[Reader-users] PDA Hardware

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Thu Jun 28 15:28:00 CDT 2007


While you are correct in theory, in fact, we are dealing with a target 
audience that is, in general, not always as sophisticated as are those 
who use high-end cellular telephones. I tell you that they would expect 
tech support. You can count on it. And you have knowingly voided your 
warranty. That's OK but Ye Average Blinde Citizen would not take kindly 
to this.

But I fear that you are not convinceable on the subject so I will let it 
go at that.

Mike

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kevin Jones
  To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
  Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 11:07 PM
  Subject: Re: [Reader-users] PDA Hardware


  the NFb did not invent the PDA the NFB should not be held responsible
  for supporting the PDAwhen in windows mode outside of being a reader.
  besides windows mobile is so eubiguitous that it's easy to get support
  for wm PDAS anyway.
  Mobile speak pocket and HAL are good screen readers and more blind
  people are using them every day. Code Factory doesn't   have to tell
  users how to make a phone call on their pocket pc they do support when
  the operations of mobile speak pocket effect how the PDA is used.
  There are more users who would benefit a full PDA than might be 
thought.
  You could openly say that the PDA will not be supported outside of 
being
  a reader.
  It is implied in the manual that separating the pda from the camera 
may
  cause unfavorable results, but I have already done so having made a
  cable to keep the 2 connected when physically separated, it lets me 
use
  the camera on a tripod very nicely.
  I understand why the thought may be to keep the device overly simple 
to
  avoid extra tech support, but it's also limiting the device in several
  major ways.



  Mike Freeman wrote:
  > I strongly disagree with the below. It makes little sense to use the 
regular PDA functions as NFB would have to provide tech support for 
applications on the regular PDA and it's tough enough to provide tech 
support using the Reader itself. we (NFB) only have limited resources 
and I'd rather we put all our work into Reader enhancements without 
having to worry about interactions with other PDA functions.
  >
  > Mike
  >
  > ----- Original Message -----
  > From:
  > mailto:joeleah at iquest.net joeleah at iquest.net
  > To:
  > mailto:reader-users at nfbnet.org reader-users at nfbnet.org
  > Sent:
  > Wednesday, June 27, 2007 12:55 PM
  > Subject:
  > [Reader-users] PDA Hardware
  > I don't yet own the KNFB Reader, so didn't know which PDA it was 
using.  I read
  > the CPU speed and was aware that it is at the top end of the current 
offerings.
  > Certainly there are many factors involved in choosing hardware for 
such a
  > device, but as a programmer, I know that memory is one of the 
significant
  > ones.  In this case, I also suspect that the design of controls, 
etc. is major
  > because unless there was a commercial unit close enough to be 
adapted, a custom
  > unit would be required, and that would be even more costly.
  > I too think the reader should be modified to offer the option of 
access to the
  > PDA functions.  Although that adds complexity, it would certainly 
give
  > customers a better overall investment and put even more power in 
their hands
  > without having to consider two PDA's to carry out what one should be 
able to
  > handle.
  > I appreciate the work being done on the KNFB thus far so I don't 
want to sound
  > negative.  However, this technology becomes costly and it only makes 
sense to
  > fully utilize our devices.
  > _______________________________________________
  > Reader-users mailing list
  > mailto:Reader-users at nfbnet.org Reader-users at nfbnet.org
  > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users 
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users
  >
  >
  >
  > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >
  > _______________________________________________
  > Reader-users mailing list
  > Reader-users at nfbnet.org
  > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users
  _______________________________________________
  Reader-users mailing list
  Reader-users at nfbnet.org
  http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users
-------------- next part --------------
While you are correct in theory, in fact, we are dealing with a target audience that is, in general, not always as sophisticated as are those who use high-end cellular telephones. I tell you that they would expect tech support. You can count on it. And you have knowingly voided your warranty. That's OK but Ye Average Blinde Citizen would not take kindly to this.
 
But I fear that you are not convinceable on the subject so I will let it go at that.
 
Mike
 
----- Original Message -----
From:
mailto:kevin at kevinrj.net Kevin Jones
To:
mailto:reader-users at nfbnet.org Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
Sent:
Wednesday, June 27, 2007 11:07 PM
Subject:
Re: [Reader-users] PDA Hardware
the NFb did not invent the PDA the NFB should not be held responsible
for supporting the PDAwhen in windows mode outside of being a reader.
besides windows mobile is so eubiguitous that it's easy to get support
for wm PDAS anyway.
Mobile speak pocket and HAL are good screen readers and more blind
people are using them every day. Code Factory doesn't   have to tell
users how to make a phone call on their pocket pc they do support when
the operations of mobile speak pocket effect how the PDA is used.
There are more users who would benefit a full PDA than might be thought.
You could openly say that the PDA will not be supported outside of being
a reader.
It is implied in the manual that separating the pda from the camera may
cause unfavorable results, but I have already done so having made a
cable to keep the 2 connected when physically separated, it lets me use
the camera on a tripod very nicely.
I understand why the thought may be to keep the device overly simple to
avoid extra tech support, but it's also limiting the device in several
major ways.
Mike Freeman wrote:
> I strongly disagree with the below. It makes little sense to use the regular PDA functions as NFB would have to provide tech support for applications on the regular PDA and it's tough enough to provide tech support using the Reader itself. we (NFB) only have limited resources and I'd rather we put all our work into Reader enhancements without having to worry about interactions with other PDA functions.
> 
> Mike
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> mailto:joeleah at iquest.net mailto:joeleah at iquest.net
mailto:joeleah at iquest.net joeleah at iquest.net
> To:
> mailto:reader-users at nfbnet.org mailto:reader-users at nfbnet.org
mailto:reader-users at nfbnet.org reader-users at nfbnet.org
> Sent:
> Wednesday, June 27, 2007 12:55 PM
> Subject:
> [Reader-users] PDA Hardware
> I don't yet own the KNFB Reader, so didn't know which PDA it was using.  I read
> the CPU speed and was aware that it is at the top end of the current offerings.
> Certainly there are many factors involved in choosing hardware for such a
> device, but as a programmer, I know that memory is one of the significant
> ones.  In this case, I also suspect that the design of controls, etc. is major
> because unless there was a commercial unit close enough to be adapted, a custom
> unit would be required, and that would be even more costly.
> I too think the reader should be modified to offer the option of access to the
> PDA functions.  Although that adds complexity, it would certainly give
> customers a better overall investment and put even more power in their hands
> without having to consider two PDA's to carry out what one should be able to
> handle.
> I appreciate the work being done on the KNFB thus far so I don't want to sound
> negative.  However, this technology becomes costly and it only makes sense to
> fully utilize our devices.
> _______________________________________________
> Reader-users mailing list
> mailto:Reader-users at nfbnet.org mailto:Reader-users at nfbnet.org
mailto:Reader-users at nfbnet.org Reader-users at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Reader-users mailing list
> mailto:Reader-users at nfbnet.org Reader-users at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users
_______________________________________________
Reader-users mailing list
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