That's sounds logical, except that, if I'm putting my fingers in the right place (someone told me that they should be on middle row, with the left little finger on the a and the right little finger--oops--on the apostrophe key or the return key? I may be doig it wrong-- anyway, whichever, it seems to me that the most used keys are being hit by the strongest fingers, .e., the e, t, i,o, n and m----not the s though hmmm. Re your next post -- I'm really impressed that you learned to type in kindergarten. CIndy --- "Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Actually my understanding, is they arranged the > keyboard that way, because > as I was told, the springs of the day wouldn't have > held up if the most > commonly used keys were on our strongest fingers. > of course, now, the > springs could hold, but people like it, so stick > with it. > > Or so I have been told. > > > Shelley L. Rhodes and Judson, guiding golden > juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx > Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc. > Graduate Advisory Council > www.guidedogs.com > > The vision must be followed by the venture. It is > not enough to > stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs. > > -- Vance Havner > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Cindy" <popularplace@xxxxxxxxx> > To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 4:49 PM > Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Braille Note or Pack > Mate > > > Additional explanation--it's called that because the > first letters on the top line of the keyboard are q > w > e r t y. Computer keyboards are arranged like > typewriter keyboards (most of you are probably too > young to have seen a typewriter, and I doubt you > took > touch typing in high school--smile). I've never > taken > touch typing, though I'm trying now, when I have to > type descriptions or missing paragraphs, to practice > it. I think the keys are arranged so that the most > commonly used letters are within easy reach of the > index and midde fingers, and the less commonly used > keys are reachable aby the ring and little fingers. > > Any old typing teachers or typists here to explain > further? > > CIndy > > > > -- Sharon Jackson <dolly1025@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > Kaitlyn, > > > > A qwerty keyboard is the normal keyboard like what > > you use for a laptop or > > desktop. > > > > HTH, > > Sharon > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Kaitlyn Hill" <Kaitlyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 12:54 PM > > Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Braille Note or Pack > > Mate > > > > > > > HI Sharon, > > > > > > I need to get over to the commission one of > these > > days but... > > > What is a qwerty keyboard? > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On > > Behalf Of Sharon Jackson > > > Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 6:44 AM > > > To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Braille Note or > Pack > > Mate > > > > > > Kaitlyn, > > > > > > Most of these notetakers come with or without > > braille displays and an > > > option > > > > > > to have a braille or qwerty keyboard. > > > > > > Sharon > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Kaitlyn Hill" <Kaitlyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 11:29 PM > > > Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Braille Note or > Pack > > Mate > > > > > > > > >> Hello Sharon, > > >> > > >> This was an interesting article. The more I > look > > at my needs, not being > > >> an > > >> avid Braille reader some of the ultra light > > laptops may serve me better. > > >> Thanks again :) > > >> > > >> -----Original Message----- > > >> From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > >> [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On > > Behalf Of Sharon Jackson > > >> Sent: Friday, August 19, 2005 5:03 AM > > >> To: Bookshare > > >> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Braille Note or Pack > > Mate > > >> > > >> Hello, > > >> > > >> I have been following the discussion about the > > Braille Note versus Pack > > >> Mate > > >> and thought others would enjoy reading the > > article, "Braille Note or Pack > > >> Mate" from the July-August issue of the Braille > > Monitor. > > >> > > >> > > >> The Braille Monitor > > >> July 2005 > > >> > > >> (back > > <http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm05/bm0507/bm050709.htm> ) > > (next > > >> > <http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm05/bm0507/bm050711.htm> > > ) (contents > > >> > <http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm05/bm0507/bm0507tc.htm> > > ) > > >> > > >> BrailleNote or PAC Mate: > > >> A Matter of Personal Preference > > >> > > >> by Danika Rockett > > >> Jim Gashel, NFB executive director of strategic > > initiatives, is > > >> enthusiatic > > >> about his PAC Mate, which he uses with his cell > > phone to download email > > >> on > > >> his way to the office in the morning, Mark > > Riccobono, NFB manager of > > >> education services, is equally committed to his > > Braille > > >> > > > Mate.