Fax machine v Fax Printer ..advice needed

[chocbox]

My fax machine has died and my printer is on it's way out! I was thinking of buying a combined fax/printer but would I then have to leave the computer on all day to receive faxes? Is there an advantage to have a separate fax machine and separate printer? Advice appreciated. Thanks

We've got one of those, all in one colour prinetr, scanner, fax, photocopier things (Hewllet Packard about £300), and it is fantastic.

You don't need to leave the computer on the as unit is connected to the phone line, therefore you will receive faxes anytime. It works with broadband - i.e you can be faxing and on line at the same time, unless of course you have 2 telephone lines.

The printing is great - have printed off photos on it, and relatively fast and the scanner/photocopier has been a godsend. So taken with it my FIL and a work colleague now have them.

Thanks for your help Pollingfold. Does anyone know whether a cordless phone version exists?

I'm not sure what you mean by a cordless phone version. I have cordless phones in our house, but like those you need to have one base that connects to the telephone wire. The fax - as I assume your present one does, needs to be connected to the telephone wire awell. It wouldn't matter if you had a cordless or a normal phone to make it work

Are you thinking of a wireless connection - won't go into that now until I know what you mean.

The problem with these combined things though is that when it goes wrong (and it will), you will be without a fax and a printer. You can get a good printer and a half-decent fax for less than £300 - but you wouldn't get the copier though.

only just saw your posts. Pollingfold - I didn't make myself clear at all; I meant a portable/cordless handset. I need to buy a new fax and also need to buy a new cordless telephone and my printer is a bit troublesome at the moment (it doesn't rain but it pours) plus it would be useful to have a scanner so I was hoping to be able to buy the lot in one product to save space but I do agree with you SenoraPostrophe. I'm not too bothered about the photocopier though.