[real-eyes] Re: RFB&D players
- From: "Nancy VanSandt" <maxvanwon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:33:24 -0500
Robert, thanks for posting this message. I know that it reflects your own
opinion, but there is a lot of good information in there all in one place,
and I really appreciate that.
Nancy Van Sandt,
Buddy and Curly's House
Joshua24:15
"But as for me and my household,
We will serve the Lord."
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Beach" <rbeach@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <real-eyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 10:56 PM
Subject: [real-eyes] Re: RFB&D players
> Hello,
>
> I=92ve played around with several of the hardware and software players, =
> and here are my personal opinions.
>
> I do not really care for the Telex Scholar. It is the cheapest of the =
> RFB&D hardware players, but you get what you pay for. It is slow, it =
> looks a bit juvenile to me, and it does not have fast-forward/rewind =
> buttons. You can navigate forward and backward by markups (i.e. chapter =
> titles and page numbers), but not by small segments like you can with a =
> cassette player. Again, it is very slow on seek time.
>
> I have not worked with the Victor Vibe, but it is basically like the =
> Scholar with the exception it does supposedly have fast-forward/rewind =
> buttons. It is still very slow though.
>
> I have a Victor Wave and like it fairly well. It is faster than the =
> Scholar and Vibe, it has fast-forward/rewind buttons, is a bit smaller =
> than the Scholar, and looks better to me. It can use the rechargeable =
> batteries that came with it or standard AA batteries.
>
> All three of the players I mentioned are the clam-shell style players. =
> They look like a standard CD player such as a Discman. One of the draw =
> backs to all three so far is you must use a headset of some sort to listen
> =
> to them. They do not have built-in speakers. However, I purchased a =
> small set of speakers from WalMart that do not require power and can work
> =
> off the headset jack. While they are a bit more portable than a set of =
> computer speakers, they do not offer the better quality of such speakers.
> =
> It=92s a give and take. I do like using them with the Wave though as I =
> can put it on the table and listen to a book while eating dinner and not =
> have to wear a headset. I hate to ware headsets. <smile>
>
> The Victor Classic models are very nice players, but they are larger than
> =
> the clam-shell models above. They have built-in speakers that work very =
> well or you can use a headset. Again, they do look a bit juvenile to me,
> =
> kind of like a Fisher Price toy of some kind. They do have a bit faster =
> seek time than the clam-shell models, even the Wave. They do have =
> fast-forward/rewind buttons too.
>
> If you get the Victor Classic with the recording feature, the price goes =
> way up. I=92ve had a student who really liked the recording feature on a
> =
> different hardware player. He used it to record class lectures and group
> =
> discussion sessions. You=92ll just have to think about if that is =
> important enough to spend the extra money for.
>
> Now, let me throw something else out there for you to think about. If =
> you=92re only wanting to play RFB&D books, these players work just fine.
> =
> However, if you=92d like to also play books from other sources such as =
> BookShare.org and/or Audible.com, then these players do not cover that. I
> =
> have a Book Port that I really like. It is my primary portable player. =
> It can play RFB&D books, if you purchase a $15 key from RFB&D. And, you =
> do not have to send the Book Port to RFB&D to get the key installed. They
> =
> send you the key on CD and you install it on the computer that you will =
> use to transfer books to the Book Port. It is very easy to do.
>
> The Book Port will play BookShare and Audible books as well as RFB&D =
> books. It is very small which I like. It pulls the books from a compact
> =
> flash card rather than a CD which means it works much much faster. The =
> only draw back with RFB&D books is that you cannot adjust the play back =
> speed. You can adjust the play back speed of BookShare books.
>
> Again, the Book Port does not have built-in speakers, but I use the =
> external speakers to listen to it without a headset. Also, since it is so
> =
> small, I can easily clip it to my belt, put on a headset, and go about my
> =
> house work while listening to a book. I sometimes like to go out on the =
> deck and listen to a book while relaxing. The Book Port can easily go =
> with me and I don=92t have others wondering what on earth I=92m listening
> =
> too. It can also act as an MP3 player if you=92d like.
>
> The BookCourier is very similar to the Book Port, but is more designed for
> =
> the low vision/LD population while the Book Port is designed for the blind
> =
> user. The Book Courier does not recognize as many formats as the Book =
> Port, but it will play RFB&D and BookShare books.
>
> I hope this helps. If you live in the metro area and would like to =
> actually see some of these players in action, let me know. I=92ll see =
> about scheduling a time for you to visit the college and check out the =
> Scholar, Wave, Classic, Book Port, and PlexTalk PTR1.
>
> If you=92re interested in software players, let me know and I=92ll give =
> you a review of some of those as well.
>
> Later!
>
>
>
> Robert Lee Beach
> Assistive Technology Specialist
> Kansas City Kansas Community College
> 7250 State Avenue
> Kansas City, KS 66112
> Phone: (913) 288-7671
> Fax: (913) 288-7678
> E-mail: rbeach@xxxxxxxxx
>>>> abelsa@xxxxxxxx 06/24/07 12:27 PM >>>
> Greetings All,
> I am contemplating buying a digital player from RFB&D. Curious if
> anyone has had positive or negative experience with any of the six or
> seven various options available to purchase. Your feedback on these
> devices would be greatly appreciated along with any other suggestions.
>
> With appreciation.
> Arnie Abels=3D20
> To subscribe or to leave the list, or to set other subscription options, =
> go to www.freelists.org/list/real-eyes
>
>
>
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