[nabs-l] Note takers

anjelinac26 at gmail.com anjelinac26 at gmail.com
Fri Oct 22 02:54:38 UTC 2010


I have used the Braille Sense.

Anjelina
Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 21, 2010, at 10:19 PM, "RJ Sandefur" <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com> wrote:

> Has any one used the braille sense? RJ
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nicole B. Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 9:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Note takers
> 
> 
>> It really depends on what you are going to use it for. As a college student, I have both a laptop and an MPower BrailleNote, and I would find it very hard to choose one or he other. However, I realize that this is not possible for some people. Here are my thoughts on my bn verses my laptop:
>> 
>> BN:
>> Pros
>> 1. Turns on and off in less than a second
>> 2. built in speech and Braille display
>> 3. Braille input
>> 4. portable
>> 5. don't have to worry about Jaws quitting on me
>> 6. don't have to use headphones
>> 7. not vulnerable to viruses (may not be true for other notetakers)
>> 
>> Cons:
>> 1. does not support certain file types
>> 2. bad at formatting
>> 3. slow internet and problems with some websites
>> 4. no third party software unless it is a web application or a z game
>> 
>> Laptop:
>> Pros
>> 1. fast internet
>> 2. faster processor
>> 3. can download third party programs
>> 4. works with more file types
>> 5. other people can work with me on it
>> 
>> Cons:
>> 1. bigger and harder to transport; does not have built in carrying case
>> 2. particular model is slightly easier to damage than BrailleNote (computers have spinning hard drives where as the bn uses flash memory)
>> 3. takes more than a minute to power on
>> 4. requires Jaws, which can fail
>> 5. no Braille display
>> 6. need head phones if going to use in class
>> 7. can get viruses
>> 
>> That's all that I can think of at the moment, but I will write more if I think of more. If you want something with functionality similar to that of the Braille n Speak, then a bn, pm, or bs would be fine, but, if you need the functionality of a computer, I would recommend getting a laptop.
>> 
>> Nicole
>> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 4:21 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Note takers
>> 
>> 
>>> Hi Curt and All:
>>> 
>>> First, for those who have the Pacmate what made you switch to the
>>> Braille Note whether it be Apex or one of the other ones?
>>> 
>>> Here is my delemma.
>>> 
>>> I had the option of getting a notetaker about five years ago in 2006.
>>> At that time, I didn't know how to research very well and wasn't as
>>> into technology as I am now.
>>> 
>>> Having used Jaws and liking it, and seeing that pocket Jaws was on the
>>> Pacmate and it ran windows which was the same OS I was using, I just
>>> stupidly decided on the Pacmate without doing much other research or
>>> comparing the pacmate to other notetakers. Also, because I was so into
>>> computers at that time, I got the QX pacmate thinking the laptop style
>>> keyboard would be better for me.
>>> 
>>> When I first got the Pacmate it was nice and I played with it all he
>>> time. But, now I hardly use it. First of all, the internet on it is
>>> terrible...very very very slow. It takes forever for a webpage to
>>> load. Also, the Pacmate doesn't have an internal wi-fi card so you
>>> have to use one of those compact flash cards which are pretty much
>>> obselete now. The Pacmate only has a mini usb port so to connect
>>> anything to USB you have to use an external object. All I find I use
>>> it for now is reading BRF books from NLS or Bookshare and taking notes
>>> in class. The Pacmate doesn't even have bluetooth! It also doesn't
>>> have sd card slots...only ones for those obselete compact flash cards.
>>> 
>>> I look at more modern notetakers like the Apex and get excited and
>>> think...I should look into modernizing and get one of those. But, then
>>> I think...I have the pacmate (even though I hate it) that does have a
>>> braille display, I have a netbook, I have a laptop, I have an Iphone,
>>> and I want to get an Ipad...that essentially all do the same thing. I
>>> think...would I really use a newer more modern notetaker enough to
>>> justify the $6000 price when I have all these other devices?
>>> 
>>> But, then if I had a notetaker that I could just whip open and take
>>> notes portably, or write contact info down quickly, and could have
>>> more functionality I wonder if I'd use it more?
>>> 
>>> What do you think I should do...stick with what I have or look into
>>> modernizing and getting a better notetaker?
