[access-uk] Re: Sonata ++ again.

  • From: "David Russell" <david.russell8@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 16:02:06 +0100

Terry,

Comments about the Sonata costing too much are even more ridiculous when you
consider it is available from Wireless for the Blind on permanent loan.

I have the previous incarnation of Sonata and, although I appreciate that
the new model is better, I will make do with my old one.


David

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Terry Clasper
Sent: 29 May 2012 12:38
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sonata ++ again.

Hi.
For example I bought a couple of years ago a DAB am FM tuner for my hifi for
£600.
Very good value for money, and I've never heard any sighted people
complaining that it wasn?t.
Sometimes we have to just accept that technology bears a price and not
always jump on the old band wagon without first testing whether comments are
fair or not!


-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Jackie Cairns
Sent: 29 May 2012 12:30
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sonata ++ again.

Hi Andy

But it isn't ridiculous if you consider the hifi market as a whole.  As I
wrote to Barry in an earlier Email, if you want to buy a tuner for your
system, depending on the make and what its features are, you could be paying
upwards of £400.  I've just bought a Denon separates system.  I got an amp
and a CD player, as well as a pair of Wharfdale speakers.  I looked at the
price of the tuner, and I could have bought one to match it for £299, but it
only had AM and FM, no DAB.  To me, it just wasn't worth the money.  Then
the tuner with WiFi access so you could have an Internet radio, completely
inaccessible, was over £400.  We hardly get a DAB signal here, so just
decided to go for the Sonata Plus instead.

I agree a lot of assistive technology is expensive, but the problem is that
being blind doesn't come cheap, and while these companies make a good
mark-up on what they sell us, we either get it to enhance our lives that bit
better, or do without and make a stand.  I'd rather consider whether I
really want or need a product, and make a decision on whether I can afford
to buy it.  If I can't, tough shit.  If I can, then I gain.  We have very
little sighted help, so the more speech there is on gadgetry round our
house, the more power to our elbow, (smile).


Kind Regards,

Jackie Cairns

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
ANDY COLLINS
Sent: 29 May 2012 10:18
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sonata ++ again.

I think I saw it on the 'Wireless for the blind' website for £349. 
Ridiculous in my opinion! -

Andy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Barry Toner" <barry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2012 11:26 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sonata ++ again.


> Hi jakcie,
>
> How much was it?  Sounds ideal and something we'd like to have in our 
> living room!  The Netbook I sat up as a media box 3 years back is 
> getting a tad old and sluggish now with it's clunky old XP.
>
> Cheers,
> Barry.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
> Behalf Of Jackie Cairns
> Sent: 28 May 2012 09:46
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Sonata ++ again.
>
> Hi Billy
>
> In my honest, humble opinion, straight from the horse's mouth, I think 
> it's ace!!
>
> This unit is a big improvement on its predecessor, even though it is 
> great too.
>
> 1.  You can put multiple network keys in with a spoken menu.  So, for 
> example, if you take your Sonata Plus to someone else's house, you 
> could use their WiFi service by putting in their key easily with full 
> speech access.
>
> 2.  The motherboard is much faster, so response times are quicker.
>
> 3.  There is now built-in TTS, the voice for which I have no idea, 
> except he is a posh git but ok nevertheless, and a change from 
> Daniel!!
>
> 3.  The fact that TTS is built into the unit means that everything  
> you stream isn't tagged from the server like it used to be.  And 
> because you now have two USB ports to run hard drives and pens, plus 
> an SD card that supports 32GB of storage, your TTS will speak all your 
> music filenames etc.
>
> I've tried the SD slot and it definitely works with a 32GB card on 
> which I put a lot of music in folders and sub-folders as is my general 
> layout.  It enabled me to drop down to folders within folders and 
> arrow up and down the
> MP3 files.
>
> Luke told me that you can run a USB drive on it through one of the 
> ports, whether the drive is powered or relies on the internal workings 
> of the unit.
>
> So Billy, I hope this has wet your appetite.  I decided to get one 
> because

> I
> recently bought new hifi separates, and didn't see the point in going 
> down the road of purchasing a tuner with WiFi and all that built into 
> it when I wouldn't be able to access the thing.  So I bought the new 
> Sonata Plus and use it for my tuner.  We have such a crap DAB signal 
> here that it's not worth having a DAB radio, hence the reason why I need
to stream.
>
> I'm delighted with it, plus the service Luke and John provide, though 
> Luke is undoubtedly my favourite and so terribly helpful.
>
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> Jackie Cairns
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
> Behalf Of BlueNose
> Sent: 25 May 2012 08:24
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Sonata ++ again.
>
> hi guys, I realise this subject has been discussed on this list 
> before, but Now I will be getting one of these Sonata ++ for myself.
> It would be great if I could get some feed-back from blind users. I 
> always like to get it straight from the horses mouth if you like lol.
>
> Are there any tutorials or podcasts been done on this product?.
>
> I would sure like some fee-back from users, I feel this is always 
> best,
>
> Billy
>
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