# How much longer does the fax machine have? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968 "2013-07-19T19:23:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/1 "2013-07-19T19:23:55Z")
India just stopped its telegram service after more than 160 years. I’m praying the fax machine doesn’t take as long to die. The rate of technological change is accelerating, and the younger generation doesn’t fax, they snapchat. I figure we have 5-10 years at most before faxing is toast. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/2 "2013-07-19T19:55:40Z")
We’ll need the healthcare and insurance industries to go away first. Both are still heavy faxers. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/3 "2013-07-19T19:56:52Z")
Who the hell faxes these days? Scanners are everywhere. Just scan and email! I bet it has been at least 5 years since I used a fax. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/4 "2013-07-19T19:58:17Z")
As far as I’m concerned, it’s been dead for over a decade already. But some people Don’t Get The Message. E.g., I am trying to do a bank account transfer. Fill out forms online. Download and print the forms. Fill in the parts that somehow aren’t allowed to be filled in online. Then mail or fax the form. I want this done ASAP. Mailing is a problem. Faxing? You have got to be kidding me. I’m going to be scanning them anyway, why can’t I just email the scans? There are some “free” online fax services. I upload my scans to them and they will fax them on. Do I really want to trust my bank account info to one of these sites? (All it takes is one rogue employee or an outside piece of malware and it’s big trouble. Who knows if they have any standards or liability protection.) I have VoIP instead of a landline. My ATA can’t be used to send outgoing faxes (e.g., using a old fax-modem gathering dust in the basement). I have no idea what is going on with these pea-brains. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/5 "2013-07-19T19:58:27Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > Who the hell faxes these days? Scanners are everywhere. Just scan and email! > > I bet it has been at least 5 years since I used a fax. Like **gotpasswords** says, insurance and healthcare. I still have to fax to those two places several times a month. I wish I could scan and email, but they don’t accept it. I _do_ scan and fax via an online fax service. But it’s much more of a hassle than just emailing. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/6 "2013-07-19T19:58:57Z")
As if now, scan and e-mail is still less convenient than faxing. 1. Scanners are not everywhere 2. It requires an extra step ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/7 "2013-07-19T20:13:26Z")
The fax machine was invented in 1843 (well before the telephone) so it has had a good run so far. The criteria for ‘dying out’ implies that no one uses it for anything anymore. I don’t see that happening altogether for the next 50 years or more at least. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/8 "2013-07-19T20:13:44Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > As if now, scan and e-mail is still less convenient than faxing. > > 1. Scanners are not everywhere > > 2. It requires an extra step Anybody who argues that faxing is more convenient has never tried to locate a fax from 2 years ago. Good luck. I can find a 2-year old email in less than a minute. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/9 "2013-07-19T20:17:18Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > The fax machine was invented in 1843 (well before the telephone) so it has had a good run so far. The criteria for ‘dying out’ implies that no one uses it for anything anymore. I don’t see that happening altogether for the next 50 years or more at least. 50 years! I am going to develop a time machine and travel 50 years into the future just so I can meet the person who is still faxing and give him the world’s biggest look of disapproval. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/10 "2013-07-19T20:24:08Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > Anybody who argues that faxing is more convenient has never tried to locate a fax from 2 years ago. Good luck. I can find a 2-year old email in less than a minute. I have never needed to find an old fax. And the idea of record keeping is quite distinct from the idea of whether fax_ing_ is convenient. As someone who had frequently sent faxes but hardly ever having needed to receive them, scanning and e-mailing is not worth my time. If you need a record, you can scan it at your end. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/11 "2013-07-19T20:27:08Z")
> [@cainxinth](#): > > 50 years! I am going to develop a time machine and travel 50 years into the future just so I can meet the person who is still faxing and give him the world’s biggest look of disapproval. I would like to know who was still using Western Union to send telegrams within the U.S. until they stopped the service in 2006. Quite a few people still were however until the very end. It doesn’t take many people using something to prevent a true die out of a technology. > **[STOP — Telegram era over, Western Union says](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11147506)** > > Western Union has sent its final telegram, ending an era that began with Samuel Morse 162 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/12 "2013-07-19T20:38:54Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > Anybody who argues that faxing is more convenient has never tried to locate a fax from 2 years ago. Good luck. I can find a 2-year old email in less than a minute. Ok…GO! ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/13 "2013-07-19T20:44:07Z")
Faxing is very useful if you want to write to your elected representatives in Washington. If you send them a letter via USPS, it’s routed through an irradiation facility and is delayed. Email isn’t advisable because they receive far too much email already (much of it generated by email webforms or templates) and it has little impact. A signed, faxed letter to your congressperson and senators will be read and you’ll likely get a response. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/14 "2013-07-19T20:46:51Z")
Faxing is useful if you need to transmit a signed document. Not everyone has a scanner. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/15 "2013-07-19T20:50:05Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Faxing is useful if you need to transmit a signed document. Not everyone has a scanner. I don’t actually understand this argument. Not everyone has a fax machine these days, either. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/16 "2013-07-19T20:51:21Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Faxing is useful if you need to transmit a signed document. Not everyone has a scanner. I wonder if more people have scanners than faxes. I actually can’t think of a single person with a fax machine (except at the office.) But plenty with scanners (usually in all-in-one printer combo-type things.) ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/17 "2013-07-19T21:23:17Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I wonder if more people have scanners than faxes. I actually can’t think of a single person with a fax machine (except at the office.) But plenty with scanners (usually in all-in-one printer combo-type things.) Can’t most of the all-in-ones fax, though? Mine does. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/18 "2013-07-19T21:29:15Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > Can’t most of the all-in-ones fax, though? Mine does. Maybe you’re right. I thought mine was just scan, print, and copy. I don’t even see a way I could type a phone number into it (HP Deskjet F380.) Besides, I also know plenty of people who don’t even have a land line (and I didn’t for about 8 years until my wife wanted one as a backup.) ETA: OK, it looks like the one I have doesn’t have fax support, but others do. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/19 "2013-07-19T21:35:03Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > We’ll need the healthcare and insurance industries to go away first. Both are still heavy faxers. This is unfortunately true. God, can we send a giant meteor to smash the life out of this f-ing useless dinosaur already? Faxes may be more commonplace than scanners, but they’re crappier, and when we finally put them to their long overdue death, we can all use scanners like civilized people. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968/20 "2013-07-19T22:14:36Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > Anybody who argues that faxing is more convenient has never tried to locate a fax from 2 years ago. Good luck. I can find a 2-year old email in less than a minute. My employer has a big Rightfax server and whoever needs it gets a dedicated number. So anything sent to my personal Rightfax phone number appears as an email attachment in my inbox, basically the same as a scanned attachment. So it’s _almost_ as easy to find a two-year old fax as it is to find an email. (The incoming faxes aren’t directly searchable, though, so I’d have to know the date of the two-year-old fax to find it.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-longer-does-the-fax-machine-have/663968.md?page=2)