eFax Review – Mac OS X Supplement

This page is a complement to our larger eFax Review – but focused specifically on OS X Users.

Mac Compatibility Rating

eFax Mac Friendly Factor – Moderate

Mac Faxing Pros

  • Majority of sending and receiving can be done over email & web interface
  • eFax Messenger software has a version for Mac OS

Mac Faxing Cons

  • No Compatibility with iWork (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) Native File Formats
  • eFax Messenger (Desktop Software) has no way to change or edit cover pages on Mac version
  • Features such as signature stamps and faxing directly from a scanner cannot happen on the Mac version of eFax

Overall, the system works for Mac users very much like the version in the full review, however the Mac version of eFax is lacking some of basic functions, such as the ability to edit cover pages in eFax messenger, as well as file formats frequently used on the Mac OS.

Therefore, we consider eFax as having a moderate level of compatibility with eFax – the system functions, there is adequate infrastructure in place to make it work, but there are a few small things that we believe would cause Mac OSX users some trouble while using the system.

Full eFax on Mac Review

Overall eFax Functionality on Mac OS X

Sending and Receiving

Overall, the process of sending and receiving faxes on Mac works very much the same way as in the overall review of the software. With the basic functions of eFax, users can send and receive faxes over the email and web based interface on Mac OSX the same way they would with any other operating system.

Integration with Mac Based Email Systems

With the exception of some of the file formats and hiccups listed below, eFax works well with any email system, whether it is Mac OS X Mail, Thunderbird, another application, or a web based email such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, or other format.

Sending a fax by email in OS X is as straightforward as it is sending it in the main review, and does not depend on

Integration with Mac OS X

Integration with individual programs happens through the print driver, as is common with many faxing based programs.

To send a file directly from a program within OS X, select print and then choose to print by sending a fax from eFax.

This will open up an eFax Messenger window, and allow you to send a fax the same way you would as shown in the main eFax review.

It appears that his should work for any program that has the capacity to print, as the file is converted over to what appears to be PDF format before sending it.

Contact Integration

eFax Messenger is able to access fax numbers listed on a Mac address book when composing a fax, while composing a fax through email accesses the information listed in the address book already.

Mac Hiccups

There are two places we find that there are “hiccups” in the eFax Service with Mac OS X

Custom Cover Pages

We see a major frustration for users in the fact that we cannot find a way to edit cover pages on the Mac version of eFax Messenger. It appears that the Mac version of eFax messenger does not have this ability – and it is not an option that can be edited through the web based interface. To edit cover pages, users would need to install a copy of eFax Messenger on a windows version of their Mac through Bootcamp or Parallels, and customize their cover pages from there, or find a windows computer to do the same.

Once a cover page has been customized and it is set to default, however, that page can be selected when faxing from the eFax web or email interfaces.

Signature Stamp

Like the custom cover pages option, setting up a signature stamp appears to require the use of the Windows version of eFax Messenger, for the same reasons.

Fax from Scanner

One option we covered in the full eFax review was the ability to fax directly from a scanner with eFax through eFax messenger.

The Mac version of eFax messenger does not appear to have the option to fax directly from a scanner – users will need to scan their document, save it as a PDF or other compatible file type, and then fax it from that format.

File Compatibility with Popular OS X File Types

File compatibility with Mac is adequate to function, however could be improved. Users who are not using Microsoft Office or Open Office will likely need to convert their file formats to PDF or TIF/TIFF in order to fax.

While users have the option to fax a document from the program using the print driver as mentioned above, or by converting a document to a PDF, TIF/TIFF, TF or similar format, we would have liked to see the ability to directly send iWork and other Mac based file formats directly in their native file format through the email and web based interfaces.

Users should note that there is no native support for the file formats that iWork suite deals with, such as .pages files. iWork users will need to save their file formats as RTF, Microsoft Office, or alternate save formats.

Mac users who run Microsoft Office or Open Office (as well as Star Office) should have few problems, as the system supports file formats such as DOC/DOCX and Open Document (as well as Star Office file format).

Conclusion

90% of the time Mac users will be able to use eFax with the Mac OS X operating system. The other 10% of the time – for example setting custom cover pages, stamps, or having to convert documents to a file format that may shift the document around from its original format – Mac users will likely find frustrating, especially if they do not have access to a Windows based system.

That being said, eFax on the Mac keeps the majority of its functions when it comes to everyday operations.

Online Faxing with Mac OS X

Our Full eFax Review

eFax Comparison Guides