Hello,
Yeah I’m not happy about the new pricing either. What I was told by a Freedom
Scientific employee is that if you renewed your SMA this year, you will get the
current pricing of $200 for Pro or $120 for home. This covers through 2021, but
after version 2021, I would have to pay $300 each year for pro license. I also
now must pay $800 per year for my PMA for my Focus 80 blue. If it comes down to
it, I’d rather keep my JAWS license active. I’m not saying NVDA is not a good
screenreader (it definitely is), but my issue is that they make the number pad
function for kbjest navigation instead of traditional navigation like JAWS
does. There’s no easy way to change it except either chang all the keystrokes
or create a file with the new gestures in your AppData folder which is a pain
since the changes don’t stay in effect when you reboot. If NVDA would put a
setting in keyboard settings giving users the bility 6o switch between object
navigation and traditional navigation like JAWS uses, I would consider using
NVDA full time.
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 15, 2018, at 10:13 AM, Kimberly Starrett <kstarrett5@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I had a similar reaction when I looked over the new pricing structure. Maybe
it was a misunderstanding on my part, but I thought FS was changing things up
in an effort to make jaws more affordable and available to more blind people.
But what I see here is just the opposite. Very disappointing but perhaps not
so surprising since FS is in business to make money after all.
Sent from Kimber's iPhone
The happy ending still beckons, and it is in the hope of grasping it that we
go on.—Annie Proulx
On Dec 15, 2018, at 10:01 AM, David Goldfield <david.goldfield@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi, Robin.
It's a good question. I think it's safe to assume that the SMA still
provides the next two major updates since the press release doesn't mention
any changes to what you can expect to receive by purchasing an SMA at the
newer, more expensive price. The announcement documents several changes and
it would likely indicate a change to what the SMA provides if FS intended to
make such a change. What I'd like a definitive answer to is why these prices
are actually increasing. On one hand, FS has taken several steps to make
JAWS and some of their other software more affordable for more people. This
includes payment plans for students through APH, providing a free one-year
license when purchasing a computer from Computers for the Blind, offering
their software and SMAs at national blindness conventions at home use
prices, home edition licensing as a subscription, etc. It also seems that
software, in general, tends to decrease in price over time. Yet they are
increasing the cost of what they and others call a perpetual license,
meaning that you pay for one copy in full and it runs for as long as you
need it, as well as increasing the cost of the SMA. Those who will be hit
the hardest are the JAWS Professional users, including large companies who
have purchased licenses for many users or even site or district licenses,
such as schools and other large campuses. People who are anti-Freedom
Scientific may be tempted to just accuse them of all-out greed in a
knee-jerk reaction but I don't think the answer is that simple. Is this a
way of attempting to recoup some of the short-term costs which might have
been lost as a result of annual home license sales? Is more time and
research needed to ensure compatibility with newer versions of Windows 10
along with apps such as Edge, Office 365 and Office 2019? Has FS noticed a
decline in sales, possibly due to NVDA continuing to advance with features?
Is research being conducted to push JAWS beyond the boundaries of
traditional Windows machines into something newer? We may never really know
but it would be at least courteous if FS could make a formal statement on
their reasoning behind these changes. It's possible that this issue was
addressed during the December 13 FS Open Line, which is their new monthly
call-in program. I missed the episode but it should be made available soon
on the next episode of their FSCast podcast.
David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.David-Goldfield.Com
On 12/15/2018 1:06 AM, Robin Frost wrote:
Hi,
Firstly my apologies for the subject change but my email program yelled at
me as the re: designation took it past the 255 character count oopsey
(laughs).
Maybe I’m stuck on slow but it’s unclear to me from reading this if the SMA
upgrade of $150 still gets you two versions or just one? Does anyone know
definitively?
Robin
From: David Goldfield
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2018 9:46 PM
To: blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-philly-comp] Freedom Scientific Announces Changes to US
Pricing and Software Delivery Options,Annual Licenses under $100 for Home
Users of JAWS and ZoomText in the US, electronic delivery of licenses 24/7,
and new prices for traditional licenses, upgrades, and SMAs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Eric Damery
800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000
www.FreedomScientific.com
Sales: info@xxxxxxxxxxx
Freedom Scientific Announces Changes to US Pricing and Software Delivery
Options
Annual Licenses under $100 for Home Users of JAWS and ZoomText in the US,
electronic delivery of licenses 24/7, and new prices for traditional
licenses, upgrades, and SMAs
(Clearwater, Florida - December 10, 2018)
Freedom Scientific today announced changes that have been implemented so
all software licenses purchased are delivered to customers electronically,
along with instructions on how to download and install. PDF versions of the
user documentation is available to download and print, or can be purchased
for delivery in print and Braille directly from our online store for a
nominal fee.
New Software License Options for US-only available now
New Home Annual Licenses of JAWS and ZoomText are available for purchase
via online sales only in one, three, or five year terms. Prices are as
follows:
JAWS - $90 per year
ZoomText Mag/Reader - $80 per year
Perpetual License Price Changes for US as of January 1, 2019
Product License SMA/Upgrade (per version)
JAWS Professional $1200 $300
JAWS Home $1000 $150
ZoomText Magnifier/Reader $700 $175
ZoomText Magnifier $500 $125
Fusion Professional $1700 $400
Fusion Home $1400 $270
*Upgrades and SMAs available for all perpetual licenses, call for pricing
All sales and quotes prior to end of year 2018 will be at current price
levels
All software sales continue to include free phone and email support
Coming Early in 2019
Details will be announced soon on new Student Annual Licenses of JAWS and
ZoomText, offered FREE to students attending most Higher Education
Institutions in the United States.
About Freedom Scientific
Freedom Scientific is a leading worldwide brand of assistive technology
products for those with vision impairments. Freedom Scientific is part of
Vispero™. Vispero has its headquarters in the USA and the Netherlands, and
offices in Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Through Vispero's multi-tier distribution, Freedom Scientific products are
available in more than 70 countries worldwide.
Freedom Scientific® and its products are registered trademarks in the
United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and
products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
--
David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.David-Goldfield.Com
