LOVE this machine

Our fax server died, leaving us with just an old analog fax. That also killed our ability to scan documents by faxing them to ourselves (not the best system, but it worked). Terrible for a company that has to send documents across the country! So, we needed a solution for faxing and a solution for scanning.

We priced out some fax services, and then it dawned on me - why not just upgrade our copier? Not only was it cheaper to add faxing capabilities to our Canon copier, but this also gave us an integrated scanning, faxing, and printing capability.

The Canon's performed wonderfully. I can fax documents from any desktop. The printing and copying speed is great. The scanner can send documents to any email address, to any folder on our server, or to a storage mailbox on the machine.

The interface is mostly straightforward. Even the executives can figure it out! For example, to send a fax, you place the documents as if you're making a copy, select "Send", type the fax number, and hit the big green button. Done. The process is similar for email. (Though, if you want, you can define the file name, subject line, and enter a message before emailing.)

Also, you can always access the machine's status via internet using its IP address. This means if someone wants to know what happened to their fax, you can easily check the log without leaving your desk - especially helpful if you work from a remote office!

There are some quirks in the way the address book is handled. For example, if you want to email a document to a frequent contact, and you hit "Send" and chose via "Email", you've hit a dead end. You have to back OUT of the "Email" section in order to access the address book, where you can then look up the contact's email. It's a little silly - seems like there should be a way to look up contacts' emails from the email screen. Similarly, the "Address Book" contacts are accessed separately from the "One-Touch Button" (i.e. speed dial) contacts.

If you want to save files to a network folder, it basically has to be set up as an address book or one-touch contact (or simply email it to yourself & save the file from your computer), because the whole process of locating the network place and entering your network user name and password, etc., takes a few minutes. Once it's set up as a contact, though, it works like a charm.

There is a program on one of the CD's to design your own cover sheets for desktop faxing, but it's VERY clunky and limited. You can include your company logo, but not a lot of choices as to what fields you can include (there's not even a Re: line!) The fax sheets that come by default are pretty bad too. If you need a spiffy coversheet, you may have to print your document out, get off your chair, and fax it from the machine.

All in all, we've had very little difficulty with this machine, and it has been an INVALUABLE addition to our office. Highly recommend the Canon 3035 with optional fax and scanner to any office looking for an integrated solution.