Category: Geeks r Us
I need to know which one of these is better, because I'm probably am going either one or the other. Can anyone help?
I have used a braille note, and personally, I didn't really like it. I tried out a friend's packmate, and it seemed pretty cool. She didn't like it after a while though, so I dunno really what to tell ya.
asking which one is better is a loaded question. it's like the famed jaws and windows debates.
I'd personally say a packmate is more useful seeing as it's based on more standard technology. I know that the braille note uses windows CE, but I would sayyou may enjoy a packmate more. if possible. try and use both to see which one you like better.
and please. let's not debate which one is better, ok? It's not a winnable debate.
The reason I asked is I know the PAC mate has more features, but at my school the wireless printer doesn't work with it. I'm just concerned about printing my work off when I need it.
While I have a BrailleNote, I can see pros and cons to both. Are you planning on using the Braille display a lot? If you are, from what i hear the braille display with the packmate is a separate unit, while the braille display is on the BrailleNote. Just one of the many things you may want to consider.
Here's what I think. If you're in school, you need to constantly print, read, have books at your fingertips, and have a simple, easy-to-use, quickly accessible device, then the BrailleNote is better. If you're into the more Internet stuff, wireless surfing, fancy stuff, you'll want a PMate. That's just what I think. Caitlin
I like the braille note better. I have a laptop so therefore I have no use for the packmate.
Also the BN is very portable, and I think the Packmate is bigger? Not sure. But in taht way, a BN is easier to carry around at school, in a backpack, etc. Packmate users, how big is a Packmate? Caitlin
I think I'm gonna go with the BN anyway. You can surf the web on it too. The Pac mate is just more complicated, and has more features.
Well, the internet surfing on the braillenote is kind of difficult, and not very developed, and kind of slow, that's the problem. Maybe with wireless in Keysoft 6.1, which is due to be released in 2005 will be better? Caitlin
I don't have a packmate but I've gotten my hands on one. They arn't very big. Maybe just a bit bigger then the bn.
Troy
Really? Gosh that's amazing. WIth all they do they're still tiny. Speaking of tiny things, I want to see a BrailleNote PK. How small it must be! And how one can still use it at that size, I'll never know! Wow ... Caitlin
The new version of the BN is supposed to come out this month.
The PK? I think it's already out? I could be wrong. Whatever, I want to touch it, hehehe. Caitlin
I was talking about the update of the BN.
well, yeah, the bn uses dial up. but if your looking to be quiet in school and still cary around a portable device, the bn would be for you probably. and I just like it. so yeah.
Yep, Alison, that's kinda what i think. Hehehe. Caitlin
I can't wait until 6.1 is released! I'd also love to get my hands on a pk... it sounds really cool!
Yeah. I'd love a PK, if it works well enough and is easy to read (I've heard it's difficult since it's so small). But having a BN that tiny would rock. Hehehe. And 6.1 ... wireless internet ... ahahhaa!!!! Yes! Caitlin
It would be. Also, you can buy wireless cards that let you surf the web. When is 6.1 coming out?
6.1 is due out sometime in 2005 I heard. Hopefully early! And yep I've heard about those wireless cards. Caitlin
But liek I said, at least for me, the internet on the BN is kinda awkward and sluggishlike. So I'll pretty much just be doing wireless E-Mail, and keep my surfing for home, unless I just want to do it for fun, or for a little bit. Caitlin
Cool! The PAC mate just seems so complicated, and also, there are problems with it.
I just the email list, so I'll let you guys know of any updates.
Okay cool, I used to be on that but unsubscribed because the traffic was really high. Hope you enjoy it, they're a very helpful bunch. Caitlin
Cool!
So IC shal be our informer about the BN, yay! Hehehe ... thanks, IC!
Caitlin
About the braillenote I know little, but I have seen one and it seems nice and simple. The PacMate I have also had the pleasure of playing with (the bns users group which I used to attend is practically sponsered by FS now) The PacMate seems cool for doing windowsy-type stuff like surfing web, listening to media, etc. But it's not that great for taking notes... I tried to do so in notepad of FSEditer or whatever, I can't remember and it was quight slow. Then it started throwing "Unknown script call or function" errors for no apparent reason, plus when moving around it is a bit slow also. I remember little slowness when using the BN though I haven't used that nearly as much. I hactually have something called a Keynote Companion which runs Keysoft 2.something (1?), it's what they used to call a 'palm-top' it's a small computer with a screen, runs on dos, uses the keynote speech engine and comes with the callendar, word processor, addres list etc. Also came with a synth mode so you could use it for a synthesizer and primative internet access, as well as dos mode. Don't use it anymore, heck I got it when I was seven or something so I really didn't know what to do with it.
