The BrailleNote and VoiceNote Apex are the latest models of the long-standing BrailleNote line of notetakers. They are based on a system of applications known as “KeySoft,” which have their own rich history in the market and are very popular and well-known devices. The BrailleNote line is a fairly long-standing and regularly updated product line, which gives it both advantages and disadvantages in comparison with other products in the market.
First let’s look at the good points. KeySoft and the BrailleNote have been around for a while, so they are well known and widely used in the community. If you have a problem, it is a distinct possibility that you can find another user who can help you, before you ever have to go to tech support. In the same way the onboard help system and other documentation is well written and logical. It has had a lot of time to mature, so there aren’t many surprises in the way the system is laid out. Another advantage of this device is that in the world of notetakers it is the simplest to learn and use for many consumers because of the very comprehensive context-sensitive help available at any point in this suite of programs. Furthermore, its functions are extremely consistent. Things work the same way from one program to the next with quite reliable functionality, which cannot always be said for the competition. It’s very popular in schools for a number of reasons, but one of the greatest is this consistency in its layout and functionality as well as its sheer longevity in the marketplace.
One of the BrailleNote’s standout features, which may not be recognized for its brilliance at first, is the book reader application. It allows a user to open a file for review and know that he or she won’t damage it. It almost always remembers the user’s place, and it allows a user to set options for reading the file that will stay with that file whenever it is opened in that application. It is that simple, which may not sound like much, but for serious readers or those who are often interrupted in their reading, it’s very convenient, and it’s pleasant to know that you will not come back to see surprises in your file because of unintentional key presses. The book reader is also the application used for reading DAISY books, and it allows a user to bookmark and even leave text notes in the book for later perusal. These features are useful for anyone, but students or others who are studying material for later examination will find it extremely useful.
The hardware is fairly competitive since it offers much of what users would expect in a modern mobile device. Wireless, Bluetooth, and compatibility with a fairly large number of third-party peripherals (keyboards, monitors for visual use, and storage cards) make it a fairly flexible device in spite of the fact that this class of devices is limited by its hardware and software.
Another feature which may be of interest to some users is that the BrailleNote offers a game application that allows users to play text-adventure games. It’s not strictly necessary, but games are certainly a nice touch, especially since notetakers are often used as much for entertainment as for educational or vocational pursuits.
Having looked at the advantages of the BrailleNote family of devices, it is time to turn our attention to some of the less positive aspects of the device. First, though the consistency of the brand is mostly positive, in one area it is less so. The BrailleNote devices are all the same shape and size. Therefore, if all you have is a BrailleNote 18, or even a VoiceNote, it will weigh nearly as much and be just as large as a 32-cell notetaker. A number of people are interested in the pocket-sized notetaker, but HumanWare does not offer anything to suit such a user. Another area where consistency can work against a BrailleNote user is that occasionally the global exit and help commands can override commands intended for the host device when the BrailleNote is being used as a Braille display. This is especially apparent in iOS devices. Next, the BrailleNote is not able to open .DOCX files. Since programs that create these files have been around for five years now, this is becoming an increasing problem for BrailleNote users. Finally, an important point to consider when purchasing a BrailleNote is the fact that as of now HumanWare is the only company still charging for software upgrades for its notetakers. This may change as the landscape shifts, but for now it is an important factor to consider. Having said this, students who need access to NIMAS files, those who wish to take notes on DAISY material, or those who have been using a BrailleNote product for a long time and who are happy with the features and functionality provided by the device will find the BrailleNote Apex a strong competitor for consideration as a new notetaker.