But can the Braille Lite use the current generation of printers? I suspect it would have problems also as these were beginning to be encountered even when the BL's were still quite popular.
What made the BL so versatile was that it had its own OS and, frankly, expected the user to know more in order to operate it (you had to take account of operating systems and their end-of-line conventions, for example) and this made it easier to tailor the device at the cost of greater confusion on the part of some users. Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Giovanelli" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 10:01 AM Subject: Re: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits Hello, Tessa and All, I know that there are limits as to what we can expect from any device, yes, even computers. Not being a programmer, I don't know when or in what situations that we have a given limit. I suggest, therefore, that we continue to suggest improvements which will make our devices do more things and do them in the way we need them to do it. I doubt that the browser can be made to do more than it presently does, but we still must make suggestions as to things we might like to see. I would love it if, rather than a suggestion just lie around, that the programmers tell us that there's no way to implement that suggestion. Wouldn't it be nice if we were told whether we can indeed have a system where printing can be enhanced beyond the few printers which can now be supported. If this can't happen using the USB port, then it should definitely be possible to use the serial port. The Braille Lite has had that capability for years. It seems likely, therefore, that printing using the Sense products could be and should be improved. Joe G. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tessa" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Date: Friday, Aug 14, 2009 10:51:58 Subject: Re: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits > > > Wouldn't it be nice if we could customize our devices? > I bought the BS+ because of it's braille display, the 8gb of flash > memory > and a couple other things I can't think of right now LOL. > All the PDA's are trying to do a little bit of everything which is > okay if > you really want everything. I could easily live without the media > player, > radio and daisy player but since they're part of the package I'll > learn them > eventually and enjoy them no doubt. > On the other hand having everything in one unit means you don't have > to drag > around a handfull of different tech devices which suits me fine. > I'm definitely happy with my bs+, but with any product one can always > find > suggestions for improvements. > Tessa > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Colleen Roth" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 2:44 PM > 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, T'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? >
