Re: Well folks, I tried!

From: "David Grossoehme" <davegross1@xxxxxxx>
To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 21:04:07 -0500
Jerry:  Don't forget to place in their minds that are new devices in the 
market all the time.  Another way that some of us will go is to the Apple 
Screen Reader.  It might force a change to a new machine, however, I've seen 
how they treat that customers.  It's to say that when a product is produced 
it tested in full.
Your Friend
Dave

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Neufeld" <jerry.neufeld@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <ericd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 9:59 AM
Subject: Well folks, I tried!


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

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References:
- Well folks, I tried!
  - From: Jerry Neufeld
Re: Well folks, I tried!

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