hi, So it is mostly interface that prevents it from being classified as such - that has good supporting reasons. I expect a more low-level question such as definition of a computer to emerge later... Cheers, Joseph
-----Original Message----- From: Alex Hall [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 6:05 PM To: Joseph Lee Cc: Nicole B. Torcolini at Home; [email protected] Subject: Re: Computer or Not? was Re: [Braillenote] FAQ 4 (technical): What is and what is not possiblewith a BrailleNote? I consider it a computer in the more technical sense. However, when people think "computer", they think of a device able to run any software and do pretty much anything, whether or not it is mobile. This is not the case with the bn, so I hesitate to call it a computer for fear of confusion. I prefer to think of it as a companion, much like a PDA or iPod/iPad. These devices can run program, store data, even go online, but they do not stand alone all the time. When I want to offload documents for remote backup, I use the pc; when I want to check Twitter, do heavy web browsing, do programming, or play games, I use the pc. The bn is for writing (though not formatting), some email, keybase, and so on. It is definitely not my primary computing device, though. On 12/16/10, Joseph Lee <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, > I'd say it is, given that it uses core technologies of a microcomputer or an > embedded system, such as a way of processing information and memory. A > possible confusion would be lack of running programs from other vendors. > Maybe perhaps I read more on embedded devices and you are expert on other > things... > Cheers, > Joseph > > -----Original Message----- > From: Nicole B. Torcolini at Home [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 4:02 PM > To: Joseph Lee; [email protected] > Subject: Computer or Not? was Re: [Braillenote] FAQ 4 (technical): What is > and what is not possiblewith a BrailleNote? > > Personally, I do not like calling the bn a computer. Yes, it has many of the > > software and hardware components of a computer, but I still do not consider > it a computer. Just throwing that out there. Thoughts? > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Joseph Lee" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 3:43 PM > Subject: [Braillenote] FAQ 4 (technical): What is and what is not > possiblewith a BrailleNote? > > >> Hi folks, >> >> yet another FAQ post - mostly in connection with words posted on the list >> about CE6 and other things: >> >> 1. Can BrailleNote run programs? >> yes and no. BrailleNote will run programs made by HumanWare or ones >> Humanware licenses its SDK or development tools - at this time, Sendero >> Group is the only one. There are provisions to allow rapid creation of >> third-party programs, but the key that is missing is the actual >> development >> tools that programmers need to write applications that'll run on the >> BrailleNote. >> >> 2. Can a desktop program be run on a BrailleNote? >> No. Windows CE devices uses slightly modified programming tools, or API >> (Application Programming Interface) different from regular Windows or >> desktops. if you attempt to run these programs, you'll get a message >> saying, >> "program is not a valid win32 application." >> >> 3. Can VOIP clients be implemented, or possible to be used by a >> BrailleNote? >> No - for now. There are numerous factors, including licensing, >> availibility >> and integration strategies involved when coming up with this client or >> others. >> >> 4. Is it possible to work with unsupported devices? >> Yes and no. If the unsupported device presents basic features that >> BrailleNote can handle e.g. getting power from a USB port, presenting >> storage options, etc., then it'll work with the device. If the unsupported >> device presents nothing that BrailleNote can utilize, then it'll not >> work - >> for the time being. The condition here is if a device driver for that >> specific device or a family of devices is created, which then allows a >> BrailleNote to communicate with that device. However, there are devices >> which requires a firmware update, such as possible use of SDXC (Secure >> Digital EXtended Capacity) cards which requires flashing (installing) new >> firmware. >> >> 5. Can a user use a cellular connection kit i.e. USB cell modems? >> No for the time being. It requires creation of a device driver that allows > >> a >> BrailleNote to recognize that celular modems are just a family of >> connectivity devices - much like 56K modems. >> >> 6. Can one charge a cell phone with the BrailleNote? >> Yes (confirmed). >> >> 7. Can a user change boot priority or other system options? >> No. A bootloader is a special program or a function that allows a device >> to >> start; BrailleNote's bootloader presents options such as formatting system >> partitions, performing tests on hardware and so forth. Although one can >> access some functionality of bootloader or read the debug message from the >> bootloader, there is no way of changing things such as boot priority, >> network debugging and others. The most useful way of using the bootloader >> (particularly on the mPower) is to upgrade KeySoft via bootloader menu or >> viewing technical information that comes out of debug port (which happens >> to >> be the serial port). >> >> 8. Can one write program code or HTML files on the BrailleNote? >> Yes and no. Yes, since one can use text document (ASCII format) to write >> program code or HTML code (be aware of some formatting problems). No, >> because there is no way of testing the code - apart from HTML or other web >> code, since one can save the file and open it using KeyWeb. >> >> 9. Can a user do absolutely anything with a BrailleNote? >> Conditionally. There are things that users can try out, such as connecting >> some devices; but just because BrailleNote is a computer does not mean >> it'll >> be a computer replacement. >> >> 10. What are things that Windows CE 6 can bring to keySoft? >> It all depends on what HumanWare thinks of it. Surely KeySoft can take >> advantage of better memory management. Other potentials include more >> secure >> Wi-Fi via WPA2 (since CE6 supports it), running more programs and so >> forth. >> >> Hope this helps. if you were unsure of answers given or have any comments, >> feel free to let me (and others) know. >> Cheers, >> Joseph >> >> >> ___ >> 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 > > -- Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from GMail website) [email protected]; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap ___ 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
