[bookport] Re: bookport needs a speaker:

  • From: Bruce Toews <dogriver@xxxxxxxx>
  • To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 11:44:03 -0500 (CDT)

The reality of the situation, though, is that the BP is using very old technology. A new unit is inevitable, dropping of support for the existing unit may be a ways off, but that oo is inevitable. That is the way with all technology, and the BP can't be isolated in that respect. I remember when teh KPR came out. There was much excitement at the time because the software came on a cartridge and could be updated. There was one upgrade, after which Kurzweil abandoned the product. It's a reality we're going to have to face, and we can either embrace it or go out screaming.

Bruce

--
Bruce Toews
E-mail and MSN/Windows Messenger: dogriver@xxxxxxxx
Web Site (including info on my weekly commentaries): http://www.ogts.net
Info on the Best TV Show of All Time: http://www.cornergas.com

On Tue, 6 Sep 2005, Richard Ring wrote:

I agree with that too.  I don't use the note taking feature, but it
doesn't bother me that it is there.  The only thing that would disturb
me is if a new feature rich and more expensive device hits the market
and because I don't need the new functionality I don't spring for the
upgrade that now I have a device which will be unsupported in a year.
If, on the other hand, there are new features incorporated into a unit
that I would use along with many I wouldn't, I would not be opposed to
upgrading.

-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lynnette
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 11:04 AM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: bookport needs a speaker:


Agreed.  If you don't need a feature, don't use it.  Why turn it into a
negative aspect?
Lynnette

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Toews" <dogriver@xxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 11:51 AM
Subject: [bookport] Re: bookport needs a speaker:


Well, the "every speech synthesizer comes with software speech"
argument 
is not a particularly useful one, since a lot of us despise software
speech on principle. But I agree with your other points. There would
be no
harm in making any new BP a speech synth, but again, it's not a
priority 
for me.

Someone before raised a very valid point which I discovered when I
threw
out my wish list for general discussion. For whatever reason, we seem
to
have this tendency to feel that if we don't have a need for a
particular
feature, implementing that feature is a bad idea. I saw a post on the
Book
Courier list where someone was explaining why he thought the BC was
better
than the BP. His reason was that the BP has a note taking feature and
he
has no need for a note-takng feature, an argument which makes no sense
to 
me.

Bruce

--
Bruce Toews
E-mail and MSN/Windows Messenger: dogriver@xxxxxxxx
Web Site (including info on my weekly commentaries):
http://www.ogts.net 
Info on the Best TV Show of All Time: http://www.cornergas.com

On Tue, 6 Sep 2005, Chris Hill wrote:

The reason it doesn't serve as a synthesizer likely has to do with
licensing in part.  Another part is that it looks for all the world
like an external storage device to a computer, the usb interface
would
have to be reprogrammed to make it work as a synthesizer. Since
every 
modern screen reader comes with software speech, what would be the
point?


On Tue, 6 Sep 2005 10:34:36 -0500, you wrote:

Ok, first of all, I am not talking about a different speech
synthesizer, 
I am referring to a request to have the device work as a speech
synthesizer for a personal computer, which was in the message I
originally responded to.
Second,  if an optional carrying case with a built-in speaker were
offered, I'd be fine with that.


-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rick and
Pauline 
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 10:04 AM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: bookport needs a speaker:


I don't believe anyone on the list is in a position to decide what
is 
good
for everyone else as it relates to the BookPort.  Some prefer a
speaker 
for
their individual needs, and others are convinced a speaker is
unnecessary.
Why does one person have to be right and another wrong when it
comes 
down to
this
issue.  I suggest the American Printinghouse should consider

offering
us

an
optional carrying case for the BookPort that would include a built
in
speaker for those who want one. There are such products on the 
market
I

know at the present time, but none that is specificly designed with
the
BookPort in mind. For those who feel strongly about having a
speaker 
should
have one if they are willing to pay for one.  The same can be said
for 
those
who want an improved speech synthesizer.  Why can't this be an

option
as

well. Live and let live, guys, and lets try not to be so narrow
minded. 

Rick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Ring" <ring.richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 9:18 AM
Subject: [bookport] Re: bookport needs a speaker:


Those of us who already own the device never purchased it so that
it
would work with a Braille display (it is not a screen reader) nor
did
we
expect it to be a speech synthesizer for a PC. It is, a reading
device. 
It is designed to read text and MP3 files, and it does these tasks
remarkably well.
It is not a screen reader,
I don't feel the device needs a speaker because I like its current
size
and I don't believe that a speaker worth having could be
integrated 
unless one wants a bigger unit.
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Poehlman
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 3:53 PM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: bookport needs a speaker:


Ya know,  There is such a thing as utilitariansm.  I'd wish for
braille display support and support for the bp to be used as a
synth.  This is not conflictatory.

--
Jonnie Apple Seed
With his:
Hands-On Technolog(eye)s


On Sep 5, 2005, at 4:45 PM, David Allen wrote:

Hi David and list:

No it doesn't work with a braille display. But if you can't hear,
what would be the use of your suggestion that bookport should be
used
as a synthesiser for a PC? Your line of reasoning convinces me
that 
you are complaining for the sake of complaining which serves no
useful purpose.

Cheers,
Dave



















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