It is true that the NFB did ask Microsoft to stay out of the screen
reader market. I spoke to a Microsoft marketing person who confirmed
that as well. He told me that at this date Microsoft feels that they
got sandbagged on the issue. They did as the NFB asked only to have
Apple and Sun turn around and offer screen readers in the OS while
they did not. I fully expect MS to offer a screen reader in the OS
with in a couple of years, and with that the market will dry up for
third party screen readers.
Greg
On Jul 10, 2007, at 09:27 , John Heim wrote:
Years ago, the NFB asked Microsoft to stay out of the screen reader
business . If I recall correctly, they passed a resolution asking
Microsoft to not include a competitive screen reader with Windows XP
based on the logic that it would drive Freedom Scientific and GW
Micro out of business.So I do not think it's fair to say that
Microsoft has made it clear that they want to stay out of the screen
reader business. I would think that Microsoft would rather respond
to the challenge that VoiceOver represents.
I've argued this point over and over with members of the NFB. I say
it is foolish to try to protect FS and GWM because if Microsoft
doesn't wipe them out, somebody else wwill. People are not going to
keep on paying $1000 for a product that they can get for free. And I
say Voiceover is proof that I am/was correct.
Of course, on this list, that argument carries some weight. On a
jaws list, where everyone is certain that voiceover sucks, it does
not. Those people are just as certain that voiceover sucks as
people on this list are that jaws and Microsoft suck.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dane Trethowan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS
X by theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 1:00 PM
Subject: Re: Microsoft and Apple
Correct me if I'm wrong but Microsoft have made it perfectly clear
that they wish to stay out of the screen reading business due to
the costs of development being too high? Heaven help us all,
whatever happened to "freedom of choice" for company's to spend
their money and resources on what they see fit. Microsoft have a
damn good argument to stay out of all this actually, we have 3
Screen Reading packages around which I know of for Windows so why
sould Microsoft bother. Now correct me if I'm wrong but some time
ago, I'm sure a resolution was passed or letter written begging
Microsoft to stay out of it so that smaller company's like GW
Micro etc wouldn't go bust?
On 10/07/2007, at 3:50 AM, Richie Gardenhire wrote:
Someone mentioned, in the resolution, that they wanted Microsoft
to get into the screenreading business. I wasn't in Minniapolis
at the time this resolution was read. I had flown back home
Friday, but I did hear it on ACBRadio. I got the impression no
one wanted to touch that portion of the resolution. Richie
Gardenhire, Anchorage, Alaska.
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