Here is a short review of some of the
Netbooks we have used with our PALS here in Virginia.
The earlier model, ASUS EEE 701, did
okay. Some PALS have noted that the trackpad’s buttons are hard
to depress. This
keyboard is also considerably small compared to the new models available
today.
We have recently received and issued a
Dell Mini. It has a very compact design, almost to compact when you
consider
that they imbedded the functions keys requiring a FN key to be depressed
for
the Hot Keys in Etriloquist. This integration does appear to increase
the size
of the keyboard keys. Sticky Keys accessibility features does not
include a FN
(function key), so I haven’t figured out yet how to afford a latching
key for
the FN key.
The Acer One looks good out of the
box. No
patient reviews yet for this.
Regarding software, we include AVG for
antivirus, in addition to Etriloquist, Click-N-Type, and
Skype.
Thanks,
_A
Alex P. Kurth
Assistive Technology
Specialist
ALS Association - DC/MD/VA
Chapter
Virginia Regional
Office:
2807 N. Parham
Road,
Suite 101,
Richmond,
VA
23294
804-836-1750, Ext. 103 or (Toll Free)
1-866-348-3257
Fax: 804-836-1751
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.ALSinfo.org
Chapter
Administrative Headquarters:
7507 Standish
Place, Rockville, MD 20855
866-348-3257 toll free
Join us for ALS Awareness
Day events in Virginia
and Maryland this year, in Richmond
on January 27 and in Annapolis
on March 3. For information on Virginia
activities, contact Cathy Easter
(xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx); for Maryland,
Christine Kirkley (xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx).
From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology] Netbooks
Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:22:20 -0600
I was able to purchase our netbooks from newegg.com for
$299.99 with free shipping. I chose the Acer Aspire One AOA150-1570
Sapphire
Blue Intel Atom N270(1.60GHz) 8.9" WSVGA 1GB Memory 120GB HDD Netbook,
partially because it is a different color (BLUE) and can easily be
identified
as a little different. They come with a small carrying bag, but I’m
not sure of
its quality. I also purchased the $40 USB portable and flexible speakers
from
amazon.com. We will install Click n Type, Skeleton Keys, Etriloquist and
Skype,
Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox on them, and supply a Swifty ($80 from
orin.com) for switch access scanning. Since these will be available as loan
devices, I intend to set it up to require an administrator’s password
to be
able to install new programs so that we are able to control the programs
that
are on them. We ordered 6 for a total cost of around $2600.! I’m
looking
forward to trying them out! J
Joy
Meachum
Patient Services
Coordinator
The ALS
Association,
St.
Louis Regional Chapter
Central
Illinois
Service Area
(888) 873-8539
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx
The information transmitted (including
attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18
U.S.C.
2510-2521, is intended only for the person(s) or entity/entities to which
it is
addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any
review,
retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in
reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the
intended
recipient(s) is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact
the
sender and delete the material from any computer.
From:
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Amy Roman
Sent: Thursday, February 12,
2009
3:58 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Assistive
Technology]
Netbooks
Thanks for the netbook discussion that motivated
me
to order one today for our Bay Area ALSA demo/loan center. For
Trish and others who may be wondering about prices, I have them listed
below
from my order. It all came to 429.00 including tax. Good
price
considering that portable speech generating devices are over 4K. Two
of
my clients with ALS are ordering Netbooks after trials with portable
devices.
Both of these clients usually carry a laptop around anyway and they did
not
want to carry two devices. I guess we all just wait and see what
the
outcomes are. I hope people will share the pluses and minuses their
clients
experience using netbooks.
I thought your suggestions for software
were
great. You asked about any additional software
recommendations. I might add ShortKeys Lite http://shortkeys.com/lite.htm which
is a free abbreviation expansion software that you can use with
Etrilloquist. Also I might suggest going to NextUp.com for a good
quality voice for about $35.00. Thanks again and I
have
the prices listed below.
Acer
Aspire One AOA150-1505
8.9-Inch Netbook
(1.6 GHz Intel
Atom
N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, XP Home, 6
Cell
Battery)
$329.99
Burnoaa
Mini-Notebook Premium Memory Foam Pouch Case with Front
Pocket
$22.92
Laptop
Speakers -
USB, Portable, Compact, Travel Speaker for PC and Mac - B-Flex 2 Hi-Fi
Stereo
USB Speaker (White)"
$39.95
OR
"Genius SP--i200U USB
Portable
Digital
Speakers
for notebooks- Black"
$23.
Sincerely,
Amy Roman, MS, CCC-SLP
Augmentative Communication Specialist
Forbes
Norris ALS
Research Center
2324 Sacramento
Street
San Francisco,
CA 94115
P (415)600-1263
F (415)673-5184
CONFIDENTIAL OR PRIVILEGED: This communication contains information
intended only for the use of the individuals to whom it is addressed
and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or exempt
from
other disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended
recipient, you are notified that any disclosure, printing, copying,
distribution or use of the contents is prohibited. If you have
received this in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone
or
by returning it by reply email and then permanently deleting the
communicationfrom your system.
Thank you.
--- On Tue, 2/10/09, Antoinette Verdone
<xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
From: Antoinette
Verdone
<xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Assistive Technology] Netbooks
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 7:35 AM
I wanted to share with you my experience with the
netbooks.
We just purchased two systems. I purchased a usb
speaker that works well and I also got a carrying case that I think is
good.
See attached pictures.
I got everything from
Amazon.com
The speakers are:
Genius SP-i200U USB Portable Digital Speakers for
notebooks- Black
The case is:
Acer Aspire One 8.9" Mini-Notebook Premium Memory
Foam Pouch Case - (Black)
I just saw they have one with a front pocket, which
would
be even better:
Burnoaa
Mini-Notebook Premium Memory Foam Pouch Case with Front Pocket -
(Black)
I installed Etriloquist, Click-n-Type, Skype, Dasher,
and
Mozilla Firefox.
Are you guys recommending any other
software?
No users yet, but I will report back if I get any
feedback.
Antoinette Verdone, MSBME,
ATP
Assistive Technology
Specialist
The ALS Association, Greater New York
Chapter
NEW
ADDRESS:
42 Broadway, Suite
1724
New
York,
NY 10004
Fax: 212-619-7409
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx
www.als-ny.org
"One cannot consent to creep when one has the
impulse
to soar" -- Helen Keller
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