I just want to add my two cents worth.  I have implemented Fax/3000 solution at
two clients and both are happy.

There different types of fax servers to be considered in choosing which one you
may want.  First to consider is to fax out or fax in.

The criteria for Faxing in are completely different than the Faxing out.  There
are very few solutions that do both well.

The biggest area of concern in choosing a fax server is the volume.  One fax
modem is limited in the number per hour that can be accomplished.  If there is
volume, whether you are looking at NT, PC, or HP then the solution must have
multiple fax modems.  When you start approaching the problem from a volume
standpoint, PC type solutions, I do not beleive provides an elegant solution.
If you choose to fax through a fax modem on the 3000, then your development
costs would go up.

These are some of the reasons why you start with a fax server solution vs a fax
modem solution.  But the most important reason may be the functionality that
the fax server hp3000 based products bring to the table.

If you did not have these products, then each individual fax would need to be a
separate file or spoolfile in order to print.  With the host based products,
they provide this capability for you.  Now with little or no changes to your
software, you are ready to go.  The long term costs to implement are
significantly less in this arena.

Finally, let me relate a story of a non HP3000 host based product integrating
it with the HP3000.  The salesman says what is the big deal, you ftp your print
files to my server. It is that simple.  It took days to convince management
that it is not that simple, breaking up the spoolfile, putting in the products
fax commands, determining standards of ftp 1,000 individual files nightly
between machines, making sure all got sent out, arranging for mail copies for
people without fax machines, and the list went on.

As far as the costs are concerned, fax solutions can be cost justified easily
through labor reductions.  If you had to manually fax out 1,000 faxes per day
from a report, it takes many fax machines and many people full time.

From my experience, a fax server should pay for itself in a month in reduced
labor costs, reduced paper costs, reduced mailing costs, more timely delivery
of information.

Terry Warns
OakSoft Consulting