[bookport] Re: Differences in navigating text files between Bookport and Stream
- From: "Foxtrot" <foxtrot01876@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:24:01 -0400
Bookmarks are placed on the stream with one button. If you don't care about
the number placed on each bookmark, stream will assign the next number.
Th e great thing is that you can place an audible caption on each bookmark
telling you what the bookmark refers to. In searching for a bookmark, the
list bookmarks key will list your bookmarks audibly so you can choose the
one you want.
Rick
_____
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of David Allen
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 3:42 PM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: Differences in navigating text files between
Bookport and Stream
Hi Francis and list!
Yes, Gutenberg files and Audible files will play on the Stream. It is made
by Humanware. The US price for the Stream is $329 if I remember right but
the price seems to vary a bit internationally as I had to pay around $550
for it here in NZ.
Cheers,
dave
----- Original Message -----
From: Francis E. Khan <mailto:fekhan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:34 AM
Subject: [bookport] Re: Differences in navigating text files between
Bookport and Stream
I purchased my Bookport in November, 2004 and it hasn't yet failed me.
Where can I get details of the new Victor Stream and what is the cost? Can
I also download books from the Gutenberg site as well as audio from Audible?
Francis Khan
----- Original Message -----
From: David Allen <mailto:wd8ldy@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 3:49 AM
Subject: [bookport] Re: Differences in navigating text files between
Bookport and Stream
Hi Angie and list!
Thanks for the compliment.
Now having been through an update on the Stream today, I can make another
comparison in bookport's favour. Updating doesn't kill bookmarks you've
previously made in books on your bookport's cards. Since updating my Stream
today, I have been unable to find bookmarks I placed before the update. I'm
not saying they aren't there still, because they very well may be. If I lose
all manner of speech now whenever I attempt to navigate to a bookmark made
before the update, and that is what happens, then they are as good as lost.
Bookport is overall more consistentt. What you can do in a Daisy book, you
can do in any Daisy book, provided Daisy structure rules have been followed.
In the Stream update that came out today, they have this nice new feature of
being able to jump to a specified time in the book. Strangely, it only
applies to the otherbooks folder and the notes folder. This is where audible
books go, for example as would podcasts. In the case of talking books, the
Stream can tell you how long the book is, how far into it you are and how
much remains, yet the new jump to time feature doesn't apply to the talking
books folder. Being that inconsistent does not impress me, but that's the
way it is in Streamland.
Cheers,
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: Angie Matney <mailto:angie@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 6:46 PM
Subject: [bookport] Re: Differences in navigating text files between
Bookport and Stream
This is an excellent post. I love my Stream because I can play NLS books,
and I use it for audible books, too, because of the on-board variable speed
control. (Also, audio files it sound much better at faster speeds on the
Stream than on the BP.) But I still use my BP for studying, because it's
more intuitive to me. Along the lines of what David says below, it's also
quicker to set bookmarks with the BP. On the BP, you press two keys
simultaneously. On the stream, you have to press three keys in succession. I
like the BP way of utilizing simultaneous key presses.
Angie
--Original Message Text---
From: David Allen
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:04:54 +1300
Hi all!
I noticed someone raised this several days ago, but no one seems to have
responded unless I've missed it, so thought I'd take a stab at it since I
have and use both bookport and stream.
As has been said, both can read text files. Each has advantages and
disadvantages. If, for example, you find the bookport's voice not to your
liking, then you may like the Vocaliser synthesiser in the stream better.
When it comes to navigation, the stream seems unweildy in comparison with
bookport. That is my opinion, which probably isn't worth any more than you
paid for it. I will back this up though, with a bit of explanation. When
navigating text on the bookport, you only need to press the keys you need,
and you instantly achieve the degree of navigation you desire. For example,
navigate a while by word until you don't understand a pronunciation. Then
instantly switch to navigating by character by using different keys. Now
consider this against how you navigate on the Stream. First, you must
identify with up and down arrows that you want to navigate by word. You can
then use the left and right arrows to do that. When you run across a word
you don't understand and want to s witch navigation to character, you must
go back to the up and down arrows to select character.
There are other comparisons that can be made. The Stream has no find
feature. Both units have a sleep timer, and the sleep timer is adjustable in
either. In the bookport, the sleep timer activates automatically, but you
have to activate the sleep timer on the stream deliberately, as well ad
adjust the setting each time it is used.
The recent decision by some publishing houses to drop DRM is beneficial for
both Bookport and Stream users. This makes it simpler to transfer MP3 files
to either device, but it does not release you from your obligations in the
contract with the subscription service.
Hope this is helpful.
Cheers,
Dave
Other related posts:
