Hello Richard:
The difference between the icon and braille plus keyboards, is that the
braille plus comes with two extra keys, located at the right and left of
the spacebar. The left key is the shift key, and the right key is the
control key. So when you write uncontracted braille on it, you have your
own shift key, and don't have to write uncapped letters, or invoke some
inconvenient key combination to cap the letters. The braille plus is
about the size of a walkman, so yes it is smaller than the braille and
speak.
One of the things you might find convenient about the braille plus, is
that if you're no longer used to typing on a braille keyboard, (as I am,)
you can connect a u.s.b. keyboard via the interface cable that the unit
brings, or use a foldable bluetooth thinkout keyboard for more transport
convenience, as the unit is blue tooth enabled.
The other thing that's convenient, is that when you use contracted
braille
on the braille plus, the unit has a program that automatically translates
what you write to regular print when you send out emails with it. So you
don't have to stop and conduct a translation operation before sending out
those messages.
It is true that the unit is more expensive than a laptop, but it also
provides conveniences that the laptop doesn't. For one thing it's more
convenient to run around the city with it, as it's a lot smaller and
lighter than the laptop. Also using the wireless feature is a lot easier
than using the ones on the laptops. At least that's my experience. You
also get greater battery use than you do with most laptops. If memory
serves, most laptop batteries give you about three hours worth of
non-a.c.
power, whereas the braille plus gives you 10 hours if the wireless
network
is turned off, and 8 hours if it is turned on. The storage capacity is
greater than that of a lot of laptops, (though I don't know if that has
changed with the windows vista laptops.) This unit has a forty gig hard
drive and four gigs of ram. Like the laptop it has an mp3 media player
and a tape recording utility. And it's already set up to get news rss
feeds and some podcasts.
I wish it had a modem or could accept a wireless internet card for those
times when you're not around a wireless hotspot, but the eventual release
of the docking station should take care of the lack of a modem, as it'll
come with an ethernet card, and if you have a wireless router on your pc,
you can set up the unit to be recognized, and use its wireless internet
feature that way. And although I am not able to use this device for
wireless internet where I'm at in Puerto Rico, as I'm neither near any
wireless hotspots, nor do I have a wireless router, it's still a pretty
convenient note taking and book reading device. I did use its wireless
internet feature when I was in Boston last month, and absolutely loved
being able to get email without having to be tethered to a pc or lugging
around a laptop.
And speaking of its book reading capacity, accessing electronic braille
on
this unit is a lot more convenient. As you can transfer them from a
thumb
drive, or by connecting the unit to your computer via a u.s.b. cable as
if
it were another disk drive. Once the books have been stored in the unit,
you can immediately start reading. You don't have to use a transfer
protocol to read your books.
Now, that doesn't mean I have no use for the bookport, as I still like
the
convenience of not having to worry about the bookport's battery for about
a week or more, and the bookport is still slightly smaller than the
braille plus. I use them both.
Marta
P.S. And sorry for the ot.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Fiorello" <richkar1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 8:55 AM
Subject: [bookport] Re: Book Port
Hi;
I know this is a bookport list but it was said that the primary
difference
between the braille plus and the icon is the braille keyboard? If so,
what
type of keyboard is on the icon? I'm impressed with the size if its
really
smaller than the braille n speak. Its a shame its so pricey.
You could still buy a laptop for lots less but it would also be bigger.
I find it difficult writing grade one or computer braille with a braille
keyboard. My fingers think in grade two. Gets confusing when you try
and
transfer that info to a pc.
Thanks everyone for all the web braille and memory card info.
Richard
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob Lambert" <rmlambert1987@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 10:49 PM
Subject: [bookport] Re: Book Port
The Icon and Braille Plus are both about 1/2 the size of the Braille 'n
Speak and roughly 1/4 the size of the BrailleNote (or so I've heard);
however both units will definitely fit in your pocket. If you are
braille
savvy I'd recommend the Braille Plus because if you turn it sideways 90
degrees clockwise, you will be greeted with a full 6 dot braille
keyboard
and a shift & control key on either side of a central space bar. The
main
difference between the two units is the fact that the Braille Plus has
those
extra keys on it (just think of it as the Icon Plus Braille). However,
you
can get an external Bluetooth keyboard (such as the iGo Stowaway -
formerly
the ThinkOutside Stowaway keyboard) and it will recognize it
immediately.
You can also get a full docking station that provides extra power to the
unit if needed as well as a full QWERTY (or Braille) keyboard (your
choice).
Sharon <mt281820@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I'm a bit confused; what's the
difference between Braille Plus and the Icon?
How large are they? I'm looking for something small once my laptop dies;
something I can carry around but read with, and type clinical notes on
and
synchronize with my desktop. Sharon
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of PAMELA RADER
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 8:47 AM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: Book Port
Bertha:
As Marta said, we also now have the Braille + PDA Mobile Manager, which
will
currently read BRF files, Daisy files from Book Share and MP3 files. As
I
also pointed out yesterday, if you were on the list then, we are
currently
testing for NLS, so it will also be able to do that format soon, as well
as
Audible.com books.
Since it is a PDA, it does more than the Book Port. The price is $1395.
I
understand that not everyone can afford that, but you asked the question
and
currently, that is the answer.
Pamela Rader, TECHNICAL SUPPORT
American Printing House For The Blind
1839 Frankfort Ave.
Louisville, KY 40206
PHONE: 1-800-223-1839, Ext. 307
missmommymomma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 12/13/07 10:51PM >>>
Hello All,
Is there any other product through APH that is similar to the Book Port.
I had just about made a decision to purchase a Book Port and I found
out,
they are no longer availible.
thank You
Bertha
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