Category: Geeks r Us
So I'm looking for a braille display and money is not much of an issue. However, I am seeking the following features:
1. Very light wait. I will be using this with my laptop and will be on the move a lot. So lightness is a big selling point.
2. USB connection or via bluetooth. Need I say more?
3. Powers through laptop. Nothing more annoying than having to carry ton of accessory cables :P
4. 40 cell
5. reliable
6. Works with jaws 9
7. Compatible with vista or xp(dell m1330 doesn't have an xp option: *stare*, more trouble than its worth to downgrade)
Hi
There's loads of displays out there that would fit your needs I think.
I've used the 84 cell Alva satellite series and it's been absolutely superb. I know they have a 40 cell version and I'm pretty sure it's powered via USB (you can double check on that), it's a bitof a higher end price I think but I absolutely love my display.
I also have a Focus 80, usb and it's not quite as good but it is smaller, very light weight and handy. I also have a 40 cell version of that display that I happen to like a lot (although I never use it, ;) we could certainly do a deal on it if you want, butif money is not an issue you probably want a brand new one). I like it, I wish it had Blue Tooth but I'm pretty suer you can juse use a blue tooth to USB adapter and you might have same functionality. I never use the Blue Tooth option anyway since it powers through the laptop's USB port.
I'd give it an 8 out of 10, no particular reason, I just like the Alve layout better.
A buddy of mine here for a 40 cell Baum display and he likes it a lot. I think they're a bit cheap in some ways though. They're in Germany so repairs etc might be slower (although they may have good service in the U.S. I know that Flying Blind services them or, at least, is a dealer). Their displays also don't come with a carrying case, which is a pain in the butt if you need to go out and find something that fits.
Boty the other displays came with good warranties, although I had to pay for the FS one, the Alva display cost almost twice as much but warranty was included.
All this being said, the way I understand how Jaws works (and I'm no expert really) is that the display drivers interface with Jaws that, in turn, interfaces with Windows, so if Jaws supports the display (which it does) it doesn't matter which version of Jaws or Windows you're running on, as long as they're compatible. In other words, if Jaws 9 runs on Vista and supports your brand of display then there shouldnot be any issues, unless they've made huge modifications to their braille drivers. In terms of compatibility though FS displays should work best with Jaws, obviously, one would think.
Cheers
-Birkir
hmm 84 cell? is that 2 lines of braille?
Yes, I will be needing the new one, sorry. As I will not be the one to purchase it. Something about official venders and documentations.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Hi
No problem, no really trying to sell it yet, can't decide if I want to or not *shrugs* but, no, 84 cells is just one line, just a long one, it is 80 but you can also use 4 status cells as part of the text if you prefer, and I do.
if you ever consider selling it, i'm intrested. also, would you know of a place to get second hand displays?
Rat, it's definitely a possibility, what kind of price would you be thinking about for a 40 cell, it's practically new/unused, I think it's something like 3500 brand new, but FS web site would have better info, not really decided but you can pm me what you think it's worth or you could pay *shrugs* I mean, I'd rather this thing be used and I could do with a thousand or two, or 2500 for other stuff these days.
I think Ebay/Blind Bargains is the only thing I've come across that would have used displays, they're not that common, FS might also, possibly may be, sometimes have reconditioned equipment, I've never seen actual displays but I've seen braille notes etc which could, of course, be used as displays.
Check out the brailliant. Very light weight, low profile (the size of a ruler), and has serial, USB, and bluetooth. I'm almost positive there's a 40 cell model though i can't say for certain.
yes, there is indeed a Brailliant 40 with the features you seek. Whilst JFW only supports freedom Scientific displays out of the box, Brailliant ships with drivers which make it possible to run with JAWS.
Contact HumanWare for more information.
Cheers
Sam
Does anyone have an idea of the price of these displays? I've heard great things about them but was under the impression they cost quite a bit more than, say, the FS version.
Also I need to look at which displays are supported through Mobile Speak, especially the 12 or 20 cell versions which might be affordable.
Thank you for all the opinions and suggestions.
I have gone ahead and asked my rehab councelor to get me the 64 cell brailliant. she informed me that it will costs in the ball park of 7.2k.
I decided on this one for its bluetooth/usb/weight.
I found this topic just in time...smile! Though, I cannot afford any of these products, it is nice to be informed.
I just came across the suggested price for the connect 12 of $2000. Only connects via bluetooth though. At least from what I read.
Do y'all know, if it can connect to any cell phone with bluetooth, or does it need to be a smart phone?
It would be brilliant if it connected to my 8300.
I believe that you need to be running Mobile speak Smartphone/pocket or Pocket Hal to use a braille display with a cell phone. MSS/MSP/Hal have drivers built in that make the braille functionality possible.
That being said, some displays that work with MSS/MSP are the Brailleiants, the Braille connects, and a couple Alva models, I think... Full details on Codefactory's website. They claim to support the Braille Note, but the Braille Note's bluetooth is, well, weird. I've never been able to get my BN and smartphone to pair successfully.
the Connect 12 has bluetooth only. The larger models, 24, 32, 40, etc, have Serial/USB also.
I wonder what the future of the braille display is? For example, hooking it up to our tv's to read the on-screen menus for digital cable, or hooking it into our IPods and such to read the menus. Now those would be some cool options!
It would be nice to have a list of cell phones that are compatible.
Hey
Code Factory's web site www.codefactory.es .. has a list of compatible phones, you can even do it by carrier.
Their software must be running on the phone's operating system to translate signals into braille.
Same would probably have to happen for tv and mp3 players to work, although perhaps one could load info on softwre such as the Rockbox and hook up a braille driver to it.
Doesn't jaws already have drivers with it to work with the braille display?