Well, I, for one, whish a laptop was an alternative. I could use it to process field recordings when travelling. However, having to carry a full-size (preferably ergonomic) keyboard about makes it somewhat less so. My Occupational Over-Use Syndrome means that the larger keys of a BNBT keyboard are far easier for me to manage.
Additionally, Braille is absolutely essential for my work. It would sound odd over NZ Public Radio if I was to try and read with - say - JFW burbling in my ears. Although I use an embosser for that part these days, making last-minute changes in the studio is sometimes necessary and only BN or something like it will serve. In this way, a laptop is most definitely *not* a good alternative. And please remember that for some on this list, Braille is their only choice. Kylee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Baracco, Andrew W" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 6:54 AM Subject: RE: [Braillenote] A Call for Better Keyword Support and other things Okay, I'm back again with my philosophical rant, hopefully for the last time. I have read here that there are many who use the BN as their only computing device. Well, I love my BN dearly, but, if God himself said that I could have only one computing device, it would not be the BN. I seriously doubt that if the same choice were posed to a sighted person, that they would choose a Blackberry or Palm Pilot over a PC. PDA's were never meant to be a replacement for PC's. Sighted people use their PDA's in conjunction with PC's. I guess that if your needs were limited and narrowly directed, a PDA could do everything that you would need to do. However, from what I read on this list, many people want their computing device to do everything except, perhaps, to wipe their nose. This will never happen with the BN, or any PDA, and if it does, such a device will be prohibitively expensive. If you need real computer power, price points today have shifted. You can buy a servicable laptop with screen reader of your choice, and a 40 cell Braille display for $1000 less than an MPOWER 32 or a Packmate 40. This would give you a solution that could do everything you would ever need, except, that it still wouldn't wipe your nose, but, we can't have everything. I do want the BN to be everything that it can be, but, sometimes the continuous flow of hundreds of whining and nattering messages drives me crazy. Andy ___ To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.2/252 - Release Date: 6/02/2006 ___ To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
