More Power To You PC connections make today's fax machines multifaceted workhorses.

What's the simplest and yet most important communication machine in your office, aside from your phone? If you're like most people, it's probably your fax machine.

While new technology has turned computers and other office equipment into sizzling performers for the 21st century, the biggest breakthrough in fax machines in the past five years was simply to come up with a plain paper version. Now, the humble and highly reliable fax machine at last sees its future: PC connectivity.

"PC or local area network [LAN] interfaces send and receive faxes, scan documents, and print through the PC or a LAN terminal," says Christian Herb of Sharp Electronics' Business Communication Systems Division in Mahwah, New Jersey. "The interface allows users to transmit directly to the computer when a hard copy is not required. In turn, documents created on the computer can be sent to the fax machine for transmission. An interface can reduce fax labor time and unnecessary supply expenditures."