xdab@ellis.uchicago.edu (David Baird) (11/13/90)
Has the Wisdom of the Net had time to gather impressions or experiences regarding the DoveFax box for the Macintosh. This is the 9600-baud fax modem and a 2400-baud data modem that is currently being advertised in MacWEEK in full page ads. Does it work reliably? Does it take special software to send a fax, what can be sent as a fax, and what do the documents received look like? Is it intelligent enough to be able to distinguish a voice call from a fax from another computer attempting to make connection? What is the pricing available for it? Any other comments regarding it? Thanks for your help. -- X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X X David Baird xdab@midway.uchicago.edu X X University of Chicago d-baird@uchicago.edu X X University Computing Organizations (312) 702-7161 X
drz@po.cwru.edu (David R. Zinkin) (11/13/90)
In article <1990Nov12.214843.10656@midway.uchicago.edu> xdab@ellis.uchicago.edu (David Baird) writes: > >Has the Wisdom of the Net had time to gather impressions or >experiences regarding the DoveFax box for the Macintosh. This >is the 9600-baud fax modem and a 2400-baud data modem that is >currently being advertised in MacWEEK in full page ads. I've been using my DoveFax modem since the end of August and am very pleased with it. (I purchased mine from MacWarehouse.) >Does it work reliably? I haven't had any problems yet. The software included with the modem is extremely stable even in the current beta version (1.1b3). >Does it take special software to send a fax, what can be sent as >a fax, and what do the documents received look like? The modem comes with the DoveFax INIT and Chooser driver for sending faxes. I just select the DoveFax in the Chooser as I would any other printer, set the modem to "Fax" mode, change any settings which are important to me (such as how many times the phone should ring before the modem picks up), and I'm off. I also use the Chooser to switch the modem back to data mode. Basically, anything that can be printed can be sent as a fax. I've faxed documents from Excel, MSWord, MacPaint, and others. Specific incompatibilities (mostly with outdated software such as Excel 1.04) are noted in the extensive compatibility notes file included with the modem software. As for received documents, I've been receiving the SprintFAX "Persian Gulf Crisis Report" for the past few days and the documents look spectacular when printed on my HP DeskWriter. When compared to a "real" fax document, there are no perceptible differences. The Dove FaxManager software (included with the modem) also has extensive facilities for viewing faxes. I grew tired of printing the Persian Gulf reports (as did one ink cartridge), so now I view them on-screen at 200% normal size. It's extremely readable -- there are no problems I can find, anyway. >Is it intelligent enough to be able to distinguish a voice call >from a fax from another computer attempting to make connection? Not unless I've missed something in the documentation (not all that unlikely, to tell the truth :-) but I have had someone dial in with the modem still in fax mode. The modem went off-hook and produced an annoying tone in my friend's ear, just like most regular modems which are left in auto-answer mode. >What is the pricing available for it? The prices I've seen vary widely, from $260-300. >Any other comments regarding it? There are two strange omissions from the DoveFax. There's no volume control, though the tones aren't very irritating to me so I don't find it a problem. The second omission is the normally standard on/off switch. Instead of actually switching the modem off, I have to put the modem in "Data" mode and leave it alone for about two minutes, after which it goes into "Sleep" mode. Running a term program or switching the modem to fax mode "wakes up" the modem. I haven't found this to be a problem, but if you really want an on/off switch you can get one of the switch-cords used for "remote" control of lamps. (Sorry I can't be more technical about it; that's how I generally refer to it.) The only real problem I've run into is not actually the fault of the DoveFax. Some modem/terminal software (such as MacTerm, part of SideKick for the Mac) fails to close the serial port properly. If this happens, the current DoveFax software will give an error message when I try to switch to fax mode. Running and quitting one of the "allowed" term programs (ZTerm and White Knight are supposedly included) will close the port properly, as will simply restarting the Mac. Even though this is not Dove's fault, a fix is promised for the "release" version of the DoveFax 1.1 software. (They've promised that the upgrade will be free -- way to go, Dove!) I'd also like to say how much I like Dove's Tech Support department. It's a toll-free call (amazing!) and I'm always given an answer to my questions -- if they can't answer right away, then they call back within the hour. In short, I would recommend this modem *very* highly! >Thanks for your help. You're welcome. Send me E-mail if I can be of more assistance. (Or post it if you think others would be interested.) >-- >X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X >X David Baird xdab@midway.uchicago.edu X >X University of Chicago d-baird@uchicago.edu X >X University Computing Organizations (312) 702-7161 X > **-----> Dave Zinkin (INTERNET: drz@po.cwru.edu) DISCLAIMER: I don't work for Dove. I'm just a very satisfied customer.