[Reader-users] Serious Reader blues

[Deborah Kendrick]

Hi All,
This isn't exactly something that should go to the list, but I'm so unhappy 
that I thought maybe all of you could offer some help.
As you may know, I was a Reader Pioneer, and instantly took to and loved the 
KNFB Reader.  I did lots of demonstrations -- all of them successful -- and 
used it in all manner of situations.  I wanted to keep it, but couldn't 
afford it.  Under a "post employment' kind of thing, I got the VR system in 
my state to purchase one for me.  It all was seamless -- or so I thought: My 
new one arrived, and I immediately sent the test unit back.

But my new unit was ordered through an Ohio vendor who orders them all from 
Kurzweil.  My first frustration was the limited amount of time it holds a 
charge -- not even a whole day frequently.  Then, I was unhappy because 
everyone else on the list seemed to be getting 3.1 and I didn't have it. 
The dealer told me it wasn't out yet!  Then my unit totally crashed -- no 
hard reset would do.  I finally got tech support (through the Ohio vendor 
again) and was told to turn the camera on and off a few times.  Strangely, 
that jump started the unit.  I was going to San Francisco for five days and 
really wanted to use it.  But alas, by the time I got there, that jump start 
was ineffective.  Nothing could persuade the unit to come to life.
Add to this frustration that the dealer told me last Wednesday that I now 
can get 3.1 (never mind that many of you already have 3.5) but that in order 
to get it, I must first send in my SD card.

If there is indeed a new company, merging the efforts of Kurzweil and the 
Federation, why then is there so much disparity between the two sources for 
the Reader?  Our state convention starts day after tomorrow, and I'm sure 
all of us who do have the Reader will be asked by others to show it.  All I 
have is what seems to be a piece of junk.

Yes, I'll go back to the dealer from whence it came, but the above questions 
remain valid.  Why will the upgrades from Kurzweil lag behind those from 
NFB?  And why must I jump through hoops to get them?

Anyone who knows anything or can give me direction will be my hero/heroine 
of the day!

Deborah