Yes, and the bt is quite restrictive only supporting a few keyboards but the wireless b isn't really all that bad considering what the Icon does. The usb1.1 isn't that annoying but as I recall, it's hard to use the Icon with a mac because you cannot access its disk drive mode or use it's sync program but you can put it on your network and ftp to it if you put an ftp program on it. You can also ssh to it if you set it up. I have some annoyances with it too such as it uses that speech that most of the windows screen readers use although I don't think they call it eloquence in this case. It will be upgraded, it's going to have a docking station and in the meantime, you can if you like plug a keyboard into it or use its built-in keyboard fairly fully even though it is a numpad configuration. It also has a console mode similar to the Mac terminal and there is a growing number of applications being written for it. There is also a companion to it called raille plus produced by/for The american printing house for the blind that ads a 6 dot braille keyboard. I think they should have used 8 dots and who knows, that may come. It does not support braille out but you can read a braille file with it's wordprocessor. I like the builtin rss and pod catcher and the neat media player which I am told will be enhanced in a coming version. Also coming are rfbd and nls support. If you are a bookshare subscriber, it supports that and has from the beginning.
----- Original Message ----- I'll stop here. From: "Scott Chesworth" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS Xby theblind" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 7:56 AM Subject: Re: Icon and Macbook Air: hmm, the icon actually doesn't seem too bad from what i just read on the site. There's still a few bits that annoy me about it - USB1.1, wireless B, bluetooth 1.1 were the 3 biggest letdowns I spotted from a quick glance. I'd still be interested to see one though, from the dimensions it sounds like the footprint is a lot smaller than the macbook air. Scott ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Poehlman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS Xby theblind" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 12:29 PM Subject: Icon and Macbook Air: >I used to poopoo "Blindness technology" till I found out that sighted >people > buy and use it too. I used to poopoo non mainstream stuff till I found > out > it might make more efficient. I used to poopoo non mainstream technology > because of the price but that is changing. > > The Icon is a revolutionary product and few know much about it but I would > encourage all of you to access: > http://www.levelstar.com > and take a look at it before deciding to make the serious investment in a > "macBook Air". I'm not saying you shouldn't buy air, but you should be > informed. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bruins Fan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by > theblind" <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2008 10:09 PM > Subject: Re: MacBook Air First Impressions > > > I have heard of the Icon, though I would still go with mainstream > technology which isn't designed for the blind. > I am waiting for my note taker to die and for the macbook air to come > down in price, and when those two things happen I think I will go with > the macbook air, or just carry my macbook like I do now. It's > portable and light enough that it's not inconvenient, and I use it > much more often tan I do my note taker. It goes pretty much > everywhere where I anticapate needing to write things down. > Olivia > > On Feb 2, 2008, at 9:43 PM, David Poehlman wrote: > >> Cheryl and all, >> >> I think the Macbook air is a great idea and if I were in the market >> for >> something light, I would probably consider one. One thing that >> might stop >> me is the Icon which costs less and is built for the blind which is >> not >> necessarily a good thing and it does not have a screen which is not >> necessarily a good thing but it does do a lot and packs a lot of >> bang for >> the buck and considering the things in the works for it, it will be >> an equal >> item. >> >> Rehab and other agencies buy off of lists. The MacBook air will not >> be on >> those lists for quite some time to come because the contracts they >> have are >> usually 5 year ones and I think they just have or are in the process >> of >> cycling them. >> >> Changes are coming. I some states, it is already the case where >> depending >> on your income or your family's income, you share the burden of the >> cost. I >> think it is called the 80 20 rule and the nice thing about it is >> that you >> have a huge say in what you get which is not always the case with >> someone >> who is having their equipment purchased. I do know that rehab >> agencies like >> to be in the driver's seat as much as possible so being armed makes >> them mad >> but it's effective. They want to make this decision. They feel >> they are >> best quallified to make this decision and while that is true in many >> cases, >> it often leads to disastrous results. I have seen though that someone >> sticks to a preference and it doesn't work out. >> >> > > > >
