Hello JFW listers.
I am writing in response to Daniel's post, included below.
While it is clear that Jaws for Windows has its problems, I do not think
this list an appropriate place to advertize competing screen reading
software, whatever their qualities. I am sorry that Daniel took advantage
of Nick's temporary absence to include this stuff.
As I see it, we are here to discuss various aspects of JFW, to help people
who need assistance with the program and, whenever possible, to make
suggestions that might improve HJ's software. Hundreds, perhaps thousands
of people have benefited from this list, an invaluable service that we
should not take for granted. We are most fortunate that many educational
institutions donnate considerable computer time to maintaining these lists,
to say nothing of the hours our moderator must invest to keep things on track.
I have no desire or interest in policing anything or anyone. But, I must
express my disgust at the lack of insight of people who would so casually
abuse the aim of this particular list. While many of the comments made in
the newsletter below may be appropriate, they clearly belong somewhere
else, on one of the many other technically oriented lists that are
available for software comparisons.
At 07:18 PM 10/21/99 -0400, Daniel Jakersol wrote:
>WYFIWYG Newsletter for October 1999
>
>Copyright October 1999 by: Peter Duran
>All rights Reserved
>
>Distributed by:
>BRL, Inc.
>110 Commerce Drive
>Suite 210
>Fayetteville, GA 30214
>Tel: 770-716-9222
>Fax: 770-716-9599
>
>Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Web: WWW.WYFIWYG.COM
>
>
>Dear Readers
>
>Please send reader comments about the newsletter (or anything
>else) to:
>
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>Any additions or corrections are greatly appreciated. This
>newsletter is only available by email!
>
>The WYFIWYG newsletter is 3 months old now, and its readership
>has grown from 48 subscribers in August to 823 readers in
>October. Thanks for the interest and support.
>
>
>
>Editorial Corner: Window-Eyes and JFW Comparison Again
>
>In the September issue, I offered a comparison of Window-Eyes and
>Jaws for Windows. I received many comments pro and con which is
>great, but I also received email that attacked me personally and
>defamed my integrity and intellectual honesty. Writers of flames
>are ignored, and I shall, of course, continue to offer you, my
>readers, the best possible reviews of products.
>
>This is a good time to summarize my comments on Window-Eyes and
>Jaws for Windows for the benefit of new readers and to make a few
>points discussed by readers. These comments will foreshadow my
>review in next month's newsletter of the newest screen reader --
>the Narrator from Microsoft Corporation that comes with Windows
>2000.
>
>I won't mention dozens of program features -- most of which are
>meaningless to the beginner or to a user of a different product.
>Instead, a few fundamental observations are listed that can help
>you make an initial purchase or make a switch to a different
>product.
>
>Purchase Price and Upgrade Costs: Window-Eyes is $200 cheaper
>than JFW, $595.00 versus $795.00. GW Micro offers lots of free
>minor upgrades and charges much less than Henter-Joyce for major
>upgrades. The initial purchase price and the continuous upgrade
>charges are major considerations if you are new to Windows and
>screen readers for Windows. You should decide whether the cost
>difference reflects a real difference in product quality and
>performance before you buy.
>
>Tech support: It is no secret that GW Micro offers great tech
>support, and Henter-Joyce has terrible tech support. What isn't
>clear is why such a difference exists. Newcomers to Windows
>screen readers should weigh this factor heavily, for problems
>will arise and you will need help to resolve them promptly and
>correctly. Clearly, "great" or "terrible" are subjective terms;
>I suggest that prospective purchasers of either product talk to
>current users for additional opinions. I base these evaluations
>on the hundreds of email messages that I read weekly from both
>the GW Micro and the JFW user lists.
>
>Here is a final point about user support. Call GW Micro (except
>at lunch time) and talk to a real person who actually knows
>something about the product and is ready to help you. Call
>Henter-Joyce support and usually wait for days for a call back.
>(Don't believe this; well, then call and check it out.)
>
>Computer Compatibility: Window-Eyes works on all Windows 95 and
>98 computers, but JFW depends on the installed video driver and
>video hardware. Too often, users must rely on older video
>drivers or replace video hardware so JFW can operate properly.
>In laptops and notebook computers, and now in lots of cheap
>desktop computers, the video hardware can't be replaced. If JFW
>fails to work properly, you are stuck and must buy a different
>screen reader or a different computer. This is a serious problem
>with JFW which Henter-Joyce must address.
>
>Readers pointed out rightly that JFW works on Windows NT and
>Window-Eyes doesn't. But, few of us care about Windows NT --
>unless we need to rely on it at work. It's a new ball game when
>Windows 2000 makes its debut. It is NT based, and all screen
>reader vendors must support it.
