Again, Denise, you make some very good points. I think if we did start
sending kind but advocative messages to the humanware support teams,
they might be more encouraged. After all, feedback is what often
drives a market, or anyone else for that matter, to act. And please do
let us know what you think of your tour of the apex!
Cheers,
Amanda
On 11/17/09, denise avant <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi,
> I know the hw execs are aware of what companies like gw micro are doing. And
> it seems that good business sense and good customer relations would give
> them reason to take a hard look without users having to say anything.
> But that being said, I know there are some humaware dealers and execs who
> look at the list. Sometimes I do see posts from Maurice. The other thought I
> have is that perhaps those of us who use hw products should send an e-mail
> to [email protected]. I think as I was listening to the presentation
> last night, hw staff constantly told people to write to the support list
> with problems or suggestions or whatever.
> So, some kind of payment plan in the u.s. or wherever could be suggested. I
> don't know if other users from other countries face the same costs issues as
> those of us in the states. But if you do, you can make this suggestion to hw
> as well. For those of us who can get to conventions and shows, perhaps we
> can talk to hw about coming up with a payment plan. Or perhaps we can ask
> our advocates ACB OR nfb to stand behind such an idea as this is present in
> the sighted mainstream market.
>
> I know the rep in my area, and he is going to show me the apex tomorrow. And
> while he can't do much about anything, maybe he will pass along my
> suggestions, and the hw team will look at it.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Evelyn Weckerly
> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 2:59 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: FW: [Braillenote] customer viability in the faceofplanned
> obsolescence
>
> AHi,
>
> GW Micro has a payment plan for Window Eyes. They control it though
> becaused it is software. If you can't make a payment, it reverts to
> demo mode until you resume payment.
>
> The National Federation of the Blind has a low-interest loan program,
> 3 percent.
>
> Evelyn
>
> t 02:20 PM 11/17/2009, you wrote:
>>Hello,
>>
>> Well stated, Denise! I, too, have mentioned the issue of a lack of
>>a payment plan. Here is what I think the problem Humanware might have
>>with a payment plan is. $6100 is a lot! of money. I think the fear is
>>that once a down payment is made and the apex is given to the party in
>>question, who is to say that the payments will be made regularly? Here
>>in New Jersey now, for example, you can't have an operation unless you
>>pay in full. I think it's the same issue here.
>> The only way I could see a self-made payment plan being made is
>>if the purchase was made with a hefty credit card, and that was paid
>>off in installments. That's something many Americans, especially
>>nowadays, can't really afford to do. I am proud of whatever assistive
>>technology companies have payment plans, as they are probably
>>attracting a large customer base because of it. As I've said numerous
>>times before, state-funded agencies are not always going to foot the
>>bill for our expenses, which is something I think many people,
>>marketers and consumers alike, take for granted.
>> Were Humanware to make out some sort of payment plan, I think
>>they would be better off. But as the fear of not having money
>>increases, so does the will to be flexible, at least in my opinion.
>>Even if there was a payment plan, I would imagine that the first down
>>payment would be something like half the price. That is how many
>>colleges work out their payment plans. The consequence for not paying
>>up being that the student is de-registered from their classes and is
>>unable to obtain credits for those classes until they pay their due.
>>Unless there is some equivalent made in the case of Humanware's
>>products, I don't see that happening. It's not like someone can come
>>to your house and physically take back your apex if you don't continue
>>paying. If I am totally off in thinking in this way, please do give me
>>your thoughts and opinions, as I think this to be a likely reason why
>>there is no payment plan. And if there is a way to calm Humanware's
>>nerves about not receiving their money, I think it should be
>>addressed. I'll stop rambling for now.
>>
>> Kind regards,
>> Amanda
>>
>>On 11/17/09, denise avant <[email protected]> wrote:
>> > Hello,
>> > I as many others had hoped humanware would hold the price down on any
> new
>> > notetaker, particularly since the stream whose price is affordable for
> most
>> > people has been wildly popular.
>> > Humanware has stated that the apex though newer and sleaker with more
>> > features is the same costs as an empower, and they were glad about being
>> > able to do that.