<http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm05/bm0507/bm050716.jpg> > > >> Jim Gashel (right), NFB executive director of > > strategic initiatives, is > > >> enthusiastic about his PAC Mate, which he uses > > with his cell phone to > > >> download email on his way to the office in the > > morning. Mark Riccobono > > >> (left), NFB manager of education services, is > > equally committed to his > > >> BrailleNote > > >> > > >> From the Editor: On May 1, 2005, > > Danika Taylor, NFB > > >> copyeditor, > > >> married Don Rockett. When she returned from her > > honeymoon, she sat down > > >> to > > >> talk with several electronic notetaker users > > about the features they > > >> liked > > >> and did not like in the units they had chosen. > > Here is the result of > > >> those > > >> conversations. It is not a careful review by > the > > International Braille > > >> and > > >> Technology Center (IBTC) staff, but it does > > contain interesting > > >> information > > >> and views. This is what she says: > > >> > > >> The decision to spend upwards of > five > > thousand dollars on a > > >> device that can fit in the palm of a hand and > > allow blind people to read, > > >> write, keep track of appointments, and even do > > email on the go should not > > >> be > > >> taken lightly. For most of us contemplating the > > purchase of a Braille > > >> notetaker, the sticker shock involved in the > > process is also accompanied > > >> by > > >> the equally unsettling lists of technical > > specifications and claims and > > >> counterclaims which those who sell these > devices > > make. > > >> > > >> In this article we turn directly to > > the experience of several > > >> longtime Federationists who use their > notetakers > > every day. Their > > >> observations are based not on theoretical or > > technical data but on the > > >> reality of living day in and day out with a > > particular notetaker. > > >> > > >> If you would like to explore your > > personal notetaker needs > > >> with > > >> the experts at the International Braille and > > Technology Center for the > > >> Blind > > >> (IBTC), they invite you to do so. They can be > > reached at the technology > > >> answer line: (410) 659-9314, option 5 on the > > automated greeting. > > >> > > >> Humanware's BrailleNote and Freedom > Scientific's > > PAC Mate are two of the > > >> most popular Braille notetakers. For various > > reasons some users prefer > > >> one > > >> machine to the other, but just what is the > > difference between these two > > >> seemingly similar products? > > >> > > >> We might begin with physical > > characteristics, for herein lie > > >> the > > >> most obvious differences. The BrailleNote is > > smaller in height and width > > >> than the PAC Mate but slightly thicker. To be > > specific, the BrailleNote > > >> is > > >> 9.9 by 6.1 by 2 inches, and the PAC Mate is 11 > by > > 6.81 by 1.93 inches. To > > >> be > > >> sure, these differences are slight, and as J.R. > > Westmoreland said in his > > >> 2005 CSUN (California State University at > > Northridge) conference paper > > >> titled "BrailleNote or PAC Mate: A Side-by-Side > > Comparison," the > > >> difference > > >> in size is a "minor factor navigating in tight > > areas." A smaller > > >> BrailleNote, the BrailleNote PK, is a mere 6.8 > by > > 3.6 by 1.3 inches, but > > >> it > > >> comes with only an 18-cell display option, and > at > > around $5,000 the > > >> smaller > > >> dimensions might not be worth the cost for many > > users. > > >> > > >> The weight of each product varies a > > bit depending on the model > > >> and the size of the refreshable Braille > display. > > The 20-cell PAC Mate > > >> weighs > > >> 3 pounds, 9 ounces, whereas the 18-cell > > BrailleNote weighs 2.2 pounds; > > >> likewise, the 40-cell PAC Mate weighs 4 pounds, > > while the 32-cell > > >> BrailleNote weighs 2.9 pounds. Therefore, > > although the PAC Mate weighs > > >> more > > >> than the BrailleNote, the larger size of the > PAC > > Mate's Braille display > > >> may > > >> be an important consideration for some users. > > >> > > >> Both machines have wireless network > > access support, the option > > >> of a QWERTY keyboard, and similar external > > connections and hardware > > >> slots. > > >> Of course these details vary slightly from > model > > to model. J.R. > > >> Westmoreland > > >> praises the PAC Mate's support of CF cards. > "The > > BrailleNote," he says, > > >> "has > > >> a limited number of cards that are