select
1 or 2, and the program sets itself up. When you are ready, say from
Windows, to send a FAX you select WINFAX on COMX as your default printer.
Then you select print from you menu as you normally would. Instead of the
text going to your printer it goes to a file on your system. WinFAX pops up
and asks you to supply a name and number for the FAX. You can get around
this by adding names and numbers of people you often send FAXes to into the
phonebook. After you select this information you tell the software when you
want the FAX sent. It could be set for now, in several hours, later that
night, next day, next month, and so on. You have complete control over
these aspects. Of course you system must be on, and WinFAX must be running,
either on screen or as an icon, in order for the FAX to be sent or
received. I do not have my computer on 24 hours a day, so I do like having
both a FAX machine and a FAX modem. I use the modem mostly for sending
FAXes.
If you are the market for a new modem, or are upgrading to a faster
one, I suggest you take a look at these modems. That are relatively
inexpensive. I would have thought that modems with these capabilities were
more expensive than they are. The street price can run from $75-260. The
cheapest being the 9624 internal, while the high priced one is the 14.4.
Windows fax software can add $10-20 to the price.
╓──────────────────────────────╖
║ Product Information ║
╟──────────────────────────────╢
║ ZOOM 9624 ║
║ FAX/modem ║
╟──────────────────────────────╢
║ List Price $149 (external) ║
╟──────────────────────────────╢
║ ZOOM Telephonics ║
║ 207 South Street ║
║ Boston, MA 02111 ║
║ 617-423-1072 ║
╙──────────────────────────────╜