Stacey, this is how it's supposed to work as far as I know. I would recommend you contact our orders department to clear this up.
Many thanks. On 5/14/2010 7:36 PM, Stacey Robinson wrote: > Hi all, > I had to have my syncbraille repaired. > It wasn't under warranty, so I knew I'd have to pay $45 plus the cost of > parts. I understood that I would recieve a call before repairs were made > so I would know the cost ahead of time and could make a decision as to > whether or not I'd have the repairs done. > This did not happen. I would have paid for them anyway, but I personally > feel that gw should not make any repair without contacting the customer > first. > What if the customer decided the cost beyond the $45 was just too much? > I use my syncbraille all the time so had no problem paying the repair > but I didn't like the fact that I was not told, your repair will cost > xxx do you want to pay this? > I believe that should be changed so that you receive notice of repair > costs and can ok them ahead of time. > As I said, I had no problem paying the amount, but I believe things > should be done differently. > > Have a blessed day, > Stacey Robinson and GEB dog Chesley > Eagleville, Tennessee. > [email protected] > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "sunshine" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2010 5:41 PM > Subject: Re: [GWN] frustrations about the Sense products > > >> I'd like to know what's covered under the one-year warranty with the >> BSP. I sent my notetaker in because the dot 2 didn't know. I had to >> pay for the replacement part. Secondly, they replaced the battery >> latch as it was loose and one of the feet on the bottom. I'm perplexed >> because I've only inserted the battery into the unit, and it wasn't my >> fault the dot 2 didn't work. The unit remained in the case from day >> one, so how could a foot be broken! So, even with the warranty, I have >> to pay $60.00 and wasn't told until after the unit was repaired! I'm >> paying it. I don't know what the warranty does for us? >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Alex Hall <[email protected]> >> To: [email protected] >> Date: Friday, May 14, 2010 15:51:10 >> Subject: Re: [GWN] frustrations about the Sense products >> >>> >>> >>> I agree with most of what was said, especially that companies should >>> be a lot more vocal about just what their products cannot do. When >>> Humanware says the Braillenote can access wireless email, it is worth >>> noting that it is a lot slower than even a similarly powered print >>> PDA, that some network encryption is not supported, that, especially >>> on the mPower, the email database tends to corrupt itself and you can >>> lose all your email (it happened to me six times, and I now rely on >>> GMail)... When GWM says their wordprocessor allows you to edit >>> documents, they should come out and say that Word 2007 and later is >>> not supported (I realize this will be fixed in the next version, but >>> you get my point). These companies should make it clear that flash is >>> not supported, and likely never will be, and should explain just what >>> that means for the end user. I realize no one wants to read about what >>> a product cannot do, but I think it is all too common to find >>> literature about a product explaining all of its wonderful features >>> without mentioning, even in small print, the drawbacks; those >>> drawbacks could very well be the deciding factor as to whether a user >>> buys a product or not, and, at these prices, the user should know >>> everything they can without having to try to locate a user group and >>> ask, "So I read all th... but what is the company not telling me?" >>> >>> Someone said the bn has updated with the times. I have to very >>> strongly disagree. It is true that the Apex came out recently, while >>> the BSP is the latest notetaker (not counting the forthcoming VSQGGF >>> GWM. However, the BSP and Apex are well matched in features. Except >>> for the price and physical size, they are very similar - it just took >>> hw longer to catch up. The Sense family still has MSN support (much >>> more used than GoogleTalk or Jabber) as well as having multi-tasking, >>> something HW has made no mention of. >>> >>> On 5/14/10, Colleen Roth <[email protected]> wrote: >>> > Hi All, >>> > I personally am very pleased with my Braille Sense Classic and >>> Braille > Sense >>> > Plus. >>> > They do what I need them to do for