[access-uk] Re: Braille notetakers
- From: David Weston <david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:30:38 +0000
Hi Jackie,
I have had my Braille Sense plus for quite a few years and I think that it is
the best, and I agree with you.
David Weston.
On 15 Mar 2012, at 12:02, Jackie Cairns wrote:
> Hi Steve
>
> Why would there be sour grapes as a matter of interest? Sight and Sound now
> sell the BrailleSense range after taking it over from Force Ten, so I am
> recommending it.
>
> You may feel the Pac Mate is a good product, and I agree it is subjective.
> But when we know Freedom aren't doing any more to it, what is the point in
> buying something that offers what it does for a similar price to the others?
> 64MB of memory, no WiFi and Bluetooth, no dedicated SD card slot, no
> interchangeable battery, the unit having to go to America for up to a month
> for fixes, and that's without it's crashes on the dreaded Windows Mobile
> platform. Yes its good points are the separate display, and a very nice
> qwerty keyboard. But it is bulky, clunky and just past its sell-by date
> now. That's my opinion, try for yourselves, it's no odds to me.
>
> I have said many times that it is Freedom Scientific I don't like
> personally, not the UK dealers who sell their products. But even I use JAWS
> and Open Book, so I don't see any grapes going off here.
>
>
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> Jackie Cairns
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> Steve Hyde-Dryden
> Sent: 15 March 2012 11:44
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Braille notetakers
>
> Jackie, this is a very subjective area. As someone who works with an
> organisation who has absolutely no ties to specific products, I would never
> categorically advise someone against something until they'd actually had a
> opportunity to look at and play with the particular product. I feel there
> is some sour grapes here and on the subject of differences between the Apex
> and the Braille sense, they are on different operating systems so there is a
> world of difference.
>
> Actually, the Pacmate is still a good product and especially so for someone
> who is a current jaws user. Differences in the mobile platform don't
> necessitate a great learning curve.
>
> Steve
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> Jackie Cairns
> Sent: 15 March 2012 08:37
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Braille notetakers
>
> Hi Mary
>
> Please, whatever you do, don't go for a Pac Mate. Support for it is
> dwindling, contrary to what is said by the dealers here. It has no built-in
> Bluetooth or WiFi, and I wouldn't even use it as a doorstop!
>
> Your best bet is either the BrailleSense - which is what I use - or the
> Apex. Sight and Sound have just taken over the BrailleSense from Force Ten,
> and they claim to be able to support it and know how to train someone using
> it. Humanware, on the other hand, sell the Apex, and do have people working
> there who competently read Braille and are able to support it fully.
>
> There isn't a pile of difference between the two note-takers I recommend. I
> went for the BrailleSense for its very nice, quiet keyboard which is lovely
> for writing Braille on. It comes with built-in BlueTooth and WiFi, as does
> Apex, they are both 32 cell, and both have 8GB onboard storage with the
> capacity to facilitate up to 32GB SD cards. There is also the BrailleSense
> OnHand, which is an 18 cell baby to the 32 cell model, but the keys are a
> bit smaller.
>
> Both the Sense and Apex families come in qwerty flavours, but I can't
> comment on them as I haven't used either in that format.
>
> I am giving an honest view Mary, so if someone wants to take offence, it's
> up to them. But as a long time, experienced Braillist, I know what I am
> talking about here.
>
> There is also the Esys note-taker from EuroBraille, but while these are very
> nice, small and compact in either 12 or 40 cell, I wouldn't recommend them.
> They have their own little note pad, but the keys are tiny, and you don't
> have the flexibility for the money that you do on the Sense or Apex
> families.
>
> But I implore you, don't go near Pac Mate, it's a heap and outdated now.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> Jackie Cairns
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> Mary Tottle
> Sent: 14 March 2012 13:15
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Braille notetakers
>
> Hi,
>
> I am thinking about buying a Braille notetaker as I would like to read and
> write more in this form. I know very little about the various ones
> available so could someone please advise. I am tempted by the Pac Mate
> Omni, does this have the latest firmware on the market? Does this have the
> largest storage capacity? What other things would I need to consider? Is
> there good support for the product here in the UK?
>
> Any help much appreciated.
>
> Regards
>
> Mary
>
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