Thanks everyone for your detailed feedback. I hope no one minds that
I'm copying my responses to both the BrailleNote and Braille Sense
mailing lists.
I'm still undecided. There are lots of good points on both sides.
Although Mom has a very tiny bit of Windows experience (way back with
Windows 98 and JAWS), she has no real preference for how the OS is set
up, other than that it is hopefully easy (it seems the BN wins that
one), but since I'm sighted and will be helping her learn it, I like the
idea of a more Windows-like system. It's more important to get the
system that's best for her, but at the same time, if I can't teach it
well, she'll get discouraged and may not learn it (we had that
experience with the old Braille Lite 40, about ten years ago).
From the research I've done with mailing lists, web reviews and private
email, here's what I've gathered so far:
BN pros:
It sounds like it might be much easier to learn and use.
Better integrated help.
More active support mailing list.
Dictionary/thesaurus option (very important - does BS have this?)
Longer battery life.
Faster processor.
Larger flash drive (double!).
GPS option.
BS pros:
Better quality Braille display (quieter and crisper).
Similar interface to Windows.
User-replaceable battery.
Costs about $600 less than BN.
Two CF slots, which helps make up for the smaller on-board flash drive
(and I don't need BN's PCMCIA).
LCD screen and VGA port (for my sighted access to help Mom), although
one person mentioned that VGA is no longer available.
Multitasking (although this may be misleading: according to the BS sales
pitch, it can multitask but BN cannot).
To summarize, I'm mainly torn between the BN's ease of use, dictionary
option, larger flash drive and very active support list, and the BS's
Windows interface, cheaper cost, better Braille display, replaceable
battery and sighted access features. People on both sides mentioned
that each unit was more solidly built than the other, so I don't know
who wins that one!
I would love to hear more comments on these specific features I listed.
Thanks again for your time,
Lee
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