me. >>> > They do not require me to know a lot of things I would have to know >>> if > I >>> > used a Laptop or Netboook. >>> > I for one would stop using email or the Internet if this was not > >>> available >>> > to me. >>> > I have also used the Braille Note. >>> > I can say that I have been very pleased with Gw Micro's Tech >>> Support > and >>> > answers on this list. >>> > I would rather have a-pany do a good job with updates and have them >>> > less >>> > often. >>> > If you are not pleased with your Braille Sense I suggest you check >>> into > the >>> > other products out there. >>> > I am not saying it is perfect, I am saying that it is the best >>> product > on >>> > the Market in my opinion. >>> > I did not like Keysoft and am glad for my Bs and BS PLUS. >>> > Thanks Gw Micro and Hims. >>> > >>> > Colleen Roth >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > ----- Original Message ----- >>> > From: "Edwards, Paul" <[email protected]> >>> > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >>> > Date: 2010/05/14 19:32:06 >>> > Subject: RE: [GWN] FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THE Sense products >>> > >>> >ar >>> >ar >>> >ar I think it is important to acquire some perspective on this >>> issue. I >do >>> >ar not currently own a gps system and will therefore disqualify >>> myself >from >>> >ar that issue as uninformed. I have had and used a gps system with >>> >braille >>> >ar note products but that was several years ago also. >>> >ar >>> >ar I think there is room for blind people to be dissatisfied with >>> >product >>> >ar updating. However, I think that the dissatisfaction ought to >>> apply >across >>> >ar the board. I think it is worth noting that the sense products >>> have >yet to >>> >ar charge for upgrades. The Humanware folks certainly do charge for the >>> >ar braille note family. I was disheartened to see that the >>> introduction >of >>> >ar the Apex did not seem to include many changes to the programs >>> that >were >>> >ar run. Sure, there is more memory and built-in wireless and blue >>> >tooth. >>> >ar But I think a lot of us thought that this major upgrade and its >>> >attendant >>> >ar price tag would have also included more changes. >>> >ar >>> >ar It is my belief that product developers have an obligation to update >>> >ar frequently if that is necessary to maintain functionality and >>> >ar competitiveness. I think there are some major issues in this >>> area >that >>> >ar the sense products have allowed themselves to fall behind the >>> cure >on. >>> >ar Shakespeare said that comparisons are odious and I have sympathy >>> >with >>> >ar that concept. Those who make and sell the Sense note takers have >>> >made a >>> >ar choice as to whether they were going to charge for upgrades. >>> >Regardless >>> >ar of the economics of that decision, I think there is no excuse for a >>> >ar failure, by now, to support word 2007 files. I also do believe >>> that >the >>> >ar internet has changed enough over the past few years and the Sense >>> >products >>> >ar and the humanware note takers and perhaps even the Freedom >>> Scientific >not >>> >ar taker have all failed either to come up with solutions that make >>> the >web >>> >ar more accessible or to say up front that such access has serious >>> >ar limitations. >>> >ar >>> >ar I absolutely concur with whoever said that mainstream products >>> must >be >>> >ar updated to be saleable and so they are changed whenever there is >>> a >need. >>> >ar I do not think that blindness products as a group perceive that >>> they >have >>> >ar the same level of obligation to those who have chosen their >>> products. >I >>> >ar think that it is a generalized disdain for blind owners expressed >>> >through >>> >ar a failure to change enough with the times that we need to deplore. >>> >ar >>> >ar I find myself wondering also if we are operating during a time of >>> >ar transition where the relatively inexpensive net book and lap top are >>> >ar making inroads into the viability of note takers. Could we be >>> >approaching >>> >ar a threshold below which change will not happen. Some of us lived >>> >through >>> >ar the decline and fall of the braille lite millennium and know only >>> too >well >>> >ar that, after a very short life, Freedom Scientific stopped >>> upgrading >the >>> >ar device. I own a millennium, a braille plus, and a voice sense >>> and >have >>> >ar owned braille notes as well. I think what frustrates