Fax and me...

Last night I faxed quite a few pages from home using my very own "new" Fax machine. It might sound very strange, but yes I did finally aquire this equipment. With scanners, windows fax and first and foremost when using Fax from Work is considered a standard perk worldwide, I doubt now a days anyone would even think to purchase a "stand alone" Fax, but I did.

Couple of weeks back I had to fax few pages urgently to our agent. I told him that I can send him the scanned copy but he was keen on fax only. So at 9 in the night I had to rush to local Fedex Kinko's store. And I could not believe it.....sending 14 pages locally cost me around $20. Exorbitant! Is it because demand is low? I cant justify it ever as local telephone calls are free, so I was paying literally for using their machine. The store manager accepted the fact but also mentioned that now a days hardly any one use this mode of communication. Anyways very next day while browsing thru Fry's I got hold of a brand new Canon Fax (on clearnace ofcourse) and price I paid was exactly $20! I am sure the cartridge itself would cost more than the machine's price. All pricing logic fail here!

Reminds me of 16/17 years back...1992/93. I was eagerly waiting for my appointment letter from HR of C-DoT. On my last visit to NewDelhi, the HR secretary gave me enough clue that my name appears on the list but with nothing else in hand I was desperate to get that appointment letter. And when the promised day passed by with postman giving an apologetic look I decided to call the HR office. Those days the STD charges were at its peak, I think for Raipur-Delhi during office time would cost me 30 or 40 Rs per minute. Me absolutely "bekar" could not think of requesting this amount from home just to check have they sent the apptmt letter or not.

And then came FAX again...Fax to the rescue. The neighborhood STD/PCO/FAX guy asked me why don't I use Fax. Sending a half page would cost only Rs 20, you can put more words than you can speak probably and you have the mental piece of knowing it is already at HR desk! Better than the courier or speed post. Over the next few weeks while entire country was virtually shut down post Babri Masjid and C-DoT HR working at its slowest pace for valid reason...Fax was only method of communication for me.... The same Fax which is now considered extinct.

I feel proud of my new Fax machine and will keep it at my desk for as long as I can.