Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!382!60!Tommy.Craig From: Tommy.Craig@f60.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Tommy Craig) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: Notex Message-ID: <18555@bunker.isc-br.com> Date: 10 Apr 91 17:54:01 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com Reply-To: Tommy.Craig@f60.n382.z1.fidonet.org Organization: FidoNet node 1:382/60 - DATAQUEST, Austin TX Lines: 63 Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org Index Number: 14696 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] Sure the Notex comes in 2 models. The Notex 24 and the Notex 40. The number indicates the number of braille cells that the device has. It is a portable braille notetaker. It has 224k of memory that can store data. Unfortunately their is not a file management system in the unit. Memory is devided into 80 character lines and their are 2800 lines. The user can arrange chunks of memory in blocks. For example you can have 40 blocks with 70 lines each or you can have 70 blocks of 40 lines each. The combination are somewhat limited. I believe that there are about a dozen different memory configurations. You do have the ability to search for text within a block or the entire memory. This allows you to give a block a tittle and find the data your looking for. It is definately a workable system however, I would prefer a file system such as the Braille 'N Speak's. The unit weighs 6 pounds and is qpproximately 2 inches high, 8 inches front to back and 11 inches wide. It comes in a rather nice nylon carrying case with shoulder strap. I do a large part of my travel walking and i have carried the Notex for well over a mile and it was quite manageable. Anyone who has carried around a versabraille would love the size and weight of the Notex. I have found the braille display to be quiet good and reliable. I have had no problems with it at all. The company claims that you can run the unit for up to 16 hours on a 8 hour charge. I have not had this kind of luck. I think the battery life is more like 6 to 8 hours with the braille display turned on. There is a feature that allows you to turn off the display if you are only taking notes and don't need the display. This obviously would increase battery life considerably. Operation of the unit is quiet simple and installation of the pc-link software that is included is very simple. Using this software allows you to use th Notex as a screen reader and also lets you transfer files to and from Notex. You can also use the Notex with a modem. The screen reading functions are fairly good. It lacks some features of say the Navigator but then again Its primarily function is as a notetaker and not a screen access device. Controls. The Notex has the braille display approximately 1 inch from the front of the unit. Immediately behind the display the units height increases about half an inch. Just behined this rise are the function keys. There are 9 of these. From left to right they are: Read back, insert character, insert line, left space, shift key, right space, delete character, delete word and read forward. I think most of the names are self explanitory. The read forward and back keys move the display one display width either forward are back. Behind thes keys are the braille keyboard keys. It is an eight dot braille device and the dot 7 and 8 keys are offset slightly forward so as to be easily useable but also kind of out of the way if you only wish to use 6 dot braille. In the center of the braille keys are the four cursor keys. They are arranged in a cross configuration. The on off switch is on the back panel right side. Continueing across the back panel are the charger jack, 9 pin serial port and a reset button. The reset button requires the use of a stylus are other pointed to use. The Notex does not have a built in disk drive. I believe that the company plans to support a small battery powered disk drive in the future. The Notex also doesn't have a built in translator and I think it would benifit greatly form one. Otherwise I think the Notex is a good unit. It seems more reliable than the Versabraille and it is definately more portable. I of course think all the refreshable braille devices are greatly over priced but the Notex at $5800 for the 24 cell display and $7800 for the 40 cell display, is certainly competitive. I hope this gives you enough and not to much information. I'll be happy to answer any questions. Tommy -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!382!60!Tommy.Craig Internet: Tommy.Craig@f60.n382.z1.fidonet.org