Josh, Right now from what I understand and from hearing what my wife can do with her pda which uses pocket pc, there are still some things she can do with hers that the bn can't. The bn is slowly catching up, but I think what many people are saying is that they want all the advantages of a regular pda with the ease of use of the bn. As I have read this list for a while now, the things I see most are a quick need for wireless and maybe a more explorer-like file management system. I would also like to see the mp3 lose it's limitations. Also, I would like to be able to listen to mp3ness while doing something else on my bn. My wife can already do this with her pda and Pocket pc, and the Pac-mate can also, I know because I've played a little with one. The problems I see with the bn are, I think mostly, 1 slow processor, It takes longer to download things and open large files as you said. 2 an outdated windows ce, which may or may not be the cause of 3 the seeming inability to access things like wireless and the full potential of the multitasking systems available on most pdas. One thing that might improve this a little as far as the mp3 is concerned is if the bn had a stereo sound card instead of a monoral. That is one of the reasons that the pdas including Pacmate can play media files and speak at the same time. What I would like to see is the bn having all the features of Pacmate and still keep all it's good features. What I really like is the fact that you can get more volume on the bn. The speaker is larger and therefore, the sound is more full, which in my opinion makes the bn easier for people with a hearing loss to understand. I think it also has a much more powerful amplifier, and that helps also. Other things, like a detachable braille display are a matter of preference I think, and both bn and pacmate have ways to interact with a computer as a braille display. The only problem is that, as I understand it, the pm only works as a braille display with Jaws and the bn works with more screen readers. I will be taking a class on the pacmate in May, and I will try to keep my old braillenote and see if I can get a Pacmate. I got both through my local il center, so I don't know what the policy is about old equipment when buying new. What I'm trying to say is that both units could always improve, but if you can get as close as possible to what a sighted person can do on there pda, you can't go far wrong. A great step was made with this with ks 5.1 and the new planner! I love not having to reschedule every time I cancel an alarm for an appointment that would reocur. Good work pdi, and keep the improvements coming!!!
Richard > ----- Original Message ----- >From: Josh Kennedy <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: Braillenote List <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Fri, 02 Apr 2004 08:25:13 -0500 >Subject: Re: [Braillenote] Another idea for future upgrades: >well lets see. If I were to use a pacmate for the first time I'd probably >have to play around with it for awhile before I'd be able to use it good for >doing things in the classroom. For one thing, there's no help button for if >I forget a command. I use jaws on my desktop computer too, and yes, maybe >someday I'll get one of those laptalks made by beyond sight as a notetaker. >But I will surely keep my braillenote! For one thing, the laptalk does not >have gps, the braille note does. Try carrying around a laptop computer, even >without a monitor, and your gps receiver...not practical. PDI is not putting >us in a bubble because of not having to worry about graphical interfaces >with windows ce. They're giving us the advantage in the classroom, >workplace, etc. Yes keysoft can be improved, but when I use a notetaker or >PDA, I want to get access to my information as quickly as possible. The one >thing they could do is add a or give us a faster processor. It takes a long >time when deleting emails and opening big files. A sighted person is ok with >pocket pc because he or she can see what he/she'd doing and most of those >programs on a sighted person's PDA is mouse driven anyway so its just as >efficient as our braillenotes. I also think that keysoft has a better >spell-checker than a normal PDA does. Graphical interface on a computer? >yes, it's practical. I wouldn't want a desktop or laptop computer with >nothing but windows xp and keysoft and no way to access windows xp. But for >a PDA? windows ce and keysoft work good together. Keep up the good work >PDI!! >Josh >___ >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >http://list.pulsedata.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