supported. > The > > PAC Mate, on the other > > >> hand, not only supports these cards but many > > other cards that have > > >> drivers > > >> for Pocket PC." > > >> > > >> We could go on and on about the > > characteristics of each > > >> machine, > > >> but in the end the question of which is better > > comes down to personal > > >> preference. Diehard advocates exist for most > > notetakers on the market, > > >> depending on the individual user's needs. > > >> > > >> Adrienne Asch, Henry R. Luce > Professor > > in Biology, Ethics, and > > >> the Politics of Human Reproduction at Wellesley > > College in Massachusetts, > > >> is > > >> a BrailleNote user. However, she is certainly > not > > a diehard advocate. > > >> "The > > >> BrailleNote has many fine features," she says. > > "But it has a few major > > >> problems, at least from my point of view." > > >> > > >> Footnotes, or rather the lack > thereof, > > are among Dr. Asch's > > >> complaints. "The BrailleNote will not permit > the > > writing of footnotes or > > >> endnotes in Microsoft Word documents," she > says. > > Therefore any articles > > >> she > > >> writes requiring footnotes or endnotes--and she > > is a prolific academic > > >> scholar--must be written, or at least finished, > > on the computer using a > > >> Braille display or speech, which can be > > inconvenient and is certainly > > >> inefficient. > > >> > > >> The BrailleNote "will also not > display > > footnotes or endnotes in > > >> Word documents sent to me," she continues. > "This > > means that I must open > > >> the > > >> file on a laptop or desktop computer and > convert > > it to ASCII format. If I > > >> don't have computer access, I simply cannot > read > > the footnotes or > > >> endnotes." > > >> These complaints are important, but they > > demonstrate how much personal > > >> needs > > >> and preferences determine which notetaker to > buy. > > A person who does not > > >> regularly use footnotes or endnotes may not be > > bothered by the fact that > > >> no > > >> device using Pocket PC can identify footnotes > and > > endnotes at all. > > >> > > >> Another problem for Dr. Asch involves > > formatting. "Although the > > >> manual claims that documents can be prepared in > > Braille and then > > >> formatted > > >> for printing, that claim is only partly > > accurate," she says. "If one > > >> wishes > > >> to create italicized, bolded, or underlined > > material in a printed > > >> document, > > >> one cannot use the format menu within the > Braille > > document to do so. One > > >> must manually do this formatting from within > the > > translated file." > > >> > > >> She also faults the BrailleNote for > > reading fewer and fewer of > > >> the many documents she wants it to display. > "More > > and more email > > >> attachments > > >> are in formats, whether advanced versions of > > Microsoft Word, RTF, or some > > >> other format that the BrailleNote will not > > display," she complains. > > >> "Again, > > >> the only solution is to take the file to a > > standard laptop or desktop, > > >> convert it to an ASCII text file, and then > return > > the newly formatted > > >> file > > >> to the BrailleNote. This conversion means a > loss > > of formatting, meaning > > >> that > > >> I cannot edit the document in the same format > in > > which it was sent to me. > > >> The device is no longer a reliable method of > > reading documents prepared > > >> in > > >> electronic form that are given to me at > meetings, > > conferences, and the > > >> like. > > >> I will soon find that I must travel with a > > laptop, if only to convert the > > >> documents I am given, in order to do my actual > > reading on the > > >> BrailleNote. > > > > > >> I > > >> had hoped with the newest software upgrade, > 6.11, > > that I would have > > >> solved > > >> the problem of unreadable documents; I have not > > solved it. When I send > > >> examples of unreadable documents to Humanware's > > technical support staff, > > >> they generally tell me that they too cannot > read > > them on their machines, > > >> but > > >> they have no suggestions or solutions." > > >> > > >> Mark Riccobono, National Federation > of > > the Blind manager of > > >> education programs, is a satisfied BrailleNote > > user. In fact he liked the > > >> BrailleNote so much that he recently upgraded > to > > the smaller BrailleNote > > >> PK. > > >> He says that the PK is similar to the previous > > models, other than the > > >> size > > >> (it is currently the smallest notetaker on the > > market) and the USB port. > > >> > > >> Unlike Adrienne Asch, Mark Riccobono > is > > not bothered by the > > >> BrailleNote's inability to deal with footnotes > or > > endnotes. It isn't that > > >> he > > >> doesn't use them, but he considers his > > BrailleNote more of a supplement > > >> to > > >> his PC than a stand-alone computer, so he > doesn't > > mind transferring > > >> documents for editing. One feature he enjoys is > > the PK's portability and > > >> power. "I can carry around my contacts and > > synchronize them with > > >> Microsoft > > >> Outlook," he says. "I am on the road a lot, and > > if I meet someone, it is > > >> easy to enter the information into my PK. Then, > > when I get to the office, > > >> I > > >> simply synchronize the information with > Outlook, > > and it is there. Also > > >> the > > >> calendar feature is a major advantage because > it > > too synchronizes with > > >> Outlook. And I can work on documents while I am > > commuting, then transfer > > >> them to my PC when I get to work. Basically I > > treat my PK like a PDA, not > > >> like a PC replacement." > > >> > > >> He admits, however, that formatting > > causes the occasional > > >> frustration. "Transferring from a Word document > > causes it to appear in a > > >> different format, which destroys the > formatting, > > so I have to go back and > > >> correct it. That is definitely frustrating > > sometimes, especially when I > > >> am > > >> in a hurry. But I don't worry about it too much > > because I use my PC most > > >> of > > >> the time." > > >> > > >> Another disadvantage of the PK is its > > lack of audio streaming > > >> ability. While the PAC Mate has the ability to > > stream audio from the > > >> Internet, the PK does not. Anyone who knows > > Riccobono knows he is an avid > > >> baseball fan, and the feature he would most > like > > to see added to the PK > > >> is > > >> the ability to stream audio, especially > baseball > > broadcasts. Like Dr. > > >> Asch's, his complaints are a matter of personal > > preference. Not every > > >> user > > >> will consider streaming audio to be a priority > > when making a purchasing > > >> decision. > > >> > > >> As for audio quality, though, Chad > > Allen, government programs > > >> specialist (intern) for the National Federation > > of the Blind, loves the > > >> fact > > >> that his BrailleNote PK has stereo quality > audio > > for his enjoyment while > > >> listening to the many MP3s he has downloaded > onto > > the device. Allen also > > >> praises the built-in Bluetooth technology > feature > > on the PK. "I use my > > >> Nokia > > >> 6620 model cell phone to surf the Internet on > my > > PK," he says. "I use the > > >> Mobile Speak software and my cell phone as a > > modem, and I have another > > >> Internet-surfing option anywhere I go." The > > BrailleNote PK comes with > > >> Bluetooth technology installed, whereas this > > technology must be purchased > > >> separately for other notetaking devices. Again, > > for those who are less > > >> computer savvy or are not interested in the > > capacity to surf the Internet > > >> at > > >> a moment's notice, this technology does not > > factor heavily into the > > >> decision-making process. > > >> > > >> Allen, a Jaws user, mentions that > > Freedom Scientific does not > > >> support the use of Jaws with competing > notetakers > > such as Humanware's > > >> BrailleNote PK. "I didn't know this when I > > purchased the device. I > > >> assumed > > > > > >> I > > >> could use the Jaws screen reader on a PC with > my > > PK doubling as a > > >> refreshable Braille Display, but it didn't > work. > > I was disappointed > > >> because > > >> I had to purchase and install a new screen > > reader, but overall the PK is > > >> a > > >> great notetaker, and I am very satisfied with > > it." > > >> > > >> Eric Duffy is an NFB leader in Ohio. > He > > is technologically > > >> sophisticated and spends a significant amount > of > > time helping other blind > > >> people solve technology problems. This is what > he > > says about his decision > > >> to > > >> use the PAC Mate: "I was a Braille 'n Speak > user > > beginning in the late > > >> eighties. I then got a Braille Lite not long > > after it came out. Both of > > >> these devices were good-quality notetakers, but > > they are not even in the > > >> same league with the PAC Mate. It is far more > > than a note taker. The > > >> capacity and versatility of the PAC Mate exceed > > that of the Braille 'n > > >> Speak > > >> and Braille Lite, first developed by Blazie > > Engineering and now > > >> supported, > > >> at least minimally, by Freedom Scientific. > > >> > > >> "The BrailleNote was the first > product > > in what most of us > > >> think > > >> of as the modern class of notetakers for the > > blind. I had heard about the > > >> BrailleNote before it hit the market, and I > began > > to use one as soon as I > > >> could get my hands on a loaner unit. I liked > some > > things about it but > > >> before > > >> buying decided to wait to try the new product > > from Freedom Scientific > > >> that > > >> was soon