>>> 
>>> How is the Internet browsing on the apex? Is it very slow and sluggish
>>> or is it fast like wireless internet on laptops and netbooks is?
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> Kerri
>>> 
>>> On 10/21/10, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Dear Listers,
>>>>  Even with the netbooks and braille displays out there, I still use
>>>> my notetaker.  (I just got an apex and I love it, although switching
>>>> over from the PAC Mate has been kind of hard)  I know laptops with
>>>> braille displays are cheaper.  But, for me, having a notetaker as
>>>> opposed to a computer in school/church/wherever is a godsend.  I can,
>>>> for instance, whip out my Apex and put someone's phone number in my
>>>> contact list without waiting 1-3 minutes for my computer to start and
>>>> get a file somewhere open.  It's so nice to have instant access to
>>>> everything, without having to wait for the laptop to load up, jaws to
>>>> start, and then having to open such and such application to do my
>>>> thing.  It's so much easier to turn on a machine, usee 1 or maybe 2
>>>> keystrokes, and be right where I need to be within seconds.  That's
>>>> why I still have my notetaker because a computer just can't do that.
>>>>  All the best,
>>>> Kirt
>>>> 
>>>> On 10/21/10, Danielle Montour <hypoplexer at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>> I am a BrailleNote Apy user, the latest
>>>>> notetaker.  Although the Apex has great potential, there's some
>>>>> work to be done on it.  It's a good don't get me wrong, don't get
>>>>> me wrong, it just has room for improvement.  Here is a comparison
>>>>> between the BrailleNote Apex and BrailleSense Plus.
>>>>> 
>>>>> HTH
>>>>> 
>>>>> Danni
>>>>> 
>>>>> Courtesy: Alex Hall.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Here is a look at the BrailleNote Apex and its closest
>>>>> competitor, the Braille Sense Plus (from GW Micro).  I do not
>>>>> know enough about the Pac Mate Omni (Freedom scientific) to
>>>>> include it in this comparison.
>>>>> 
>>>>>  chinin Internal Storage: the BSP has 8 gigabytes of storage.
>>>>> The Apex has 8 gigabytes as well.
>>>>>  chinin RAM: The BSP has 128 megabytes of RAM, as does the Apex.
>>>>> However, the Apex has an additional 126 megabytes of storage for
>>>>> operating system and temporary files, whereas the BSP has 64
>>>>> megabytes for this purpose.
>>>>>  chinin Processor: the BSP's processor, type unknown, runs at
>>>>> 400 megahertz.  The FreeScale IMX31 processor in the Apex runs at
>>>>> 520megahertz.  Both the BSP and the Apex processors are 32-29t
>>>>> versions.
>>>>>  chinin
>>>>>  chinin Underlying Windows CE The BSP runs on CE 5.0.  While
>>>>> this is an improvement over the BrailleNote mPower's CE 4.2, it
>>>>> is not as good as the Apex's CE 6.0, which allows for many new
>>>>> features to be introduced, namely better RAM management and tens
>>>>> of thousands of processes to run concurrently; CE 5 still has a
>>>>> 32 process limit.
>>>>>  chinin USB: the BSP has 2 (1?) USB master port(s) for storage
>>>>> devices, printers, keyboards, and so on.  The Apex has 3 USB
>>>>> master ports for these purposes.  The BSP has one mini USB port,
>>>>> used to connect it to a computer to connect to ActiveSync or use
>>>>> as a removable disk.  The Apex also has one mini USB port, though
>>>>> it cannot act as a removable device.  Unlike the BSP, though, it
>>>>> can synchronize its contacts, calendar, and other items with
>>>>> Microsoft Windows computers.
>>>>>  chinin Other Storage Options: The BSP has both an SD card slot,
>>>>> which supports SDHC cards as well as standard SD cards, and a
>>>>> compactflash card slot.  It can also use its bluetooth to
>>>>> transfer files between itself and any other bluetooth device
>>>>> supporting object exchange.  The Apex has an SD card slot
>>>>> supporting regular and high-capacity (HC) cards.  It does not,
>>>>> however, have a compactflash card slot, nor does it support
>>>>> bluetooth object exchange, though Humanware could add this option
>>>>> to Keysoft with little trouble thanks to the new Windows CE 6
>>>>> bluetooth stack.