James
Thank you very much, but I thinkI've decided to go with the braille note.
I knew that, but you have to pay extra for them.
Cool, IC, be sure to let us know how you like it when you get it.
Caitlin
I sure will! But I'm gonna wait, until the 6.1 version comes out. It's due out in January. I can't wait!
Oh my messing gosh, The bn has keysoft. I think their is a windows vursion that supports keynote synths and also has support for the DECtalk Express and PC. As far as the PM, it has JAWS.
If we're bringing this all back, I have used a BN and don't like them nearly as much as the braille lite. You can't have user written programs (like the braille lites .bns), there is no basic interpreter for it, and you can't customize it as much. Also, I find the battery life too short. If you leave it in a napsack turned off, it will still drain your battery. Also, I find the thumb keys on the front are often pressed by mistake if you must hold it on your lap while writing (you're fine on a desk). Also, I have managed to crash keysoft numerous times. Also, its infrared support has issues (as in I couldn't make it work). But, you know, the real serious problem is no basic interpreter. If I could play my basic games it'd all be cool. lol, jk.
6.1 is now shipping, so IC should get her BN soon, yayyayyay!!! Happiness! Lol! I don't have 6.1 yet ... am dying to play with it though. Wireless Internet ... awesome ...
Caitlin
I too would be very envious to see 6.1. I had the opportunity to see a BrailleNote PK when I attended the ACB national convention last summer (2004). I thought it was ok; I really didn't look at it in detail, just held it and felt it a little. But, maybe someday, I might want one. However, what I'd really love would be the 6.1 b/c my college has wireless internet...yeah, that'd be the best!!! BTW, how does one go about signing up to the BrailleNote list...? I might try it for a while...Thanks!!
All this information is quite helpful since I too am in the process of deciding on which product to buy, but I also have another question, which device is better or would be more suited for someone who is looking for gps capabilities for the United States as well as Europe? Thanks...
Cristobal
My experience is that all that technology stinks. I am really telling the truth. All those types of technology i had have broke or have problems. My braille note has a problem with its planner and the compact flash disk and my braille light broke cause it went corrupt or something. Personally I like to use a computer or lap top more then something like the BrailleNote.
well, so far, the braille note is probably better with GPS, cause freedomscientific just got the technology, and are just now starting out with it. Thing is, eventually, freedomscientific's might be better since it's pretty much already built on the microsoft platform, and they just have to make it more and more accessible.
I do concerning GPS and the BrailleNote is you are given tactile maps of the US for sure. Secondly, while someday Freedom Scientific's might be better, the whole purpose of the BrailleNote line of products is it is built w/the blind user in mind...totally accessible! I've used a BrailleNote for three years, and have only sent it in to be cleaned...so, some of it could be how one cares for the product as well. just my opinions though. katie
I'll just write a separate message for each of the points I want to make after reading this entire thread. First, from www.freedomscientific.com, if you click on the "PACMate Headquarters" link, there is a presentation entitled "BrailleNote or PACMate: A Side by Side Comparison" on that page which was presented at CSUN this year. You can download an MP3 version, as well as a BRF or accessible PDF version of the text of the presentation. I think it's helpful to anyone deciding between the two, and it takes in to account both the PK and KS 6.1 for the BN, as well as the GPS package and 2.5 software build for the PM.
As for the Braille display being a separate unit, with the X-series models (the BX and QX), the display can be attached and detached. One removes a part of each unit, aligns the newly exposed portions of the units, and pushes them together to form an integrated unit. One must release the Braille display in the same way as they release the drawer of the PM unit itself (which exposes the part to which the Braille display attaches), so the display won't spontaneously detach because it securely "clicks" in to the PM. In my opinion, an advantage to the detachable display is that I can detach it to use with my laptop, so I can position the display in front of the keyboard instead of having to deal with putting the whole unit to the side like I would have to do with the BN.