>> > It would be helpful if humanware had a payment plan as a couple
>> of assistive
>> > technology companies are doing. That is how sighted people
>> generally pay for
>> > large purchases like this one. given the economy in the u.s., many
>> > households are trying to stay away from large purchases.
>> > I wonder if State and federal agencies here in the u.s. are going to
>> > purchase the devices for their customers given the tight budgets and
> poor
>> > econmy.
>> > I also kind of liken this as a car that maybe you might have for so many
>> > years. After a while, you can't get it serviced any more. And the
>> > unfortunate reality is that At some point, you have to trade it in or
> sell
>> > it.
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: [email protected]
>> > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
>> > [email protected]
>> > Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 9:42 PM
>> > To: Keith Bundy; Rose Combs; 'Earlene Hughes';
>> > [email protected]
>> > Subject: Re: [Braillenote] customer viability in the faceofplanned
>> > obsolescence
>> >
>> > Hi Keith and All,
>> >
>> > I must add my voice as well! I purchased my BrailleNote in July 2003.
> I
>> > have been delighted with it, and like you, stuck up for it when other
> blind
>> > folks around me were bashing it for various reasons. My sighted husband
> is
>> > a retired Elementary school music teacher, and we live on both his
>> > retirement income and his Social Security. We have all of the regular
>> > expenses including rent, utilities, upkeep on our house and car,
>> and I could
>> >
>> > go on and on! We aren't in the poor house, but neither do we have the
> kind
>> > of disposable income to support purchase of a new Apex! I am a Total,
> and
>> > an avid Braille reader! I can't begin to express my great joy at
>> becoming a
>> >
>> > BrailleNote owner and user! No one assisted with my original
> BrailleNote
>> > purchase, or with the money we paid for the mPower transplant. Or for
> that
>> > matter, for the service contracts and SMAs we have kept current. I am
> as
>> > excited about the new Apex as anyone around, but honestly, there is no
>> > possible way that I could or would prevail upon my husband's extreme
>> > generosity to now pay $4,000 more to obtain one! Especially after the
>> > braille display fiasco! I certainly don't expect Humanware to
>> give me a new
>> >
>> > Apex for free, but I think those of us who have been loyal customers for
> so
>> > long should be better rewarded than $2,200.00 off the full
>> purchase price of
>> >
>> > a new Apex, when my current unit will be obsolete before long! How do I
>> > know that even if I were to take the plunge and buy an Apex, I wouldn't
> be
>> > finding myself in a similar position a couple more years down the road?
> I
>> > am in the position of having to continue to use my mPower until it
>> > absolutely doesn't work anymore, and at that time I guess I'll have to
> go
>> > without! I'm sorry to those of you who don't want to hear complaining,
> but
>> > all I can figure is that many of you have agencies purchasing
>> your equipment
>> >
>> > for you, or there would be more of an uproar! I don't post much
>> here, and I
>> >
>> > promise to go away now and not continue to spoil the party, but I just
> felt
>> > I had to speak out for those of us out here who have to purchase our
>> > equipment on our own! Sadly slinking away!
>> >
>> > Desi
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Keith Bundy" <[email protected]>
>> > To: "Rose Combs" <[email protected]>; "'Earlene Hughes'"
>> > <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
>> > Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 7:45 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Braillenote] customer viability in the faceofplanned
>> > obsolescence
>> >
>> >
>> >>I lurk about the list and seldom comment, but I must agree with these
>> >>posts. I got my BrailleNote in December, 2000, and have recommended it
> to
>> >>many in our state. I have also done quite a bit of training for
>> >>Braillenote users.
>> >>
>> >> I had to replace a braille display and transplant to an mPower,
> spending
>> >> another three thousand dollars or more to keep my machine functional
> and
>> >> current.
>> >>
>> >> Now we're being told that the BN will soon be obsolete. And, as a
> working
>> >
>> >> individual who is blind and has a family to support, I cannot lay out
> the
>> >> $4,00 needed for an upgrade to the Apex. As I have a good job, I
>> >> seriously doubt whether I can get any assistance from rehab.
>> >>
>> >> I have always been a very strong supporter of Humanware and have
> quietly
>> >> supported them when others complained rather vociferously on this list.
>> >> However, I am now beginning to question Humanware and its commitment to
>> >> the braille users who have been loyal to them while using a great
> product
>> >> on the job.
