Unbelievably bad
Written: Jul 28 '03 (Updated Jan 27 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It works periodically
Cons: It doesn't have key features and fails more often than not
The Bottom Line: FAXStf is pretty much worthless. use FaxCenter (http://www.macadvocacy.com/faxcenter.htm) instead.
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| chimmy's Full Review: Smith Micro FAXstf Full Version for Mac (STFMACKES... |
When I send a FAX, I want the presentation to represent me. I want it to be professional, neat and well-designed. I want it to be readable and clear and result in a favorable impression. But before all those considerations, I need the software to actually work. FAXstf doesn't work very often. When it does work, it does a hideous job.
Here's a typical FAX interaction: I receive paper or a FAX that needs to be filled out and FAXed back to the sender. Either scanned or exported, the files get opened in Photoshop and signed. Then in Photoshop I print them to the FAX software. I then expect the FAX software to send the result to the number provided. Sounds pretty straight forward, right?
Well, FAXstf makes a separate file for each page, each including a cover page. For a 6 page form, I now have to send 6 cover letters and 6 separate pages. There is no way to envelope of bundle these together, so there will need to be 6 separate long distance phone calls to the same number. The receiver now has to weed out the useless and redundant cover pages. Worse, if another FAX comes in between these 6 separate phone calls, it inserts an entirely different FAX into my FAX pile.
If that wasn't bad enough, there is no way to reorder the FAX queue. FAXstf seems to send the separate files in random order; so page 4 is followed by page 2, which is then followed by page 6, etc. This happens even if you got the right sort order selected in the "Out Box."
The software is baffled by phone numbers. If I send a note to a different area code, I have to remember to manually add a "1" before the area code or the software erroneously reports a busy signal. The only way I could get international FAXes through was to manually send them.
Once the FAX has actually been sent, it disappears from the interface. It always takes me a few tries to figure out where it went. A simple check-mark eluded their interface designers.
I've never successfully received a FAX without picking up the phone myself and manually receiving it. The software is just too slow to pick up the modem in the allotted time.
I have no idea how to enter a phone number into the address book. I suspect there isn't any such thing. I've entered a large number of numbers when sending FAXes, but the software doesn't remember them. In the example above, where I'm sending a 6 page FAX, I needed to enter the name and number six separate times; once for each page of the FAX. If I got the name or number wrong, I could find no way to correct it, so I had to throw out that one and start over again (which re-ordered the pagenation.)
The log doesn't log many activities; even with the "log all activities" button checked. The interface doesn't provide you with a way to know if a FAX went through; the FAX just disappears. Renaming faxes doesn't work; they revert to their original name after they've been sent. This isn't even beta software quality.
Oh how I miss Global Village's Global FAX software. FAXstf is worthless. I had hoped that Apple's own FAX system, built in to Panther (OS X 10.3) would resolve the problem, but it is so incredibly limited in features to be rendered useless. However, all is not grim, Ben Mackin's FaxCenter (http://www.macadvocacy.com/faxcenter.htm) is a very capable replacement. It has none of the faults of FAXstf and many more useful features than Apple's built-in FAX.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
chimmy
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Location: Bear Flag Republic
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Chromis cyanea, i.e. Blue chromis
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