Category: accessible Devices
Hey,
I have just recently acquired one of these beauties and so far I really, really like it; possibly because it is the first refreshable braille product I have had the pleasure of using extensively, partially because it is so flexible... Even though I have a laptop I like using it for things that need to be done quicker since it boots up so fast and runs a lot of the same types of program sfound under windows. Once I get my wireless card and some extra memory I will be set. (Oh and by the way, the pacmate is not "the ultimate laptop replacement;" I would never trade my laptop for this simply because the laptop can do everything a standard desktop can do, plus I use it to sync up with the pm) So what I was wondering is, is anyone else a pacmate user? A lot of people seem to prefer brailenote which is not "bad" or "wrong" (it is in fact understandable since I guess some people prefer to be in a more closed environment designed soly for taking notes and doing other tasks like email or whatever the thing does)... well I was just a wonderin' and then I thought to myself I should throw my wonderings in the faces of those who dare look at the accessible electronics board.
James
I will be in a couple of months
You mean to say Angel that you're getting a pacmate? Well well make a deal, please show it to me? Holy shit I,ve been wanting to see one. Personally, I prefer my BNS, but I've not seen a PM. lOL But I like taking notes on the Braille N Speak. I fear that next time i need it repaired, they'll tell me to go fly a kite and buy a PacMate. LOL
I have seen a PM, but I personally prefer a BrailleNote. But everyone has the right to choose what works best for him/her...and, yes, they probably will tell you to get a PM...BNS...it still works...wow! *smile*
I had a pacmate TNS for about a year, but it was so buggy, i got rid of it. I would like a qx one day, but can't afford it, nowhere near any time soon. One day though...
What kinda features does the Pac Mate have? I used a Braille Note for awhile, but I didn't like how the file system was organized. It confused me, and it always froze. But, what exactly can the pPac Mate do? I dont know a whole lot about it.
love my pacmate, however the first one i got had braille display issues with some of the cells and this second one has the same issue with one. not sure why. but i works and its wonderful and oh my word!!!!! All the stuff it can do, no it ain't like a laptop, but dude, it's wonderful. I also like the beam feature... Will get a wireless card soon so I can connect to the net wirelessly.
In Him,
Dixie
I own a pacmate, but it's not the replaceable laptop that people think. In time I'm gonna buy a memory card and a wireless card. Anyone know where I can get a wireless card? Off hand.
Yeah, they are some pretty sweet pieces of equipment. Very useful too! I personally prefer them over the braille note mostly because you can take them anywhere where there's a wireless hotspot, and use pocket explorer to get on the net, and manage email, and do everything like that with pocket outlook! Even if you don't wana get a wirelesss card, you can get an ethernet card, slide that bitch in, and connect it directly to your cabel modem! Still, though, I agree with you. They're in no way up to the standards of a laptop. Laptops can do more stuff, but freedomscientific didn't say that this was a super machine. So, it's all good. It does things that you'd want it to do when you went on vacation or...something like that.
Hope that helped:
no it aint a laptop but i get tired of lugging my crappy dell around so pacmate's are wonderful.
In Him,
Miss Dixie
I love my BN but Pack Mates are the win too. Very cool how they use lots of PC based stuffs like AIM, Skype, MSN etc.
Just for everyone's information, the BrailleNote now has the capability to connect to the net via wireless access now too. Just thought I'd share!
It most certainly is not a laptop replacemt I agree, but it is quite useful since you can quickly do things like take notes or check a site... it would be a lot more if I got the card (board of ed hurry up! though I guess I shouldn't rush you since you gave me this thing the first time/day I asked for it) but I like it loads, especially the fact that it is easy for people to develope for since it uses standard technology and while the braille note does too it seems as though keysoft has to either code the program or write the interface to somethiing that is already there (activesync) so if someone wants the bn to do something new, pulsedata has to do it. I couldn't find one single thing about developing anything for the bn which is sad since so many more people use them than the pacmates.
James
I'lll be using one any day now I hope through school. I can't wait to carry taht instead of my del! However, I think i'll get a laptop and a p.m. when I go to college. That would be perfect.
I Have the Pac-mate BX420.
I love it love it love itt!
It is so easy to use and i I love my wireless card. I would recommend the AMBICOM 802.11B WLAN CF Card. It works great, and it is easy to install.
The pac-mate is the best notetaker/PDA that I have ever had. It's exceeded all of my expectations.
Pac-mates Rule!
I take mine everywhere with me, and WIFI is the absolute win!
Kolby
I have a pacmate as well, and wouldn't trade it for anything. I used a Braille N Speak as well as a Braille Lite, while I was in High School, but I'm really glad they've developped bigger and better things, because with both of them, I was very limitted as to what I could do with them.
I love the way I can transfer files from the pc to the pacmate, and vice-vursa, although, I haven't figured out how to transfer files from the pacmate to the pc yet. I've gotten it to work wirelessly with my internet connection, and am working on purchasing a flash card, as well as GPS for it, but both of those will have to wait a while, because I don't have the money for all of that.
Plus, I need to learn exactly how to use GPS, because I'm not 100% sure how it works. But over all, I've really learned to love it, and wouldn't want to part with it.
I got the GPS package, well just StreetTalk actually, and I hope to be getting a receiver and maps soon as well. i also purchased FS Reader, which is the program that allows you to read DAISY Books on your PM, and it works great! I haven't had any real issues with my pac-mate, accept for some minor braille display stuff, but it's all fixed and working beautifully now! i love using it for school, and leisure purposes, and i know when I get a decent laptop, i will be set!
Kolby
its jessica. i am just learning a packmate for when i go to the statler center in ny. that will be in may of 06. love it so far and i used a braille note and think its to confined.
Well, personally I do have a braille note, and I would like it more if it were mainstream, but it is not, they made a proprietary system out of it. At least the pacmate uses the mainstream products and pocket aim, and some of that other fun stuff. I had gotten my braille note at the time cuz I didn't want to have to haul a braille display with a pacmate, but now with all the stuff they're doing for the pacmate, I wish I could have one, I'd trade my braille note for a pacmate anyday.