[Dtb-talk] Flash Drives versus Cartridges: Updated Contact Information for Perkins Products

[Andrews, David B B (DEED)]

-----Original Message-----
From: NLS BARD Technical Support [mailto:BARD-SUPPORT at LISTSERV.LOC.GOV] On Behalf Of NLSDownload
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 12:14 PM
To: BARD-SUPPORT at LISTSERV.LOC.GOV
Subject: [BARD-Support] Flash Drives versus Cartridges: Updated Contact Information for Perkins Products

Hello List Members,

Perkins has changed the contact information they wish customers to use when ordering cartridges and cables for the NLS digital talking book machine. The message below is the same as the one we posted last Friday except that the Perkins contact information has been updated.

While some patrons have found thumb drives that do work with their NLS digital players, NLS does not recommend their use since  their performance can be unpredictable, and we have no control over the specifications used in the manufacturing of these drives. We frequently hear from frustrated readers who, when trying to use flash drives, have received error messages such as "No book available" and "Cartridge error." Others hear introductory material and then "End of book." We urge anyone with an NLS digital player who intends to download books from the BARD site to purchase blank cartridges designed specifically to be used with the NLS player. Of course, if you plan only to use NLS books supplied on cartridge through the mail, there is no need to purchase blank cartridges.

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Obtaining Blank Cartridges and a Special USB Cable

We encourage you to purchase both a cartridge and the special USB cable used to attach it to your computer.

Below are four sources for blank cartridges and compatible USB cables.


1.  American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH)
1839 Frankfort Avenue
P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206-0085
(502) 895-2405
800-223-1839 (Toll-free customer service in the U.S. and Canada) www.APH.org
Contact: Customer Service
cs at aph.org 

2GB Cartridge: $12.00
USB Cable: $5.00
Free Shipping


2.  Perkins Products
175 North Beacon St
Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 972 7308
(617) 926 2027 (fax)
www.perkinsproducts.org Talking Book Accessories section perkinsproducts at perkins.org 
 
1GB Cartridge: $10.99
2GB Cartridge: $11.99
USB Cable: $5.00
Free Shipping


3.  Howell Mobility Products
717 Louis Avenue
Royal Oak, MI 48067-4603
(248) 548-1788
(248) 548-1788 Fax (call first)
www.howellmobility.com
canes at howellmobility.com

2GB Cartridge: $11.00
USB Cable: $3.00
SHIPPING, HANDLING, AND SALES TAX CHARGES Howell Mobility Products says: "Shipping and handling rates for small cable and cartridge orders are less than our normal rates. For shipping and handling within the U.S. add $3.00 for up to 10 items. For over 10 items, use the regular rates, which total %5 of your order with a $7.00 minimum. For shipping outside the U.S. please call us. MICHIGAN RESIDENTS please ADD 6% SALES TAX."


4. Vistas
Braille Institute
741 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 663-1111, Ext. 1245
(323) 663-0867 Fax
www.brailleinstitute.org

2GB Cartridge (order #21601): $15.95
USB Cable (order #2141): $7.95
Shipping charge of $8 per order. Customers outside California pay no state tax.

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Downloading books to a cartridge entails essentially the same process as downloading to a flash drive; both are treated as external drives by your computer. Your local or regional NLS-affiliated library is available to answer any questions you may have about your free NLS player and downloading content to it using a cartridge.

We hope you find these postings helpful, and we send you all best wishes for many hours of reading pleasure.

The BARD Tech Support Team
NLS BARD Technical Support
e-mail: NLSDownload at loc.gov
Read the BARD FAQ at: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/NLS/FAQ.html