[Blindtlk] [nabs-l] braille note V. Sense V. Packmate

[David Evans]

Dear Chris,

It depends on who you ask which
one is best.  I have tried both and this is what I have observed.
The Pac Mate has certain features that give it some advantages over the 
Braille Note.
It uses a form of Windows PC that makes it work with other windows programs 
right out of the box where you may need to convert some things to work in 
the Braille Note.  This can be done, but it require more steps as I see it. 
It can also use some off the shelf hardware and software that the Braille 
Note can not make use of such as a bar code scanner and other things.
The Braille display , on the Pac Mate is detachable and can be easily 
removed and sent in for repairs with out sending your whole unit away.  The 
Braille Note and Apex both need to be send away for all repairs and you are 
without your unit and data until it comes back.
The Pac Mate has some draw backs too as it's construction is not as heavy 
duty as the Braille Note and Button covers often come off and need to be 
snapped back on.
I even dropped my Braille Note in a fountain in a hotel once and after 
letting it dry out naturally for a few days, was able to just plug in the 
charger and it came back to life with no problems.  I was lucky.  I did not 
make the mistake of trying to turn it on right away to see if it worked 
which might have shorted it out completely.
I like the size and layout of the Pac Mate better and disliked the keyboard 
of the Braille Note as the stretches are different and the locations of 
certain buttons is different that on my PC and lap top.

I think that the Pac Mate has more room to expand and better potential for 
development that does not require you to pay for expensive proprietary 
software upgrades every time you turn around.
I think that which every unit you pick, there will be things you like and 
things you don't, but you will learn to work with them and around them.
There is no such thing as a perfect note taker, just good ones and better 
ones.
The technology is always moving forward, so no matter what you get, 
something will be coming along to upgrade or replace it within 5 years of 
the time you get it.
Get what you can afford and what you like today and plan on replacing it in 
5 to 7 years.  There will always be something better, faster, slicker and 
radical coming down the road.  Use it and be happy.
You can always go to either the Freedom Scientific or Human Ware web sites 
and read up on each of the units before making up your mind about which to 
get.
Remember that the NFB has a 3% loan program for the purchase of technology 
to help you get what you want.
The program is run by Curtis Chong and the paper work can be had through the 
National Center or Curtis.

David Evans, NfBF and GD Jack.----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Âris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk list" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; <gary.legates at comcast.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 9:26 PM
Subject: [Blindtlk] [nabs-l] braille note V. Sense V. Packmate


>I can't answer this question since I have only used the BrailleNote.  But 
>maybe those of you who have had some experience with more than one of these 
>notetakers can add some input!
>
> Chris
>
> "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)
>
> --- Sent from my BrailleNote
>
> ---- Original Message ------
> From: Jorge Paez <computertechjorgepaez at gmail.com
> Subject: [nabs-l] braille note V.  Sense V.  Packmate
> Date sent: Wed, 18 May 2011 21:10:15 -0400
>
> Hi all:
> Just wondering,
> as far as note takers,
> which one in your opinion is the best or seems to be the industry leader?
> If so why?
> Which one seems to have the most feature-rich interphase?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jorge
>
>
>
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