Category: Geeks r Us
Greetings all. So after a year and a half spent with my rather tiny, but mostly useless Braille Note PK, I've decided that it's time to start an upgrade operation. I need something more...interesting. More useful really. Naturally, the first thing to catch my attention, (with me being a BN user), was the Apex craze. But then I also went around looking for other, different kinds of note takers and found the Braille Sense Plus, which seems pretty evenly matched with the Apex I think... So the question is, which shall it be? I'd love to hear some opinions about either one or the other. Or if anyone could recommend another device that would satisfy a person that's always looking for the latest note taker technology, let me know about that too.
Looking forward to replies.
Best, Albano.
Thanks for posting, I've been looking at notetakers lately too and would love to hear what others have to say.
Why not just get a netbook, and if battary life is that big an issue get an extra battary to go with it.
A netbook is also a possibility, except I really don't like to rely on speech while taking notes in class. You'd say get a Braille Display. At which point things get slightly tedious, what with separate components and cables and such. Which is why I don't want to give up on the note taker side of things.
You could get a BlueTooth braille display, such as the Seika from Perkins, think it is $2400 for a new one, 40 cell, netbook si $400 more at worst, then you have a $2800 package, but you have separate components.
If you go for the noet taker side, check out www.blindbargains.cominterview with the Humanware guys about the Apex, it is interesting.
My feeling is that it is probbly the best one out there right now, but also the most expensive.
List price is $6200 I think, but if you trade in your Braillenote PK they'll give you a discount, t least they said in the interview they are considering trade in offers for all note takers to be posted next month.
Cheers
-B
I am getting the apex... hopefully it'll be here in a couple weeks since it was supposedly shipped this week... I looked at the braillesense but decided on the apex because I really like the BN and how easy it is to use. The sense would take getting used to since although I had a braille light wayyyy back in the day I have been using BN's for years, and since I am in school I realy don't have the time to learn a new piece of technology along with school work.
JMO
From a hardware point of view, I'd take the Braille Sense over the BN. Also, if you begin having problems with either notetaker, I've heard many nightmares about HW's repair center. Seems like it's been going down hill over the past few years.
But if you are used to Keysoft, the Apex isn't a bad device. Word on the street is that you can connect this to the i-phone via bluetooth for braille support. I don't think the BS has this capability.
All that said, I'd recommend the braille sense over the BN, unless you don't want to get familiar with a different device. I don't think that the trade in is still an option. If it is, a bn would certainly be cheeper.
a note, the trade in i still active, just slightly reduced pricing. I'd personally say it depends on how tech savie you are. you know a lot about tech, the sence may be for you, but if you like the BN's style of doing things the apex is good. Yes, it does work with IOS 4 devices, know of a few people on the bn list who have done it.
I have the apex now and I love it! It is very light and easy to use. When I saw the braile sense a few weeks ago I couldn't believe how big it was compared to the apex. It was about the same size as my mpower but in the short time I have had the apex it makes a difference. There are many things to consider and if you like the bn products it is a good way to go. I could say so much more but not sure where to start. There are proes and cons to whatever you decide.