Hi ALL:

The other side of this is that almost all of the other software we purchase 
also costs money.  And, if we want to purchase upgrades (e.g. from Office 2013 
to 2016), we have to pay for those too.

Please keep in mind that, in a very real way, JAWS users have a "lifetime key" 
for "each" version of JAWS purchased.  However, if we want to upgrade to the 
next version, there is a charge.  So, BFO may not be Microsoft; but, it has 
many of the same considerations when putting out, and supporting products.

In a "perfect world", everything would be available, at no cost, to everyone - 
according to their needs.  Utopia sounds great; but, I know of none currently 
in existance.  That does not mean that people should not try to move society 
in that direction.  However, I have learned that if you expect too much, you 
get disappointed!

Jim H

"You never know how far you can go, until you exceed your reach."  - Anonymous

-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List 
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Albert Ruel
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2016 5:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] my conversation with Brian at Freedom scientific

Harry, I'm not sure that you weren't both talking about different things.  He 
is indicating the reason for charging for upgrades to the software so they can 
continue to earn revenue used to pay staff, developers and the supply network, 
and you might have been asking for a limitless number of activation keys so 
that each time you install JAWS on a different computer you don't have to 
contact them for another key.  I assume they don't charge for those activation 
keys when you request another one anyway?  At least that's been my experience.

Harry, even NVDA isn't being developed for free.  What users donate augments 
the fund raising the developers do in order that they continue to be paid for 
the tremendous work they're doing so that we can have a free screen reader.

I'm afraid that nothing is free in the first-world economy we've allowed to 
build up around ourselves.  Somebody's gotta pay at some point or nothing 
moves.

Thx, Albert


-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List 
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Harry Brown
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2016 2:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VICUG-L] my conversation with Brian at Freedom scientific

Hi all,
Just got off the phone with Brian, from Freedom Scientific, the guy in charge 
of technical development.
Here's what we talked about, and here's what he said.
I told him, all the things I mentioned in the email, I sent to 
[log in to unmask] and I'm still not sure how I feel about all 
he said, but here's what he said.
"Harry, we have to charge people money for buying Jaws, and we have to charge 
money for upgrades to different jaws versions. We are not Microsoft, and we 
are not apple, who can just keep pumping out update after update of software 
for free. The blind are a small market, and if you want people to do research 
and development to keep up with the latest software that microsoft, and 
everyone else puts out, that means you have to have people, and those people 
need to be paid."
I asked him "why can't we have a lifetime key, and he said, "You can have as 
many keys as you want. If you want 10, we'll give you 10, just ask. The reason 
we give only 3 keys is, upon doing research, the software industry has 
determined, folks only use 3 computers at a time.
So that's what we drew our conclusion from. However, there is now, a web site 
for activations, and, for resets.
it is
fsactivate.com
So, people can go there, and do it all online, and they don't have to call us 
if they don't want to."
Folks, I still don't agree with what he said about keys. There should be a 
lifetime key, when you buy jaws, or, any other software.
Anyway, that is the just of our conversation.
Harry


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