From: lfoard@Turing.ORG (Lawrence C. Foard)
Subject: Re: Pet Peeve "No E-mail"
Organization: The Turing Project, Charlottesville Virginia.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 00:28:44 GMT

In article <1992Jul22.133340.22153@auto-trol.com> mattel@auto-trol.com (Matt Telles) writes:
>[ i'm only answering one of these so I have time to go check my FAX  :) ]
>
>In article <1992Jul22.001926.9815@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> lfoard@Turing.ORG (Lawrence C. Foard) writes:
>>In article <1992Jul21.133111.11125@auto-trol.com> mattel@auto-trol.com (Matt Telles) writes:
>>>Sigh.  No, e-mail is *nowhere* as efficient or easy as FAX. 
>>
>>Where do you come up with this? Sending e-mail is as simple as
>>mail [employeers] <resume.txt
>
>Oh really?  Would you like a list of 100 companies in this area that aren't on
>Internet?  

Assuming these are large computer companies, there is a large intersection
between the set of 100 companies not having net access, and the 100
companies which using/selling the most outdated technology.

Given the choice would you rather work for a company that can keep up
or one thats fallen behind? (not to say people always have that choice)

>They all have FAX machines.  The net is a wonderful thing, but it is
>really pretty small.

I can name 100 people around here who don't have faxs but all have e-mail
access. A fax costs 100's e-mail is free or only dollars/hour.

>>Faxing it requires:
>>Printing the document if it is not already printed, which assumes that
>>you have a decent printer available.
>
>Of course it doesn't.  If you don't know about FAX boards yet I will refer you
>to the proper articles...

I know about them, but e-mail is a higher priority since communicating with
people who are willing to learn to use e-mail is generally more productive
than communicating with people who are afraid of anything new.

>>Putting paper in fax machine (assuming you own one), dialing the number
>>and hoping that the fax at the other end isn't busy.
>
>As opposed to finding an e-mail address, hoping that your computer can talk to
>their computer, hoping the phone lines are up..

I have lists of most people I correspond with online, or a simple 
grep through old mailbox files will find the address. Finding a phone
number when you don't know the city is virtually impossible (actually
I usually use finger for that :)

>>Paying long distance phone bill much higher than that incurred even
>>if you have to UUCP the same text long distance.
>
>*Somebody* pays that bill.  Just because it doesn't happen to be you doesn't
>make it any less expensive.

Is it cheaper to send 1K of text over a packet switching network, or
is it better to send 10K or more of graphics over a phone line at 9600
baud which is then converted to 64K baud by the phone company for long
distance transmission.
Your looking at atleast a factor of 100 in cost.

>>E-mail is delivered in under a minute to any place with an IP connection.
>>In a company with a direct link E-mail is going to arrive before the
>>FAX. Even with UUCP if you set it up for quick delivery it will only take
>>minutes.
>
>Erk.  Are you *kidding*???  I regularly use e-mail at work (I'm not opposed to
>it, I just think FAXing is easier).  It often is a two or three day turnaround
>to get things done.  With a phone and FAX, the turnaround is usually in the 2
>hour range....

Either your e-mail link is broken or people only check there mail once every
other day. A simple adjustment of equipment or e-mail reading habits would
fix it. I often get a response in minutes from e-mail.

>>No one I know who has e-mail access uses FAX to communicate with another
>>person who has e-mail access. 
>
>I see.  Nobody.  Nowhere.  Noone.  Hmm, could it be because you are posting from
>a edu? 

Actually its a .org :)

>Not that there is *anything* wrong with schools.  Nothing at all!  Quite
>the contrary (to avoid the obvious flame war).  It is just that FAX machines are
>generally found in the business world, while e-mail/net access is more popular
>in the edu world.  A difference of viewpoint, if you like.

The business world is behind the schools, the solution is to move the
business world forward, not to move the schools backwards :)

>>Your the first person I've ever seen advocate FAX over e-mail, the only
>>advantage FAX has is that more people have fax access at the moment.
>
>I seriously doubt I am the only person to advocate FAX over e-mail.  Quite to
>the contrary, you rarely see anyone off the net advocating e-mail.  The world
>just isn't ready for a paperless society.  I wish it were, but it isn't.

One of the vice presidents of a multi billion dollar company that I talked
to was very much in favor of completely removing all unneeded use of paper
from the company. 

>BTW, I have nothing against e-mail.  I use it all the time.  I am just pointing
>out that there are alternatives which (in my opinion) are better, quicker, and
>easier.  FAX is one of them.
>
>One more thought before I go.  Ever try sending e-mail from a car?  It can be
>done with a FAX.

Never heard of a cellular modem?

You could even take along a color scanner and mail 600 DPI uuencoded gifs
from your car :) Now try that with a fax machine...  

You could even run IRC and several muds from your car, of course this
might interfere with your ability to drive...
-- 
>>Unix/C Contract worker available 5 years C/unix work experience<<  ______
Available for Telecommuting/Travel and contracts on the T Line       \    /
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