Category: accessible Devices
Could someone please give me a comparison between the pacmate omni qx440, the braille note apex qt32, and the braille sense plus qwerty? I require that the devices have a qwerty keyboard and a braille display larger than thirty cells. Please comment on how stable they are, how many filetypes they support, things that are built in and things that are posible with an additional purchase.
Thanks.
Bumping this topic to the front.
Iam unable to give comment regarding this
request of Poster as i have not an
answer to give
Games of Board moving perhaps too
fast and taking up the space
too quickly.
We, myself definitely included
need to remember
how we lost use of our
Games -- --
Game Palour, and Etc..
here on these Boards before
Signed,
Grace, Connie
Peacefulness be..
Rahu & Lempia/Love
These devices all have advantages and disadvantages.
The PAC Mate QX440 is by far the heaviest of all units. It runs on Windows Mobile 6 Classic with JAWS for Pocket PC built in. The biggest advantage is that any program that was written for Windows Mobile can run on it nad is usable, provided that if JAWS can interact with the program. One problem is that it does not have built in hardware for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but there are CompactFlash cards out there which you can use it with the PM. As for file types, it supports its own FSD (word processor) file format, as well as mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and bunch of others depending on the program.
The BrailleNote Apex QT has the latest operating system of these three. A notable advantage is that it supports a number of book formats, such as RFBD, NLS talking (BARD) books, unprotected EPUB and others. The quality of braille display output is good. Despite latest OS and built in hardware for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and FM Radio, it does not allow users to install third party programs, nor it supports a number of mainstream file formats such as PDF and PowerPoint. Like PAC Mate, it supports doc, txt, brf and its own word processor file format and media files.
The Braille Sense QWERTY, despite running the oldest OS of the three, has advantages in user interface and feature sets. One notable feature is its superior media player, which allows a user to listen to media files with sound effects and has a good recorder and FM radio. However, this one lacks some advanced features in its word processor, such as advanced formatting. The display output seems okay, but it is not that great compared to BN's output. However, this output problem can be compensated with the fact that the user interface of the unit is like that of Windows. Like the two units above, it supports its own word processor file format as well as brf and txt, with a soon to be released firmware containing support for PDF files.
As for choice, it's really up to what you want to do with your unit. Personally, I'd advise that you investigate all three products before you get it. If you are into mainstream programs and feel like using conventional Pocket PC OS with JAWS, then PM would be the way to go. If you want a simple interface with good braille output, then Apex would be for you. If you want Windows-style interface but want to have a feel of good braille display, then Braille Sense would be the way to go. Just let us know what your preferences are and what you wish to do with your future unit.
I already have a pacmate, and find it rather slow. But anyway, I'll probably get to check out the braille sense plus qwerty because I have a ten percent chance of visiting the NFB convention this year. Thanks for the help.
i'm in the process of getting the braillenote apex being that i requested that by the commission. + i want to be able to read rfbd books through the use of the sd cards i already use on my VR stream. I also want to use it as a braille display among other things besides using it as another means f note taking since i only have a laptop.
I have the braillelite M20 and i can't do anything really besides notetaking which is pretty outdated in terms of hardware capability and features.
intersting. although i think a braille display alone is cheaper for my needs.
Hmm, I am wanting to get one for college. Witch one would be better to use? Can you use these devices like a laptop in the sencse that you can log on to the net with out having to have it connected to your laptop?
For the Internet part of your question, yes, you can get on the Internet with these devices without hooking it up to a laptop. They're pretty much like regular mobile devices, except that they're Braille ones of course. *smile* I used to have a BrailleNote (not an Apex version though), and I could've been able to use the Internet, but I would've needed a card to plug into it which I didn't have. Now I have a Braille Sense and occasionally use the Internet, and, although it probably would help to have an external receiver thing, I don't use one. There are several ways of connecting to the Internet, but I use WiFi on mine. I mainly use the Internet with the Braille Sense at school and the library though because in most other places, I need to have some kind of code before I can get connected, but I don't know if I just have bad luck with that or if that's with every Braille Sense.
Oh cool thanks for the info.
This code is required for any wi-fi device. The network has been protected so that people can't leech off the internet, which is being paid for by whoever runs the network.
i like my braille note.- it's vary. stable.
I don't use my PAC Mate often, but I do like it. I just wish they would upgrade the OS some. I think it needs a revampt OS, more RAM, faster processor, and more hard drive space.
Having a line in port o or one of those mike/line in ports, with stereo conetivity would be nice also.