More than just the fax: multifunction PC peripherals have arrived.

Whether you have a small home-based business or a large company, a multifunction peripheral might be right for your needs. These versatile units can help you do a lot of work, and the don't take up a lot space.

Multifunction fax machines come in two basic groupings: three-in-one and five-in-one units. Three-in-one machines typically include a stand-alone facsimile, printer and copier. The five-in-one versions add PC faxing and scanning capabilities. These feature-laden machines take up a corner of an office and cost less than it would to buy separate machines to perform each task.

"Multifunction machines are very personal," says Harold Frost, owner of Riverside Systems Solutions, a computer consulting business in Riverside, Conn. "They work best for home-based businesses with two or three employees because [small home-based businesses] don't have heavy volume." Frost also says multifunction periphefals can increase the efficiency of star performers who generate a lot of work because they'll never have to leave the office.

Even larger companies that have dedicated copiers and fax machines can benefit from these models. A multifunction unit can scale down trips to regular fax machines or copiers, which usually have workers queued up. "Businesses are putting a multifunction in a department where they're trying to save time for the users who work there," says Peter Davidson, editor of FAXreporter, a monthly trade publication based in Hackensack, N.J.

But there is a downside to using these machines. Most multifunction devices can do only one thing at a time. If you're faxing, you can't print; if you're copying, you can't fax. In a small office, if one person has to do a large job, it ties up the machine--and the company.

"People shouldn't think at multifunction machines are better than single function devices," warns Davidson. 'If you have a lot of copying, it might be better to get a dedicated copier."

Davidson also advises consumers to check the quality of the faxes or copies that multifunction devices produce. Ink-jet machines tend to make images that are less sharp than laser fax machines. "The quality of the printout will vary tremendously," he says. "There are some situations where even laser fax machines don't print well."

Before purchasing a multifunction unit, you should also consider whether your employees need technology like PC faxing and scanning. A regular fax machine works better than a fax modem, even when they're running at the same speed. When sending a PC fax, the modem tends to disconnect more often and use more time to deliver documents. The PC scanning option can be an exciting addition, but all you may really need is a typist who can input text correctly. Scanned documents need to be cleaned up once they're inside your PC, so you'll need time to learn how to clean up documents with your application. You must learn the application properly to attach scanned documents to e-mail, one of scanning's main perks.

So, take a look at the various machines, compare prices, assess your needs and check the quality of the final product they deliver. Here's a sampling of machines currently on the market:

Canon's MultiPASS1000 plain paper fax machine integrates a PC fax, bubblejet printer, telephone, scanner and copier. The functions are operated through the computer via its Windows-compatible software. The 17x13x7 machine retails for around $1,000.

The Sharp FO-4850 is a plain paper laser printer, scanner and copier with PC fax modem capabilities. The 18x19x14 machine retails for about $4,000.

Savin's SAVINFAX 3640 plain paper laser fax machine is priced in the $3,000 range. For about $600 more, you can add an optional printer interface to the 19x18x9 machine for printing, or for $400, a PC/fax Expander for scanning and PC faxing.

Sanyo's SFX-P55 is a plain paper ink-jet fax machine, copier, telephone and computer printer. For less than $100, you can add software for PC fax modem and scanner options. The 17x7x11 machine is priced at less than $1,000.

Lanier's 5010 MFD is a plain paper laser fax machine, printer, copier and fax modem. The 2Ox21x12 machine has an estimated cost of under $4,000.

Panasonic's Sigma-100 is a plain paper laser fax machine, printer, scanner and fax modem. This brand-new model will cost in the $2,600 range.

Brother International's MFC-4500ML series machines offer plain paper laser fax, laser printer, laser copier, PC scanner and fax modem capabilities. These machines will cost in the $1,000 range.