Hi Chris, You've asked a good question, I think. I am not a technology expert, but I think the notetakers have their pros and cons.
A year ago, I asked the newspaper where I work to upgrade the BrailleNote MPower to the Apex, as Humanware offered a good trade-in value. I haven't been disappointed with the Apex's performance in terms of being a robust notetaker, as I rely on Braille to quickly read my notes and other information while out in the field. i'm in situations where I have to call the paper from council meetings and other locations with information for our web site and for the next day's paper. However, I'm disappointed in the limitations the machine has in terms of not keeping pace with our increasing reliance on being mobile. For instance, the Apex isn't compatible with air cards, and the company is expecting reporters to use air cards. It does work well when wifi is available. Also, I've been disappointed that the Apex won't pair with my iPhone running the latest IOS software. I have the QT model. So, i would say that you might be better off getting a tablet such as the iPad and a small Braille display I will continue to use the Apex because that is what I have available right now at work, but I'm not happy with the limitations I'm seeing. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Nusbaum" <[email protected]> To: "Blind Talk list" <[email protected]>; "NABS list" <[email protected]> Cc: "BrailleNote list" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 9:01 PM Subject: [Blindtlk] notetakers: are they worth buying anymore? > Hi all, > > I don't have a set opinion on this matter as of yet, but I'd like to > initiate the discussion. I'm noticing a trend in the blindness technology > field: PC's can do most everything a notetaker (BrailleNote, BrailleSense, > PacMate, etc.) can do, with some obvious changes and differences, and in > some cases can do and support more than the notetaker. This is also true > with the ever-improving accessible smartphones and tablets: the iPhone, > iPad, iPod Touch, (the semiaccessible) Android phones, the KNFB Reader, > etc. Yes, the notetakers have built-in Braille displays, but you can also > install a stand-alone Braille display on a computer to display what's on > the screen, or you could just buy a screen reader (text-to-speech, not > text-to-Braille) as a replacement for the Braille display... that is, if > you think it is in fact a replacement for refreshable Braille. That's > another question for all of you in this discussion. So, here's the > question: with all the advancements and capabilities of a computer and > screen readers or stand-alone refreshable Braille displays, is it worth > it, in your opinion, to buy a notetaker anymore? What, given all the > things a PC can do, is the real purpose of the notetakers now? I'd love to > hear your thoughts! > > Chris > > "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto) > > The I C.A.N. Foundation helps visually impaired youth in Maryland have > the ability to confidently say "I can!" How? Click on this link to learn > more and to contribute: www.icanfoundation.info or like us on Facebook at > I C.A.N. Foundation. > > Sent from my BrailleNote > > _______________________________________________ > blindtlk mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for > blindtlk: > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/batescampbell%40charter.net > ___ 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