to be released. I really wanted to > > compare the BrailleNote and > > >> PAC > > >> Mate and make an informed choice about which > > product would best meet my > > >> needs. I have chosen the PAC Mate. Here are my > > thoughts about both > > >> products. > > >> > > >> "The BrailleNote is still a > > proprietary product, which is to > > >> say > > >> that the Keysoft user interface and suite of > > applications is developed > > >> and > > >> supported by the manufacturer of the > BrailleNote, > > Humanware. So > > >> off-the-shelf products cannot be used with the > > BrailleNote. > > >> > > >> "I like the fact that the PAC Mate > > runs on a > > >> WindowsRMobile-based technology. This is the > same > > system that sighted > > >> consumers use to operate their PDAs. Programs > > released for PDAs in the > > >> general market can more easily be adapted for > the > > PAC Mate. > > >> > > >> "I use the PAC Mate every day for > word > > processing, email, and > > >> more. I like the fact that I can synchronize > > email as well as contacts > > >> and > > >> files between the PAC Mate and my PC. Using the > > PAC Mate, I can write > > >> email > > >> messages using contracted Braille and with a > key > > stroke have the message > > >> translated to computer Braille and sent. I can > > work in Pocket Word using > > >> contracted Braille and have the file easily > > translated into print. > > >> > > >> "I am pleased with the connectivity > of > > the PAC Mate. Because > > >> of > > >> it I am no longer tied to my computer to be > > productive. I can send files > > >> to > > >> my computer or through email using my wireless > > network or Active Sync. It > > >> is > > >> also possible to beam files from one Pac Mate > to > > another or for that > > >> matter > > >> send them to a laptop or a PDA. I can have > > instant access to information > > >> in > > >> contracted Braille as long as the producer of > the > > file can beam it to me > > >> or > > >> put it on a flash drive. > > >> > > >> "I have learned by painful > experience > > that, if I want to be > > >> absolutely certain that I do not lose the data > I > > am working with, I must > > >> store it in internal flash. When storing > > information in main memory, one > > >> runs the risk of losing it when the PAC Mate > > crashes, which it does more > > >> frequently than I would like, or if it is > > necessary to perform a hard > > >> reset. > > >> Information can also be lost if the battery > gets > > too low. In theory, > > >> because > > >> the PAC Mate has an internal battery, one can > > wait up to seventy-two > > >> hours > > >> after the battery dies before recharging the > unit > > without losing data, > > >> but > > >> theory and reality are very different, and > users > > have learned the hard > > >> way > > >> not to let the battery lose its charge > > completely. > > >> > > >> "Freedom Scientific strongly > > recommends that one use Active > > >> Sync > > >> or Sprite Backup to be sure that data and > > settings are not lost. Sprite > > >> Backup involves saving data to a flash card, > and > > Active Sync enables a > > >> backup directly to a PC. > > >> > > >> "I very much like the fact that the > > Braille display can be > > >> detached from the PAC Mate. If I am having a > > problem with my display, I > > >> can > > >> return it for service without having to send > the > > Pac Mate back. Of course > > >> the reverse is true as well. If I am having a > > problem with the PAC Mate, > > >> I > > >> can use the display with my PC while the main > > unit is being repaired. I > > >> don't enjoy having to pay extra for Bluetooth > > cards, WiFi cards, and > > >> other > > >> peripherals, But again, if I have a faulty > card, > > I can replace it without > > >> having to send the entire unit in for service. > > >> > > >> "It does seem to me that the > > BrailleNote is most useful for > > >> those who do not need or want to connect to > other > > devices. The operating > > >> system is simple, and the learning curve is > easy. > > Freedom Scientific > > >> markets > > >> the Pac Mate by saying that, if you know JAWS > and > > if you know Windows, > > >> you > > >> know how to use the PAC Mate. Although I don't > > fully agree with that > > >> statement, knowing these programs certainly > > shortens the learning curve > > >> for > > >> new PAC Mate users, yet there is still a good > bit > > to master. > > >> > > >> "I do have two serious concerns > about > > the PAC Mate. The first > > >> is > > >> that Pocket Word is not as functional as it > could > > and should be. In fact > > >> it > > >> is really better to work in FSEdit, the > > word-processing program developed > > >> by > > >> Freedom Scientific. When told about problems > that > > crop up for users who > > >> are > > >> trying to edit files in Pocket