RE: Well folks, I tried!

From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:04:27 -0400
I agree; I no longer advise any new adaptive software purchaser to
purchase jaws.  My reasons, I believe, boil down to yours; that is, FS
is not a customer-friendly business. =20

Their technology is not that different than what is available
else-where, yet it is priced much higher.

And finally, I've found their tech support to be inadequate in resolving
a single problem that I have brought to them in the many years I've
owned jaws.

Being a software developer myself, I understand the need to make some
attempt to limit software piracy.  But I've seen many other schemes
which are, in my opinion, just as effective while being much more
customer friendly.

I'm stuck with what I have already invested in, but it doesn't mean that
misery loves company.



Chip Orange
Database Administrator
Florida Public Service Commission

Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(850) 413-6314

 =20

> -----Original Message-----
> From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=20
> [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jerry Neufeld
> Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 10:59 AM
> To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Cc: ericd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Well folks, I tried!
>=20
> Hello everyone.
>=20
> Some weeks ago, several persons posted messages to this list=20
> in which they complained, rather vocally, about the need for=20
> a new authorization, validation, call it what you like, each=20
> time they changed a bit of hardware in their computers. From=20
> the standpoint of general principles, this issue troubled me,=20
> especially since I, among many others on this list, like to=20
> experiment with different devices, always looking for the=20
> optimal machine.=20
> While I was entirely sympathetic with Freedom Scientific's=20
> desire to safeguard their software, I was not very excited,=20
> shall we say, by the possibility that, as had been claimed,=20
> each time I changed a floppy drive, a sound card or added=20
> memory, I would have to first check that I had a validation=20
> left to cover me, should the locking code extractor detect=20
> the change and force an update. As I suspected, neither=20
> people in sales nor technicians could shed any light at all=20
> on what Freedom was going to allow us to do and not to do.=20
> So, calling upon a couple of old friends, I contacted Sharon=20
> Spensor and Eric Damery to find out the real story, I having=20
> promised members of this list to convey what I learned once I=20
> had the information. Frankly, I suspected that the situation=20
> was much less dramatic than had been represented on this list=20
> and that I would be able to return here with substantive=20
> details that would place our minds at rest. Well folks, for=20
> reasons about which I can only speculate, it didn't happen,=20
> it simply didn't happen.
>=20
> Before I proceed further, even though Eric Damery has sent me=20
> nothing, contrary to his promise, I should forward a message=20
> from him to people on this list, something, it seems to me,=20
> he could easily have done himself. I am to say that anyone=20
> encountering difficulties with hardware changes and=20
> validation counts should get in contact with him.
>=20
> Friendly as both Sharon and Eric were, the latter claimed=20
> that revealing what could and could not be changed in terms=20
> of hardware peripherals would defeat the entire scheme,=20
> allowing hackers, as he put it, to devise means to acquire=20
> unauthorized versions of the software. I pointed out that,=20
> within months, enough of us who had tried different hardware=20
> configurations would have compiled a list of devices that=20
> could be substituted without new validations. Rather than=20
> forcing us to generate such a list, I said, why not create=20
> some good will and let users know what to expect. Although I=20
> did not say so, the specter of hackers seemed just a little=20
> paranoid and self-serving to me.
>=20
> What troubles me most about this issue is that, indirectly,=20
> Freedom Scientific is forcing us to seek a license before we=20
> make minor changes to our hardware, something that, in my=20
> view, is outrageously invasive and intolerable. Unlike=20
> several other listers, I have changed one sound card for=20
> another without the slightest problem. This may be true for=20
> numerous other internal devices as well, in which case we=20
> have a veritable tempest in a teapot. Eric tells me of his=20
> advice to FS customers that, prior to making any changes to=20
> their computers, they check to see if they have any=20
> validations left, in my language, any licenses by FS to make=20
> the change.
>=20
> I must confess to much disappointment in FS's official=20
> attitude on this topic, yet one more indication of the=20
> company's growing disregard for consumer opinion. If I=20
> discover that a change in minor devices or components like=20
> cd/dvd readers, floppy disk adaptors, memory and the like=20
> force me to go to FS for another validation, with much, much=20
> regret, I will give up my ability to program with the Jaws=20
> screen reader and go to Window Eyes. Prior to doing this,=20
> however, I am going to forward some of the messages on this=20
> list along with a strongly-worded letter to each member of=20
> FS's Board with the hope that someone there will show more=20
> wisdom than that now displayed by management.
>=20
> With much regret
>=20
>=20
>=20
> Jerry
> jerry.neufeld@xxxxxxxxxx
>=20
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>=20
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>=20
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Follow-Ups:
- RE: Well folks, I tried!
  - From: jim grimsby
RE: Well folks, I tried!

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