Is there a way to send/receive faxes on the computer without going through a fax machine?

Sure. Google for “efax”. There’s plenty of ways to do it, for various costs.

There is the Microsoft Fax Console link

Or you can use an e-fax type service which gives you your own private fax # and you get them delivered to your email inbox

@mrlaconic

That’s the program I was already working with – according to the help info, you still need a local or networked device to fax through. Am I missing something?

@MrItty

That’s one of the ancillary programs I’m trying to avoid if possible. This is for a friend, and I like those programs, but she doesn’t want to go through those.

So…is there a way to use the microsoft fax console without having a device?

(this may be the link you included, @mrlaconic…but the link didn’t work).

The link is working – I think this is what I need. Thanks @mrlaconic!

I didn’t say anything about any program. I told you to Google a keyword. That Google search would have returned a couple thousand possible solutions for you. I was not recommending any program named “efax”. I was saying that what you are describing is an electronic fax, or e-fax.

1)
A modem allows your computer to send and receive faxes through the phone line. I can recommend the U.S. Robotics USR5637 . It simply plugs into a USB port, works with Windows and Mac OS, probably Linux, too.

2)
A fax service like MyFax.com lets you send & receive faxes without a phone line.

I am a happy MyFax customer. There is no software to install. Smply send your document as an attachment in an email to myfax.com.

Received faxes arrive via email as PDFs

@MrItty

Sorry if I wasn’t clear – I meant those are the kinds of programs I’m trying to avoid for her. She doesn’t want to incur any extra costs.

For more on fax services, including some free options, see the comments of these posts:

http://lifehacker.com/5633759/best-fax-service
http://lifehacker.com/5638049/best-fax-service-myfax