First Look: Panasonic’s Laser Fax/MFP

Wayne N. Kawamoto
Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com

Panasonic began shipping its Panafax UF-790 plain-paper laser fax. With an MSRP of $1,795, the UF-790 is a fax device that works with a PC and can fax, print, scan-to-file or scan-to-e-mail.

A document fed into the UF-790 is scanned at 2.8 seconds per page. As soon as the first page of a document is scanned, the UF-790 is designed to immediately dial a recipient’s fax number. The scanned data should be transmitted to the destination via the standard 33.6 kbps Super G3 modem in as fast as three seconds per page. The UF-790’s flash memory is designed to store up to 120 pages (maximum 760 pages with optional memory). This, coupled with the 50-sheet automatic document feeder, should enable a user to transmit several high-volume jobs without having to wait around.

The Panafax UF-790 has a built-in parallel interface and should work as a 600 x 600-dpi laser printer that prints approximately 6.5 pages per minute. The multitasking UF-790 should enable a fax to be transmitted from memory at the same time a PC document is printing.

From their PCs, users can scan, edit, store and send image data. With the UF-790’s TWAIN-compatible, 400-dpi-image scanner capability, paper documents can be converted into PC data in one easy, scan-to-file operation. Scanning with 64-level halftone should produce sharp, clear reproduction of both text and images.

Documents can be scanned from the Panafax UF-790 directly to a PC desktop using the standard Panasonic Document Management System software. And with a drag-and-drop operation, these documents may be attached directly to e-mail messages. Also, faxes can be transmitted directly from a PC.

Servicing the Panafax UF-790 may be simple with the Check & Call feature, which automatically reports low toner status and certain mechanical problems to a service center. If a more complicated problem arises, help is just a toll-free call away to Panasonic technicians who use Remote Diagnostic Software (RDS) to troubleshoot over the phone line. The software also allows for remote retrieval and updating of machine settings, managing autodialer entries and viewing the meter count.

Additional features include:

– 9000-page, all-in-one consumable toner cartridge.

– 132-station autodialer.

– QWERTY keypad.

– 250-sheet recording paper capacity (expandable to 500 sheets).