well, I suppose that if you measure things in milligrams, an ounce is quite a 
big difference.



> ----- Original Message -----
>From: robert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: Braillenote List <[email protected]
>Date: Mon, 05 Sep 2005 09:28:30 -0700
>Subject: Re: [Braillenote] My M-power Observations thus far

>hello,
>The manual I downloaded from the Humanware website, says that the braillenote 
>mpower is 2.9 lbs and my braillenote classic is 3 lbs so to me that seems like 
>quite a difference is this not true.
>Thanks,
>Robert

>> ----- Original Message -----
>>From: "ron custer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected]
>>Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2005 11:14:39 -0400
>>Subject: Re: [Braillenote] My M-power Observations thus far

>>I am not sure why people think that the new MPower weight is less than the
>>classic Braille-notes.
>>if you look at the documentation, the weight is the same.
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "David Standen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected]
>>Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 9:27 AM
>>Subject: re: [Braillenote] My M-power Observations thus far


>>> Hi Jim,
>>>  I can't comment on the braille display, but I agree with you about the
>>> speech, the weight and the speed in the mPower, compared to my older
>>> Voicenote QT.
>>>  I was also able to listen to the Humanware May 2005 newsletter, but
>>> noticed on some of the links that the speech kept pausing, then continuing
>>> from where it left off.  I wasn't too concerned about this, as I know this
>>> happens on regular pc's as well.  I also listened to Jonathan's audio tour
>>> of the mPower without a hitch, as the speech came through quite clearly.
>>> I was very impressed indeed.
>>>  I have charged my mPower 3 times since the arrival of my unit and twice
>>> the unit got to 100%, and the battery reached 99% on the other occasion.
>>> The battery has also gone right down to 0%, and thank goodness I have not
>>> had to perform the dreaded reset.
>>> David

>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: "James Aldrich" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>>To: [email protected]
>>>>Date: Sun, 04 Sep 2005 11:35:14 -0600
>>>>Subject: [Braillenote] My M-power Observations thus far

>>>>Hello all,

>>>>Here are my M-power observations since I received it on Friday, September
>>>>2nd.  I'm writing this with the M-power so anyone wishing to evaluate how
>>>>this EMAIL may look once it reaches the list can feel free to analyze how
>>>>well this works as they wish.  Just don't analyze my poor writing (grin
>>>>smile)! I hope what I say will ease some of the concerns about this
>>>>product on this list.

>>>>My wife Dar thought the M-power was lighter when she first saw it out of
>>>>the box.  We both were impressed with the newer braille display.  The
>>>>intensity of how the dots come up can be adjusted in the braille display
>>>>menu.  I haven't seen much difference in the settings of the display so I
>>>>keep it on the default of 5.  One can hardly tell whether the display is
>>>>functioning or not.  One doesn't notice the thump thump on this newer
>>>>display as the dots change position as one does with the older displays.
>>>>Of course, new is always better than the old but this truly is a sharp
>>>>display.  It is a pleasure to read with it.  It is a far better display
>>>>than the immediate competition, there is no contest! The M-power display
>>>>may not have the wear and tear of the older displays because of its smooth
>>>>operation but time will tell.

>>>>I think the speech is clearer perhaps better pronunciation.  The speech
>>>>voice is much the same as it was but I think the M-power  speaks more
>>>>clearly.  It may or may not make a difference to anyone depending on
>>>>hearing loss.  I'm more pleased with the speech on my M-power than my 32
>>>>BT even though I still say the speech on my older unit is quite good! Ear
>>>>buds and headphones work so much better on the M-power.  One doesn't need
>>>>to drastically set the volume higher for headphones.  I rarely set the
>>>>volume between the speaker and headphones with the M-power.

>>>>I charged the battery twice since I received this unit.  The battery gage
>>>>went to a hundred percent both times and stayed at a hundred percent once
>>>>I disconnected the AC adapter.  It went down to 99 percent soon after the
>>>>charger was disconnected and the battery seems to last quite a while
>>>>between charges thus far.  On the second time of charging, I noticed that
>>>>the gage was at 94 percent after two hours.  I left the M Power plugged in
>>>>much longer and once I got home from church, it was at 96 percent.  The
>>>>percentage was the same when I disconnected the adapter.  I kept it
>>>>plugged in till the gage reached 100 percent.  I think the gage may have
>>>>calibrated this time around which accounted for how long the battery took
>>>>to charge.  I didn't get much notice once the battery reached zero
>>>>percent.  I'll know more in time about the battery life but I'm not
>>>>complaining thus far.

>>>>Kathy Williams take note! I downloaded 133 messages with both BN units.  I
>>>>left the messages on the server.  The BN 32 BT took 6 minutes and 16.6
>>>>seconds according to the M-power stopwatch to download all 133 messages.
>>>>The M-power took 2 minutes 7.18 seconds according to the BN BT stopwatch
>>>>to download the same mail.  Emptying the trash and clearing database space
>>>>is a snap! One barely has a chance to breathe and the process is done!
>>>>This unit is quick! I'm keeping messages on the server for a while longer
>>>>so I hope to update you on how much quicker the M-power is than my older
>>>>BN BT.  Of course, one must consider the limited disk space and the
>>>>processor speed when comparing the two units ability to download EMAIL.  I
>>>>like the way the M-power turns wireless on automatically when one wishes
>>>>to go on the web or download EMAIL.  One still must turn wireless off
>>>>after being on the web or downloading EMAIL.  I neglected to say I'm on a
>>>>wireless DSL connection here.

