Terri, If I had the money I'd get that Braille Sense Plus. I do have a Voice Sense and I'm very happy with it even though it will not print or emboss. I have a feel for the operation of the sense products with my Voice Sense. A friend of mine is getting the Icon. I'll be awaiting her evaluation of it! I think I'd still lean towards the Braille Sense Plus and a Book Sense. I do like my Victor Stream quite well.
Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "Terri Pannett" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 9:40 AM Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy 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. >>>> >>> >>> >>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus >>> signature database 4336 (20090814) __________ >>> >>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >>> >>> http://www.eset.com >>> >>> >>> >> > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature database 4336 (20090814) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > >
