CNET'S QUICK GUIDE: Windows Vista Business Edition

Windows Fax and Scan

The ability to fax within Windows has been around, but under Windows Vista the feature gets a significant upgrade. In Windows XP, you can access the Fax Center via All Programs, Accessories, Communications, Fax, Fax Console. For scan and camera file importation, you can access that via All Programs, Accessories, Scan and Camera. In Windows Vista Business Edition, simply type Fax or Scan in the Quick Search space. The new Windows Fax and Scan interface vaguely resembles Microsoft Outlook, with a directory tree along the left side, recent faxes in the upper right, and a preview pane in the lower right. It's interesting that Fax and Scan is no longer a feature of Home Premium; only the Windows Vista Business and Ultimate editions include the Windows Fax and Scan feature. That could be because future versions of Windows Exchange Server will include the ability not only to share and store e-mail and contact lists, but also to share and store voice messages and faxes it has received.

Scan works just as easily. Click Scan and Windows Vista lists all the available scanners and multifunction printers on the network. From there, you can set up how each device will scan a document and store the profile for later use. Previous versions of Windows allowed you to scan from a device attached to one PC. Windows Fax and Scan also allows for network integration.

Other enhancements include linking the Outlook Address Book with Windows Fax and Scan. Just click the contact you want to fax, fill in the subject line, and attach any documents--just as you would when sending an e-mail. Further, Windows Fax and Scan integrates e-mail, fax, and scanning into one user experience.

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