[gui-talk] [nfbcs] save Serotek

Wed May 23 13:02:06 CDT 2007

Sherry,
Yet another greenlight for Window-eyes.  Just for curiousity sake, I 
download new JAWS demos since I used to use JAWS ions ago when 2X and 
Win95 were the norm.  Compared to Window-eyes, I personally find JAWS 
web navigation extremely confusing.  Conversely, I've used WE since 2.! 
and find its MSAA extremely simple.  Example with WE, x and SHFT-X reads 
next and previous line of a web page respectively, V and SHFT-V for 
reading only visited links, etc.  Just my 2% worth, actually throw in 3% 
for inflation.

Bob

Baracco, Andrew W wrote:
> Hi Sherri,
>
> You should give consideration to switching to Window Eyes.  They have a
> new payment plan where you can pay $39 per month for, I think, 30
> months, and end up with a registered full copy of Window Eyes and an
> SMA. Then you will know true freedom.
>
> Andy
>  
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Sherri
> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 7:45 PM
> To: NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [gui-talk] [nfbcs] save Serotek
>
> I fully agree that there should be competition. Most of us use Jaws
> because that is what the state rehab organizations are willing to
> purchase. I am actually very much disturbed that I continue to pay for
> SMAs and yet end up going back to previous versions of Jaws that worked
> better. Serotek is a good company and provides innovative products.
> Freedom Scientific just keeps getting bigger and bigger and less and
> less responsive to the consumer.
> Sherri Brun
>
> Please help me participate in the March for Independence at:
> http://nfb.convio.net/goto/SherriBrun
> Thank you.
> "Friendship isn't about those you have known the longest;
>
> but about who came and never left your side."
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 10:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [gui-talk] [nfbcs] save Serotek
>
>
> Good evening everyone,
>
>     Just thought I would pass this through to the GUI-Talk List
> concerning
> Serotek. Here's a bit of the other side of the coin. I'm sure we'll read
> more about this in the June Braille Monitor and it will be a hot subject
> during the national convention.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Robert Leblond" <bob at atechcenter.net>
> To: "'NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 8:59 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] save Serotek
>
>
> Before starting my support of Serotek message, I would like all readers
> to
> understand that we sell Jaws, Window Eyes, ZoomText, and System Access.
>
> Freedom Scientific uses stealth when they can and bully tactics when
> they
> must.  For years, this company has tried to manipulate the free market
> in
> many ways.  The latest Jaws 8 is a total joke, and many of our clients
> have
> uninstalled this and returned to Jaws 7, which was at least somewhat
> useable.  We carry Jaws as a product only because it is all that some
> counselors and end users will buy, mostly because of the familiarity.
>
> In the past months, Jaws has introduced more human sounding voices.
> This is
> a direct response to System Access' use of those voices.  There are many
> other reasons to choose System Access over Jaws, which is why Freedom
> Scientific has had to resort to the bully strategy.
>
> 1.  System Access users can install the software on a U 3 drive, and
> run a
> full version of the software on any XP or Vista computer.  No
> administrative
> privileges are necessary.
> 2.  System Access is fully Vista compatible out of the box.  Also System
> Access is fully Office 2007 Compatible.
> 3.  System Access allows a user to read files on a remote computer.  No
> other screen reader allows for this.
> 4.  Most importantly, the Freedom Box concept is fundamentally different
> than other accessibility solutions.  Most commonly, manufacturers sell
> you
> software, and don't want to talk to you until upgrade time, when they
> can
> have their hands in your pockets once again.  Serotek has a community
> based
> approach.  This is the basis for the Freedom Box network, but more
> importantly for the Serotek tool called C-SAW (Community Supported
> Accessible Websites).  C-SAW allows System Access users to submit a page
> to
> the community which they cannot access.  Other, more technically savvy
> users
> will go to that site and label it properly for accessibility.
>
> Furthermore, System Access is easy to use and learn.  Our market
> demographic
> for this application is seniors, who are intimidated by computers for
> the
> most part, and students who cannot learn how to use Jaws or Window Eyes
> properly, but should be allowed to use a computer nevertheless.
>
> If Freedom Scientific was truly committed to the blind community, they
> would
> try to compete honestly with Serotek, rather than try shutting the
> company
> down.  Competition is a good thing, especially for end users which we
> try to
> serve.  Whether or not one is a user of these products, it should be
> obvious
> to all blind users that eliminating a tool used by so many blind
> individuals
> would be a terrible thing.  If you are a System Access user or not, you
> should show support for this company that is truly trying to make a
> difference in the lives of blind and visually impaired computer users,
> instead of focusing on obscene profit margins.
>
> Regards,
> Robert Leblond, President
> Assistive Technology Center, LLC
> www.atechcenter.net
> "technology is our middle name"
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Ryan Mann
> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 1:40 PM
> To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfbcs] save Serotek
>
> Serotek is a company that developes Freedombox and a screen reader
> called
> System Access.  Because of improvements made to Systembox and System
> Access and Serotek's affordable prices, these products are becoming more
> popular.  Evidently, Freedom Scientific doesn't like the competition
> because out of the blew they are suing Serotek for so-called trademark
> violations.  I'm a proud user of Serotek's products and I fooly support
> them.  There is a petition at www.saveserotek.org to ask Freedom
> Scientific to drop it's law suit against Serotek.  Please sign the
> petition.  Serotek is a small company so they can't
> afford to be bogged down with legal fees.  If Serotek
> is driven out of business by this law suit, this will
> hurt blind people who can't afford Freedom Scientific's
> high prices.
> Thanks.
> rmann at sdf.lonestar.org
> SDF Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf.lonestar.org
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