Hello list,
As a rule, I'm very pleased with my Braille Note M-power. It truly does
have some wonderful functionality to it and can be interfaced with any
number of devices now that it has USB capability. That is all fine and
good to a point! The information in 6.8.6 is good, but it is the
information in 6.3.1 which concerns me! All of my printers and embossers
have parallel ports. This functionality is needed so that I can use my
printers or especially my embosser with my M-power. The manual reads in part:
6.3.1 Printing to a Parallel Port printer.
Although the BrailleNote BT does not have a parallel port, it is still
possible to use a printer or embosser that only has a parallel connector.
Using an Inside Out Networks - Edgeport /421 multi-interface converter, you
can print to a parallel printer or embosser by plugging in the USB cable of
the converter to the BrailleNote BT, and the parallel cable of the printer
into the converter hub. The Inside Out Networks - Edgeport /421
multi-interface converter requires a special driver to work on the
BrailleNote BT, but as this is already in the software, you will not need
to reload it.
If using this converter with a parallel port printer or embosser, you must
select USB as your printer port.
My question is what sort of an interface is this? How much does it
cost? Is it available through most computer
stores or electronics stores as Best Buy or is it available only through
Humanware?
Rumor has it that one would get this interface for $200. Is this so? Why
wasn't this explained more upfront than it has been? !I and another person
wish to print and emboss using a parallel port. I have tried two cables
which supposably converts the USB port to a parallel port but the BN didn't
recognize either cable I tried. I kept getting the card not recognized
message when I attempted to use the cables I tried. The manufacturer of my
embosser did say to me some time ago that there is some kind of infrared to
parallel port device available through them which would work with their
embosser since the BN family of products has an infrared port. I haven't
found the cost of this item to date.
I can certainly understand where some feel they are being nickeled and
dimed to death since they got their M-power. Okay, I got my SD card and
everything turned out fine with the upgrade! I fully realize progress is
progress and something is going to lag behind due to progress. A
Compeditive product does have a parallel port which doesn't make it a
better product by any means but I question how well this was thoght out
before the change was implemented! I guess if I must spend another $200,
it is better than buying a new braille embosser but then I could get a new
USB, bluetooth or infrared printer for less than that I suppose. I wasn't
planning on keeping my older classic BN around just to emboss documents but
it has been a reasonable work around for now. Yes, I have to admit it, I'm
annoyed!
Thanks in advance for the explanation of the abovementioned interface!
Jim Aldrich
