Hi Colleen.
I agree with much, however, being perhaps greedy I would like
better working with the internet if possible with the VS!
They are sensational products!
Cheers.
Peter.
----- Original Message -----
From: Colleen Roth <[email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date sent: Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:44:53 -0800
Subject: RE: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits
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?