all of us >>> who >use >>> >ar these devices is the fact that, if truth be told, none of these >>> >devices is >>> >ar as transparent to the internet or to email as computers are. >>> Perhaps >this >>> >ar is the price we have to pay for a braille display or a braille >>> >keyboard >>> >ar Perhaps, however, we have reached the point where we need to say >>> >that, >>> >ar given the fact that we could buy ten net books for every braille >>> >sense we >>> >ar might consider buying, we, or someone, is not getting enough >>> return >on the >>> >ar investment. In general, I hold the following truths to be >>> >self-evident >>> >ar and relevant. >>> >ar We have a right not to be disadvantaged by products that we have >>> paid >a >>> >ar high premium for and such products need to be updated regularly, >>> >whether >>> >ar we are charged for those upgrades or not. Blind owners of >>> technology >>> >ar ought to have the same right to expect that their products can be >>> >used >>> >ar where they are designed to be used as do people without >>> disabilities >who >>> >ar purchase products that do the same tasks. Perhaps most important >>> of >all >>> >ar is my belief that vendors have an obligation to discuss the >>> >limitations of >>> >ar their products. Given the quantity of flash and java-enabled >>> stuff >on the >>> >ar net, for instance, I think that folks ought to know about the >>> >limitations >>> >ar of the note takers in terms of accessing sites that make >>> widespread >use of >>> >ar either of these technologies. >>> >ar >>> >ar It does not matter to me who paid for the products we own. I >>> paid >for all >>> >ar of mine myself with no support from my employer or the vr >>> system. We >are >>> >ar the end users of the technology and must be able to rely on it to >>> do >what >>> >ar we bought it to do. Somebody paid a lot of money for the access >>> tech >>> >ar products we have. Is it reasonable that we are on a declining >>> spiral >of >>> >ar usability as the net changes and our products do not? I >>> understand >and, >>> >ar to some degree, accept the argument about a small market. >>> However, >we pay >>> >ar a high price for these products which should take care of the >>> >disincentive >>> >ar to update. In some cases, we also pay for maintenance agreements >>> for >>> >ar which we sometimes get very little in return. I am not sure we >>> are >yet at >>> >ar the stage of "broadcast News" but I think that there is less and >>> less >>> >ar being done for these devices so they are all, to a greater or lesser >>> >ar extent, causing us to be further and further behind our >>> non-disabled >>> >ar peers. >>> >ar >>> >ar I would argue that GW Micro tries hard to apply the principles I am >>> >ar espousing with their screen reader. Are we at the stage where not >>> >taker >>> >ar for the blind manufacturers are more concerned about keeping up >>> with >the >>> >ar competition than they are in making sure their products do what >>> they >are >>> >ar supposed to do? Is that competition asking that each product do a >>> >bunch of >>> >ar things because other products do a bunch of things? Are we at the >>> >stage >>> >ar where we as consumers and access technology producers must work >>> to >develop >>> >ar a new paradigm to measure both the viability of products and what >>> >ar consumers really need and want? >>> >ar >>> >ar Paul >>> >ar >>> >ar -----Original Message----- >>> >ar From: Bryan Duarte [mailto:[email protected]] >>> >ar Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 2:04 PM >>> >ar To: [email protected] >>> >ar Subject: RE: [GWN] FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THE Sense products >>> >ar >>> >ar Raul, >>> >ar I live in Phoenix Arizona. there are several things I have >>> attempted >to >>> >ar search for using my sense nav and the results returned to me were >>> >either, >>> >ar incorrect, could not be found, or gave directions that were >>> >inaccurate. >>> >ar now >>> >ar if we are only talking about streets, cities, and states over >>> all, >the >>> >ar Sense >>> >ar Nav is great. the streets in phoenix never change. what changes >>> is >the >>> >ar businesses, locations, and information. staying up to date with >>> all >this >>> >ar information when it is ever changing would be impossible if maps >>> were >>> >ar updated every year, but to let it go out three plus years would be >>> >ar virtually >>> >ar ridiculous to expect any kind of accurate