[nabs-l] [Blindtlk] braille note V. Sense V. Packmate

Thu May 19 20:10:22 UTC 2011

I forwarded your question to the Blind Talk list.  Here's a nice 
response!

 Chris

"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)

--- Sent from my BrailleNote

 ---- Original Message ------
From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] [nabs-l] braille note V.  Sense V.  
Packmate
Date sent: Thu, 19 May 2011 09:46:53 -0400

Dear Chris,

It depends on who you ask which
one is best.  I have tried both and this is what I have observed.
The Pac Mate has certain features that give it some advantages 
over the
Braille Note.
It uses a form of Windows PC that makes it work with other 
windows programs
right out of the box where you may need to convert some things to 
work in
the Braille Note.  This can be done, but it require more steps as 
I see it.
It can also use some off the shelf hardware and software that the 
Braille
Note can not make use of such as a bar code scanner and other 
things.
The Braille display , on the Pac Mate is detachable and can be 
easily
removed and sent in for repairs with out sending your whole unit 
away.  The
Braille Note and Apex both need to be send away for all repairs 
and you are
without your unit and data until it comes back.
The Pac Mate has some draw backs too as it's construction is not 
as heavy
duty as the Braille Note and Button covers often come off and 
need to be
snapped back on.
I even dropped my Braille Note in a fountain in a hotel once and 
after
letting it dry out naturally for a few days, was able to just 
plug in the
charger and it came back to life with no problems.  I was lucky.  
I did not
make the mistake of trying to turn it on right away to see if it 
worked
which might have shorted it out completely.
I like the size and layout of the Pac Mate better and disliked 
the keyboard
of the Braille Note as the stretches are different and the 
locations of
certain buttons is different that on my PC and lap top.

I think that the Pac Mate has more room to expand and better 
potential for
development that does not require you to pay for expensive 
proprietary
software upgrades every time you turn around.
I think that which every unit you pick, there will be things you 
like and
things you don't, but you will learn to work with them and around 
them.
There is no such thing as a perfect note taker, just good ones 
and better
ones.
The technology is always moving forward, so no matter what you 
get,
something will be coming along to upgrade or replace it within 5 
years of
the time you get it.
Get what you can afford and what you like today and plan on 
replacing it in
5 to 7 years.  There will always be something better, faster, 
slicker and
radical coming down the road.  Use it and be happy.
You can always go to either the Freedom Scientific or Human Ware 
web sites
and read up on each of the units before making up your mind about 
which to
get.
Remember that the NFB has a 3% loan program for the purchase of 
technology
to help you get what you want.
The program is run by Curtis Chong and the paper work can be had 
through the
National Center or Curtis.

David Evans, NfBF and GD Jack.----- Original Message -----
From: "Âris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
To: "Blind Talk list" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; 
<gary.legates at comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 9:26 PM
Subject: [Blindtlk] [nabs-l] braille note V.  Sense V.  Packmate

I can't answer this question since I have only used the 
BrailleNote.  But
maybe those of you who have had some experience with more than 
one of these
notetakers can add some input!

 Chris

 "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities 
motto)

 --- Sent from my BrailleNote

 ---- Original Message ------
 From: Jorge Paez <computertechjorgepaez at gmail.com
 Subject: [nabs-l] braille note V.  Sense V.  Packmate
 Date sent: Wed, 18 May 2011 21:10:15 -0400

 Hi all:
 Just wondering,
 as far as note takers,
 which one in your opinion is the best or seems to be the 
industry leader?
 If so why?
 Which one seems to have the most feature-rich interphase?

 Thanks,

 Jorge

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