[Trainer-Talk] notetaker, other options

[Scott Davert]

If you only want to do simple tasks like check your email or basic media consumption, I suppose the ElBraille could be an option. It's a very expensive one for such things though. To add to what Dean said, if you, for example, have a microsoft Word document and a web page loaded in Firefox or Chrome, if you press the keyboard command equvalentt of Alt Tab to switch between active programs, it takes several seconds to switch from one program to the other. The device also tends to get hot quickly, or at least, the one I tested did. If you are interested in the elBraille, you may wish to give this article a read:
https://nfb.org/blog/article/3407
If I'm honest, it feels like the ElBraille is history repeating itself. Does anyone remember the PacMate? It's the same type of situation here. Great concept, poor delivery.

Just my thoughts,
Scott

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 21, 2018, at 6:11 AM, Dean Martineau via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> There are several reasons why I returned my ElBraille after buying it.  I
> was very excited about it, but don't miss it at all.  I know some people
> like it.  The biggest reason is that it can't really be used as a notetaker
> the way we are used to doing, that is, you can't put it to sleep, and cannot
> modify it to make this possible.  So, while it has good battery life, in
> order to get instant use functionality, you have to leave it on all the
> time.  The reboot process is slow by notetaking standards.  Add to this that
> it dan't charge using USB and the battery isn't user-replaceable.  There
> were also a lot of little bugs which might eventually be fixed, but by the
> time I found them I wasn't interested in spending the time documenting them,
> ad the machine was going back.  Yes, the concept has some allure.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Zhi Huang
> via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2018 9:01 PM
> To: 'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology'
> <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Zhi Huang <zhi.huang72 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] notetaker, other  options
> 
> Hi Sarah:
> 
> You mentioned that you use JAWS with a focus 40 blue.  I am curious if you
> use the Focus, qwerty keyboard, or a combination of both to navigate?  If
> you use the focus to navigate at all, then I would say the ElBraille would
> be best because you would not have to learn too many new navigation methods.
> If you use a qwerty keyboard to navigate, then you would either have to
> learn the navigating methods of the focus using JAWS or connect a qwerty
> keyboard.
> I should also mention that if you use Word, and want to stick with Word,
> then the ElBraille would let you do this.  Of course, you would have to
> install Word on the ElBraille, unlike other notetakers that comes with a
> word processor preinstalled.
> I should mention that I do work for a vender that sells the ElBraille;
> however, as an instructor, I have had opportunities to explore the
> BrailleSense Polaris, and teach the BrailleNote Touch.  I do carry a laptop,
> but if I was to get a Notetaker myself, I would personally get an ElBraille
> because it has What I would want.  Hope that helps.
> 
> 
> Zhi Huang
> Assistive Technology Specialist
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sarah
> Harris via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2018 10:48 AM
> To: trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Sarah Harris <sarahandfamily04 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Trainer-Talk] notetaker, other  options
> 
>   Good afternoon. I have been having problems with my laptop, so I'm
> thinking about purchasing either a BrailleNote Touch or a Braille Sense
> Polaris. I will   mostly use the Word feature for my work as a staff
> reporter at a newspaper as well as the novels I write. Would a notetaker be
> a good option, or should I just buy a new laptop? I use  Jaws and a focus 40
> blue. The focus is getting old, so I need to replace that as well. Any
> recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you. 
>     Sarah 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
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