Home Forums Discussions General Discussion [Deal] Canon MF414dw $169

I was recently evaluating MFC's from HP, Brother, Xerox, and some other minor brands (Sharp, Kyocera,etc). We've always been big HP fans but we were looking for an alternative to fax boards.

Almost all MFC's have some sort of PC-FAX option nowadays but a lot of them need a windows software client for it to function (Brother PC FAX). Also, another big issue I've seen is that the Print-To-Fax functionality doesn't work on Windows 10/Server 2016.

Canon's MFCs seems like the closest to a faxboard. The print and fax driver works on Server 2016 so you can install them on virtually any machine. Also, it can receive faxes directly in a folder (SMB or FTP) which is something that's mainly available on higher end machines like Sharp/Kyocera.

Canon Lasers imageCLASS MF414dw Wireless Monochrome Printer with Scanner, Copier & Fax
On sale for $170. Normal price is $250-ish

So, if I get what you're saying, this would allow you to receive faxes as PDFs directly through your walk-up fax machine. These PDFs could be directed to a folder on your server or on a central computer and shared so that those who need to see those faxes could access them.

This wouldn't necessarily be a plus for those using Updox?

You could use it in conjunction with Updox or to replace Updox. Updox lets you set a watch folder for importing into Updox. If you're using Updox, virtually any MFC will work since you can set the watch folder on a single computer and all the other updox users will be able to see it.

This is meant to replace Updox/Faxboard. Save into a shared folder on windows server and send from all computers. It doesn't require software on the client computer to receive/send.

Sandeep, thanks for the recommendation. Our set-up is to have the faxes come in on our own fax line to the MFC which puts them in a folder on the connected PC. They are then picked-up by Updox. This means there is no Updox charge for any of the incoming faxes. I have not checked this recently, but in the past my experience was that it was not easy to find MFC's that could easily be configured to do this. The Brother we currently use for this is getting a little old in the tooth, so will get one of these Canon's to replace it. Great price, and thanks for the tip.

Having the faxes in a folder of pdf's to be imported into AC is nice, Bert. And at that point, Updox significantly speeds and improves the process of importing them (and sending elsewhere, if needed).

I have been doing this for years with an HP (8600) in one office and a Brother (MFC8350???) in the other.

The issue about software is a real one as both have been affected by Windows 10 in allowing fax OUT. Prior to that all machines could fax out. Now some just don't work and I have not been able to figure out why. I spent considerable time with HP on trying to solve this issue and then my service agreement ran out. I have several machines with Windows 10 that work well but the ones I routinely use don't.

Receiving faxes has and remains flawless on both machines.

The ability to use it as a print to fax on all machines would be wonderful.

Thanks Jon. I probably would have used Updox a long time ago had I not started using F.A.P months before. It is still an incredible program.

We should make sure that everyone who reads this is on the apples to oranges page. An MFC should always fax out and receive faxes in paper. That is, obviously, standard. Depending on the cost or quality of the fax machine, you can look at the specs and make sure it has a "fax server." Many times, you have to order this separately and, installed, is about $250.00. That is what allows you the ability to receive faxes to pdf and to print to fax.

When I was looking at Muratec, Xerox, HP and Toshiba before I had a fax server on the server which was separate, the key to my decision was always the GUI of the program on the computer to allow print to fax. Most were an afterthought and were more of a hindrance. The best example is how programs like Medware and Lytec spend years and 50 developers on the billing, then maybe ten minutes on the scheduler.

Windows Fax and Scan generally works very well with the fax servers. Personally, if I were to purchase an MFC in the price range we are talking about (more than Sandeep's Canon for sure), I would just purchase it with the fax server. I think for many, the sales people don't really teach the average person the difference between the walk-up faxing capabilities and the ability to receive faxes by paper with a fax server. I would be like Mike, no lol, be like why do I need to buy a fax server to use my fax machine?

While we are on the topic, and this is a glitch with Surescripts, which is absolutely crazy. Surescripts decides what you can write or not write in certain fields of eRx. Like whether you can use a comma or ? (which you can't) in the Pharmacy Note. You are also limited in what you put in the dispense field. This may have changed in newer versions over 9.2, but you cannot write the word "boxes" in the dispense field. You have to type "boxs." It's embarrassing.

I also think Sandeep knows that many higher end MFCs have a fax server built in. My Xerox does not, but it can be added. He wanted to find a universal product he could sell to his customers that comes ready to do both. I think he found that in the Canon.

It is good to just get this topic out there. It is good to just get something on the board. Especially from the mods. Oops, sorry Wendell. Global mod. Sometimes I think Wendell doesn't even think about it.

