[icon-discuss] the grass isn't always greener...
- From: "John Esak" <john@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "icond" <icon-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:56:52 -0400
Hello all,
Hey I just thought I would mention this. I bought the Humanware Victor
Streem reader at the NFB convention back in early July. I grilled the many
sales people there time and again about when it would be really released,
and what would actually be working on it when it *was* actually released. I
mean I went to their booth each and every day, and asked several different
attendents the same questions. The very first was does it do Audible books?
The answer was, "Absolutely! I badgered them further... you mean when I
receive it in September, it will let me download and play Audible encrypted
books. The answer again from each and every one of them, "Yes, absolutely!"
I went to the Levelstar booth, also over a period of a couple/three days to
ask questions about the Icon. Happily, I met Marc, who explained its
functions and took the time to show me most of them. When asked if it did
Audible, he said, no, but there are plans to have it do so. In fact, the
process for getting approved and so on is very nearly complete. I grilled
him (Sheesh, I must love grilling people, huh?). Okay, if it is near, when
will that be? Will it be September. He said, I can't promise that. Okay, I
plodded on, will it be October. He continued, thinking I was an idiot I'm
sure... I can't promise that either. Being the totally obnoxious and yes,
stupid person I am, I moved the date even further. Well, can you tell me it
will at least be by the first of the year? Marc very patiently said, "It is
a process, we are nearing the end of it. We have papers and forms and
contracts already in our possession. It is close to being a reality, but I
can not promise any particular date."
Coming out of my stupidity stupor, I realized that this was possibly the
first honest guy I had spoken to at the convention, and handed my credit
card to his brother, Matt, for processing. I can deal with straight answers.
It's all one ever hopes for from software and hardware vendors. It let's you
plan things better, even if the answers are not what you want to hear, being
able to project a clearer, more reliable path is always desirable. I took
the Icon home with me and I could not be more pleased to this day. I look
forward to Audible when it comes, and any and every improvement when they
come.
Now, how did I get the Humanware Stream? Simple, I went back over to their
table and bought it with the assurance that it would do Audible when I
received it. More over, the second question which was equally as important
to me. How was it on recording and playing back quick notes. The answer was
"It is spectacular." And, in fact, they proceded to show me the note
feature. It was pretty good.
All right, long story short. I get the thing yesterday. It looks beautiful
and I'm so happy that I will be able to get some Audible books on it. But
wait, what's this? On the CD is a readme.txt file. I open it up and find a
few notes for the 1.02 software (even though 1.03 is loaded on the device
itself. Audbile support is not quite ready and will be another month and a
half! But don't worry, it will be in another release. Also, there is a bug
in the recording application so only notes of 1 minute or less can be
recorded. But, don't worry, this will be fixed in an upcoming release. I
guess you could say I was pretty floored.
Now, in defense of Humanware, I can tell you, and you probably already know
that this is a great company. I have bought lots of their stuff and it is
usually always great. Their support is very good. I have no problems with
Humanware on the whole. In fact, I actually really like the company. But, in
this instance, they were, and are, handling things very badly. The days of
vaporware and saying your product is ready to go... when it isn't should be
long past us. Happily, and because they are the company they are, they took
back my return without hassle and will credit my card when they receive the
unit at their place. In the end, it's just a trivial inconvenience for me...
from their viewpoint that is.
I suppose I wanted to let everyone know that every company is struggling to
get features in place for their products, but some don't realize that giving
you reliable information is important, even if it isn't exactly what you
want to hear... like "We hope by next month..." or whatever. The one
approach is far better than the other.
John Esak
Other related posts:
