[Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays

Mon Feb 27 17:18:08 UTC 2017

Thank you Evelyn! I know about the discontinuation, but they are still
being sold so that is why I asked. I have no way to examine the
products myself. I wasn't sure of their relevance, although thay can
still be purchased. Tracy, so the Vario Ultra is can be used for both
then? I've heard of it, and I guess you answered my question about the
differences between the two. So how do you connect it to you iPhone?
Though I am not thrilled about typing on a flat piece of glass, I am
not planning in staying home and doing nothing for the rest of
whatever's left of my life so I want to make sure the investments are
right. This is NOT pocket change!

Annette, I was strongly considering the Orbit for the price. If I can
save, I can afford that on my own. Thanks Judy for explaining. I'll
review the Orbit again. If it can store files as well as be portable,
that should work. I do like the ability to read books and such without
being connected to anything. That is why I was initially interested in
the HumanWare products for their versatility. People used to store
books and music for later, even surf the Web while flying the friendly
skies! Lovely! and could fit into a purse or carry-on! How is the U2
Mini different from the BrailleNote devices?
Jasmine, this is exactly what I was getting from another guy's post! I
don't want to be caught unable to access a website I need. So I guess
that is why it's been discontinured! I've been seeing many of them on
a classifieds list! TThanks Ashely! And Thanks Jim! I did not know
that the Ultra and Edge did not speak. Not sure why I thought they all
did. We do have a program and ironically I used to live right there in
the city where it is! I did not need them back then and now I do and
will likely have to travel back to them. *sigh!* to check out the
offerings. Geez!

Finally, how do you all connet your notetakers to the Net?

On 2/27/17, Jim McCarthy via Electronics-Talk
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Dannielle
> Assuming that you reside in one of the United States or its territories,
> there is an Assistive Technology Act program available to you. Part of what
> these programs are challenged to do is to make available a large collection
> of devices in a product category. So as an example, I oversee Maryland's
> program and we have the majority of devices you asked about in this email.
> I
> am suggesting check out your state's AT act program first, but it may not
> have the selection you really need to see in order to make the choice. If
> not getting that information may be a bit more difficult. These programs
> also should permit you to borrow displays so you can try before you buy.
> Your email highlights some of the choices for consideration and  suggests
> you may be making the purchase yourself rather than getting it funded by a
> state rehabilitation agency. As you say, these devices are expensive and
> one
> would not wish to make a purchase she will not be happy with in the long
> run. Notetakers come with the programs built in, calculator, calendar,
> email
> client, internet browser and perhaps some more for NLS books and a few
> more.
> These devices, of which the Apex definitely is one, have speech in addition
> to refreshable braille. There are devices somewhere less in features like
> the braille Edge and the Vario Ultra. These have the ability to take notes
> perhaps storing on storage media, or in the case of the vario ultra, on
> media or internally. Finally, there are devices like the BraillePen and the
> Focus, probably also the Smart Beatle, that have no storage but drive an
> IOS
> and Android device with the keyboard and allow the user to receive braille
> output. The smart phone has all the applications, many are accessible,
> several are not, and even those that are may not have been tested by blind
> users or built with our needs in mind. This class of display, like the
> vario
> and the edge, do not speak. Because one is using the smartphone for speech,
> that may not matter. For programs on the vario, word processing, calculator
> and so forth, there will be no speech. For me personally, when I have lots
> of reading, I manage better by listening than reading in braille, but there
> are lots of reading apps for smart phones so I can manage that fine. Of the
> products about which I am aware, I think the Vario Ultra to be my
> preferred,
> but it is not the least expensive, it's note taker functions are relatively
> complicated to learn and perhaps a few other things against it if I thought
> for a while. I owned an Apex for a long time and still do. During its life,
> I had probably 5 instances when I needed to send it for repairs. I am
> pretty
> sure I purchased it in 2010 so that is almost one repair per year. In my
> opinion, the email and web browser functions of the device are antiquated,
> easy to master for blind people, but very slow and not efficient. The
> company will not update that but if one has a smart phone and pairs the
> apex
> to the smart phone, you have the power of that browser or your choice of
> browsers and the same for email programs. It seems the bottom line is to
> see
> as many of these as you can, talk to their users and try to determine how
> you expect to use the device. You will have it a rather long time and quite
> a bit of money will be paid for it so shop wisely now.
> Jim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Danielle Ledet via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 8:30 PM
> To: electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Danielle Ledet; Blind Talk Mailing List; nabop at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] All About Braille Displays
>
> Hello Everyone,
>
> This is cross posted. I've always wanted a Braille display and felt I could
> benefit from one. Hoever, I am quite overwhelmed by all the choices and yet
> my income doesn't mesh with the prices! I notice that some such as the
> Braille Pen and Brailleant are noted as portable for use with smart phones.
> Given that, I know folks who utilize a BrailleNote for such purposes. Which
> Braille display or notetaker do you all recommend and why? Is their a major
> difference between those billed as BD's and others billed as
> PDA's/notetakers? Also, what are the drawbacks you notice with your
> favorite
> device?
>
> There is a sale on the Apex, but someone recently postsed that he was
> having
> some incompatibility issues with web surfing with it. I am not sure this is
> worth the investment if it is becoming obsolete. I notice too the PK and
> mPower are still being sold. Are they still supported by HumanWare? Lastly,
> what is recommened for a braille printer for home use that is still being
> distributed?
>
> I hope you all made it to the end and can give me some helpful usable
> feedback! I just want to make sure that when the dollars are dropped they
> are on the correct most relevant choice for myself.
>
>
>
> --
> How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
> compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of
> the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of
> these.
> George Washington Carver
> Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com
>
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-- 
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and
tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will
have been all of these.
George Washington Carver
Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com