>
>Copy protection: Window-Eyes (in the United States, Canada, and
>now England) does not copy protect its screen reader, but
>Henter-Joyce does. This is done to avoid pirated copies of the
>software. However, copy protection has a few problems. It
>interferes with the use of some Windows programs such as the
>Defrag utility which lets you clean-up and speed-up your
>computer. Recently, it has been pointed out that copy protection
>for JFW may fail to work properly with some newer hard disks.
>
>Internet support: Both screen readers work well with the
>Internet, but Window-Eyes presently works much better. This is
>the case because GW Micro supports the Active Accessibility
>technology developed by Microsoft which lets screen readers
>interact well with Internet Explorer, the web browser of choice.
>JFW will in a few months surely catch up; Window-Eyes was behind
>JFW in this area till recently. (In a recent talk-in show, the
>Henter-Joyce development coordinator expressed similar
>sentiments; HJ will mimic all the innovative Internet features
>now available in Window-Eyes. Competition spurs development!)
>
>Mouse Control: Although most users prefer the keyboard, the
>mouse is often necessary because many programs lack keyboard
>equivalents for often vital actions. In fact, the mouse is often
>easier to use than the keyboard. Window-Eyes uses the Column of
>keys on the keyboard to move the Insertion point and uses the
>Block of keys to move the mouse pointer. The Insertion point and
>the mouse pointer are kept totally independent. JFW, on the
>other hand, uses the Block of keys to control both the Insertion
>point and the Mouse pointer, and the user must switch between
>them via a hot key. Often, this is awkward and/or confusing.
>Sometimes, JFW switches between them automatically so the user
>must check which cursor, the Insertion point or the mouse
>pointer, is currently active. It is worthwhile to point out that
>the names JFW Cursor and PC Cursor are poor terms, for they
>obscure the fact that the Insertion point and the mouse pointer
>are really involved. The fact that the user must switch between
>them via a hot key further adds to the confusion.
>
>The GW Micro approach to the Insertion point and the mouse
>pointer is definitely more elegant and simple. This becomes more
>and more evident to me as I write my Word 2000 tutorial and key
>guide. There are lots of mouse tricks very useful to us as blind
>users. Examples: Double click the page number indicator on the
>Status bar, then you can type a page number and immediately jump
>there. Single click a word to move the insertion point there;
>double click a word to select it; triple click a word to select
>the entire sentence.
>
>Window Sizes: You often need to survey the entire display or a
>particular portion of it. You need to examine the entire display
>when you are confronted with a new program and wish to thoroughly
>check it out. You need to scan a pop-up window when it appears
>or restrict your attention to the area of the display which has
>the focus. Window-Eyes lets you cycle through all the basic
>window sizes and read them all. JFW lacks this facility except
>in a rudimentary form.
>
>User Documentation: The documentation for a program is the
>user's first introduction to the program. A well-written and
>well-organized manual makes it far easier to learn a program and
>makes it a lot more fun. The Window-Eyes user manual is a model
>of excellent technical writing; I have found only a few spots
>where it wasn't crystal clear. The JFW documentation, on the
>other hand, is poorly written and poorly organized; repeated
>rereads don't help me much. I had to learn JFW by trial and
>error and with help from friends and colleagues -- a laborious
>way to learn this program.
>
>I must agree with the comments I received from a few readers that
>the Window-Eyes manual is too technical in many places and
>intimidates some newcomers.
>
>----
>
>GW Micro, Inc.
>725 Airport North Office Park
>Fort Wayne, IN 46825
>Tel: 219-489-3671
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>WWW.GWMICRO.COM
>
>----
>
>Henter-Joyce, Inc.
>11800 31st Court North
>St. Petersburg, FL 33716-1805
>Tel: 800-336-5658
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>WWW.HJ.COM
>
>Customer Corner
>
>Word processors are great for those of us who want to write the
>Great American Novel, but a text editor is better for those of us
>who wish to write programs or edit text files. I have used the
>editor that came with WordPerfect 5.1 because I couldn't find a
>Windows editor that is easy to use and complete enough for real
>technical work. Now, my search is over, and I will soon say
>good-bye to my old friend Mister Ed.
>
>Ultra Edit is a shareware program for $30 with a 45 day trial
>demo. The download web site is www.idmcomp.com and the author
>will supply documentation in Word format upon request. I am told
>by colleagues, who know more about program editors than I, that
>this is an excellent product at a great price.
>
>Technical Tidbits
>
>Microsoft Windows 98 has Y2K problems. Microsoft offers a free
>CD with the necessary fixes. Call Microsoft at 1-888-219-1302
>and request this CD upgrade.
>
>Internet Explorer 5.0 has a "browse back" bug. This is evident
>when the Back button is grayed out; that is, disabled. Use the
>Address drop-down list when this occurs. Or, close and then
>relaunch Internet Explorer 5.0 if this also fails.
