For me the advantages are speed and accuracy. I had used nothing but mainstream off-the-shelf scanning solutions for years, but then I started having serious problems with them. The biggest problem is that Omnipage would really mess up the columns no matter how I set it to handle them. It would give me a section from one column and then a section from the other one. I was forever cutting and pasting to get my documents in the right order. Also, if I put two pages across the scanner, it would cut off the second column of the second page. This happened even though the pages fit on the scanner. After much frustration and searching the Internet for solutions, I turned to blindness specific products. I decided that it just shouldn't be this hard. I can't do pictures with the Pearl, but we have an all-in-one machine for that. A decent all-in-one is not that expensive, so maybe you could do both. I know others have had better luck with off-the-shelf scanning software, so I'm sure there will be plenty of help if you decide to go that way. I just got tired of the frustrations and variations in accessibility and said "Enough's enough." At this point I'd have to have a really compelling reason to return to off-the-shelf software for my own personal use. I don't have that at this point, so I won't risk the frustration anymore. It's just not worth it to me. I'd rather spend my time getting the work done.
-----Original Message----- From: Jfw [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Carolyn Arnold via Jfw Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2015 9:40 PM To: The Jaws for Windows support list. Cc: Carolyn Arnold Subject: Re: Scanners., and open book Thank you; I do have their phone number. What is the advantage to getting them as opposed to whatever else is out there? Thank you. "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're probably right." Henry Ford. Carolyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roy Dubriel via Jfw" <[email protected]> To: "The Jaws for Windows support list." <[email protected]> Cc: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2015 8:58 PM Subject: Re: Scanners., and open book > To the subscriber to this list and is struggling whether to buy three,two > or one unit,read what I just wrote: I have Openbook 9.I also have the > Perl camera. Open book and the camera will cost you about $1,500,if not > more.At the convention you will save some money on the Pearl and Open book > if bought as a package next wee,. If you wish better info,please > phone:FreedomScientific .If one of you recall their phone number,please > post it so that whoever wishes to buy Open book or the Pearl can phone > FreedomScientific . > > roy Dubriel > Roy Dubriel > -----Original Message----- > From: Carolyn Arnold via Jfw > Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2015 5:32 PM > To: The Jaws for Windows support list. > Cc: Carolyn Arnold > Subject: Re: Scanners. > > OK - another wrung on this ladder to educate me. > With Pearl, could we scan photographs on it too? > > Thanks. > > "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're probably right." Henry > Ford. > > Carolyn > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Russell Solowoniuk via Jfw" <[email protected]> > To: "The Jaws for Windows support list." <[email protected]> > Cc: "Russell Solowoniuk" <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2015 4:31 PM > Subject: Re: Scanners. > > >> Hi, >> >> If you are going with OpenBook, you might want to consider the Pearl. It’s >> a camera on a stand, and in conjunction with OpenBook, works really well. >> It takes a picture of the page and sends it to OpenBook for the OCR. >> Within seconds of taking the picture you will hear the page being read to >> you. I’m not sure what it sells for now… when I bought mine 5 years ago >> the Pearl camera was $650… I already owned OpenBook. I think FS has a >> combo price if you buy both together, but it’s still quite expensive. >> >> HTH >> >> Russell >>> On Jun 25, 2015, at 2:18 PM, Michal Nowicki via Jfw >>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Carolyn, >>> >>> I am by no means an expert on scanners, but whatever you get, you need >>> to >>> understand that scanning requires both hardware (the scanner) and >>> software >>> (a computer program that makes use of the scanner). OpenBook is not a >>> scanner. Instead, it is scanning and OCR software that works with many >>> scanners. >>> >>> If I understand your post correctly, you are considering purchasing an >>> all-in-one printer, fax, and scanner. While such products work great >>> for >>> sighted individuals, I'm not sure how many of them, if any, can be >>> operated >>> nonvisually. For example, I know that some all-in-one devices have an >>> inaccessible touch screen, and it is not possible to control them from a >>> computer. That said, it may be better for you to buy two or three >>> pieces of >>> equipment if, of course, you can afford it. I also recommend scanners >>> with >>> an automatic feeder. >>> >>> I hope this helps, and I'm sorry I cannot provide specific advice (e.g. >>> with regards to device models). >>> >>> Michal >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Jfw [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Carolyn >>> Arnold >>> via Jfw >>> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2015 2:49 PM >>> To: The Jaws for Windows support list. >>> Cc: Carolyn Arnold >>> Subject: Scanners. >>> >>> When I get my new computer at the end of the year or beginning of next, >>> I >>> intend to get a printer with fax and scanning capability. >>> >>> So, I'm wondering, as a totally blind user of JAWS, is there a special >>> scanner I have to get for it to be accessible? Are some scanners out >>> there >>> more accessible than others? >>> >>> What is Open Book? I have heard of it. Would I be limited to getting >>> that or >>> something like that? >>> >>> Thanks. >>> >>> "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're probably right." Henry >>> Ford. >>> >>> Carolyn >>> -------------- next part -------------- >>> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>> URL: >>> <http://lists.the-jdh.com/pipermail/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com/attachments/201506 >>> 25/3bf180e6/attachment.html> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Jfw mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://lists.the-jdh.com/mailman/listinfo/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Jfw mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://lists.the-jdh.com/mailman/listinfo/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Jfw mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://lists.the-jdh.com/mailman/listinfo/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Jfw mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.the-jdh.com/mailman/listinfo/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com > > _______________________________________________ > Jfw mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.the-jdh.com/mailman/listinfo/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com > _______________________________________________ Jfw mailing list [email protected] http://lists.the-jdh.com/mailman/listinfo/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com _______________________________________________ Jfw mailing list [email protected] http://lists.the-jdh.com/mailman/listinfo/jfw_lists.the-jdh.com
