A weekly status update would be really great, though no other company does this so we really have no basis to expect anything like this to happen. Still, it would be nice to hear "development of ks8 is going well so far; we are almost ready to beta test it." or "Ks8 is coming along, but we hit a major bug and are having trouble pinning it down; this will probably delay the beta phase some, so our original date for this release is looking too optomistic at this point.". Even once a month would be fine, just so we know what is going on. Again, though, this would be the first I have heard of a company doing this, and they really do not owe us even that, so I would not blame them at all if they do not even comment on the idea.
Have a great day, Alex ----- Original Message ----- From: "blake" <[email protected]> To: "Ann Parsons" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Cc: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 4:20 PM Subject: Re: [Braillenote] key soft question Hi Ann. I, personally, believe it is outrageous that bookshare released this website before talking to the proprietors of these companies to at least advise them that we will not be able to use the bn with bookshare, and to have a patch ready by a particular date. I couldn't agree with you more about the email thing once a week, where hw sends out a notice telling us what they are doing, and how they are doing it, and things like that they find necessary. Humanware did say that they would have this new ks released by fall 08, and fall has been and gone, and no release is here yet. Sure, we can give them a bit of slack, because they have been brilliant with keeping to their dates in the past. I feel that it may be because Humanware New Zealand have basically closed down, and they were the main makers (As far as I know) of the Braillenote. Cheers, Blake. > ----- Original Message ----- >From: Ann Parsons <[email protected] >To: Karyn Campbell <[email protected] >Date sent: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:45:32 -0500 >Subject: Re: [Braillenote] key soft question >Hi all, >Karen, you ask us to calm down. This is a reasonable request when HW has no ergent reason for giving us more information. However, this is not the case currently. Mr. Slone did indeed say something about notifying us this week, but gave no indication as to whether the problems with Bookshare will be addressed in a new upgrade for the units or whether it is being released as a separate patch. >In addition, the solution offered as a temporary work-around is not good because the old web site is static. There have been some fifty books released in the past three days since the new web went live. BN users have no access to these books, nor to any of the periodicals, especially the daily newspapers. With the upcoming inoguration and the troubles in The Middle East and the flooding in the Northwest, keeping track of the news is necessary. >It's not just the BrailleNote family that is suffering, Karen. All people who own VR Streams cannot play the new DAISY content. they also cannot use the Stream Companion software in order to transfer books. >Karen, I must point out to you that communication is vital when dealing with people. This is especially true when dealing with a customer base of thousands. Many people, including repairmen, cable company personnel, husbands, wives, and children figure that if they don't know an answer it is better to remain silent. They figure that silence means that they don't know and they shouldn't speak until or unless they know something. >This could not be farther from the truth. As one who has tried to convince friends and readers of this for years, I know whereof I speak. Karen, when somebody calls you or sends you an email telling you that they don't know when they can come, or that their schedule is unclear, this sends a clear and unmistakable message that the person to whom you communicate matters. It is an affirmation. It is an acknowledgement that the person exists, and that the person has the right to respect and to courteous treatment. >Humanware used to be known for such treatment. Humanware used to be one of the primary vendors who received praise for their customer relations policies because they actually did care and reaspect their market share. This is no longer the case. We've received vague and unsatisfactory information this week. We have not received the respect and the courtesy which we deserve. What is needed here is a plan composed of several parts. First, Humanware should begin to give weekly updates, sent on a specific day of the week, e.g. Your Tuesday Update from Humanware, yes, even if all they say is that they are progressing, or that the stuff is in beta or whatever. Second, specific attention should be paid to specific pieces of equipment, e.g. VRStream and the BN family. Third, an acknowledgement should be sent to everyone that states that Humanware is aware of the inconvenience this delay is causing its customers. They may be a huge, world wide company now, but that's no excuse for not respecting and communicating with its customers. Karen this is the 21st century. Communication is cheap and easy. Why not take advantage of that fact? >Ann P. >On Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 08:56:28PM -0600, Karyn Campbell wrote: >> Again please read your E-mail before you post something like this. Maurice >> Sloane said there would be something further later this week or within the >> next few weeks. >> Could we please calm down. HW will announce the release when they are ready >> to do so. I too would like to know but I am willing to wait until they make >> the announcement. >> Karyn Campbell, Illinois USA, [email protected] >> Using VN QT M Power running KS 7.5 b 28 >> Check out my blog at packerbrat.livejournal.com >> ___ >> 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 >-- >AAnn K. Parsons >Portal Tutoring >Email: [email protected] >Web Site: http://www.portaltutoring.info >blog: http://www.samobile.net/users/akp >Skype: Putertutor >"All that is gold does not glitter, >Not all those who wander are lost." JRRT >___ >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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.7/1895 - Release Date: 1/15/2009 7:46 AM ___ 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
