Chris 

I am one of those whose opinion has changed over the years.  Initially, as 
an inexperienced pc and screen reader user, I would have vehemently 
supported Harry's cause.  Why, well, the obvious:  who doesn't want to 
spend less than more and the concept that a screen reader is a screen 
reader. Well, as I became more and more of a WE user and more and more of 
a pc user, I began to understand just how different screen readers can be.  
I began to appreciate what a screen reader can do beyond the obvious; and 
how a powerful screen reader with a complex operating structure and 
functionality can boost my benefits out of the pc.
	I also have seen how competition among strong companies offerering 
excellent products makes all of them better; and how a quality enhancement 
in one screen reader will undoubtedly force the other to include a 
newfeature. 
And the need to be innovative and responsive keeps development on the 
cutting edge improving products from all manufacturers.

This discussion is purely academic as I am certain Harry realizes.  MSFT 
has made it clear that they are allowing the private sector to deal with 
the screen reader issue and that they will work with rather than against 
the screen reader industry.  That co-operation has worked well for users 
and the industry; and we have seen less costly products, with perhaps less 
bells and whistles, evolve.
In short, I'd suggest, that the marketplace is 
working and wide open.  If someone can cost effectively do what GWMicro 
and Freedom Scientific or Dolphin do, with the complexities of their 
products at a lower price, they would have done it.
Serotek has found a lower cost niche and offers an alternative, but what 
you get isn't quite as much in feature enrichment including, incidentally, 
which synthesizers and speech engines can be used.
Keep in mind that the screen reader is but a starting point.  The 
experienced user may also have speech and synthesizers preferences which 
JFW and GWMicro can accommodate which a lower-end product (or one supplied 
by MSFT) may not support.

So my answer to this debate has evolved over the years as have the screen 
readers.  I now appreciate what a complex screen reader can do; and I 
understand just how much it costs to develop, produce, maintain, support 
and market these products.
And beyond that, we are dealing with companies that, to survive, must pay 
their bills and return to their owners a profit and a living.
And, oh yes, folks expect these businesses to show up at conventions, 
conferences and all the rest which drives up costs.

Bottom line: I am impressed that GwMicro and FS can offer their fine 
products at the prices they do.  I would have never said that 10-15 years 
ago, but today, now that I have an appreciation both for what their 
products can do and what *must* go into getting the products to that 
state, I have no problem with the pricetag.






The Great Commission
 is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.
Hudson Taylor


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