Folks,
I see Sabahattin's started something here! for what they are worth, here
are my observations: Mike, you say that we should be more considerate to the
architects of the BrailleNote family and ask how we would like it if we
poured hours of work into a product only for it to be criticised. You might
have a point were this destructive criticism, but it's not; it's
constructive criticism and we all have to learn to take that, especially
when we are criticised constructively for a job that we are paid to do.
Ric is absolutely right about the QT unit. The QT users seem to have got
the raw deal here. I am astonished that the iPhone functionality has simply
gone and am furious about it. I never knew about it before so I didn't
immediately notice it, but now I know what I could have been doing with my
QT unit and iPhone paired together I certainly am furious. Another problem,
for QT users in the UK at least, is this: you can't enter the pound sign
with a conventional shift plus 3! All right, I know before anyone says so
that I can press function with shift with C (possibly the most difficult key
combination in the world in terms of ergonomics), then my macro for the
pound sign which happens to be P, then enter, and assuming the world has
stood still long enough to wait for me to do all of that it may not be
considered all that much of a problem by other listers but, you know, I do
feel that one keystroke should be all that is necessary. Couldn't UK
keyboards be adjusted to cater for this sort of thing, as indeed they were
on the MPower? Having the quotation mark and At sign in the right places
would be nice too although I admit that's of secondary importance as at
least you can still enter those with one keystroke, compared with three for
the pound sign, or perhaps two if you enter them consecutively. Small
problem? Not when you're trying to take a note of judgment it isn't.
Terry, Sabahattin said that the QT keyboard is not good for long stretches
"Pending adjustment". The words in quotes are key and make him absolutely
right. this was another example of how the QT users got a raw deal. The
original keyboard on the QT was useless, and that is no exaggeration. Keys
would not always respond to key presses, and there would be very frequent
instances of letters, or even sometimes groups of letters, being missed out.
I thought originally it might be down to fast typing, but it persisted even
when I slowed down. This made the Apex impractical for doing any long
stretch of typing. Certainly one wouldn't dare write an important document
on it. The new QT keyboard fixes this problem and makes the machine much
better, but if Sabahattin hasn't had his adjusted yet I can understand his
frustration. It took them a good while to do my adjustment. I don't have
any complaints about that, but the issue is finding a good while in a busy
schedule where you know you will not need the Apex so that they can perform
the necessary modifications.
Personally I think the Apex is very good and I am glad I am back with the
BrailleNote family of products after dalliances elsewhere. In some ways,
however, the MPower was better and I hope it won't be long before these
positives come to the Apex. I think Sabahattin you'll find your perspective
much improved when the keyboard is replaced. Before I had mine done I
really had quite a lot to grumble about, but now the machine seems worth the
good press it got.
Generally with Hunanware it does seem that more bugs are being allowed to
get into the software than formerly. This is manifestly unsatisfactory and
contradicts the company's stated aim to treat all customers as an extended
family. I can't remember such things happening with Keysoft upgrades on the
MPower. This is something that Humanware will surely be trying to sort out
if they have any commercial sense. If nothing else, correspondents on this
list make plain the consequences of failing to do so.
Best,
Mark
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