Word, Freedom > > staff respond by saying that > > >> the problem is Microsoft's. The same response > > occurs when problems with > > >> other programs are mentioned. I believe that, > if > > a program has been > > >> installed on the PAC Mate by Freedom > Scientific, > > any problems that arise > > >> are > > >> its responsibility. This is especially true > > because Freedom promotes the > > >> PAC > > >> Mate by saying it works with Word and other > > programs it has not created. > > >> > > >> "It also advertises the PAC Mate as > a > > machine that can support > > >> many off-the-shelf programs and devices. > Freedom > > Scientific recommends a > > >> Web > > >> site called <www.pacmategear.com> as the place > to > > find and order > > >> up-to-date > > >> information about programs and devices that run > > on the PAC Mate--that is, > > >> until a problem develops. Then > > <www.pacmategear.com> is strictly > > >> unofficial. > > >> It seems to me that Freedom cannot expect to > have > > it both ways; either it > > >> advertises that the site carries programs and > > equipment that are > > >> compatible > > >> with the PAC Mate and Freedom supports and will > > trouble-shoot them, or > > >> the > > >> company should not try to expand the > > attractiveness of its product by > > >> nominally affiliating itself with programs and > > hardware it disavows when > > >> trouble strikes. > > >> > > >> "Another ongoing issue is the fact > > that Freedom announced its > > >> intent to release a global positioning system > > (GPS) program for the PAC > > >> Mate > > >> over a year ago and began accepting orders and > > payment for it. When > > >> pressed > > >> to divulge what is going on with the GPS, which > > is still not available, > > >> Freedom just says that it is waiting for > > Destonator, the publisher of the > > >> software platform for the GPS system, to make > the > > software changes > > >> necessary > > >> to run on the PAC Mate. The cynic in me > suspects > > that Freedom announced > > >> the > > >> GPS system in June of 2004 knowing that it > would > > not be ready for months > > >> but > > >> eager to stay competitive with the BrailleNote, > > which already had a > > >> functioning GPS system. All software producers > > exhibit unconstructive > > >> optimism about when new products will be > > available, but accepting orders > > >> and > > >> billing for the programs months or years ahead > of > > delivery strikes me as > > >> unfair. My advice to potential notetaker users > is > > to be sure that the > > >> products and features they find attractive and > > plan to order really are > > >> already available or will be so in the very > near > > future." > > >> > > >> There you have the thoughts and > > experiences of several > > >> BrailleNote and PAC Mate users. When all is > said > > and done, a number of > > >> notetaking devices are on the market. Cost will > > usually be a factor in > > >> deciding which one to purchase because many of > > these devices cost several > > >> thousand dollars. Potential buyers must > consider > > how they intend to use > > >> the > > >> notetaker in order to determine which features > > are necessities and which > > >> are > > >> just added bonuses. Visiting the Web sites of > > companies that build or > > >> sell > > >> notetaking devices can provide lots of > > information, like specs, prices, > > >> and > > >> features of different machines, but talking > with > > current users is always > > >> a > > >> great way to get sensible, useful information > > about the various models > > >> currently on the market. Remember also that the > > staff of the > > >> International > > >> Braille and Technology Center of the Jernigan > > Institute answer questions > > >> about notetakers every day. Their expertise and > > assistance are never more > > >> than a phone call or email away. > > >> > > >> In short, no electronic notetaker is > > right for everyone. If > > >> you > > >> are considering buying one of these little > > marvels, take the time to work > > >> with each device you are considering. Think > about > > how you will use the > > >> notetaker, and try using each to undertake the > > tasks you are likely to > > >> ask > > >> your notetaker to perform. You will not avoid > all > > the headaches in this > > >> way, > > >> but you will certainly cut down on them. > > >> > > >> (back > > <http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm05/bm0507/bm050709.htm> ) > > (next > > >> > <http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm05/bm0507/bm050711.htm> > > ) (contents > > >> > <http://www.nfb.org/bm/bm05/bm0507/bm0507tc.htm> > > ) > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.12/77 - > Release Date: 8/18/2005 > > > > > ____________________________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs