Ok. So how do you want to get this done: have the keys totally exposed but at the same time have them protected? And how would you do that? You can't. Exactly. And as for the price, if you haven't already heard, EP is a *small* company, so sorry if you find that things are too expensive. And if your a "poor student," don't buy it. Its kind of weird how people expect two things at once, which can't exactly be done. Tyler ----- Original Message ----- From: Grant Hardy To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2005 1:42 AM Subject: [bookport] Re: Getting a Case For BookPort Ok, here's the point. Imagine if I were selling you a CD. Your choice was to either have it given to you in your hands, no case, completely unprotected, or to have it snapped into an enormous plastic housing that would darn well protect the CD, but heck, when you wanted to use it, well good luck! Same with this: you either have the choice of the keys 100% exposed or have them rendered completely useless through the thick flap. And as for how much it's worth, that is a personal opinion I suppose, but I would be interested to find out how much a combination of x times y inches of leather costs, and I think it would be pretty clear to be under forty bucks. Add on a shipping fee and wow!! I guess what it comes down to is this. Do you think Office is expensive? Some will say yes, since all it really is is one individual "key" and a CD that unlocks the features. Others will say no way, since a lot of thought went into that. Before you ridicule me further, everyone, just think about this and make your own educated opinion based on the facts. I didn't want to say this much but I'm truly amazed at how simple criticism sparked a slue of angry complaints relating to my judgment and claims. I guess I'm not a millionaire. ----- Original Message ----- From: Scott Learned To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 6:52 PM Subject: [bookport] Re: Getting a Case For BookPort Hi Grant, I am not sure where you're geting your information from, but you really need to get your facts straight. I currently have in hand, a new in the package BP case, actually two of them. Nowhere do they mention a price of $5 or anything else for that matter. I know how much time and labor went into the making of this product, since I worked closely with Brian and Al to get the case from an idea that I had, to the finished product. The material used in the EPI case is made of high quality leather and the design is well thought out. The case also includes a handstrap and a shoulderstrap. First you were concerned that the keys were unprotected, then you came back and said that the flap got in your way. If you think about all of the cases that are designed for blind specific products, Trekker/Meistro, PAC Mate and the Braille Note family, all have flaps covering the keys. Actually, so do the mainstream PDA cases. Since I brought up mainstream cases, take a look at the average price of a nice leather PDA case. I found a number of them for $39.99. For a decent cellphone case you will pay about $25. Sizewise, I don't see where it is tiny as you mentioned. It is the same size as my Trekker case and bigger than my cell case. I'm so glad that Executive Products even took this idea into consideration, since the market isn't as big as many mainstream products. Most companies would have looked at the big dollar before starting such a project and probably would have turned it down. EPI still took the task of mmaking the case, not knowing the amount of BP's that were in circulation. I am grateful they did, and now my irreplaceable Book Port is well protected! They also have excellent customer service and as long as you have one of their products, they will take care of you. Grant, the $5 value that was written on the box sounds like they were doing a favor for you. Scott ----- Original Message ----- From: "Grant Hardy" <granthardy@xxxxxxxxx> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 2:49 PM Subject: [bookport] Re: Getting a Case For BookPort I think it depends on the material used to make the case, as well as the labour involved. I believe a sighted person read on the package that the BP case was around a $5 value. That's quite an extra chunk out of your pockets for the "profit". Like I said, I imagine Executive Products intends their merchandise to go to businesses, thus it doesn't really matter how much stuff costs--you can just write it off as business expenses. However, for individuals, wow--what a chunk out of your pocket for a tiny leather case. Anyway, just my opinion once again...and maybe it's only because I'm a poor student, smile. Grant ----- Original Message ----- From: Sarah Cranston To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 1:40 PM Subject: [bookport] Re: Getting a Case For BookPort I'm just curious, Grant, what would you consider to be an ideal price for a case designed specifically to hold the Book Port? -----Original Message----- From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Grant Hardy Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 3:37 PM To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bookport] Re: Getting a Case For BookPort Now come on, Walt, that's a bit harsh. My only point was that they do charge a rather excessive amount for the case--me being a poor student is hit hardest by this. As they're a company designed mainly for business-related goods, I suppose that their prices are as high as you would expect for a company that distributes products to businesses. But guys, like I already said, I'm not telling *anybody* not to buy the case. I personally think that using a generic case, or making one, would be cheaper and more practical. But the mark of a great product is one that receives both positive AND negative ratings. Grant ----- Original Message ----- From: Walt Smith To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 8:02 AM Subject: [bookport] Re: Getting a Case For BookPort Executive Products is not a large company. They produce their cases in lots of perhaps five or ten, not in the dozens or hundreds. They've been the only vendor willing to produce cases for many of our blind technology products. They're great people to do business with. Sorry you can't see the reality of the situation and think that you should be treated as though you were dealing with a huge multinational corporation with millions of customers. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Grant Hardy" <granthardy@xxxxxxxxx> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 6:39 PM Subject: [bookport] Re: Getting a Case For BookPort Well, to each his own, and I won't comment on this thread anymore. I should mention though that the "value" liste on the package for the case is *way* below the enormous price that you're paying for a small leather case. On a happier note, merry Christmas to everyone. And I'm sorry if you don't like my negative view here but I think every product, whether popular or unpopular, desserves both positive and negative ratings. That way you can make an informed decision about buying it based on user comments. I myself was extremely impressed upon reading reviews and when I first got the case, but I have begun to see the negative side of it, that's for sure. ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Cullen To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 3:11 PM Subject: [bookport] Getting a Case For BookPort Hi Everyone, I got my case yesterday. Its wonderful Its everything I could of hoped for. I had a little trouble at first trying to get the bookport into the case but once I did it it was easy. The case is well padded and Doesn't add much wheight to the bookport I would Recomend anyone getting one who is interested in protecting there bookports from damage. If you have questions or problems please feel free to email me at SCullen7@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sincerely, Steve Cullen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. 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