ISDN modems and interface cards use digital rather than analog technology, and are capable of much faster data transfer speeds-in fact, an ISDN interface is often four times faster than the speediest analog modem. For more information on ISDN technology, see the ISDN for Telecommuters section of this site. The cost of printers has dropped considerably over the past five years or so, and they also offer more bang for the buck than ever before. Ink jet printers now offer color imaging that approaches the clarity of a photographic print, and are nearly as sharp as laser printers. Laser printers have print cartridges that generally last a good deal longer than ink jet cartridges, however, and their print quality is still the standard against which all other printers are measured.
Most computers now come to market with built-in fax modems.
They are extremely handy when it comes to sending messages you've got in a computer file, and they can be directed to retrieve incoming faxes automatically. And in most cases your computer will have to be turned on in order to receive faxes. Dedicated fax machines don't have these limitations, but they do involve an additional expense. You may also fax information over ISDN lines. For more details, see the ISDN for Telecommuters section of this site.