The book port plus sells for $300.00.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim Lingo" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 12:43 PM
Subject: [GW-Booksense] first impressions of the Bookport Plus
Hi everyone,
I've just listened to the Main Menu presentation on the Bookport Plus. I
haven't actually had a chance to get my hands on one yet, and I might not,
unless someone else I know buys one.
Overall, it sounds like the Booksense is a better product--at least for
now.
One thing that BP Plus does that the Booksense does not at the moment is
that it can read PDF files without conversion to some other format.
That's very convenient, but not a major selling point--at least to me. It
can record in MP3, and and PCM formats. The navigation method through
files is more like the original bookport, in that certain keys will do
specific things depending on whether you are actually listening to the
file, or going through it a bit (character, word, paragraph, or page, at a
time).
It also plays NLS books much faster than the Booksense, even though they
fixed that a little in their last firmware release. I think they should
fix it more. If I only listened to NLS books, I might buy one just for
that.
It supports MP3, WMA, (the unprotected type), and OGG files for play back.
At present, it doesn't play the I-Tunes format, but the presenter said
that could be added if there was enough demand. You can mark up files
while you are recording them, just like with the Booksense. You also have
the option of turning on automatic gain control if you wish. You can also
change the bit rate, just like with the Booksense.
I liked my Bookport until it died. I liked the note-taking capability,
and at sometime in the future, A:PH. says they are going to add that with
the ability to use something called "thumb braille".. I'm wondering if
that might be more trouble than it's worth.
They also are talking about adding "wi-fi" capabilities in the future.
That just might get me to buy one then.
The main reason that I'm not interested in one right now is because of the
text-to-speech situation. The Bookport Plus uses the same firmware as the
Plextalk Pocket. What I noticed is that the voice that takes you through
the menus is even more human-sounding than the one for the Booksense.
However, that's all you get. When you're reading something that isn't an
actual recording such as Audible, or NLS, the voice is not nearly as
;pleasant to listen to; although it is better than the Double-talk used by
the Bookport I don't know if there are any pronunciation problems with
this TTS voice, but I'll take a few linguistic difficulties from Paul and
kate any time because of the overall clarity of the voices.
In conclusion, it sounds like the Bookport Plus would be a good product,
and perhaps may surpass the Booksense someday, but it doesn't now, as far
as I am concerned. No price for the unit was mentioned on this
presentation
Just one man's opinion. Listen to the presentation on Main Menu for
yourself. I'll keep my Booksense. They can always fix _that_ too--maybe
tweak is the word I'm looking for.
Kim Lingo
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