[gps-talkusers] Re: A follow-up question on comparing the Pac Mate and the Braille Note
- From: Michael May <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 12:50:23 -0700
Dave,
I hesitate to comment much on competative products. Additionally, since the
Pac Mate version won't be out for several months, the jury is still out on
exactly what will be in the product.
I think the Freedom reps are still learning the product so what I know is
based on one demo and what I have read about the commercial product on the
web site.
The demo I saw showed how you could pick a point of interest and set it as
your destination and then calculate a route. At that stage you could arrow
through the route, turn by turn. You couldn't see every intersection nor
the points of interest as you passed them. I don't think it is intended to
be a play by play location system. I suggest you pose your questions to
Freedom representatives.
I do believe I am safe in saying that the BrailleNote GPS has far
more features. What you have to evaluate is the cost benefit ratio. The
Pac Mate version is $500 and gives you basic route functionality. The GN
GPS is $1100 and gives you lots more functionality.
Good luck,
Mike
At 12:26 PM 7/22/2004, you wrote:
>Mike, I sent the note below in reply to your post to the list which I felt
>partially answered my question. Perhaps partially, because I'm still
>learning as I try to make a decision about which to buy, but I asked if you
>would be more specific on the limitations of the Pac Mate when compared to
>the Braille Note, only as a GPS.
>
>More specifically, if the Pac Mate is "point A to point B", what does that
>mean it's limitation is in your view? Are you saying that the Pac Mate does
>not have some of the features such as POI'S or the ability to look around?
>or, for example, virtual traveling?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Dave
>
>Stop mad cowboy disease
>
>Check out my homepage at:
>http://myweb.cableone.net/dwgordon/
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Dave" <dwgordon@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 10:39 PM
>Subject: Re: [gps-talkusers] Earthmate, Magellan, BrailleNote and Pac Mate
>
>
> > Mike, could you please differentiate between the Pac Mate being a
>"primarily
> > is a Point A to Point B routing system", and the Braille Note?
> >
> > Stop mad cowboy disease
> >
> > Check out my homepage at:
> > http://myweb.cableone.net/dwgordon/
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Michael May" <MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: "GPS-talkusers-freelists.org" <GPS-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 3:46 PM
> > Subject: [gps-talkusers] Earthmate, Magellan, BrailleNote and Pac Mate
> >
> >
> > > To the question about the Earthmate's size, the receiver that goes on
>your
> > > shoulder strap is about 2 inches square and an inch thick. There is a
> > > separate battery/serial cradle that is twice that size and goes in the
> > > accessory pouch of the BrailleNote.
> > >
> > > There have been 2 Magellan receivers used with the BrailleNote. The
>first
> > > was the 310, which did not have WAAS. The Sportrak does have WAAS as of
> > > course does the Earthmate.
> > >
> > > In addition to Chip's comments about the BrailleNote GPS verses some
>other
> > > systems, a couple other points. The Pac Mate GPS to be out later this
> > year,
> > > is more like $500, but it doesn't do many of the things the BN GPS does.
> > It
> > > primarily is a Point A to Point B routing system and it appears to do a
> > > good job of that. If you are already a Pac Mate owner, it is your only
> > > option. If you are considering which PDA to purchase the BrailleNote GPS
> > is
> > > a very good reason to choose it. Four years of user input and 10 years
>of
> > > experience with accessible GPS does give maturity to the BrailleNote
>GPS.
> > >
> > > Many GPS systems for sighted folks understandably use arrow and click
>menu
> > > driven user interfaces. Both the Trekker and Pac Mate interfaces operate
> > in
> > > this fashion. You can't just type Chord F, Starbucks and Enter to find
>the
> > > location of the nearby coffee shop like you can on the BrailleNote. You
> > > have to choose Points of Interest, then Restaurants, then Fast Food,
>then
> > > arrow to McDonalds. On some systems, you can choose each letter, one at
>a
> > > time. Think of the BrailleNote GPS as the Cadillac of accessible GPS
> > > products but not everybody likes or needs a Cadillac.
> > >
> > > After being on my soap box for 10 years about accessible location
> > > information, I am very happy to see alternate accessible GPS products..
> > > Choices are good for consumers and first and foremost, I am a consumer.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Michael G. May
> > >
> > > CEO Sendero Group
> > >
> > > Developers and distributors of BrailleNote GPS
> > > Now distributing BrailleNote, VoiceNote, Miniguide, The Tissot Silen-T
> > > tactile watch and the ID Mate, bar code reader
> > >
> > > MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > http://www.SenderoGroup.com
> > >
> > > (530) 757-6800, Fax (530) 757-6830, Mobile (530) 304-0007
> > > Sendero Group, LLC
> > > 1118 Maple Lane, Davis, CA 95616-1723, USA
> > >
> > > Latitude, 38 33 9.239 North
> > > Longitude, 121 45 40.145 West
> > >
> > >
> >
Michael G. May
CEO Sendero Group
Developers and distributors of BrailleNote GPS
Now distributing BrailleNote, VoiceNote, Miniguide, The Tissot Silen-T
tactile watch and the ID Mate, bar code reader
MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.SenderoGroup.com
(530) 757-6800, Fax (530) 757-6830, Mobile (530) 304-0007
Sendero Group, LLC
1118 Maple Lane, Davis, CA 95616-1723, USA
Latitude, 38 33 9.239 North
Longitude, 121 45 40.145 West
Other related posts:
- » [gps-talkusers] Re: A follow-up question on comparing the Pac Mate and the Braille Note