>>>>>  chinin Audio: Both devices have built in stereo speakers,
>>>>> stereo headphone jacks, external mono microphone jacks, and a
>>>>> mono internal microphone.  The Apex also supports bluetooth audio
>>>>> devices, the BSP does not.  Both devices can create recordings
>>>>> via either microphone, with adjustable microphone gains and
>>>>> quality levels, however the BSP can record in MP3 format or WAV
>>>>> format, whereas the Apex only supports the larger WAV format
>>>>> (maybe).  The Apex contains an FM radio internally and uses
>>>>> anything plugged into the headphone jack as an antenna.  The
>>>>> radio can be recorded as though it were another input source for
>>>>> the recorder.  The BSP also has a radio which works in the same
>>>>> way, but it cannot be recorded.
>>>>>  chinin Wireless Communication Both devices contain both an
>>>>> internal BstG wifi card and an internal bluetooth 2.1 card.
>>>>>  chinin Battery Both devices have about the same battery life,
>>>>> and both contain a removable battery.  The Apex has a way to
>>>>> charge the battery outside of the computer itself, the BSP does
>>>>> not.
>>>>>  chinin Jacks and Ports BSP: two master USB, one slave (mini)
>>>>> USB, cable ethernet, VGA, SDSTSDHC slot, compactflash slot, mono
>>>>> microphone, stereo headphone, AC power port.  Apex: 3 master USB,
>>>>> 1 slave (mini) USB, cable ethernet, VGA, SDSTSDHC slot, mono
>>>>> microphone, stereo headphone, AC power port.  Basically, they are
>>>>> the same except that the Apex has one more master USB port than
>>>>> the BSP, and the BSP has a compactflash card slot whereas the
>>>>> Apex does not.
>>>>>  chinin Visual Output The BSP can print what is spoken or
>>>>> brailled to a monitor through its VGA port, or through its
>>>>> built-in LcD display.  The Apex can also print to a monitor with
>>>>> its VGA port, or through use of a Windows program called KeyView.
>>>>> This means that the Apex can connect to a Windows computer via
>>>>> USB or bluetooth (or through serial using a serial-USB
>>>>> converter).  KeyView will then display the Apex's text on the
>>>>> computer's screen.
>>>>>  chinin Microsoft Word 2007 Neither device currently supports
>>>>> the disdocx (Word 2007) format.  Humanware has promised that the
>>>>> Apex will handle disdocx files in the near future, providing a
>>>>> free upgrade to all Apex owners so they can have this support for
>>>>> free when it is released.  GW Micro has not commented on Word
>>>>> 2007 support, though another device of theirs, a digital book
>>>>> reader called the Book Sense, does support Word 2007, so it is
>>>>> likely that the BSP will support this format in the near future
>>>>> as well.
>>>>>  chinin Internet Communication: Both devices have a web browser,
>>>>> an email program, and an instant messenger.  The BSP's browser
>>>>> cannot handle cookies like the Apex can, but that is the only
>>>>> major difference between the two.  The email programs are pretty
>>>>> well matched, except for one under-the-hood difference: the Apex
>>>>> stores all emails in a database, making it difficult to copy a
>>>>> message somewhere else for storage; copying the text is easy
>>>>> enough, but copying the message headers along with the text is
>>>>> all but impossible without going through a lot of tedious steps.
>>>>> The BSP stores its messages as diseml files, allowing users to
>>>>> not only copy entire emails to different locations, but to view
>>>>> these messages on other Windows computers.  The BSP also allows
>>>>> users to view HTML-encoded messages as web pages; the Apex, as
>>>>> far as I know will not let you do this, though it may be the case
>>>>> that it is, in fact, possible.  The instant messenger on the BSP
>>>>> only supports Windows Live (formerly known as MSN) Messenger,
>>>>> though this is a very popular network.  The Apex supports all
>>>>> XMPP networks, which include, but are not limited to, Google
>>>>> Talk, IC-HAT, and Jabber.  The Apex, essentially, supports a
>>>>> range of less popular networks, whereas the BSP supports only one
>>>>> network, but that one network is very widely used compared to the
>>>>> networks supported by the Apex.
>>>>>  chinin Braille Codes and Languages The Apex supports 6 and 8
>>>>> dot computer braille, grade 1, grade 2, and UEB, plus it has
>>>>> computer Braille tables for English, French, Spanish, and Italian
>>>>> and it can speak in those languages.  The BSP supports only
>>>>> English computer braille (6 or 8 dot unknown), grade 1, and grade
>>>>> 2.  However, the BSP will let you write in any grade, even in a
>>>>> text document or on a web page; the Apex allows only computer
>>>>> braille in text documents and web page forms.
>>>>>  chinin Braille Scrolling and Navigation The BSP has four keys,
>>>>> two on either side of the Braille display for moving the Braille,
>>>>> for navigation, as well as four function keys for quickly
>>>>> switching tasks, closing programs, and performing other basic
>>>>> tasks.  The Apex has four thumb keys on its front, where the
>>>>> thumbs naturally rest while reading Braille.  These keys act like
>>>>> the scroll keys on the BSP, except they are more conveniently
>>>>> placed.  The Apex also has a scroll wheel, which lets you quickly
>>>>> scroll through lists and files.  The wheel also has a button in
>>>>> the center to act as an enter key, and four buttons arount the
>>>>> outside edge to act as hotkeys for commonly used keystrokes, such
>>>>> as calling up the help prompt for the given situation on the
>>>>> Apex.
>>>>>  chinin Multi-Tasking The BSP can run 7 programs at once; you
>>>>> could leave your wordprocessor open while you quickly switch to
>>>>> your email to read something, then leave the email open to go the
>>>>> the file manager to copy a couple files...  For this reason, the
>>>>> BSP contains task manager, which is a large part of the
>>>>> functionality of the four function keys.  The Apex cannot, as far
>>>>> as I know, do this.  You can leave a media file playing in the
>>>>> background or do other things on the Apex while you wait for your
>>>>> machine to connect to a wireless networo, but you cannot let your
>>>>> email download in the background while you read a book.  The
>>>>> Apex, though, now (thanks to CE6) has the ability to do a lot of
>>>>> multi-tasking, far exceeding the BSP's limit of 7 applications at
>>>>> once, though such functionality is not yet implemented in
>>>>> Keysoft, much like bluetooth object exchange could easily be
>>>>> supported but is not yet there.
>>>>>  chinin External Media Controls Tge Apex has only one media key:
>>>>> the record button.  The BSP has buttons on its front, where the
>>>>> Apex's toumb keys are, for skipping tracks, recording, playing,
>>>>> pausing, and so forth, not to mention its media switch, which
>>>>> lets you select a mode for your media keys: media, DAISY, and FM
>>>>> radio.  While both machines support playing media, playing DAISY
>>>>> files, and an FM radio, only the BSP has external buttons to
>>>>> facilitate easy manipulation of media.
>>>>>  chinin Synthesizers: The Apex comes with two speech
>>>>> synthesizers: Keynote Gold, which supports only one voice, and
>>>>> Eloquence, with five voices to choose from.  The BSP only has
>>>>> Eloquence with its selection of
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "RJ Sandefur" <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com
>>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> Date sent: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:36:18 -0400
>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Note takers
>>>>> 
>>>>> I use a braille 'n speak which I've had for ten years now, and
>>>>> its on its last leg.  What types of note takers do you guys use,
>>>>> How much does it caust, and does it live up to what is advertised
>>>>> concerning it? I'm not shure wheather or not to get a packmate, a
>>>>> braille note, or a braille sence.  I'm on disability, due to some
>>>>> other disabililities I have.  I'm also in a distance learning
>>>>> Seminary, going for my doctorate degree in theology.  I'm not
>>>>> shure how I can purchose a note taker, due to the fact, I have
>>>>> alot of bills to pay.  Would my local lions club be able to
>>>>> assist me in this reguard? RJ
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>> for nabs-l:
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/hypoplexe
>>>>> r%40gmail.com
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>>> nabs-l:
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydude%40gmail.com
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> nabs-l:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kerrik2006%40gmail.com
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/ntorcolini%40wavecable.com
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/joltingjacksandefur%40gmail.com 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/anjelinac26%40gmail.com




More information about the NABS-L mailing list