Category: News and Views
I'm posting this here because it didn't seem to fit into the geeks are us or accessible electronics categories. I haven't checked out the website to see what the price is.
This may be of interest to you if you still find your Perkins Brailler useful.
Subject: Announcing the Next Generation Perkins Brailler
All we see is possibility...
The NEW Next GenerationT Perkins Brailler® is here!
Less
FORCE.
Less
WEIGHT.
Less
NOISE.
MORE
POSSIBILITIES...
We are writing to you with some very exciting news. Today, 57 years after the launch of the original Perkins Brailler, we are introducing the NEW Next GenerationT Perkins Brailler®. Initially the Next Generation model will be for sale only in the United States and only through American Printing House for the Blind or Perkins Products.
The Next Generation Perkins Brailler retains all of the features that made the Classic Perkins Brailler the most widely used Braille writer in the world, plus incorporates new features users have been asking for.
The Next Generation Perkins Brailler is:
More portable due to its lighter weight and smaller size
More comfortable to use with a shorter keystroke and less force required
Quieter
New features and improvements in the Next Generation Perkins Brailler
include:
Easy-Erase Button so you can correct mistakes while brailing
Reading Rest so you can proofread the page with ease
Front Panel Margin Guides so you don't have to reach around the back
Greener construction through the use of less oil and manufactured materials
Modern colors and a sleek, new design
This brailler was developed with support from the American Printing House for the Blind. In recognition of this, braillers sold in the United States for the first six months may be ordered exclusively through APH or Perkins Products and will be available only in APH Blue. In April 2009, the new brailler will be available through our resellers in the United States.
We are planning the international launch of the Next Generation Perkins Brailler for early 2009. At that time we will make available a list of international resellers who will be selling the Next Generation Perkins Brailler.
We invite you to visit PerkinsBrailler.org to learn more about the new brailler and the enhancements we have made. Also, listen to and download the Next Generation song, written by Raul Midón for the Next Generation Perkins Brailler.
All of us at Perkins are truly committed to Braille literacy and we are honored to support children and adults in learning and using Braille in their daily lives. After working diligently on the reengineering of the Perkins Brailler for two years, we are excited to offer the Next Generation Perkins Brailler and look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Steven M. Rothstein
President, Perkins School for the Blind Steven.Rothstein@Perkins.org David Morgan
General Manager, Perkins Products David.Morgan@Perkins.org
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TO ORDER:
The new Perkins Brailler can be ordered through the American Printing House for the Blind at 800-223-1839 or through Perkins Products by calling 617-972-7308.
More information is available at PerkinsBrailler.org!
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SPREAD THE WORD:
We invite you to visit our website and "Tell-a-Friend" about this exciting news. Choose from a design featuring the Next Generation Brailler and Raul Midón's song.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm a huge Braille lover, and can't see life without it. Right now, I don't have a Brailler, so I use and slate and stylus when writing, but it would be nice to get a new Brailler. I haven't checked the pricing yet, but I'm sure it's going to cost a pretty penny.
i actually just heard about the new perkins brailler just yesterday from my vision teacher. i'm pretty sure they're not going to charge students for this though. who knows, it might come on the quota from the aph. i dont know, i would love to have one though. it sounds so much better. it would be a grate help for me in math and stuff.
Thanks for sharing the announcement. I was going to do this very thing; good thing I looked at the boards first. LOL.
As i understand it, the new brailler is said to cost $695 when available. I live near Perkins and hope to get my hands on one of these things.
How interesting the timing of this announcement. Earlier this week, I was showing a friend around the museum on the Perkins campus. Of course, they have a "classic" brailler on display. My friend and I were talking about how the design remained unchanged for so long...
Cheers,
Dave
It says on the Perkins website that the brailler will cost $650. Quite frankly, I'm surprised at the price. I'm shocked that they aren't selling it at a higher price, due to all of the new features and improvements they've made. I hope that I can get one of these. One of the new features I really like is the built-in eraser. I've always wished that braillers had one of those, and finally, they do.
I use stlate and stylus but the brl wrighter sound cool.
Oh that does sound pretty awesome! I just wish it wasn't so expensive, though. Why do blindness products have to be so costly? But yeah, sounds cool! I want one, I also think my friend would really enjoy one since he uses the Brailler more often. I personally like my Braille Note for most things, but I can see that may come in handy too. So cool!
Considering the old Perkins machines still sell for more than that, the new one is a bargain. And it sounds like with fewer moving parts it won't need cleaning and maintenance as much. Plus being ligher weight is a plus for moving it around.
I love braille and have 2 braillers at Mum and Dad's. The new one sounds good. What's the differencde between the old one and the new one? Has anyone seen the new one yet or is it not available?
Thanks for posting, Becky. As usualy, you came up with another winner!
Lou
Well it sounds cool! I saw a Brailler at an nfb convention once, and it was one of those handheld ones, I'm wondering if that may be it!
The info I posted here does a pretty good job of describing it. It's not hand held, but it does sound lighter weight and a bit smaller than the old Perkins.
my old Perkins brailler is sitting on the floor of my closet collecting dust. th dot five key has broken. I'd love one of these new ones. Getting a laptop comes first, though.
Thanks Becky, I will consider buying a new brailler now. What i disliked about the old perkins is the weight and the noise. I wonder if it will be displayed somewhere for us to view it!
I'm hoping they'd have it at national convention next year.
At $695, the new brailler is still less expensive than any electronic note taker.
Oh neat, I want to check this out! I use braille all the time at work and home. A Lighter and quieter writer would be awesome to have!!
I've had my Perkins brailler for about 13 or 14 years and it's only broken once. A quieter one would be better though and it would kind of help if it was smaller. Agree with Brian.
You all can get a quieter, cheaper braille producing device than this. They've been around for years, they're called a slate and stylus. Last I checked they cost about $25.
Some people don't like writing by hand. Personaly, I don't mind it, but I'd prefer a laptop.