When my mPower is in use I fold the case back on itself so that it is between the machine and my body. This prevents it hanging down too low. The plastic bag works well as a cover in the rain. Steve ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barbara Siple" <bsiple@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 4:39 PM Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: introducing myself Hello Andrew: I offer one more opinion regarding the following questions you posed: 1. How easy is it to use the MPower while you are walking around? do you use earphones or an external speaker or just read the braille display? I have not used ear phones or ear buds and am able to hear the commands well. 2. do you have to stop walking to enter commands? I have only used the GPS system for about one month, but I have found I must stop to enter commands or use the keyboard. This is sometimes awkward and interrupts travel, but again, I am a new user. 3. is it difficult or uncomfortable having the MPower case open while using gps? When I walk with the Mpower hanging from my right shoulder, people passing by have often remarked that my case is open. When it hangs open from the case, it may look like you are ready to lose your stuff. I see Sendero just came out with a new carrying case, which may address this problem. I am looking into purchasing the new case, but because I just bought the system, it seems a shame to spend another 60 bucks after spending thousands already. 4. If you don't carry it in it's case, how do you carry it? I have experimented with carrying it in my backpack. It is not plausible because you can't reach the keyboard. 5. If you are walking with GPS especially in a location where you don't travel regularly or have travelled their for the first time and you need to rely on the gps to get you from point A to point B, what do you do if it rains unexpectedly? this is a problem! I agree that a GPS system should be as compact as possible, but so far I have enjoyed using the system while walking and in our car. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew Head" <athead@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: "GPS list" <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 4:21 AM Subject: [gps-talkusers] introducing myself > Hi all, > My name is Andrew Head. I am from Australia and have only recently joined > this list. > I am currently completing year 12 in high school. > I am beginning to learn to independently travel and I am thinking about > purchasing either BrailleNote gps or Trekker GPS. > I already have a brailleNote MPower BT, with an 18 cell braille display, so > if I decided to buy that, it would be cheaper and also having used the test > drive version gives me an advantage. On the other hand, trekker gps is > smaller and more portable. > I am just wondering if any people who use gps with an MPower can answer the > following questions. > > 1. How easy is it to use the MPower while you are walking around? do you use > earphones or an external speaker or just read the braille display? > > 2. do you have to stop walking to enter commands? > > 3. is it difficult or uncomfortable having the MPower case open while using > gps? > > 4. If you don't carry it in it's case, how do you carry it? > > 5. If you are walking with GPS especially in a location where you don't > travel regularly or have travelled their for the first time and you need to > rely on the gps to get you from point A to point B, what do you do if it > rains unexpectedly? > > Any information anyone can give me is greatly appreciated. > from Andrew > > >