Dear Jonathan, I appreciate your comments in your post entitled [Braillenote] Response to recent posts about the future of theBrailleNoteI look forword to a bright future for the Braillenote.
Sincerely, Jerry Weinger > ----- Original Message ----- >From: Jonathan Mosen <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2004 19:33:39 +1200 >Subject: [Braillenote] Response to recent posts about the future of >theBrailleNote >Hi everyone. I'm away at present and just spent an interesting two and a >half hours >catching up on the e-mail from this list. It's >certainly filled up my evening when I'm on my own in yet another hotel >room. I don't >think it would be practical for me to reply to each >and every post on this subject, so I hope this consolidated reply will >suffice. >Firstly, thanks to those who have offered feedback. I'm proud to say that >Pulse Data >runs its own support list, which is monitored by >staff. Your opinions and suggestions are very much valued. Indeed, it was >all of >your suggestions for what should be in the Planner >that has made it the hit that it is, so thanks for that. >When you've made an investment in technology as significant as the >BrailleNote, I >can understand that concerns about its future can >be quite an emotional subject. However I would ask that we please conduct >discussions >on this list without rancour, name calling or >profanity. I also believe it is a fairly obvious courtesy that discussions >on mailing >lists for other products is clearly inappropriate. >Thanks for bearing this in mind as it will ensure the list is useful both >to you >and to us here at Pulse Data. >Some of the product comparison posts I've read are highly inaccurate and >misleading. >However I don't think that much can be >served by getting embroiled in a blow by blow refuting of many of these >points. so >let me just discuss the BrailleNote. >The BrailleNote is so easy to use, that the user interface often masks how >powerful >it is. I've been using Windows since 1993, and >yet I chose to buy a BrailleNote long before I worked here at Pulse Data. >If I had >to make that choice again today, I would still buy a >BrailleNote, because it allows me to interact with my information with >efficiency >and power, allowing me to focus on the ends and not >the means. But as a very wired, mobile, connected user of technology, I am >not satisfied >with where the BrailleNote is today, and >one of the great attractions about accepting Pulse Data's offer of being >the Product >manager for the BrailleNote was that I could do >something about it. I hear loud and clear that there are some needs that >we're not >presently meeting. We will never meet everyone's >needs, however there are some critical issues that need addressing. >In retrospect, I made an error in not summarising on this list some of the >remarks >I made at the BrailleNote breakfast at the recent >CSUN conference, so I will do that now. >When I joined Pulse Data International in July, obviously I spent some >time understanding >how things were done, talking to current >and potential users, and our many sales people around the world who >interact with >a wide range of people. Then I sat down and put >a paper together on what we need to do to make sure that the reputation of >the BrailleNote >as an innovative piece of technology on >the cutting edge is preserved. Certainly one thing that needed to change >was resourcing, >so we can get product out to you in a more >timely manner. I'm delighted to say that in recent weeks, that has >changed. We now >have four new developers added to the >BrailleNote team and additional quality assurance engineers. What this >means is that >already, development is accelerating rapidly, >although the nature of the work that is being done because of its >significance means >that you may not see it for a wee while. >However, once we get over the infrastructural hurdles we're now dealing >with, I can >assure you that with a much expanded team, >updates will be more feature-rich and more frequent. The increase in the >BrailleNote >team represents a significant investment in >human resources by Pulse Data and signals our commitment to an exciting >future for >the product. >I also want to point out that not once on this list have I ever said, and >nor will >you ever hear me say, that you should stop dreaming >great dreams for the BrailleNote because it's not a laptop. Some >subscribers say >this, but I don't share that view. Now clearly the >BrailleNote will not ever do everything that a laptop does, but it's not >an excuse >for inactivity. Let's face it, you pay good money for >one of these devices, much more than a sighted person pays for a PDA. So >on that >basis, within the constraints of the available >technology and without compromising our philosophy of computing for >everyone, I want >the BrailleNote to eventually do as much as >possible, which is why we now have a much larger team working on it. >Clearly, at the moment, there are some needs we are not meeting, and while >no product >can please all the people all of the time, we >are taking steps that I think will address most of the major shortfalls >customers >have identified. It's not yet the time for me to be more >specific and I regret that, however I hope the concrete facts I have given >you about >our expanded development team demonstrates >that we mean serious business. These changes haven't happened as fast as I >would >like, or as fast as many of you would like. I have >had to get used to the pace at which this kind of major change comes. But >the team >is now strong and there is some good work >being done. >Let me close with a personal assurance. I am a BrailleNote owner and user >myself. >It was a big investment. I have a vested interest >in making sure my investment in a BrailleNote was a good long-term >decision, and >I assure you we'll be delivering. Four talented, >bright software engineers working their socks off in addition to the great >team we >already have is a testimony to that. >Thanks for reading. >J >Jonathan Mosen >BrailleNote Product Marketing Manager >Pulse Data International Ltd >DDI: +64-3-373-6192 >Fax: +64-3-384 4933 >Mobile: +64-21 466 736 >Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Internet: www.pulsedata.com >___ >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >http://list.pulsedata.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
