Harvey,

Your question reminds me of the Pacmate discussion we had here a few weeks
ago.  Products themselves usually can't be judged whether they are good or
bad.  A particular product needs to be judged with all the other options
available to realize if it is a spectacular solution for a given person's
need.

the big feature of these products is that they offer portability in
refreshable Braille.  if one is not a Braille reader or can live without it
while away from home or the office, then a laptop is a far less expensive
mobile computing solution.  From our pacmate discussion, it was determined
that four laptops with wireless Internet access could be purchased for the
least expensive packMate, which did not offer a Braille display and had
speech output.  I would not be surprised if the ratio were similar with
these products.

of course, if one had a blank check from Uncle Sugar, then of course buy the
world.

Kelly

----- Original Message -----
From: "Harvey Boots" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 5:44 PM
Subject: HumanWare Launches BrailleNote mPower


> Sounds like the BrailleNote MPower and VoiceNote MPower might be good
> products. Was wondering what others think about it.
>
> Harvey
>
>
> ---- Original Message ------
> From: HumanWare <[log in to unmask]
> Subject: HumanWare Launches BrailleNote mPower
> Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 13:52:41 -0700
>
> HUMANWARE LAUNCHES BRAILLENOTE MPOWER,
> THE NEXT GENERATION INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE BLIND
>
> Concord, California - June 27, 2005
>
> HumanWare, the world leader in information technology for the blind and
> visually impaired, today announced the BrailleNote mPower, the next
> generation information management system for the blind.
>
> "Blind people need state-of-the-art connectivity to compete successfully
> in a sighted world.  BrailleNote mPower provides the functionality,
> portability and ease-of-use required by today's blind students and
> professionals," says Jim Halliday, President Emeritus of HumanWare North
> America, based in Concord, California.
>
> Building on the success of the original BrailleNote line of products,
> BrailleNote mPower offers many new features and a new look.
>
> Key new features in BrailleNote mPower include:
>
> - expanded on-board storage to 128 MB,
> - two USB host ports and a USB client port,
> - great quality stereo sound when listening through headphones,
> - support for listening to internet radio,
> - an audio recorder with either an external microphone or a built-in
> microphone with fully adjustable recording levels,
> - built-in Bluetooth for connections with cell phones, keyboards and other
> computers, and,
> - a fast Intel X-scale processor.
>
> "Many thousands of people use our existing BrailleNote products in all
> walks of life, from astrophysics to writing an academic essay, from
> writing a nation's constitutional court rulings to taking minutes at a
> school board meeting," says HumanWare's BrailleNote Product Marketing
> Manager, Jonathan Mosen.
>
> "The one thing all these people have in common is that their BrailleNote
> product empowers them to succeed on equal terms in all walks of life.  The
> BrailleNote mPower opens even more opportunities for blind people around
> the world to manage information and media efficiently, no matter where
> they are," Mosen says.
>
> BrailleNote mPower offers a powerful suite of applications, operating with
> Microsoft Windows CE, but written to be used optimally by blind people.  A
> Braille display takes the place of the screen on a regular PDA.
> Information can also be read out loud using synthesized speech.  Models
> offering Braille or QWERTY input are available, as well as a speech-only
> output version, known as VoiceNote mPower.
>
> "As a blind person myself, I'm enjoying the freedom of being able to do my
> e-mail at a wireless hotspot, or even make a Bluetooth connection with my
> cell phone in the back of a taxi, and all using an interface that
> maximizes my efficiency," Jonathan Mosen says.
>
> "And thanks to BrailleNote mPower, I'm taking fewer devices with me on the
> road, since the incredible stereo sound and streaming media support means
> it's my entertainment as well as information source".
>
> BrailleNote mPower and VoiceNote mPower models can be ordered through
> HumanWare sales outlets with shipment expected in mid-July.  Seminars on
> the products are being held throughout the United States.  For more
> information, check: www.humanware.com or call 800-433-8317 for more
> information.
>
>
> About HumanWare
>
> Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, HumanWare designs and manufactures
> innovative technology for people who are blind and visually impaired.
> Formed in 1988, and formerly known as Pulse Data International, HumanWare
> exports approximately 98% of its products worldwide to more than 30
> countries. In January 2005, Pulse Data and Visuaide of Canada merged to
> form HumanWare, one of the world's largest companies in the blindness and
> low vision industries. Sales offices have been established in the United
> States, United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, The Netherlands, Australia and New
> Zealand and the company supports a strong distribution network throughout
> North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
>
> HumanWare
> 175 Mason Circle
> Concord CA 94520
> 800.722.3393
> www.humanware.com
>
>
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>


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