Hi Dean and list,
Mostly Braille Sense Plus and BrailleNote Apex: In terms of
feature sets, they are equal. There are "under the hood"
functionality that sets them apart:
* Processor: Both use ARM derivative CPU's - BSP uses Intel
X-Scale PXA270 at 520 MHz, whereas Apex uses Freescale i.MX31 at
532 MHz.
* Memory: Both have 8 GB of flash disk; BSP has 128 Mb RAM versus
Apex which has 256.
* Underlying operating system: Braille Sense Plus uses Windows CE
5.0, whereas BrailleNote Apex uses Windows Embedded CE 6.0. This
means that, although the algorithms and ways of doing things may
be similar, the underlying features sets them apart.
* Multitasking: Alex Hall is correct: Braille Sense Plus can run
up to seven programs (since all applications are exe files); this
is in part due to limitations imposed by the operating system and
hardware: Windows CE 5.0 allows only up to 32 programs at once,
with each one using up to 32 MB of virtual memory, which is a
serious limitations for working with large documents (according
to my tests). Compared to this, Apex can run theoretically up to
32,768 programs at once with each of them using 2 GB of virtual
memory. At this moment, it can handle about four executables at
once: The KeySoft suite, two sessions of media player and
Internet Explorer (KeyWeb).
* Resource management: I'd say, at this moment, BSP manages
resources better than Apex. From my tests and from reading HIMS
documentation, it appears that Braille Sense family is good at
utilizing availible hardware; from what I've seen with Apex, it
is not taking advantage of expanded resources yet, but the
potential features are already in place to be used later, subject
to HumanWare's timetable.
* Email: From what I can gather, BSP uses standard email files
for storing email messages - thus these files can be opened using
programs such as Outlook Express, unlike Apex which uses
databases to store email entries.
* Web browsing: As Alex said, some websites
open faster with Braille Sense while others load quickly with
Apex. In addition, a user can change user agent used for web
browsing on the BSP, and Apex can have Javascript turned off.
Overall: In terms of feature sets and user interface, Braille
Sense Plus wins. But in terms of long-term technical outlook,
BrailleNote Apex is ahead.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Joseph
----- Original Message -----
From: Alex Hall <[email protected]
To: Dean Martineau <[email protected]
Date sent: Sat, 9 Oct 2010 23:51:12 -0400
Subject: Re: [Braillenote] Apex Vs. BrailleSense, or
EuroBraille, or any others
I would definitely check out http://braillenote.pbworks.com. I
am not
sure where, but on that site there is a comparison chart between
GWM's
Braille Sense Plus and the Apex. I do not consider the PM to be
comparable to these two because it is bigger and basically a
glorified
PDA running JAWS, not a highly customized notetaker. For that
reason,
an iTouch with braille display is also not listed. There is the
Pronto, by Baum, but its wordprocessor is horrible and it is
quite
expensive, not to mention a bit more difficult to come by (in the
U.S.
at least). There is a new notetaker based on Google's Android
operating system, called the Braille Wizard, but it is not
expected to
debut until next year at the earliest. I feel like I am missing
one,
but there it is.
The email program on the Apex has some problems, such as freezing
when
writing a long email (unconfirmed), and on an older bn I (and
several
others) have had problems where the email database would get
corrupted. When it works, though, email is easy to manage on the
bn.
Web browsing is the same: slow, as expected from a mobile device,
but
easy enough once you get it working. I have not used a GWM
notetaker
so cannot comment fully, but I gather that some sites load faster
on
the bn while osme load faster on the gwm products. Both support
cookies and javascript, and neither supports advanced web
features
like dhtml (where part of a page changes without reloading a
frame or
the whole page). Both lack support for clickable objects
(different
from form elements or links). Both have history and favorite
lists and
can view websites or locally stored html files. Neither can have
multiple pages open at once (though the gwm notetakers can
multi-task,
running the web browser and other programs at once whereas the
apex,
currently, cannot). That is all I can think of for now.
On 10/9/10, Dean Martineau <[email protected]> wrote:
As I ponder perhaps buying one of these high-priced
conveniences, it occurs
to me that I need to look at the full spectrum of available
devices. Often,
these conversations are highly affected by company loyalties and
such, and I
don't have attachment to any of these companies. I sort of
assume all the
built-in functions, word processor, planner, are about equal.
but I'd like
to know if anybody somewhat unbiased person has compared any of
these
stand-alone devices, and what conclusions you drew, on any
aspect that you
evaluated. At the moment, I am not seriously considering the
Pac Mate
because of its size, though I do like certain aspects of it,
such as
expandability. I am interested in web browsing and email
capability.
Can anybody report any comparison experiences?
Dean
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--
Have a great day,
Alex (msg sent from GMail website)
[email protected]; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap
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