The great thing about the Canon is the standard protocols: SMB and FTP which aren't going anywhere soon.

I also have HP's and Brothers but the problem I ran into is that they can't fax out from Server operating systems (including the latest iterations). A lot of practices are moving to Remote Desktop services (even the smaller offices) because it's easier to maintain with a single machine to update and backup.

Our go to was the HP M426fdw for small offices and the HP M512dn for the larger ones. Both of which can only receive faxes on Windows 7. We also virtualize everything now so getting dedicated fax servers is not very cost effective.

Can you elaborate on this, please?

I believe he is talking about using a terminal server (old term) and thin clients so there is nothing really on the clients, then accessing the app on the server. Less cost, no viruses, only have to update one program or add one program.

If you are buying all new hardware these are the cheapest. But I believe you can use any existing PC or laptop as "client".

Gene

Yep, Remote Desktop Services, formerly Terminal Services, is basically what Bert said. It's how AC in the cloud works too. All users work off a single machine so you only need to maintain and update one server. Another huge plus is that a user can move from machine to machine and have the exact same setup.

You can use virtually any client and it doesn't matter if it's wired or wireless. Performance is virtually identical. There are some things to look out for when implementing an RDS setup. For example thin clients aren't always the best choice if you have locally attached scanners like Fujitsu ScanSnaps. In that case you would want to use a windows-based "thin client" so you don't have to buy new scanners.

With RDS, you want to get all network devices if possible. Network scanners and printers. In the past network devices were significantly more expensive, now they are becoming the norm. For instance, Brother (ADS-2800W) now has a network document scanner that costs as much as a Fujitsu ScanSnap (a board favorite). It scans directly to the server like the Canon MFC above. Previously this was only available on higher-end models that cost $800+.

With affordable network printers, fax servers, and scanners on the market now, it's a good time to switch to RDS. We have RDS on all of our servers planned for 2018.

The other thing is if all of your desktops are nearing end of life, it's usually cheaper to implement RDS when you have 5 or more computers. You can even keep using them. When you need a new one, you can basically use any device so replacements are very cheap. Spares are easy.

Funny how we go back to the future. Used to use thin clients, then everything went full computer OS.

It sounds difficult, but it really isn't. The other thing in order to have RDS (and I may be wrong about this, but you may have to have a server OS). I also think in order for everyone to access the same app, you will need separate licenses for this. Sandeep can correct all this.

I am sure Sandeep would help in setting this up for those that are interested. J/K. I am speaking for him, and I speaking anonymously as I am not authorized to speak on the subject.

Anyone have luck or tips running fax over a voip line? Or is everyone keeping an old analog telephone line for the fax?

Having done VOIP since the early days (~ 2000), I can tell you analog is a significantly better fax solution for a number of reasons.

Ideally you would want to keep the old analog line. However, most carrier-grade VoIP (Spectrum, Comcast, etc.) will work fine with fax machine. They use NCS or IMS for voice transmission. The modems have built in eMTA's.

If you're using something like RingCentral or Vonage that uses the SIP protocol, most ATA's aren't very good. That's why these guys offer bundled fax services. Both have "reasonable" use policies that usually get practices in trouble for over-usage.

I felt stupid because I wanted to get one of the printers that Sandeep linked above for $170, but I delayed and the price for the past week went to $199.
Today it is $149 and for now I am not stupid.

The pricing is so strange. Thanks for the tip. I picked up a few more.

The MF416dw which is essentially the same thing except that it has NFC and PostScript drivers is double the price. Everything else is the same.

We love this scanner but have one annoying issue....
When attempting to scan/import directly into a chart using our Canon MF414dw, the default settings in the scanner dialogue screen in Amazing Charts are set to paper type: Legal (8.5 in x 14 in) and Color. We cannot seem to change the default. This means each time we want to scan a document, we have to find "Letter" from a drop down list of roughly 30 paper sizes, then select Black/White. Is there a way to change the default settings of this screen?

Are you using Windows 10?

This is due to an update to Windows 10 that broke the TWAIN driver/ScanGear for Windows 10. Canon hasn't yet released a patch.

If so, it reverts to the very limited WIA scanner interface that doesn't have the ability to save the last used option. If you go select Set Default Scanner in the import window and you can see two Canon options, then you probably have the TWAIN driver.



However, I typically use the Scan to Address Book option which allows you to specify a shared folder. This means you can import from devices without installing the scanner. If you're already using the Canon as a fax server, the staff is probably used to the drag and drop import method for PDF files. The other advantage is that the options can be all preset and the user doesn't need to initiate the scan from his or her pc.

Import directly from scanner always seemed like more clicks to me.