Re: The New DecTalk USB External Synthesizer

From: "Laura Eaves" <leaves1@carolina.rr.com>
To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." <speakup@braille.uwo.ca>
Subject: Re: The New DecTalk USB External Synthesizer
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2005 23:08:59 -0500	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <01f101c4fab7$f0f42db0$6601a8c0@geekspeak> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <00ce01c4faa7$53b4d960$6401a8c0@DJTWWQ41>

Hey, I don't mean to advertize, but I bought my new dectalk for $650 from 
jerry@chirpingbat.com (it is an introductory price, he says, and may go up 
eventually, but it is the same as the $695 model.)
Go to the chirpingbat.com site and see what else he's offering.  I bought a 
wireless keyboard, but in truth, I have gone back to a wired version for 
various reasons -- it does work, but I don't need that kind of range, and I 
live where there's interference, and also I don't like the idea of my 
passwords and stuff being picked up by the people next door -- not that 
they'd care, or know when or how to retrieve it, but since I know this thing 
transmits 30 feet (he has another one with a 100 foot range) I figure 
anything is possible...
Take care.
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John McCann" <lists@jamsite.us>
To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." <speakup@braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 9:10 PM
Subject: The New DecTalk USB External Synthesizer

Hi Ned:

Yes, indeed, the DecTalk has been resurrected in a sleeker, mmore up-to-date
iteration; supporting both USB and serial connections, which makes it fully
backwards compatible.

Prior to december 31, 2004, Innovation Rehabilitation Technologies, Inc., (I
R T I),  was offering it for $645. The current street price (on blind
street, <smile.), is $695.

I recently purchased one, and, while you can't use it in USB mode under
linux (at least not at the current time), it works fine under linux when
using the serial cable. Even when using it in serial mode (as you
necessarily will do when using linux), you will be able to use the USB cable
to provide power to the unit, which obviates the need to rely on the
user-replaceable standard 9-volt battery (which only gives you about an hour
anyway) or worse yet, the stereotypically obnoxious and cumbersome wall
wart.

For what it's worth, feel free to access my previous list post on this
subject, posted December 8th, 2004, 3:08 pm EDT.

John

Hi Laura,

So a brand new dec talk hardware synth is available from the company (DEC)
itself? How much money, if you don't mind?
I have identical problem. At school they are not sure how to deal with
accessible Linux for me so they were wondering do I have a laptop (I don't)
but I was eager to buy one if it is up to the task.
I'll be watching very closely answers on this one!

thanks for raising the question.
Ned

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