[nabs-l] in class writing

Fri Jan 11 05:00:17 UTC 2013

Hi,
I got a netbook on sale for $200 a couple of years ago in an after-Christmas 
sale. I am still using it today. It is very light compared to a normal 
laptop, and I have a lot of things installed on mine, including Jaws, 
although it is an XP. The netbooks out now pretty much have Windows 7, but 
there is still plenty of memory for running Jaws, Microsoft Word, and other 
programs. My netbook came with 1 gb of RAM and a 160 gb harddrive which 
holds everything I have and still has 40 or 50 gb left over. You can also 
upgrade the memory in some netbooks, and they usually come with Wifi 
connectivity so you can access Wifi. The netbook is much smaller and lighter 
than a standard laptop. I have seen some online for as low as about $260, so 
they seem to be more affordable as far as price goes. I have an Acer 
netbook, and it has been pretty reliable since I purchased it back in the 
beginning of 2011. They also come with all of the standard ports, such as 
USB, Ethernet, earphone, and external microphone jack, although the netbook 
already has a built-in speaker, microphone, and webcam usually.
Hth,
Misty

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] in class writing

Hi arielle,
great points. I wasn't aware netbooks were so inexpensive.
Have you used this or known other students  who did? I guess my concern
there was that
it would not have enough memory to run jaws and other adaptive software on
it.
You are right that a notetaker for the blind does have limitations.
Mainstream technology such as netbooks, laptops, and i-devices can more
easily be hooked to the internet and communicate  with professors.
Another advantage is students and professors can see the screen then and
know what you are doing.

How heavy is a netbook? As I said before, I really dislike carrying around a
laptop because its weight is a lot to handle.
Something to consider; although I'm not in a position to purchase more
technology now. hmm, maybe an ipad for christmas though.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Arielle Silverman
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 9:22 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] in class writing

Hi all,
I want to make another plug for netbooks. They aren't much bigger than
Braille Notes, so you can easily fit it in your backpack, and a
netbook can do just about anything a laptop can. Plus it only costs
about $300 and the built-in battery can last for up to six hours. I
think it really is a good idea for any blind student to carry some
kind of mainstream computing device to class, whether that is a
laptop, netbook, or even an I-device so that you can easily
communicate in writing with sighted professors and peers. Braille
Notes are great and can be a wonderful supplement to a mainstream
computing device, but the computing technology Braille Notes use is
neither mainstream nor up-to-date.
Arielle

On 1/10/13, Deb Mendelsohn <deb.mendelsohn at gmail.com> wrote:
> Don't you have a laptop that you could email in class to the professor?
> Maybe RSA should get you one with JAWS on it.
>
> Deb
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 5:47 PM, Ashley Bramlett
> <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Professors ask us students to do in-class writing sometimes. Typically
>> its
>> unannounced; its not like its on the syllabus but the professor knows it
>> usually; I mean they know when they will assign in class writing.
>> Students
>> are given a certain  amount of time to write and then hand in the
>> writing.
>> They may share the writing with each other or the class as well.
>>
>> How do you handle in class writing assignments? Do you write them on a
>> notetaker or laptop you take to school? How do you hand it in since we
>> are
>> not writing on paper? So far, I’ve usually written outside class and
>> emailed the copy to the professor.
>>
>> I have good enough braille skills to read from my braille display to
>> other
>> students, but I don’t usually finish the writing.
>> I wish there was a computer lab in every building. Then I could walk over
>> there, type my writing prompt and then email it to the professor.
>>
>> I look forward to ideas.
>>
>> Ashley
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>
>
>
> --
> *Deb's Cell:  520-225-8244*
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