>> >>
>> >> I suppose there isn't much we can do about this. However, I think
>> >> Humanware needs some grassroots customers on their team to help them to
>> >> better relate to both the working and non-working general public who
> are
>> >> blind.
>> >>
>> >> Keith
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> -----
>> >> From: "Rose Combs" <[email protected]>
>> >> To: "'Earlene Hughes'" <[email protected]>;
>> >> <[email protected]>
>> >> Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 11:10 AM
>> >> Subject: RE: [Braillenote] customer viability in the face ofplanned
>> >> obsolescence
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>>I saw my first Braille Note in November 2000 and I went into debt to
>> >>>assure
>> >>> that I got one, it was wonderful, I used it every single day for years
>> >>> and
>> >>> until the past year or so never regretted the purchase. However, when
> I
>> >>> too
>> >>> was informed my transplant could not have a service agreement with no
>> >>> notice, then informed I could upgrade but had to send the full
> purchase
>> >>> price and they would write me a check later, and then this last
> upgrade
>> >>> to 8
>> >>> which offered me nothing I needed, because I don't want chat, would
> look
>> >>> for
>> >>> a very small device to carry if I wanted GPS instead of a heavy
> Braille
>> >>> note, and the lack again of better Word support, I doubt I will be
> buying
>> >
>> >>> an
>> >>> Apex and it is sad because the vision Pulsedata brought to the
> industry
>> >>> was
>> >>> so very good, what has happened over the past two years breaks my
> heart.
>> >>> Once the customer truly mattered, service was reasonable, now, we'll
> just
>> >>> look at this list and listen to people saying it takes 3-6 weeks for a
>> >>> battery replacement, and you get the picture I am seeing.
>> >>>
>> >>> I am near tears because I truly did think Braille Note was the future
> for
>> >>> many blind people, I convinced friends to buy them, and I still use
> mine
>> >>> but
>> >>> mostly now for reading and note taking that I don't have to show to
>> >>> anyone
>> >>> or that I can retype into Word where it formatted properly. It takes
> me
>> >>> forever to fix a document that is in Word XP, 2003 or 2007 to be even
>> >>> close
>> >>> to usable so I avoid it whenever I can but so much learning is done
>> >>> through
>> >>> my fingers. What was a wonderful product now meets only part of my
>> >>> needs.
>> >>>
>> >>> Sad, Sad, and Sad.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Rose Combs
>> >>> [email protected]
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> -----Original Message-----
>> >>> From: [email protected]
>> >>> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Earlene
>> >>> Hughes
>> >>> Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 8:22 AM
>> >>> To: [email protected]
>> >>> Subject: RE: [Braillenote] customer viability in the face of planned
>> >>> obsolescence
>> >>>
>> >>> I agree with the post below. I said I wouldn't purchase another
>> >>> BrailleNote
>> >>> when HW without notice, wouldn't renew my service contract for my
>> >>> transplanted EmPower. But, I wanted Sendero's GPS, so I bought a PK. I
>> >>> really like my PK, and I'm disappointed that there isn't going to be
> an
>> >>> upgrade plan for it. The reason I am posting my thoughts here, is not
> to
>> >>> complain; I hope someone from HW will read enough comments from some
> of
>> >>> us
>> >>> and find some way to accommodate their whole customer base in their
>> >>> business
>> >>> model.
>> >>>
>> >>> Have a good day all.
>> >>>
>> >>> --Earlene
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> -----Original Message-----
>> >>> From: [email protected]
>> >>> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Cheree
> Heppe
>> >>> Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 10:20 PM
>> >>> To: [email protected]
>> >>> Subject: [Braillenote] customer viability in the face of planned
>> >>> obsolescence
>> >>>
>> >>> Cheree Heppe here:
>> >>>
>> >>> Listening to the ACB Radio presentation on the new Humanware product,
> the
>> >>> APEX, last night made me worry.
>> >>>
>> >>> The plan, as I understand it, is to offer two more upgrades, SMA's or
>> >>> whatever they're supposed to be, for existing MPower and PK
> Braillenote
>> >>> devices. After these two final SMA's, no more will be forthcoming and
>> >>> these
>> >>> MPower and PK devices will become legacy technology to force
> transition
>> >>> to,
>> >>> and purchase of, the next generation.