>>>>Being able to listen to streaming audio on a portable device is truly
>>>>nice! I would say the M-power works well on the "free streams".  ACB Radio
>>>>was the first stream I tried.  It was a snap to get to and listen.  I also
>>>>listened to a MONTANA Radio Station stream, and some other streams on Bill
>>>>Sparks dot com as well as radio-locator dot com.  I tried to get into the
>>>>XM Radio site, listen at XM Radio dot com.  I got into their web site okay
>>>>but when I tried to receive a stream, I was told by their site in no
>>>>uncertain terms that I needed to update my web browzer since my present
>>>>browzer couldn't support the new features in their player.  I got such a
>>>>kick out of what I heard, I tried it again! One can get their site as I
>>>>described it above and one must write it together, or one can go to
>>>>wwwddxmradioddcom and select "listen now".  One can get a three day trial
>>>>on their programming otherwise one pays $7 a month to get the stream or
>>>>close to $14 a month if one has one of their!
>>>  !
>>>> receivers.
>>>>  WSM Radio is another site which became a "pay site" so doubt it is
>>>> available to the M-power.  This is why I say the M-power probably works
>>>> best on the "free streams".

>>>>Passing files from my PC to the M-power is so much faster now through the
>>>>network.  I was able to get both MP3 and wav files to my M-power and play
>>>>them with no difficulty.  I was pleasantly surprised to find how quickly I
>>>>was able to copy these files and play them with no difficulty whatsoever.
>>>>I may have found one file that wouldn't play but it wouldn't play on my PC
>>>>either.  The playback on the wav file player is very good.  I'll have more
>>>>to say about it later.  I went to Voice of the Nation's Blind dot org to
>>>>listen to a particular file.  I could hear one file from that site with no
>>>>problem but I couldn't hear the file I wished to listen to.  I kept
>>>>hearing something about unfamiliar media so couldn't hear what I wanted to
>>>>hear.  This morning, I was able to hear the introduction of the May
>>>>Humanware Newsletter on the humanware site.  I'll listen to more of it
>>>>when I have time.  I can see that I have a wonderful world of streaming
>>>>audio waiting for me when I wish to he!
>>> a!
>>>> r new info
>>>>rmation or music.  I'm looking forward to being a part of this new world
>>>>with my M-power.

>>>>The most disappointing feature to me on the M-power is the Memo Recorder.
>>>>Perhaps I don't understand digital recording very well! This is the first
>>>>digital recorder I have used at length.  The memo recorder plays back wav
>>>>files very nicely provided they were recorded or created elsewhere.  Based
>>>>on how my unit operates, this memo recorder is good for voice only whether
>>>>it is on the low quality settings or the high quality settings.  One can
>>>>record their audio memos if they aren't too far from the microphone.  One
>>>>doesn't have to hold the M-power or external microphone to their face
>>>>though.  The default factory setting for recording with the internal
>>>>microphone is level 12.  When I attempt to record at this setting, my
>>>>recording is faint and the recording is weak with a fuzzy distorted sound
>>>>as if I were talking through wax paper.  The speech is not intelligible
>>>>and the speech is intermittent! Level ten seems to give me the best
>>>>recording quality but I hear a degree of whit!
>>> e!
>>>>  noise and
>>>> a slight frying sound in the background of my recording.  Speech from the
>>>> notetaker comes in very well for obvious reasons if I happen to leave my
>>>> unit in record and attempt to operate other functions with my M-power.
>>>> The memo recorder in my unit is adequate for memos and I might send voice
>>>> attachments in an EMAIL or two, but I don't think it would record music
>>>> very well especially that piano recital.  There are other devices on the
>>>> market which would better serve such a purpose.  I think a $20 to $40
>>>> cassette recorder could do as well or better for a recital than would my
>>>> particular M-power unit.  There might be some kind of component breakdown
>>>> inhibiting my unit from recording properly, I really don't know! To my
>>>> knowledge, the memo recorder isn't stereo either.  I could be wrong about
>>>> this conclusion though.  I can safely say my unit doesn't support levels
>>>> 11 through 15 with the internal microphone.  I placed the level with an
>>>> external microphone to 35.  I couldn't hea!
>>> r!
>>>>  anything
>>>>at all from that attempt to record.  I could hear the external microphone
>>>>when I set the record level to a lower setting.  I may need to check the
>>>>battery in the microphone perhaps.  The playback is fine with my memo
>>>>recorder but I question whether the record feature is working properly in
>>>>my unit.  I'll be happy to send anyone interested attachments when
>>>>recording at level 10, 11 and 12.  This should show what I'm talking
>>>>about.

>>>>Web braille seems to be working better on the M-power.  I can now reach
>>>>the listing of braille books at the end of the web page.  I can again get
>>>>into the list to download volumes once again.  My older BN BT was able to
>>>>get that page as well so maybe NLS fixed the problem, I really don't know!
>>>>I haven't downloaded any books lately so that is for another EMAIL.

>>>>I haven't interfaced my M-power with my Juliet braille embosser but I hope
>>>>to accomplish that soon! I haven't tried the bluetooth feature so that is
>>>>something I'll look forward to.

>>>>I'll be happy to try web sites when I can to see how accessible they will
>>>>be for the M-power if that would be helpful to anyone.

>>>>As I wrote this EMAIL, I noticed the speech cut out for no apparent
>>>>reason.  I turned the speech to on request to off and back on again and
>>>>everything was fine.  This happened three times while I wrote this post.

>>>>Thanks for reading!

>>>>Jim Aldrich

>>>>___
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>>>>http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote


>>> ___
>>> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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>>> http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote



>>___
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>___
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>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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