[gps-talkusers] Re: laptops versus note takers for the blind

Well, since you ask, on the good side this Fujitsu P1120 gives you 8 to 9
hours on its bigger battery, integrated WiFi, 800 MHz of speed, and 30 Gb of
hard drive and 256 Mb of RAM.

On the negative side it has a small keyboard that is not suitable for
everyone. Some Jaws commands require 4 rather than 3 keys being pressed. It
took me a week to get used to it and now I'm really comfortable with it, but
I know others might not like that keyboard.

I decided to share because it is always so hard to get good info before
buying and since I took the risk on this machine, I might as well share what
I found.

For anyone with no hurry to buy, I would recommend investigating UPC
machines (most of which are not available for sale yet). They are smaller
than the smallest sub notebooks but larger than palm pilots. These ultra
portable computers with one of those folding keyboards might soon join small
laptops as welcome competition for those $2000 blind note takers with the
power of $300 Palm Pilots.

I know the usual arguments in favor of the note takers and the economics
behind developing for the smaller visually impaired market, so I won't
respond to reactions to this note bringing those points up. My intention is
just to share what I found because for the technologically brave and/or
financially scared, that don't mind small keyboards, laptops like this one
make a lot of sense.

Best wishes,

Fernando

-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Chris Meredith
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 6:16 PM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: laptops versus note takers for the blind