>> >>>
>> >>> How long will it be until the next generation, multi-thousand dollar
>> >>> productivity Braille input/output device with eight gigs of hard drive
>> >>> and
>> >>> no mention of improved Word support will also become obsolete?
>> >>>
>> >>> Forced obsolescence and similar tactics make me less and less willing
> to
>> >>> even try to acquire such devices.
>> >>>
>> >>> Those of us blind people who work find it hard enough to buy equipment
> on
>> >>> our own or leverage such purchases by jollying along our employers or
> the
>> >>> various rehab agencies with the latest benefits of the latest and
>> >>> greatest.
>> >>> They buy these because why? Do they really think we are achieving
>> >>> parity?
>> >>>
>> >>> And the ones who don't work because they can't leverage the
> technology,
>> >>> maybe, well, they don't count at all.
>> >>>
>> >>> Then, thousands of dollars and a learning curve or two later, maybe in
>> >>> two
>> >>> or three or four years, we go through the same song and dance, the
> same
>> >>> financial strictures to upgrade because our gadgetry is obsolete?
>> >>>
>> >>> Why not develop modular design to allow plug in upgrades of drives,
>> >>> firmware
>> >>> and other replaceables around a re-usable refreshable Braille matrix.
>> >>> Would
>> >>> a modular design, preserving a refreshable Braille display and machine
>> >>> matrix as the base for changing firmware and such perhaps reduce the
> cost
>> >>> and increase the flexibility and longevity of these specialized
> devices?
>> >>>
>> >>> We can chase Microsoft and computer design and have a hope of staying
>> >>> current with it because the cost is low enough, tailored for the mass
>> >>> market.
>> >>>
>> >>> Braille technology represents niche usage. Most blind people willing
> and
>> >>> capable of using refreshable Braille should have the real choice to
> use
>> >>> this
>> >>> valuable technology.
>> >>>
>> >>> What solution could be realistically sought to fit the expense and
> usage
>> >>> more closely to the user population?
>> >>>
>> >>> I use a PK and like it. I don't wish to change. I like the small,
> quiet
>> >>> Braille input keyboard and the PK's small size. So, I'm going to be
>> >>> using a
>> >>> legacy Braille device before long, it seems.
>> >>>
>> >>> I can keep current with mainstream technology, but some must still
> feel
>> >>> that
>> >>> our Braille is still second class.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Regards,
>> >>> Cheree Heppe
>> >>>
>> >>> ___
>> >>> Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
>> >>> If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the
> list
>> >
>> >>> as
>> >>> well.
>> >>>
>> >>> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
>> >>> [email protected]
>> >>> To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
>> >>> http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> ___
>> >>> Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
>> >>> If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a
>> >>> copy to the list as well.
>> >>>
>> >>> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
>> >>> [email protected]
>> >>> To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
>> >>> http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> ___
>> >>> Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
>> >>> If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a
>> >>> copy to the list as well.
>> >>>
>> >>> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
>> >>> [email protected]
>> >>> To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
>> >>> http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> ___
>> >> Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
>> >> If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a
>> >> copy to the list as well.
>> >>
>> >> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
>> >> [email protected]
>> >> To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
>> >> http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> > ___
>> > Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
>> > If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a
>> > copy to the list as well.
>> >
>> > To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
>> > [email protected]
>> > To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
>> > http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
>> >
>> >
>> > ___
>> > Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
>> > If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a
>> > copy to the list as well.
>> >
>> > To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
>> > [email protected]
>> > To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
>> > http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>--
>>Amanda Christine Chokov
>>
>>___
>>Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
>>If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a
>>copy to the list as well.
>>
>>To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
>>[email protected]
>>To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
>>http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
> ___
> Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
> If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a
> copy to the list as well.
>
> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
> [email protected]
> To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
> http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
>
>
> ___
> Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
> If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a
> copy to the list as well.
>
> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
> [email protected]
> To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
> http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
>
>
--
Amanda Christine Chokov
___
Replies to this message will go directly to the sender.
If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a
copy to the list as well.
To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to
[email protected]
To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit
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