[Reader-users] trial

Tue Feb 19 03:20:09 CST 2008

Well, I still think the best equipment Freedom Scientific, once Blazie
Engineering ever made was the Milenium forty.  I still have it and it is
faster than my Pac mate.  But Pac Mate is more versatile.  It is nice to
have a backup, though.  You get so dependent on this stuff.

When I first saw a Braille Lite 18 (when I was working for an agency for the
blind) I returned it,   and telling them that I had my slate and stylus,
thank you very much.  So, I have been dragged kicking and screaming into the
computer age.  I really miss my great bit roladex I used when working for
another agency.  Never said, "Low battery".  There is something to be said
for braille writers and braille paper and good old dymo tape.

At the risk of sounding like a fossil, I don't think the next generation
appreciates the value of a slate and stylus.  They think technology will
solve everything.  I use it, but thankfully came up before it all was
invented.  I generally read books electronicly, but sometimes feel a bit of
nostalgia for braille volumes;  turning the pages, smelling the book.

Alco 

-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gary Wunder
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 5:18 PM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] trial

Wow, a dose of reality for sure. I remember the Optacon and the incredible
amount of time I put into learning it - and the amount of time my right arm
hurt from trying to move the camera slowly enough, and the rubbing of my
finger on my pants because it seemed to itch so much. At that time $5,000
was much more than it is now, and yes, some of us had mixed feelings when it
dropped to $3500 and then was discontinued.

Still, there was nothing neater than to be able to use my calculator along
with other students majoring in electronics technology - the only talking
calculator I knew of at the time was from TSI, did the basic four functions
- nothing scientific - and cost $400. My calculator was an HP 45 - I think
it cost about $325 but for a brief period of time it was the status symbol
for those who were in science. 
Then came the programmable calculators and mine suddenly went into the
briefcase - no longer something quite so showy but just as functional with
my optacon.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathleen A. Millhoff" <kamillhoff at gdoe.net>
To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list" 
<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 6:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] trial

> hi,
> i really understand your anxiety;
> i wonder why, however, blind people who are able to purchase new 
> technology,
> experience such angst about it all.
> yes, it's very expensive; yes, the turn-over/renewal rate is rapid; yes, 
> the
> ability to learn new technology is somewhat reliant on individual 
> ability -
> but this is true for the  sighted population; it's true for speech 
> impaired
> folks who rely on technology to communicate; it's true for the DHH 
> community
> who are caught up in the vicious fighting about lip reading versus sign,
> versus (which language to use)/hearing aid or choclear implant - and so on
> and so on.
> (and no doubt I've misrepresented someone's perspective here)
> I'd love to have the knfb reader, the cellular device and
> I'm thinking this list isn't so much for the airing of every grievance 
> about
> what a product does, but exploring ways for it to improve - if not now, 
> then
> soon.
> I recently had the opportunity to re-examine Jaws 3.50; no doubt, someone 
> is
> still happily using it; I was shocked, however at its lack of response to 
> so
> many things.
> I was overjoyed to have it at the time, however.
> When the optacon came out, it seemed troublesome, and certainly limiting -
> you couldn't eat your ice cream cone while reading. Today, though much 
> loved
> still my many of us, the optacon is obsolete.
> That's life.
> They come; they go. for some they work, for others they don't.
> if the equipment isn't to your liking, purchase another;
> i can't afford a new Kurzweil reader for my desktop at home, but somehow 
> my
> husband made my ancient Jaws 4.50 work with our scanner and some other
> program to read things.
> I'm saying here, many options are available to us; but looking at the 
> newest
> and best, I doubt we will be having this discussion for much longer;
> something else will have come along while the debate goes on.
>
> best,
> kat
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org]On Behalf Of william lomas
> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 8:41 PM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
> Subject: [Reader-users] trial
>
>
> hi, why cant we get a 30 day trial of the reader before purchase
> this seems reasonable if you ask me, as then if we dont want the
> reader at least we get to try it out as it is on a phone and can just
> have a license that is expiring after a certain amount of days
>
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