The key word is "almost". While the BN can do many things a computer can do, i.e. word-processing, book-reading, calculation, Emailing, appointment-organizing, note-taking, etc, the BrailleNote simply does not have the internal processing power to handle the tasks a lot of us need to do with our computers. For instance, I find my particular BrailleNote has trouble dealing with large amounts of Email in my inbox. I think some of this has to do with the BN family only having a 133MHZ processor. (If I have any of this incorrect, please someone correct me.) I have always thought of the BrailleNote as a "notetaker" that can now do many of the things a computer is capable of. After all, it is called the "Braille/Voice"Note". But, in spite of all it's truly astounding upgrades, it is still only a notetaker with PDA (personal data assistant) functionality added into it when available. A run-of-the-mill laptop, available in any electronic store, comes with not only a CD ROM/Reader/Riter/DVD reader, multiple USB ports, FireWire, standard monitor port, and full-sized keyboard, (all these things not feasible for a BrailleNote), but almost literally two thousand times the processing speed of the BrailleNote, much more RAM, and thousands of times more data storage space. Then there is my ability to go to any website, install any off-the-shelf program, (especially games, HINT HINT, PDI, Grin), and the sheer speed at which nearly everything gets done. I am only comparing my BrailleNote to my laptop which was purchased almost a year ago. The future outlook may change much of this. Version 6.1 will most likely use more efficient ways of handling various tasks that are now almost more than the BrailleNote can handle. I know for a fact that if I had to rely strictly upon my BrailleNote for all my computing needs, I would have long since gone utterly insane, complete with exploding head! The BrailleNote is not, and never will be, a full-fledged computer. However, it is the best and most intuitive notetaker/PDA on the market, bar none! Also, it's battery life is something a laptop can only dream of. I don't know what I would do without my BrailleNote. I also don't know what I would do without my PC.
Just a few thoughts and opinions, Sarah ----- Original Message ----- From: "beth" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Braillenote List" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 6:22 PM Subject: [Braillenote] Computer replacement Hi to all and welcome, Stacey. There was a post prior stating that we should not expect the BN family to be computer replacements. I do not yet have a BN but I wonder why this was said. It seems to me that the BN family can do almost everything a PC does and much more intuitively. Beth ___ 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
