[nfbcs] Preference in Braille Displays

Sun May 19 16:00:53 UTC 2013

The keyboard is a perkins-style keyboard true enough, but it cannot send 
the entire character set through to your computer.  Only a few different 
keystrokes used for navigation can go through.  It comes with a keyboard 
holder for a qwerty keyboard so you can do the rest of your typing on 
that qwerty keyboard.  What I have is focus 80 3.70, so if you have that 
model, that's what you get.  Whenever dealing with FreedomScientific, 
it's wise when you're told some unit has a braille keyboard to ask can 
the braille keyboard entirely replace a qwerty keyboard connected to a 
computer.  If the answer comes back no as I expect it will, the braille 
keyboard isn't a full function keyboard.

On Sun, 19 May 2013, Tami Jarvis wrote:

> Jude,
> 
> Yikes! I've decided that the Focus 40 Blue, when I can spring for it, is the
> display for me. Unless I win the lottery and can get the 80. But I was under
> the impression that it has a braille keyboard... Well, I just checked, and the
> model I'm wanting has one. That, for me, is a key feature! I'm using an older
> PacMate 440, which is great for reading but not for navigating or making notes
> without taking my hands off the display, etc., etc. I love the thing because
> it is my first refreshable display and has opened wide horizons for me, but...
> I whine daily about its lack in the efficiency and convenience department.
> 
> Could it be that the one you are using at work is an older model? Or are you
> saying that the perkins keyboard does not allow typing on the computer? Or...
> 
> Well, since you are using one and mentioned that issue. Would hate to wrangle
> money and order a new wonder machine only to discover that it doesn't do one
> of the wonderful things I most need it to! /shudder/
> 
> Thanks for any input you can give!
> 
> Tami
> 
> On 05/17/2013 01:46 PM, Jude DaShiell wrote:
> > If the focus 40 and focus 80 are under discussion here, they differ from
> > the versabraille classic p2c in that the p2c has a perkins-type keyboard
> > that can type the whole character set on the computer.  That's something
> > neither of the focus products can do.  I use a focus 80 at work and my
> > employer really ought to find other displays that can replace a qwerty
> > keyboard and screen when necessary because the braille keyboards will
> > sound different than qwerty keyboards and provide a security advantage
> > against anyone picking up keystrokes with a parabolic microphone for
> > later decoding.  That having been written, two things a focus display
> > will do are showing formatting and showing spelling easily and quickly.
> >
> > On Fri, 17 May 2013, Hyde, David W. (ESC) wrote:
> >
> > > You can use the same display (those that are standalone devices) for the
> > > same functions as the computer displays.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of majolls at cox.net
> > > Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 12:59 PM
> > > To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
> > > Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Preference in Braille Displays
> > >
> > > Why am I not surprised here.
> > > What you're saying is that there's a different tool for a different task.
> > > Too bad each tool is so pricey.
> > > I can definitely see for big jobs, you want the 40.  For seeing a lot of
> > > formatting, you'd run out of room with the smaller device.
> > > And for portability, you want the smaller device.
> > >
> > > I was thinking about getting the 40 as a general solution.  It's bigger,
> > > but not too big, and you can carry it around.  A smaller device would be
> > > nicer .. less space and weight to take up in the backpack
> > >
> > > So maybe the answer is to get the 40 first, and see how it works carrying
> > > it around.  The HIMMS isn't too big, and it does have the ability to be a
> > > standalone notetaker plus connect via Bluetooth or USB.  Plus it has the
> > > SD card option for external storage.  Then if I find it's too big for
> > > carrying around, I could always try to get the 18 or 20 cell variety HIMMS
> > > that is just smaller.  But I get it ... you may need more than one
> > > depending on what you do.
> > >
> > > This is kind of like guitars.  When I got into playing, I asked someone
> > > ... "is there one guitar that does it all?".  He just laughed.  "No, I
> > > have 7 and they play slightly different tones.  I use them each for a
> > > different application".  I didn't understand until I started playing in
> > > earnest.  Now I have 3 main guitars that I use.  Each is used in a
> > > different application.
> > >
> > > Too bad Braille Displays are so expensive.  My wife is going to LOVE your
> > > answer.  I can see her rolling her eyes and saying ... "Here we go
> > > again!!".
> > >
> > > Final note .. I take from the answers I'm hearing that a display with the
> > > built-in note taking functions (such as the HIMMS) is prefereable so you
> > > can use them standalone without being connected to anything.
> > >
> > > Thanks for the replies.
> > >
> > >
> > > ---- Robert Jaquiss <rjaquiss at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > > > Hello:
> > > >
> > > >       If I had to choose between an 18 and 40 cell display, I would
> > > > choose 40 cells especially if it had some basic notetaking
> > > > capabilities. Having a display that can connect with either USB or
> > > > Bluetooth is a good idea. If you want to read NLS books, these are
> > > > formatted for 40 cells. If you want to carry your display with you and
> > > > use it with a phone, then a smaller display is probably better.
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > >
> > > > Robert
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> > > > majolls at cox.net
> > > > Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 9:31 AM
> > > > To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
> > > > Subject: [nfbcs] Preference in Braille Displays
> > > >
> > > > Hi everyone
> > > >
> > > > Wanted to get your input on what works best as a general purpose
> > > > Braille Display.
> > > > Would you want one that is just a dumb terminal, or one that has some
> > > > notetaking capability built into it?
> > > > I also wanted to find out what gives better efficiency ... 18 cells or
> > > > 40 cells
> > > >
> > > > So the first Braille display I tried was the Freedom Focus 40 blue.
> > > > Liked it alot, but it has to be hooked up to another device such as
> > > > IOS or Windows PC to work.  No smarts in the device at all.
> > > > Next I heard about the HIMMS Edge 40.  Now there's something
> > > > interesting.  I can connect it like the Freedom, it can be a slave.  I
> > > > can use it as a dumb terminal or I can disconnect it and do some basic
> > > > notetaking tasks with it without it being connected to anything.
> > > > Price is about the same as the Freedom model.  Is the flexibility good
> > > > to have?  I guess that depends on where you go with it.
> > > >
> > > > As I recall, HIMMS has the 40 cell model, but it also has the OnHand
> > > > which is an 18 cell model.
> > > > So, of those that use Braille Displays, do you prefer a 40 or 18 cell?
> > > > Is an 18 cell adequate or are you complaining constantly because you
> > > > don't have enough cells and you're constantlyhitting the advance button?
> > > >
> > > > The 18 cell models are cheaper, that's why I'm asking.  I'm thinking,
> > > > however, that the 40 cell model would be better ... more braille until
> > > > you hit the advance key.  Also, the notetaking features built into the
> > > > HIMMS mean you don't have to carry the display plus the iPad or
> > > > iPhone.  You could just carry the device alone.  I'm kind of leaning
> > > > toward the HIMMS but I'd like some info from people that actually have
> > > > one .. or other devices.  Tell me what you like and what you don't
> > > > like.  $3000 is a lot of money to spend so I wanted to get some
> > > > practical advice.
> > > >
> > > > So what configuration do most of you use?  Let me know.
> > > >
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> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > jude <jdashiel at shellworld.net>
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> >
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