Hi, Stacey,
I know the BookSense isn't a notetaker.
The questions I'm asking myself are:
(1) Do I buy a unit which will be both a notetaker and an talking book
player, like the Icon? It may not be rugged enough to stand up to what I
use it for and I have some uncertainty about connectivity to my braille
display and to the internet. (I would not buy a BraillePlus at all because
of its keyboard.)
(2) Should I buy a unit that is a talking book player only, like the
BookSense? The price is mor affordable, but the BookSense has bugs in it
which, I'm sure, will be fixed in later releases of firmware. That means I
should wait a little longer before I buy it. I love Paul and Kate!
(3) Should I buy the BrailleSense Plus qwerty? I like qwerty keyboards,
and the BSP is probably rugged enough for heavy use. However, it's very
expensive and I would still need to buy a unit that plays talking books.
Hopefully, HIMS will come out with a software release making it possible for
the BSP to play NLS talking books.
As far as speech goes, I think the BookSense has the best speech. I don't
like Eloquence, which both the Icon and BSP use as much as Dectalk. Should
I buy the BookSense for its speech alone?
Decisions, decisions!
Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stacey Robinson" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 7:19 PM
Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy
Terri,
The icon will play nls books, but th booksense isn't a notetaker.
If you want a notetaker that plays nls books, I'd go with the icon.
Have a blessed day,
Stacey Robinson and GEB dog Chesley
Eagleville, Tennessee.
[email protected]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Terri Pannett" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy
Hi, Stacey,
I was thinking if I bought an Icon I would connect it to my HandyTech
BrailleWave, which has a large, comfortable braille keyboard.
However, I'm not sure if the Icon will stand up to heavy use. I'm
wondering if it would be better to buy the BrailleSense QWERTY, even
though it's more expensive.
But the BrailleSense won't play NLS dtbs and I need something that will,
so that's why I'm also thinking of the BookSense.
Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stacey Robinson" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 6:04 PM
Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy
Terri,
I had a braille plus and didn't like it all that much. The keys on the
braille keyboard are very small and I could not braille rapidly
It was incredibly difficult to Braille with any speed at all.
Now you can buy a qwerty docking station though that you can put the
plus into. I think it's $600.
Taht will allow you to type things in I guess.
Have a blessed day,
Stacey Robinson and GEB dog Chesley
Eagleville, Tennessee.
[email protected]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Giovanelli" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 6:24 PM
Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy
Hi, Terri,
Well, the Book sense is not a notetaker. It reads various book formats
and notes can be recorded. It does not have a Braille display.
The Icon can read all kinds of books as well, but the way it permits
you to write Braille is at best clumsy. The Braille plus is better.
There is a Braille keyboard, but its keys are very small. It does
everything that the Icon does and the price is the same as that of the
Icon. Maybe you have a way of using a Braille display with it, and
that is a plus.
I'm using the Braille Sense and it has the best Braille keyboard of any
Braille notetaker, bar none. The keys are comfortable to use. Better
yet, there is no contact bouce. Many devices are poor in this regard
so when you press a key a bit too hard or write too fast, the resulting
document will likely have extra dots which you never put there.
The Braille display is excellent. Like any device of this kinds, there
is a certain amount of learning. Because of the orderly arrangement of
menus, learning a few of them will give you a feel for the ones you
perhaps have not studied. I have worked some some features without a
need to study the manual first. Of course, hot keys vary with the
application, swo they must be studied via the manual.
I expect that before very long we will have some new features which
will greatly enhance the use of this device.
You'll get lots of opions and ideas from other readers. I hope, howev
er, that I have been helpful.
Joe G.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Terri Pannett" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, Aug 14, 2009 14:34:58
Subject: [GWN] what to buy
Dear List,
My name is Terri, spelled with an i. Some of you know me from other
lists.
I'm looking at the manuals for three products: the BookSense, the
BrailleSense Plus Qwerty and the Icon. I need something which will
play NLS
books, but I would like a backup notetaker. I'm not sure how long the
display on my present notetaker will last.
My main needs in a notetaker are: word processing, calculation,
playing mp3
and dtbs, and a calendar. I use my PC for the internet and email.
I'd like to have an honest comparison between these three products. I
realize the BookSense can't really be evaluated presently because
there are
still quite a few bugs that need to be worked out, but it's speech is
the
best I've heard!
So, please emphasize the advantages of the BrailleSense Plus and the
Icon.
I realize the QWERTY model of the BSP hasn't come out, but you can
give me
general advantages and limitations comparison. BTW, if I buy the
Icon, I
would connect it to a HandyTech BrailleWave, thus having a braille
display.
Thanks for any help I can get.
Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA.
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