Thanks Joseph. Information like this helps put things in perspective. Cheers!
Michele -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Joseph Lee Sent: Thursday, 1 February 2007 4:24 AM To: BrailleNote List 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 -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.16/660 - Release Date: 30/01/2007 5:04 PM -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.16/660 - Release Date: 30/01/2007 5:04 PM ___ 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
