Hi all,
Beth, you wanted to know why a BN shouldn't be considered to be a
computer. Here's why. First let me say that my purpose in outlining
the differences between computers and note-takers is not to criticize
the BN, but rather to point out its strengths.
OK, let's take computers first, including laptops and notebooks.
Computers have more memory than note-takers. They are capable of
performing more complicated tasks, e.g. ripping CD's, playing CD's and
DVD's, streaming audio with good sound, accommodating video, doing
large and multiple projects in Word Processing, merging mail, and many
more things. They do not have a long battery life because of the
heavy task load which is placed upon them. They are heavier than
note-takers, Storage space is not an issue, a computer can have 80
to 100 gigabytes of space as a matter of course.
A note-taker, on the other hand, does many things which a computer
does, but in miniature. It can be a word processor, it can be an
email agent, or a calculator, or it can run GPS. You can save
addresses and appointments. It is lighter than a computer generally.
It is smaller too. However, if you have a note-taker and nothing
else, you miss some of the ease of working with a computer. For
example, I do not use my BN for email except when I am away from home.
I use it sometimes to surf the net, but that is because its browser is
something I prefer to use in Braille. In fact, I use the browser
often because reading a web page in braille often makes more sense to
me. However, I know that the BN doesn't have a lot of memory. It
cannot do large scale audio or video things. It can not do audio chat
or things like that.
There is nothing wrong with note-takers or computers. They are two
different machines that do similar things. Note-takers are better at
some tasks than are computers. Computers are better at some tasks
than are note-takers. The key here, is to know what a note-taker is
good at and to see if that fits with your needs. The same is true
with computers, what do you need done, will a computer do it better
for you than a note-taker? It's like choosing a hammer to pound a
nail into a board. The hammer is the right tool for the job. You
could use a rock or a brick or something else, but the hammer has the
right shape for doing the task you are asking it to do.
I hope this has made it clear? Sometimes I don't explain well. Now
some would say that I have said note-takers can't do things that they
can do. This may be true, but it is not their strength. I'm looking
at these two tools for their strengths, not their weakest points.
Ann P.
--
Ann K. Parsons
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
WEB SITE: http://home.eznet.net/~akp
"All that is gold does not glitter.
Not all those who wander are lost." JRRT
