[nfbcs] Notetakers vs. netbooks

[John G. Heim]

Yeah, the braille display does come in handy a lot. But at most meetings I 
wear a headset with one speaker.   I think you want the immediate feedback 
on what you're typing.

On the other hand, if you have to relate a phone number or a URL or 
something like that, a braille display is useful. Otherwise, you keep asking 
the speech synthesizer to repeat the number so yu can relate it. But it is 
far easier to just read it a character at a time on the braille display.  If 
I had to make a lot of phone calls, I'd want a braille display.

Also, A lot of times when I'm using the GPS, there's traffic around, and I'm 
asking myself, "What did it just say?" And then you can check the braille 
display instead of trying to get the speech synth to repeat itself. So on 
the one hand, a braille display is a really nice thing to have with a GPS 
but on the other hand, who wants to carry around a braille display when 
they're using their GPS?

IMO, it's a tough issue.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
To: "'NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 1:43 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Notetakers vs. netbooks


> Tracy,
>
> The only reason I am investigating notetakers is the Braille display.
> Otherwise the netbook would win hands down.  A netbook is more economical,
> more compatible and better supported.  By this last I mean there are 
> better
> opportunities to review before purchase and obtain technical assistance 
> than
> is true of adaptive products.  I briefly considered going with something
> like CyncBraille from GW Micro, but I must say I am sold on the cvapacity 
> of
> 32 or 40 cells versus the 20.  Ultimately, the Braille is important to me
> partly for the method of reading but also for the ability to participate 
> in
> meetings or deliver presentations without headphones to transmit the
> chattering yacking of a synthesizer.
>
> Joe Orozco
>
> "A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the
> crowd."--Max Lucado
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
> Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 2:07 PM
> To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfbcs] Notetakers vs. netbooks
>
> Is there a good reason, other than a built-in braille display,
> to buy a notetaker instead of a netbook?
> The weight of the netbook seems about the same as that of many
> notetakers, and it runs off-the-shelf software.  Of course, one
> would have to add the extra weight and space of a braille
> display, which could be a drawback.
> Someone told me that netbooks have trouble running speech, but
> another person said she'd had no problems.  The netbooks I saw
> online look to be more powerful than my old laptop, and smaller.
> And a netbook is a whole heck of a lot cheaper than a
> notetaker, even one without braille.  So what are the
> drawbacks?  Why aren't most blind guys buying netbooks instead
> of notetakers?
> Just curious, and wondering if I should replace my old laptop
> with something new and snazzy.
> Tracy
>
>
>
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