>
>There seems to be a bug in Windows that makes the DoubleTalk
>synthesizer skip text on occasion. You can make a change in
>Windows to remedy this problem. (Please Email a request to
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO FIX THIS.)
>
>I tried to install my Openbook 3.5 reader from Arkenstone with a
>HP 5P scanner on a Windows 98 computer and got problems. You
>need to upgrade the HP drivers and then re-install the Openbook.
>Call the Hewlett-Packard Ordering Number 661-257-5565 and order
>Deskscan 2.9 which is $24.00
>
>WYFIWYG Announcements
>
>Many of us seek a simple and powerful database that works well
>with a screen reader. So far, our quest has been futile. Yes, I
>know that vendors claim that their screen readers work with
>Microsoft Access. In my opinion, Microsoft Access is too
>complicated for most of us and screen reader support is barely
>adequate. So, another alternative is needed for those of us who
>want a database for personal uses or for a small home business.
>
>File Maker Pro does the trick. It is relatively cheap, powerful
>and, at the same time, very easy to setup and to use. This
>database is used by hundreds of colleges and universities to
>maintain student records. My son, who is sighted, learned File
>Maker Pro in a couple of weeks and developed a database for his
>college with 300+ fields in a few months with all kinds of nifty
>reports. He has used Microsoft Access but definitely prefers
>File Maker Pro.
>
>There is just a little problem with this rosy scenario. This
>program is inaccessible. I have contacted the legal department
>of File Maker, Inc., and got their attention. They have sent a
>evaluation copy of File Maker Pro to GW Micro and are willing to
>cooperate with GW Micro. All of you are asked to sent Carol
>Custer in the legal department an email message in support of
>full access to File Maker Pro. Her email address is
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] Please CC a copy of your message to
>Doug Geoffray at GW Micro. His email address is
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>About a year ago, I found a different company that was willing to
>alter their database, and I contacted Henter-Joyce. Ted Henter
>assured me that this development issue would be placed on the
>development agenda. Nothing happened. Let's hope that GW Micro
>has more interest and commitment to an alternative database
>solution.
>
>Educational Breakthrough
>
>It is great to own a scanner and a program that scans books into
>readable text. It is a pain, however, to sit there and scan
>hundreds of pages hour after hour. And, it is very difficult to
>scan textbooks well. There must be an easier and quicker way to
>read educational materials.
>
>Now, there is a way if you are a student in California. It is
>now the publisher's legal obligation to provide educational
>materials in e-text format when requested by the University of
>California, the California State University or the California
>Community Colleges. No doubt, other states will follow
>California's lead and pass similar laws because California and
>Texas control the textbook market. (Please email a request to
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] if you want additional information.)
>
>Newsletter Special
>
>Here is a special offer just for newsletter subscribers. You
>must call to order; this offer isn't available on the
>WWW.WYFIWYG.COM web site.
>
>Verbal View of Windows is ideal for new and intermediate users of
>Windows 95 and 98. Here are a couple of user testimonials:
>
>
>Nolan Crabb, now at <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>"Yours is by far the best tutorial I've ever seen on this
>subject. You have a great talent for taking the known and
>translating those components to the unknown. Other great
>teachers do exactly that. Your analogies to appliances with
>buttons and cups of fine gravel to describe monitor resolution
>are outstanding. Don't change that feature about your work. ...
>
>Bottom line: If ACB were in the publishing business, I'd be
>among those crying loudest for us to buy the rights to publish
>this thing and do it ourselves. You must find some way to
>interest every rehabilitation counsellor in the land in this
>tutorial.
>
>I've used win95 for about 20 months now, and I still learned a
>great deal about keyboard commands from your work. That despite
>the fact that I had a copy of the keyboard list for 95. Your
>explanations and examples are excellent. It obviously took long
>hours of work, and that shows."
>
>
>Professor Ronald E. Milliman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>"Peter, I have read the entire tutorial once and parts more than
>once. Peter, I am extremely impressed with your approach, your
>topic flow, and clarity of writing. I do not know what your
>educational background is, but you are a very good writer."
>
>Verbal View of Windows on tape: Retail $75 Newsletter special $50
>
>October Specials
>
>You can place orders by phone, toll free 877-993-4994, fax 770-716-9599, or
>online at WWW.WYFIWYG.COM. Visa, Master Card, and
>American Express are accepted and so are personal checks and
>purchase orders.
>
>Window-Eyes 3.1 Screen Reader: Retail $595 October $370
>
>DoubleTalk External Voice Synthesizer: Retail $320 October $295
>
>
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>-
>Visit the jfw ml web page: http://jfw.cjb.net
-
Visit the jfw ml web page: http://jfw.cjb.net
