Dear Joe,
This is more informative, but what braille translation software do they use?
I know the BN uses Duxbury, but what about the others? What's the
difference between the way the displays feel and how many foreign languages
do they support?
Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. Army MARS call sign AAT9PX, California
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "BrailleNote List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 9:54 AM
Subject: [Braillenote] Notetaker comparisons
Dear list,
The Notetaker Comparison sheet which Michele sent was mostly correct, but
there are some things which are incorrect and which some of them are
missing.
Before we get into that, there are some precautions:
* Richard's print is valid. The original specs will not tell you
everything. It is meant to be a Braille Sense's point of view on
BrailleNote and PAC Mate.
* Due to concerns, may I request that if you are replying to this message,
PLEASE DO IT OFF LIST PRIVATELY!! Thanks for your considerations.
Now, onto the text:
Few notes to consider:
1. Contrary to the sheet, the Record button is actually enabled by
default.
2. Also contrarry to the sheet, PAC Mate has MSN Messenger built in.
3. Actually, PAC Mate has its own DAISY reader that can be downloaded
from Freedom Scientific's website. You must purchase the full version.
4. They did not mention that in fact HIMS is planning on releasing an SDK
for Braille Sense. This means that Braille Sense and PAC Mate can run 3rd
party programs, whereas BrailleNote cannot (Braille Sense can run programs
which are written with its own dedicated SDK.)
5. Also, PAC Mate's USB port is not Mini B connector. Rather, it is Mini
AB connector. It is called USB ON-THEG (OTG; where depending on which
cord is connected, a device can act as a host or a client device).
A detailed specs in terms of operating system, processor and other things
can be found below:
Braille Sense;
BrailleNote BT32;
PAC Mate BX440
Processor:
Intel X-Scale PXA255
Intel X-Scale PXA272
Intel X-Scale 400 MHz (possibly PXA255)
Processor speed:
400 MHz
416 MHz
400 MHz
Operating System:
WindowsCE.net(Windows CE 4.1 to be exact)
Windows CE 4.2
Windows Mobile 2003 (powered by Windows CE 4.2)
Modular upgrade and/or braille display upgrade:
No
Yes *
Yes *2
* You can upgrade from 18 cell to 32 cell.
*2 PAC Mate can use either 20 or 40 cell display with its base unit.
QWERTY keyboard version availible:
No
Yes
Yes
Voice engine used:
Eloquence
KeyNote Gold and Eloquence
Eloquence
Visual display output:
Yes with built-in screen
Yes with a CF VGA card or via serial, Bluetooth or InfraRed
Yes; either through ActiveSync Remote Display Control or via CF VGA card
Upgrade method:
Via CF card or online (where the upgrade file is downloaded and executed
automatically)
Via SD card (the card must be between 64 and 512 MB in size)
Via CF card
Operating System upgradability:
Yes
Yes
Yes *
* requires new hardware since existing hardware cannot support Windows CE
5.0 technology
Braille navigation control:
Yes with the arrows on either side of the display (these are called scroll
buttons)
Yes with the front thumb keys
Yes with the NAV row buttons
FM Radio:
No
Yes
No
Function keys for quick execution of certain commands:
Yes (it is located to the either side of the spacebar. there are four of
them)
No *
Yes (the eight function keys are just above the braille keyboard)
* instead, it has task switching shortcut keys.
One-handed Mode:
No
Yes
Yes
Battery type:
Lithium Ion (replaceable; that is, it can be replaced by end user)
Lithium Ion
Lithium Polymer
IMAPBLED (Internet Mail Access Protocol) email account support:
No
No
Yes
Dedicated cursor cross for arrow simulation:
No
No
Yes
Ability to use a group of keys to quickly move by line, sentence, or
paragraph:
No
Yes using previous and next thumb keys
Yes with whiz wheels
These are the detailed specs that the comparison has failed to mention.
And these are the specs that I know of.
Cheers,
Joseph
___
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 2022 (20070130) 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
