Harvey:
Unfortunately, making spares is not an option, as there are no more parts
to occommodate our needs. This is one of the main reasons why we are
having to develop a new unit.
Normally, I would agree with your opinion of "If it ain't broke ..."
Well, I think it was decided long ago that we would use a battery pack,
rather than disposable batteries. Part of the decision for this was in
part do to a survey that we took on this list (probably long before you
had your Book Port) and also because of problems we've had with contacts.
So, even though we've had to start over with some aspects of the
development of Book Port 2, I doubt that we will start completely over
from scratch, as we are trying to meet somewhat of a timeline and get it
developed as quickly as possible. As far as Compact Flash Cards go, they
are on their way out, so staying with this would be a difficult move and
probably by the time it comes out, those cards will be even more difficult
to find. True, Mini SD cards are very small and more problematic to deal
with. I cringed when I found out we were using them with the Braille +,
but I am getting used to them and their quirks. Th
e fact is--it is the technology of today and we have no choice but to move
with it!
Thanks for your suggestions!
Pamela Rader, TECHNICAL SUPPORT
American Printing House For The Blind
1839 Frankfort Ave.
Louisville, KY 40206
PHONE: 1-800-223-1839, Ext. 307
harveywhite@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 11/26/07 01:36PM >>>
I've been a Book Port user for only six months, and believed that any
feedback from me would be of no importance in the design of Book Port 2.
Now
that it seems clear that Book Port 2 is nowhere near final spec, let alone
shipping, I have decided to share my reflections in the hope of
influencing
the final outcome of the updated machine.
In almost every respect, I approve of the Book Port I am now using. My
only
misgiving, and it has been well aired on this list in the past, is the
treatment of common abbreviations such as Dr. and St. Nowadays I remedy
this
fault by subjecting the text file to the Find and Replace function on my
PC.
By instructing the PC to replace Dr. by the word Doctor, and St. by the
word
Saint, the text is immediately made acceptable. It takes only seconds.
I would be disappointed if BP2 has rechargeable batteries! I'm fed up with
rechargeables: they don't last long enough and they are untidy - all those
cables and transformers sticking out of the wall! I like the fact that I
can
go off on holiday with two or even four spare small batteries in my pocket
and have enough power in reserve to read my way round the world wihtout
worrying about compatible power supplies.
I prefer Compact flash cards to SD cards because they are a great deal
easier to handle. I find SD cards fiddly, and easily dropped; and there's
no
room on them for a label!
So, my advice to APH is, if it ain't bust, don't fix it. Just start making
the spares again.
Harvey White.
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