[nabs-l] braille note V. Packmate

Thu Sep 9 20:57:56 UTC 2010

Hi, George,
  As others have said, it is difficult to say that one type of
note-taker is definitely better than the other. I have personally been
a Braille Note user for many years, and I love how user-friendly its
built-in software is. It is very intuitive and easy to learn! I do
also have a laptop, and I use it heavily every day to handle MS Office
files, emails, and Internet browsing, but my braille Note is
indispensible for me in terms of writing papers (I type my papers in
grade 2 braille and translate them into Word documents), both academic
as well as personal reading, and of course note-taking. I agree that
Pac Mate more closely resembles a PC and its ability to work with
third-party apps is a big advantage, but the Braille Note-laptop combo
has worked very well for me.
  Are you purchasing a note-taker through your state voc rehab? When I
worked with the state rehab to purchase technology equipment before
entering college, they sent me to a state-run training center for the
blind for a day as part of my technology evaluation so that I could
gain some hands-on experience with different types of assistive
technology and make an informed decision about what to purchase for my
personal tool box. I found this very helpful and it may be worthwhile
to check out whether similar options are available in your state. Hope
this helps!
   Katie

On 9/9/10, Jorge Paez <jorgeapaez at mac.com> wrote:
> Is it a braille keyboard?
> Also, how old is it?
>
>
>
>
> On Sep 9, 2010, at 1:50 AM, Trey Bradley wrote:
>
>> Hi I think the Pac-Mat is better because you can use all of the off
>> the shelve programs.  I have I an a extra that I would like to get rid
>> of so if you want to talk just let me know.
>>
>> On 9/8/10, Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Well, I have had experience with pacmates crashing.  Of course, this
>>> was a few years ago, so I may be a little out of date.  I had to start
>>> using a laptop full time because I went through 3 pacmates.
>>>
>>> Also, the pacmate used to eat some of my files.  I have heard that
>>> this has happened to other people as well.
>>>
>>> I am using a braille note apex now, and I am a little confused about
>>> some things because this I am rather new at it, but I like it.  I
>>> haven't had battery problems with it, and it hasn't been randomly
>>> erasing my files.
>>>
>>> About the Bible.  You can find several different versions on
>>> bookshare.  They have the whole bible that you can download, or you
>>> can download some of the books individually.  It's pretty awesome!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 9/8/10, Jorge Paez <jorgeapaez at mac.com> wrote:
>>>> Ok.
>>>> Thanks for your feedback.
>>>> What about crashing?
>>>> I've heard packmates crash a lot.
>>>>
>>>> Also, are there a lot of apps for the Pack Mate?
>>>>
>>>> And just wondering, if you can tell me, where do you get digital copies
>>>> of
>>>> the bible?
>>>>
>>>> Just wondering, because I never knew they existed.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sep 8, 2010, at 10:06 PM, trising wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I have a Pac Mate BX40. In my opinion, and it is just my opinion, it is
>>>>> the greatest piece of technology for the blind. If I could
>>>>> only have one piece of technology, this is the one I would choose. I
>>>>> have
>>>>> a strong Braille preference, both in reading, writing, and
>>>>> proof reading what I have written. I can have a whole library of
>>>>> Braille
>>>>> books stored on a Compact Flash card. I can also store 6
>>>>> versions of the Bible. I have two hard copy Braille versions that take
>>>>> up
>>>>> something like four book shelves in my town house.  I am
>>>>> the Secretary of the NFB of Michigan, and I write the minutes so much
>>>>> faster and with fewer mistakes on the Pac Mate, rather than on
>>>>> my computer with Jaws. The programs are very close to Jaws programs,
>>>>> so,
>>>>> the learning curve is quick if you are already familiar
>>>>> with Jaws. Also, if you are a technology geek like my husband, you can
>>>>> add
>>>>> other off the shelf programs to the Pac Mate because it
>>>>> is not a closed system. I have never owned a Braille Note, but I bet
>>>>> those
>>>>> are wonderful as well. I can only tell you about my
>>>>> experience.
>>>>> Terri Wilcox
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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/jorgeapaez%40mac.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/kaybaycar%40gmail.com
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Julie McG
>>> Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
>>> Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
>>> Eyes for the Blind
>>>
>>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>>> life."
>>> John 3:16
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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/treyman19%40gmail.com
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Roosevelt Bradley
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/jorgeapaez%40mac.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/bunnykatie6%40gmail.com
>