I wouldn't think a laptop would look alienating to sighted folks. A
lot of them probably use them, too! Maybe because I don't own a
Packmate, I don't appreciate what it can do. But to my way of
thinking, give me a lightweight laptop and a Bookport, and I would
have the best of both worlds.
Laptops are usually cheaper, but the pacmate offers some things that a laptop doesn't, in my mind, offer a student in seminar. Since my courses require lots of round-table discussion (they are in fact giant round table discussions) having a laptop in front of my face can make me appear alienating to sighed folks. Plus it's easier to balance in random places than a laptop - and less heavy. Easier to sling around, since it fits in my (giant, admittedly) purse and my laptop doesn't.
But that would only be nice if I actually knew how to use it :)
On 8/25/06, Sandy Licht <<mailto:slicht@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>slicht@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > wrote:
It would be cheaper to buy a laptop!
At 02:28 PM 8/25/2006, you wrote:
>I couldn't help but laugh a lot through this thread. I'm just
>starting grad school and I'm dying learning my pacmate (I haven't
>needed one really up until now) and it's insanity times twelve,
>combined with the new bookport for increased theory book
>usage. Gah! However, I think that the big point here was the price
>- look how cheap TADI is compaired to the pacmate or
>voicenote. Poor kid, tell her to appeal if she can. I know arguing
>with caseworkers is the last thing a grad student wants to do with
>everything else in mind but I think it's worth it.
>Just a TADI would be good for personal use, if it's small (but it
>doesn't seem small enough to want to use instead of a pacmate anyway).
>Oy!
>- Jeanette
>
>On 8/25/06, Richard Ring
><<mailto:ring.richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>ring.richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx .us > wrote:
>I can categorically say that no one in the state of Iowa would get one
>of these devices in place of a full fledged note taker. It's not just
>that rehab people want to protect the budget although this is a good
>deal of the problem, it's that they no squat about technology, and they
>don't make their business to learn!
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: <mailto: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx><mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sandy Licht
>Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 1:21 PM
>To: <mailto:bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx><mailto:bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [bookport] Re: Has anyone heard of this device?
>
>
>It seems to me, a lot of rehab councillors simply want to appear to
>be helpful. Their main job is to protect the budget. I had one who
>was different, but those are rare, unfortunately.
>
>At 01:15 PM 8/25/2006, you wrote:
> >Yes, and if I were your friend, I would definitely put up a fight on
>that
> >one. The TATI is nothing like a Braille Note or Pacmate. It is
>somewhat
> >similar to a VoiceMate, but it has a small qwerty keyboard. You can
>use it
> >to jot down notes, phone numbers and addresses, but certainly not at
>all
> >suitable for graduate work. The TATI is like a toy compared to a real
>note
> >taker. In addition, the TATI will totally loose all of its data if the
> >batteries go dead. Personally, I think the Rehab person that
>recommended
> >the TATI as a serious tool for anyone going to school should be shot.
>The
> >TATI sells for about $250 or so and more than likely the small price
>tag is
> >the only reason it is being forced on someone by the Rehab councilor.
>You
> >can find more info on the TATI on the Maxi Aids web site.
> >
> >Your friend definitely needs to go over the Rehab councilors head to
>some
> >one that knows what they are doing. There must be someone he or she
>can
> >appeal to.
> >
> >It just makes my blood boil when I see this kind of incompetence in a
>Rehab
> >person that is supposed to have the client's best interest in mind, and
>not
> >their agency's pocket book.
> >
> >Sorry for the rant.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--Best regards,
> >
> >--Rick Alfaro
> >--<mailto: rick.alfaro@xxxxxxxxxxx><mailto:rick.alfaro@xxxxxxxxxxx>rick.alfaro@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: <mailto: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx><mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ]
> >On Behalf Of Deborah Kendrick
> >Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 10:23 AM
> >To: Deborah Kendrick
> >Subject: [bookport] Has anyone heard of this device?
> >
> >A friend of mine just had her voc. rehab. case opened. She's in
>graduate
> >school and desperately needs some updated equipment. I told her to
>request
> >a Braillenote or Pac Mate. After meeting with her counselor, she said
>that
> >the counselor insisted that a device called the TADI was perfect for
>her
> >needs, and that's what she's getting. I've never heard of it -- and
>she
> >wants my opinion. Anyone here ever heard of it?
>
>Sandy Licht
>Phone: 409-898-8218
>Jeremiah 29:11 - 14A
>11For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They
>are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a
>hope. 12In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13If you look for
>me in earnest,
>you will find me when you seek me. 14I will be found by you," says
>the LORD...
>
>
>
Sandy Licht Phone: 409-898-8218 Jeremiah 29:11 - 14A 11For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. 14I will be found by you," says the LORD...
