A quick guide to Windows Vista Business Edition
Published: 06 Dec 2006
Windows Fax and Scan
Enhancements to this feature make it an experience that's more like using Outlook.
The ability to fax within Windows is nothing new, but under Windows Vista the feature gets a significant upgrade. In Windows XP, you can access the Fax Center via All Programs / Accessories / Communications / Fax, Fax Console. For scan and camera file importation, you can access that via All Programs / Accessories / Scan and Camera. In Windows Vista Business Edition, you simply type Fax or Scan in the Quick Search space. The new Windows Fax and Scan interface vaguely resembles Microsoft Outlook, with a directory tree along the left side, recent faxes in the upper right, and a preview pane in the lower right. It's interesting that Fax and Scan is no longer a feature of Home Premium; only the Windows Vista Business and Ultimate editions include the Windows Fax and Scan feature. That could be because future versions of Exchange Server will include the ability not only to share and store email and contact lists, but also to share and store voice messages and faxes it has received.
Scan works just as easily. Click Scan and Windows Vista lists all the available scanners and multifunction printers on the network. From there, you can set up how each device will scan a document and store the profile for later use. Previous versions of Windows allowed you to scan from a device attached to one PC. Windows Fax and Scan also allows for network integration.
Other enhancements include linking the Outlook Address Book with Windows Fax and Scan. Just click the contact you want to fax, fill in the subject line and attach any documents &mdash: just as you would when sending an email. Further, Windows Fax and Scan integrates email, fax and scanning into one user experience.
PreviousRelated articles
Should businesses upgrade to Vista?
Buyer's Guide IT managers need to consider whether Microsoft's new Vista operating system is worth installing — and if it is, when the roll-out should begin. [30 Nov 2006]
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