Lisa, I don't know anything about flash cards yet, so I am interested to hear how people answer your first four questions. I have opinions about question 5.
quoting Lisa: 5. When I back up my files onffo the flash card do they have to be saved in Microsoft Word or some other format other than Keyword braille files to be translated okay on the PC? I'd hate to save all of my files and have them be jibberish once transfered to the PC. I think the flash cards are the best way for me to back up my files. I just want to make sure this works out okay what positives and negatives come with using flash cards? end of quote In general if you are planning to use your files on a regular computer it is better to translate first in an adapted machine like the BN. The more preparation you do before sending a file for use on a regular computer, such as translating into print rather than Braille, the happier you will be. The BN's translation program is not perfect. In emails on this list you see translation errors. For instance, I have seen the abbreviation for the American Foundation for the Blind, AFB, translated as the word AFTERB in all caps, that's the word after followed by the letter b. I have seen the web side a.c.b.org translatted with a double d , that is, dd, in between the b and the o r g. I knew what the writer was trying to say because I know Braille, but it might confuse a nonBraille reader. I wanted a BN BT because I want to write my own notes and documents for myself in Braille. But I don't think I will share many of my BN documents with the regular computer because of the possibility of translation errors. I would have to spell check and proofread what comes from the BN before sending it to others with confidence.
