Hello Jonathan. I actually agree that the prices have come down a good bit. I 
am getting the display purchased for me, so I can go for the larger display if 
need be. I had hoped that you would have given me some of your wonderful 
insight on pros and cons of the displays that I had listed. I currently don't 
have any access to JAWS but may in the future.  

I spent the afternoon with the focus 40 connected to my iPad and used it to 
type some lengthy notes. To me it was a good bit noisier all the way  around 
compared to my Refreshabraille. The keys were louder and the display changing 
pins around was louder as well. I had to get used to putting my pinkies back to 
work again. They don't have anything to do on my Refreshabraille. I did decide 
that the 40 cells will be better for me. It took me a bit to get used to having 
the space bar further away from my other fingers, but after a while it was 
pretty comfortable. 

So is there anyone that can from experience, give me some pros and coms of the 
displays I listed in my original message? If possible, please focus more on 
Apple products when giving those pros and coms. 


I really like to do a lot of research and comparing before a purchase is made 
so that I don't regret my choice down the road.I greatly appreciate everyones 
input so far.

Aimee 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 25, 2014, at 11:21 AM, Jonathan Mosen <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> I think it's also important to remember that there has been downward pressure 
> on Braille display prices over the last decade. In 2004, you'd be looking at 
> at least $5,000 USD for a 40 cell display. Manufacturing processes have 
> improved and you can now get a 40 cell display for $2800 USD. I realise 
> that's still a lot of money and it would be good to see prices drop further 
> if manufacturing costs allow, but when you take inflation into account, 
> that's one massive reduction and manufacturers are not keeping the cost 
> savings to themselves and making higher profits.
> Jonathan Mosen
> Mosen Consulting
> Blindness technology eBooks, tutorials and training
> http://Mosen.org
> 
>> On 25/02/2014, at 3:38 am, Eugenia Firth <[email protected]> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi there 
>> I don't think it's realistic for us to expect braille displays to go down 
>> that much in the foreseeable future. There's just not that many of us, 
>> relatively speaking, who need or want them. Even if braille once again 
>> became the hottest thing for us the way it should be, we're a highly 
>> specialized crowd and there's a lot of braille displays out there. In my 
>> case, I actually make more money by spending the money on the braille 
>> displays. This is because one of my customers can use email for sending me 
>> work instead of brailling it all up. So, I get the work faster from them. 
>> This means I can turn in more work as well. 
>> 
>> The fewer cells the braille displays have the less they are going to cost. 
>> The smallest I ever heard of lately is 12 cells, and I don't think it'd want 
>> one that was less than that. 
>> 
>> You might be able to get some used displays. I did once when I needed one 
>> but didn't have much money. When I bought the used one, I ended up getting 
>> several hundred dollars off the price. Not only that, but the display has 
>> lasted and is still going for several years. 
>> 
>> Regards, 
>> Gigi 
>> 
>>> On Feb 24, 2014, at 8:13 AM, alia robinson <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I have always wanted a braille display, but imo it is nearly impossible to 
>>> afford one. I can't see paying *that* much for something, I just can't. I 
>>> keep reading about cheaper options soon, but cheaper has simply seemed to 
>>> mean less useable, imo. 
>>> 
>>> Alia
>>>> On Feb 24, 2014, at 8:54 AM, Justin Mann <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Yes it does absolutely.  You will need to get the feature pack with it 
>>>> however in order to get the braille keyboard.  However, it is well worth 
>>>> the investment.
>>> 
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