Are there laptops out there that provide the battery life one would need =
for
something like that (i.e. eight to ten hours) and the portability?  If =
there
are such things, count me in as voting for the reintroduction of =
Strider.
Heck, I'd even help WRITE the blasted thing.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of=20
> Fernando Botelho
> Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 2:54 PM
> To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [gps-talkusers] laptops versus note takers for the blind
>=20
>=20
> You guys are right on that one; you can add me to the list of=20
> people not happy with machines designed exclusively for the=20
> blind. I rather have a GPS system on the smaller, faster,=20
> more powerful, more versatile, and much cheaper Fujitsu P1120=20
> laptop than on any blind-specific notetaker out there--which=20
> explains why I don't have a GPS system right now.
>=20
> Fernando
>=20
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Mary=20
> Ellen Earls
> Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 9:07 AM
> To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
>=20
>=20
> I actually would like to see the strider brought back in a=20
> windows version because I am becoming more and more=20
> disalusioned with the field of blindness technology as a whole.
>=20
> Mary Ellen Earls
> Remember! Today is the Tomorrow you thought about yesterday.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "vincent" <vinnroc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 4:39 PM
> Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
>=20
>=20
> > Go Charles there is a bunch of us who can't wait.  I think=20
> there is a
> bunch
> > of laptop lurkers. ---- Original Message -----
> > From: "Charles La Pierre" <lapierre@xxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 7:18 PM
> > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> >
> >
> > > I am always looking at ways to create an Atlas Speaks and Strider=20
> > > again. Charles.
> > >
> > > At 10:36 AM 9/5/2004, you wrote:
> > > >Could this be a consideration sometime down the road?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >----- Original Message -----
> > > >From: "Michael May" <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > >To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > >Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 12:35 PM
> > > >Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Rich,
> > > > >
> > > > > The maps were discontinued for that format. We could=20
> get updated
> POIs
> > but
> > > > > not maps. There were also licensing and insurance=20
> issues, which
> makes
> > the
> > > > > annual cost about $20,000 before you sell one copy, crazy but=20
> > > > > true.
> > > > >
> > > > > The better solution is to port our current software=20
> to a laptop
> > platform
> > > > > but that too isn't inexpensive in terms of time and=20
> priorities.
> > > > >
> > > > > Mike
> > > > > At 03:18 PM 9/3/2004, you wrote:
> > > > > >Mike:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >I still have version 1.85 of Atlas and GPS Talks on=20
> my laptop=20
> > > > > >and
> it
> > > >works
> > > > > >great.  True, the maps are somewhat out of date. =20
> How difficult
> would
> > it
> > > >be
> > > > > >to resurrect that with new maps.  Are the new maps addressed=20
> > > > > >quite differently?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Rich Irwin
> > > > > >rich.irwin@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:rich.irwin@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > > > >From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > >[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf=20
> Of Michael=20
> > > > > >May
> > > > > >Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 2:26 PM
> > > > > >To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > >Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Chip,
> > > > > >
> > > > > >It is a matter of time and money to port the software to a=20
> > > > > >laptop
> > > >platform.
> > > > > >All the map licenses remain the same as for the BrailleNote.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >However, we also have requests for GPS on the PK, GPS on=20
> > > > > >Keysoft
> 6.1
> > and
> > > > > >GPS on generic Windows CE PDAs. I wish we had the=20
> funding to do=20
> > > > > >all
> > these
> > > > > >things.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Mike
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >At 01:19 PM 9/3/2004, you wrote:
> > > > > > >It may not be possible via the software.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >As I have mentioned before I was trying to develop=20
> a similar
> > product
> > > >for
> > > > > > >laptop users, and I was using MapPoint for it's=20
> mapping data=20
> > > > > > >and
> > POIs.
> > > > > > >MapPoint does not allow you to delete or edit any of it's=20
> > > > > > >list of
> > POIs,
> > > > > > >so all I can do is essentially ask it to give me a list of=20
> > > > > > >its
> POIs
> > > > > > >within a defined radius of a defined point.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >I also added a user POI database, and in that I=20
> was planning=20
> > > > > > >to
> > allow
> > > > > > >edits and deletions, but I too (if I ever could=20
> complete the
> > project,
> > > > > > >which isn't looking likely), would face the same=20
> restriction=20
> > > > > > >on commercial POIs.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >I suppose I could add a second database of known POIs that=20
> > > > > > >are in MapPoint that the user doesn't want=20
> reported, and then=20
> > > > > > >search it
> > each
> > > > > > >time MapPoint gave me a list of POIs, but that=20
> sounds like a=20
> > > > > > >lot
> of
> > > > > > >extra work and extra processing for a relatively=20
> small amount=20
> > > > > > >of
> > gain.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Unfortunately, my paying job has taken up much more of my=20
> > > > > > >time,
> and
> > > >will
> > > > > > >continue to do so, so it may be that someone else=20
> will have=20
> > > > > > >to do
> > this
> > > > > > >project.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >What about it Mike?  With all that experience you=20
> have, could=20
> > > > > > >you
> > > >modify
> > > > > > >your program to work in a laptop environment?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >Chip
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > > > From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=3D20
> > > > > > > > [mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On=20
> Behalf Of=20
> > > > > > > > Todd
> > Patkus
> > > > > > > > Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 4:23 AM
> > > > > > > > To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > Mike et al,
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > If you, Mike, say no about commercial POIs, then, what=20
> > > > > > > >is=3D20  your reason for denying that?  Makes no=20
> sense!  Kim=20
> > > > > > > >is=3D20  correct, so please think twice before saying=20
> > > > > > > >something. =3D20
> > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > > > > >From: Michael May <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > >To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > >Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 19:30:27 -0700
> > > > > > > > >Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: Out dated pois
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >You cannot update commercial POIs, only your user POIs.
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >Mike
> > > > > > > > >At 06:09 PM 8/20/2004, you wrote:
> > > > > > > > >>Better yet, Can we update an existing poi, or=20
> atleast=3D20
> > > > > > > > rename the poi=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>if need be in the case of a closing or changing=20
> > > > > > > > >>business?
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>----- Original Message -----
> > > > > > > > >>From: "Kim Lookingbill" <seadolphink@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > >>To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > > >>Sent: Friday, August 20, 2004 4:16 PM
> > > > > > > > >>Subject: [gps-talkusers] Out dated pois
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>> Hi: - Living in a competitive area for businesses,=20
> > > > > > > > >>> where
> > new=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>> businesses
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>are opening up almost weekly, while others=20
> are closing
> their
> > > >doors=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>for a
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>final time.  What would be the procedure of notifying
> the=3D20
> > > > > > > > map folks=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>of a
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>no longer existent business designated at a=20
> particular
> POI=3D20
> > > > > > > > setting,=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>so
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>these updates, and adjustments can be made=20
> for future=20
> > > > > > > > >>>map
> > > >editions..
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>Thanks, and all the best.  - Kim
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>P.S.: I am aware that Pois can be edited/deleted=20
> > > > > > > > >>>within=3D20
> > > > > > > > your personal
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>settings on your own BN, but I'm thinking=20
> more on the=20
> > > > > > > > >>>line
> > of=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>informing
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>the proper persons in charge of the master=20
> map copies=20
> > > > > > > > >>>so
> > outdated
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>information is not included on future map updates.
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>> Kim Lookingbill
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>kim@xxxxxxxxxxxx (email or MSN Messenger)
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>Blast From The Past
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>Sundays, 16 to 19 UTC
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>Back Stage Pass
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>Thursdays from 0 to 1 UTC
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > > >>>http://interactive.acbradio.org
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > > > > >=3D20
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > > Charles M. La Pierre CTO
> > > Sendero Group, LLC
> > >
> > > Lat. 37 15' 25" N  Lon: 121 53' 04" W
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
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>=20

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