More on the detachable display, I think another advantage is that, if the disslay only needs repair, you can just send that away and still have the speech-only unit while the display's being fixed. You can also just take the speech-only unit when you want, and take the Braille display with you on other occasions, whereas you have no choice on the BN, meaning you either have the Braille display with you all the time or never at all, depending on whether you get a Braille or VoiceNote. If a PACMate user with a speech-only unit wants to upgrade, they must only pay for the 20- or 40-cell display, while a VoiceNote user cannot upgrade this VoiceNote and must pay for an entire BrailleNote unit. As for the price comment, the PM BX/QX440 costs $5,595 USD while a BrailleNote BT/QT32 costs $6,195 USD at the moment, so the PM is actually cheaper, and the display has 8 more cells in this case.
To join the BrailleNote discussion list, send a blank e-mail to: braillenote-subscribe@list.pulsedata.com. FYI, to join the PACMate discussion list, send a blank e-mail to: PMList-subscribe@pacmategear.com. HTH, Maria
For a description/review of the BNPK, check out: http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw060103 This is from AFB's (American Foundation for the Blind) AccessWorld magazine about technology, and it also reviews the Braille Hansone/Sense from Hims Korea, which, BTW, is sold in the US by GWMicro, the manufacturer of the WindowEyes screenreader; the website for the Braille Sense is now at: www.braillesense.com I have a feeling that Part 2 of this review, which evaluates the PACMate and Maestro, hasn't come out yet, although it was claimed otherwise, because, at least on the PM front, they could be waiting for the release of some software packages to ensure the accuracy of the article to be as current as possible. Judging from FS documents and phone calls people have made to FS that I've read about on the PM list, I think they should be out soon, so hopefully, the article will be, too.
If you want to compare the size/weight of the different BN models with the different PM models (keep in mind that the PM BNS and TNS are the legacy units, while the BX and QX are the newer models), check out the text version of that presentation I posted. It has a nice table which compares. By "text version", I mean the BRF or PDF version.
I just wanted to point out that JAWS can be muted on the PACMate because the comment about "being quiet in school" gave me the impression you weren't aware of the possibility. On the QX, it's done with JAWSKey+S, M, and on the BX, it's done with S CHORD, M. That is, you first press either JAWSKey+S or S CHORD, depending on the model, release those keys, and type M. This is a toggle command, so repeating the sequence will unmute JAWS. Just thought you might like to know. HTH, Maria
Just want to make a quick comment on development possibilities for the PM. Because it uses JAWS, one can write JAWS scripts to make PocketPC programs accessible, and these scripts are written the same way as desktop JAWS scripts, as well as being able to modify other JAWS files, which have the same name as on desktop JAWS, to your preference. The SDK (Software Development Kit) for PPC is available free from Microsoft, as are the Function Reference Manual and Scripting Basics Guide from FS. If you don't like the commands on your unit (and this pertains mainly to the BX because the QX uses JAWS laptop commands as much as possible), you can rewrite commands by modifying the default.jkm file of the PM, and you can also rewrite/assign the functions you want to the PM display Navrow buttons, and this can apply to both PM models by modifying this same default.jkm file of the PM or to using the PM display with desktop JAWS by using JAWS Keyboard Manager.
Final message... Because the PM GPS package is the mainstream Destinator software for PPC plus StreetTalk, which FS wrote to make Destinator more accessible, the entire package is cheaper than that for the BN, and that will apply for updates, too, seeing as the Destinator people serve the sighted population as well, meaning the updates would also come out more frequently. Also, FSReader will have both a PM and desktop version, so one could read DAISY books on their PM, which can't yet be done on the BN. I've used the BN for two years, BTW, but I'm switching to the PM (it just hasn't arrived yet), and since I've been on both the BN and PM lists for about a year now, I just thought I'd comment. Thans for reading, and I hope some of these messages are helpful to someone deciding between the two. Maria
Personally, I'm a BrailleNote and I love it. I love the feel of the display and the keyboard is nice too. I've used mine for four years, only sent it in once for an upgrade and display cleaning. It's been solid! I swear I've put it through a ton!