Hi Alan, this is one of the best messages I've seen on this topic, but I'm still perplexed as to why the points you raise are so difficult to achieve. With the release of the BX and QX models, FS did away with the user replaceable battery in the PM, and I know that the original Pacmates had many problems due to the user replaceable battery. But, the HandyTech Bluetooth braille displays not only use a replaceable battery, but use off-the-shelf AAs (I think), that can be purchased at any store. I haven't heard of any battery problems with these units (though I also don't consider myself an expert on them.) The GWMicro products I think also have a user replaceable battery, and from what I've heard it is not presenting any user issues. So why do some companies manage to do it, and others not? I would never base the decision whether to purchase a product on this issue, but I do tend to agree with others, it would be nice not to have to send the unit in for repair just to replace the battery. Cheers, Donna
-----Original Message----- >From: "FunGuy"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: 8/13/07 4:21:29 AM >To: "Joseph Lee"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Terri Pannett"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, >"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, >"[email protected]"<[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [Braillenote] battery points > >Hi Terri and Joseph: > >The original PAC Mate had a user replaceable battery. This was done >because customers asked for it. At that time, Freedom Scientific was bound >and determined to give the customers what they were asking for whether it >was practical or not. . I haven't followed for a few years now, but last I >saw a PAC Mate the battery was internal and could not be replaced by the >user. > >If you want to go way back, The VersaBraille II also had a user >replaceable battery pack. TeleSensory invested in an alternate battery door >that could handle off the shelf batteries. I never saw anyone really take >advantage of these, and I often wondered if the resources dedicated to that >second battery door could have been of greater value to customers if they >were invested differently. > >I respect and appreciate the reasons people want to be able to replace their >own batteries, but HW really should do what is best for the majority of it's >customers and the only way a user replaceable battery is a good idea in my >book is if it meets all of the following criteria: >1. It doesn't make the unit heavier or more awkward. User replaceable >batteries might change the weight balance in some undesirable ways. >2. It doesn't reduce the battery life by a minute. >3. It doesn't create a fire hazard. >4. It doesn't reduce reliability. >5. It doesn't negatively effect the company's profit on the product. (I >know that may seem like a strange comment, but as users, we really want the >KeySoft family to be profitable so that the company continues to support and >develop the product family. KeySoft is easily the longest lasting software >of this type and let's hope it lives for many more years) > >If all those could be achieved it might be a good idea, but based on past >experience, I doubt whether all of these can be easily accomplished. > >Thanks for reading. > > >Alan Holst > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Joseph Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "Terri Pannett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; ><[email protected]> >Sent: Monday, August 06, 2007 1:55 PM >Subject: Re: [Braillenote] battery points > > >> Hi Terri, >> Slightly off topic (I'll promise that this is the last thing I'll post >> about this): You might want to talk to Jonathan Mosen about this (from PM >> perspective because he followed PAC Mate closely from its beginnings). >> Cheers, >> Joseph P.S. Sorry again for off topic post. >> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>From: "Terri Pannett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>To: "peter greco" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, >> <[email protected] >>>Date sent: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 10:18:06 -0700 >>>Subject: Re: [Braillenote] battery points >> >>>Competition is the best way to encourage >> HumanWare to make some changes. I >>>have always been a loyal customer of >> HumanWare and a loyal fan of Keysoft. >>>The competition's products can't meet my >> needs as well as the BN can. >> >>>But that doesn't mean I shouldn't comment on >> an improvement HumanWare should >>>make for its product. >> >>>I cannot understand why a slide-out external >> battery would be unsafe or hard >>>to use. I still have a Keynote Companion and >> I've never had trouble >>>replacing its battery myself. >> >>>So, it's possible to design an external >> slide-out battery which is safe and >>>easy for customers to replace. >> >>>Dean Jackson was right about the present >> battery and the design of the BN. >>>But why can't HumanWare make the necessary >> changes? If they want to >>>continue to sell their products, they'll have >> to be willing to look at the >>>competition's products and implement features >> to keep ahead in the market. >>>If they don't, HumanWare's products will fall >> by the wayside. >> >>>Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. >>>----- Original Message ----- >>>From: "peter greco" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>To: <[email protected] >>>Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 10:35 PM >>>Subject: [Braillenote] battery points >> >> >> >> >>>> ---- Original Message ------ >>>> Subject: battery points >> >>>> Hi Keith. >>>> I don't know how to replace batteries and I >> feel very comfortable getting >>>> a professional to do it! >>>> I'm sure if you read my email literally and >> didn't put your own >>>> interpretation into it, you'll find I said >> nothing about "never >>>> criticising"! >>>> Yes if you pay for your Braille Note of >> course I agree you can do whatever >>>> you like with it, oh, provided you accept >> the consequences and not look >>>> for someone to take out your frustrations or >> inadequacies on! >>>> Terri I think the idea of a redesign for the >> battery in the Braille Note >>>> is indeed a grand idea, however, that wasn't >> what was being so negatively >>>> criticised! >>>> Those of you who like so much what the >> Braille Sense does and the company >>>> that makes it stands for, please buy it and >> vote with your democratic >>>> cheque book! credit card or green backs!! >> I'll always use a carot rather >>>> than a stick! >> >> >>>> ___ >>>> Replies to this message will go directly to >> the sender. >>>> If your reply would be useful to the list, >> please send a >>>> copy to the list as well. >> >>>> 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/br >> aillenote >> >> >>>> __________ NOD32 2439 (20070806) Information >> __________ >> >>>> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus >> system. >>>> http://www.eset.com >> >> >> >> >>>___ >>>Replies to this message will go directly to >> the sender. >>>If your reply would be useful to the list, >> please send a >>>copy to the list as well. >> >>>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/br >> aillenote >> >> >> ___ >> Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. >> If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a >> copy to the list as well. >> >> 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 2455 (20070813) Information __________ >> >> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. >> http://www.eset.com >> >> > > >___ >Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. >If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a >copy to the list as well. > >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 > ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. 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
