HP's new $699 LaserJet 3100 is based on the $400 LaserJet 6L printer but adds faxing, copying and scanning capabilities and could even justify itself as a stand-alone fax machine. Earlier laser faxes were heavy-duty units priced at $1,000 or more, while cheap fax machines use poor-quality thermal paper. The 3100 can hold 150 pages in memory along with 175 numbers for speed dialing and up to 25 fax-distribution group lists. The push buttons make controlling the functions easy, but HP also provides the superb JetSuite software from JetFax, which lets the user control all functions from the PC. Those who send a lot of faxes may want to move up to the JetFax M900 series, a more rugged line with prices starting at $2,495. Users can also equip computers for faxing at very little cost by adding a fax modem and a personal scanner such as the $99 Visioneer PaperPort VX.