[nabs-l] Will Netbooks replace notetakers?

[Rob Lambert]

That's true. Even though JAWS does do Braille support, you end up lugging around two devices. I'm just coming up with every possible way I can for us (or the foundations for that matter) to not have to break our banks in these tough times when we need what we need for school or work, you know? 

--- On Sun, 1/25/09, David <davidb521 at gmail.com> wrote:
From: David <davidb521 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Will Netbooks replace notetakers?
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Date: Sunday, January 25, 2009, 6:32 PM

I doubt it. For one thing, I have a PAC Mate, and I wouldn't call it
proprietary. Also, keep in mind that it takes longer for a laptop to boot up
than a notetaker. Furthermore, think of braille support. Even with a braille
display, it would take longer to set up, and more things could go wrong with
setting it up. Jaws support with braille alone leaves  some to be desired. Even
the PAC Mate that runs JAWS can be used with Braille only. Anyway, that is all I
currently have to say on the subject for now. It will be interesting to hear
what others have to say.
David
----- Original Message ----- From: "Rob Lambert"
<rmlambert1987 at yahoo.com>
To: "NFB Student List" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 5:24 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] Will Netbooks replace notetakers?


> I was thinking about our proprietary notetakers like the PACmate, Braille
Note, and Icon, and thinking about Netbooks. This prompted an interesting
question: Do you think netbooks will be the new note taker for us? Continue
reading for further information if youare unfamiliar with Netbooks.
> 
> For those of you unfamiliar with them, Netbooks are...I guess I could say
shrunken down laptops, both in specs, price, & size. For us, I'd
recommend any of HP's models since they have the keyboard thing down pat.
Why does this matter? Many netbooks LACK a keyboard that can be used for
extended periods of time. That's not to say we don't get a full QWERTY
keyboards, we do, but some of them can be cramped. The reason their smaller is
that the netbooks weigh almost nothing.
> 
> Netbooks run Windows XP, and some Linux (be very careful because the Linux
versions have NO accessibility), and when it comes out, they will run Windows 7.
Obviously, since they run Windows, they can run JAWS (I think). Many of them
hover around a 1 to 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor with about 1 GB of RAM.
> 
> The storage space is also small (especially if you use flash memory).
There are, however, some netbooks with full hard drives (usually ranging in size
from 40 to 120 GB). If you go flash, it will run you anywhere between 8 and 40
GB. I think one of the eee's has 40 GB of flash with 20 GB of additional
storage online. Sadly, that's only for the Linux version.
> 
> Why does all this matter though? Note earlier that I said the system is
shrunken in price. Most Netbooks hover around an asking price of $400 to $600
brand new. Be wary though. If you plan to use it as your primary computer,
don't. I doubt the Atom processor on board these Netbooks can handle
something like Goldwave.
> 
> This, however, would be a perfect solution for note taking for college
students. It's light, it's cheap, when running Windows it's
Accessible. Do you think that netbooks will replace our proprietary notetaking
solutions?
> 
> 
> 
> 
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