Hi All, I love my Braille Sense Classic. I do not like and want to use a Computer. As long as I can read txt or doc files and receive and send email I will be very happy. I also like using the Internet but could live without the Web Browser if I had to. I am wondering if the Braille Plus would do more than my BS. I still would want my BS SO I could read things in Braille. I also think it is probably easier to use than a Braille Plus. Colleen Roth
----- Original Message ----- From: unknown <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Date: 2009/08/14 12:53:30 Subject: RE: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits > > > > > > Hi Joseph and All, > > Joseph, I do agree with you that BS AND VS USERS NEED TO KEEP A CLEAR > PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THESE DEVICES ARE AND ARE NOT. They are a PDA, NOT A > LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER. They are meant to be used on the go. Think of > it as your travel suitcase for information. You can't fit everything in > there, just as you can't fit your entire wardrobe and other items in your > suitcase when you travel. > > Yes, I am well aware that for some people they just can't afford a note taker > and a computer or laptop along with the screen reading software. This is why > it is important to assess all of your needs before buying any product. If > you have a need to create seriously formatted documents, or manage complex > databases, then a note taker might not be what you need at that time. For > about the same money you can spend on a note taker, you can buy a netbook and > screen reading software. > > I am not trying to convince people that the BS AND VS ARE NOT WORTH WHILE > DEVICES. I love my VS FOR WHAT IT IS, AND HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO MANY OTHER > PEOPLE. However, I have recommended other devices after assessing a person's > needs. > > Keep in mind that the more features that get packed into a device will raise > the price. > > Annette > > > > > > From: Joseph Lee [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 1:08 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits > > > > Hi folks, > Nice to see a steady flow of suggestions about Braille sense. Some of them > included foreign language support, word count and so forth. Although they > were good ones, one needs to consider if it is worth it to put it on a device > that has technical limits. Not that I am saying that BS FAMILY HAS OUTWARD > LIMITS, BUT IN TERMS OF SPECS AND OS, IT DOES HAVE LIMITS. > First, as mike said, Braille Sense is a PDA. In other words, Braille Sense > is meant to be PC COMPANION, NOT A PC REPLACEMENT (ALTHOUGH I've seen some > people mistaken it for such). In other words, not all things that can be done > on a computer cannot be done under Braille Sense. For instance, not all > websites that a Windows XP MACHINE CAN HANDLE CANNOT BE NAVIGATED USING > Braille Sense. > On the hardware side, the line between PC AND PDA IS BECOMING LESS > DIFFERENTIATED - AT LEAST WHEN BS IS CONCERNED. Braille Sense has one of the > good processors for mobile devices, as well as sufficient memory to run > applications and store useful data. But in terms of software side, it is not. > Braille Sense runs under Windows CE - NOT REGULAR Wihndows, folks. Windows CE > IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OS ARCHITECTURE THAN Windows NT FAMILY. Thus, it > has limits, such as 32 MB OF VIRTUAL MEMORY AND 32 PROCESS LIMIT (THIS IS THE > REASON WHY BS WOULD ONLY ALLOW SEVEN PROGRAMS MAXIMUM). As for virtual > memory, I need solid evidence of things such as browser crashing or other > slow downs before explaining what exactly it is and its limits (if demands > requires me to, but right now I am going through summer school in college). > Also, as I have stressed on another list, writing code for embedded devices > such as Braille Sense carries different requirements. One needs to be careful > about memory usage, processor architecture and so forth. Just because we > imagine things in our heads and pray that it will appear out of nowhere does > not mean that it will happen soon - one needs to plan, compose, debug, > recompile and release the software (if stable enough) numerous times before a > suggestion or feature request will work properly. > Also, it seems that the manual is wrong about type of USB PORT. Braille Sense > does NOT HAVE USB OTG (On-the-go) technology at all. All it has are one USB > HOST AND ONE USB CLIENT, THAT's all. If it had OTG PORT, THEORETICALLY > Braille Sense can work with two USB CLIENT DEVICES AT ONCE - ONE ON BS's own > uSB HOST PORT, ANOTHER ONE ON THE USB CLIENT PORT WITH A DEDICATED ADAPTER. > As to what USB OTG STANDARD IS, I'll compose the article in question when > there is enough demand. For those who have seen me on other lists, you would > know what OTG IS AND MY ARTICLE STYLE... > Cheers, > Joseph P.S. Alex, do you agree with me on this one?
