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Need Recommendation for Printing/Fax Solution for an iMac
Posted on 2016-07-29
Hello,
Earlier this year I purchase an iMac computer for my mother who lives out of state. I am not much of a Mac person - my experience is limited mostly to iPads. I am going to visit her next week and want to finish setting up her home office and give her training how to use her computer. She currently does NOT have a printer or fax machine. I am looking for advice on a single multi-function machine I can get her that would meet these needs, be easy to use with the Mac, and be easy for her to use. I have a strong preference for laser over inkjet. I have purchased many Brother MFCs over the years, but am open to other brands.
There are a few complications. First, my mother lives in an older home that is not wired for cable and has limited phone jacks. There are two cable outlets downstairs, one of these is used for their Comcast ISP. Last year I got them set up with UPB devices so she now has high speed internet in her office (that is located upstairs). She does not, however, have a phone jack in her office. The multi-function device I want to get her should be sitting on her desk near her iMac. I live three time zones away. Ideally, I should be able to send her a fax any time of day or night and it should print out without her needing to do anything.
My first idea is to find out if there is a UPB like solution that will enable me to add a phone jack in her room via the power lines. Any suggestions? My concern is that something like this would interfere with her current UPB that is used for internet access. Is this a potential issue?
FYI, there is no easy way to physically route a telephone cable to her office. We would need to cut a lot of holes to get the cable up to the attic and then down to her office.
If a Powerline-like solution will not work, is there some software for the Mac that I can get her that would allow me to send faxes from my end using my Brother MFC without her needing to get involved? I could set her up with a RingCentral account, but she uses a free email account that is not very secure. I would not feel comfortable sending her sensitive work docs this way.
Second complication - my mother has an emotional aversion to wifi. This is why we needed to install a UPB solution for internet access. I know it is not logical. When I was there last I showed her 4-6 wifi signals for neighbors that are in her house. Wifi is not an option. I don't know what AirPort is. If I can call it something like Apple Bluetooth, my mom may find it acceptable.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I leave for my mother's next Wednesday and would like to have a plan in place beforehand. I may even want to order the devices in advance so they are there when I arrive. Thank You!!