Hi David Well each to their own, it certainly meets all my needs. The OnHand version is also very nifty and compact with the same features. I haven't yet seen the U2 version, so that will be something to investigate some day. I know quite a few Apex users and they like their device, so it is subjective, yes. Kind Regards, Jackie Cairns -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Weston Sent: 15 March 2012 12:31 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Braille notetakers 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 > > -- > Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. 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