Well, I'll jump in here. I use both a PC and the BN. The Mpower has improved the BN's ability to use email and to download web braille books. I'm grateful for that, but I would like to see the BN improved even more. That's why I have been upgrading the BN more than the PC.
The BN uses a platform which has limitations. If HumanWare had chosen to use Linux instead of Windows CE, the disk space problem would go away because Linux isn't a hog. But interfacing Linux with Word and other Windows programs might be a problem. I have used a PC since 1991 and a notetaker since 1995. I've been able to use a braille display from the beginning. I'm glad I can afford to have more than one tool because neither the PC nor the BN alone could fit my needs. If I couldn't afford both, then I don't know which I would choose. I would have to give up something I love and need in either case. I prefer to use the BN as much as possible, especially for editing and reading documents but the BN does tasks on a smaller scale. There are times the PC can perform a task faster than the BN. But I absolutely hate doing much editing with a PC. I can't and won't tell anyone what they should do, but I will make a suggestion. If a person wants to continue to use a computer while their BN is in the shop, then it would be a good idea to have a PC as a backup. How would you perform computer-related tasks while the BN is in the shop? For example, how would you print a document? I know I wouldn't be able to communicate in print to a sighted person without a computer. I have long since given up the good old electric typewriter. I think all of us depend on PCs and BNs too much. If something happened to cause all computers to fail, our society would be in a pickle! I don't look down on anyone who uses only the BN. I wish I could kiss my PC good-bye and do the same, but I can't. Terri, Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. Army MARS call sign AAT9PX, California ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ann K. Parsons" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 12:46 PM Subject: [Braillenote] Recent comments : Hi all, : : Bob, I hope you didn't lump me in with the rest of the rabble. : Anyway, there are ways to get cheap PC's and now there are ways to get : relatively cheap screen readers, so it is indeed possible to have both : a BN and a PC. There are some tasks which are better performed by a : PC. Downloading books from Web Braille is one of these apparently, or : at least it is for me. : : Honestly, Bob, if you want a PC, they're available for under $800, and : you can get a good screen reader in Freedom Box. You don't need to : spend a mint. : : Ann P. : : -- : Ann K. Parsons : email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] : WEB SITE: http://home.eznet.net/~akp : Skype: Putertutor : "All that is gold does not glitter. : Not all those who wander are lost." JRRT : : : ___ : 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 : : : __________ NOD32 1.1442 (20060314) Information __________ : : This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. : http://www.eset.com : : ___ 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
