Faxstf X

Rating:
Summary: Never got it to work correctly
Review: After much back-and-forth with Smith Micro tech support, I was never able to send or receive a fax. This software is not ready for prime time, and was a waste of my money.

Rating:
Summary: The Best ( And Only) Fax Program for OS X
Review: For some strange reason, Apple has neglected to include the ability to easily fax documents with your computer in OS X. FAXSTF X is currently the only publisher of software so it's hard to compare it.

One of the most important things that the installation neglects to mention is don't install the software anywhere else except in the default location. Even though you have that option, if you do install in another directory or disk, the update will not recognize it and you'll have to delete and reinstall it again. And since FAXSTF gives itself root ownership, deleting it takes a little work. So install it into the default location.

The second thing is to make sure you download the most current version. The version on disk is for versions up to OS 10.1.2. If your use OS 10.1.3 or higher you must download the update from their site.

That said, the installation into the default directory is easy and painless. So it the update (which requires a re-boot of the machine), but must be downloaded .

Once the program is installed, faxing is easy - go to the printing center and add the modem as a printer. Now from any application, you simply select the fax as a printer and you're done.

Rating:
Summary: Beware
Review: I spent several hours yesterday trying to install this program and never did get it running. It simply does not work consistently. It crashes Appleworks most of the time and when it doesn't, it only successfully sends a fax about one in 6 tries. The rest simply vanish into the netherworld of lost data. I finally gave up and am going to try CoMa,Fax Express, eFax or one of the many others. Another reviewer had said this was the ONLY fax program available for OS X which is not true - there are several. I haven't had a chance to try any of the others yet, so can't give recommendations, but a quick Google search came up with quite a few. Tucows gives FaxExpress five cows, so that will probably be my first stop.

In any case, I can not get this to work with the latest version of OS 10.2.whatever (using the latest update from Smith Micro) and am giving up on Smith Micro... I was able to use it (sometimes) under OS 10.1, but even then it had problems. Another big disappoinment was the fact that I could not import my fax numbers from FAXstf for OS 9 (which is a real drag as I have hundreds of numbers in my fax phonebook). It is integrated with the Apple Address book (rather then having it's own phonebook) which is kind of funky as it makes for a lot of unneccessary steps. To send a fax, I have to scroll down the file menu to print, then go down the pop-up list to set the address, then open the address book, THEN click on the address I want and move it into the FAXstf menu. THEN, one has to set all the other preferences (like rather or not you want a cover letter or even something as simple as rather or not to put a 1 before long distance numbers) each and every time. It is a real pain not to be able to set general fax preferences and be done with it).

I used FAXstf for OS 9 for a long time and was very satisfied with it. It's too bad their version for OS X is so lame.

Rating:
Summary: keep looking, this is not the one for you
Review: I spent several hours yesterday trying to install this program and never did get it running. It simply does not work consistently. It crashes Appleworks most of the time and when it doesn't, it only successfully sends a fax about one in 6 tries. The rest simply vanish into the netherworld of lost data. I finally gave up and am going to try CoMa,Fax Express, eFax or one of the many others. Another reviewer had said this was the ONLY fax program available for OS X which is not true - there are several. I haven't had a chance to try any of the others yet, so can't give recommendations, but a quick Google search came up with quite a few. Tucows gives FaxExpress five cows, so that will probably be my first stop.

In any case, I can not get this to work with the latest version of OS 10.2.whatever (using the latest update from Smith Micro) and am giving up on Smith Micro... I was able to use it (sometimes) under OS 10.1, but even then it had problems. Another big disappoinment was the fact that I could not import my fax numbers from FAXstf for OS 9 (which is a real drag as I have hundreds of numbers in my fax phonebook). It is integrated with the Apple Address book (rather then having it's own phonebook) which is kind of funky as it makes for a lot of unneccessary steps. To send a fax, I have to scroll down the file menu to print, then go down the pop-up list to set the address, then open the address book, THEN click on the address I want and move it into the FAXstf menu. THEN, one has to set all the other preferences (like rather or not you want a cover letter or even something as simple as rather or not to put a 1 before long distance numbers) each and every time. It is a real pain not to be able to set general fax preferences and be done with it).

I used FAXstf for OS 9 for a long time and was very satisfied with it. It's too bad their version for OS X is so lame.

Rating:
Summary: Beware
Review: This software has majot bugs in that it will cut the bottom of your page also it will not discern letter from legal size of incoming fax and to make things worse, Smith Micro was aware of this problem at publishing time....