information. let me >>> >explain... I >>> >ar searched for a restaurant that I knew was on a particular corner >>> just >did >>> >ar not know the phone number. I searched using the search by name, then >>> >ar category, then by setting my virtual position to that corner and >>> >doing a >>> >ar look around. still no results were returned for the restaurant. >>> after >I >>> >ar thought about it the POI I was looking for was only there for >>> about >two >>> >ar years or so. as I looked for other businesses such as a local >>> gym, >gas >>> >ar station, and restaurant about half of the searches were not >>> easily >found, >>> >ar were not found, or the information given was not correct. the >>> only >reason >>> >ar I >>> >ar do not use the sense nav currently is because at this point the >>> maps >on >>> >ar the >>> >ar sense nav are to far behind for Phoenix and its metro areas ever >>> >changing >>> >ar and growing communities. I do not expect for a GPS SYSTEM FOR >>> SIGHTED >OR >>> >ar blind to be 100 percent accurate, but what I do expect is for a >>> >product >>> >ar such >>> >ar as a GPS SYSTEM TO STAY AS CURRENT AS POSSIBLE. Sendero is a very >>> big >name >>> >ar in GPS FOR THE BLIND, THEY HAVE A GREAT SYSTEM, AND ALWAYS HAVE >>> UP TO >DATE >>> >ar maps for their devices. my only question is what has taken so >>> long >for the >>> >ar Sense nav? when the voice sense and the Braille sense came out >>> the >talk >>> >ar was >>> >ar that these products were top of the line, were small, powerful, >>> and >had >>> >ar lots >>> >ar of promises in store for the future. well three years later, >>> there >are >>> >ar little to no major upgrades on OS, THE Daisy player still has no >>> >support >>> >ar for >>> >ar RFB AND D, NLS AUDIO BOOKS, AND STILL NO UPDATES FOR PROGRAMS >>> RUNNING >ON >>> >ar THE >>> >ar voice sense. the Braille note is evolving every year and changing >>> >with the >>> >ar times while the sense products seem to be three years back. I >>> guess >it is >>> >ar just frustrating because I bought a voice sense because the size, >>> >power, >>> >ar and >>> >ar possibilities. three years later I am starting to feel let down, >>> and >that >>> >ar maybe I made the wrong decision. >>> >ar Raul I know you are very passionate about the products you have >>> and I >know >>> >ar you always try to help everyone with them, my only problem is >>> that >all of >>> >ar the sense users bought a device that they hoped was going to >>> shine >when >>> >ar they >>> >ar bought it and continue to shine through the years to come. we are >>> not >so >>> >ar bright these days. please take these things I say as a frustrated >>> >customer >>> >ar who would like to voice their opinion somewhere that it might be >>> >heard and >>> >ar taken into consideration. this is in no way a direct slander >>> towards >GW >>> >ar Micro, Sendero, or Hims. >>> >ar >>> >ar Bryan Duarte Blind Ambitions >>> >ar >>> >ar >>> >ar -----Original Message----- >>> >ar From: Raul A. Gallegos [mailto:[email protected]] >>> >ar Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 8:53 PM >>> >ar To: [email protected] >>> >ar Subject: [GWN] FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT THE Sense products >>> >ar >>> >ar Bryan, I'm curious, where you live, have the maps changed that >>> much >from >>> >ar 2007 to 2010 that it makes your current SenseNav unusable like >>> you >say? >>> >ar Don't get me wrong, I'm not disputing what you say and I'm not >>> trying >to >>> >ar come off like what you say isn't important. However in testing >>> the >2010 >>> >ar maps and comparing them to the various cities I've traveled to or >>> >ar checked out in virtual mode, not much has changed other than some >>> >ar updated names for major roads. What has changed a lot is the POI >>> >DATA. >>> >ar >>> >ar Regarding the SyncBraille, if it's out of warranty, with any >>> hardware >>> >ar product, a standard $45 analysis charge is always charged. So we >>> are >not >>> >ar singling you out here with it. Regarding the firmware, I have >>> >personally >>> >ar been pushing for new updates for a long time. Whether you believe >>> me >or >>> >ar not is up to you, but I think that anyone who knows me will >>> believe >that >>> >ar I feel strongly that the Sense notetakers are very good and they >>> need >to >>> >ar stay up-to-date. If I had the rights and resources, I would have >>> >updated >>> >ar them myself. >>> >ar >>> >ar Many thanks. >>> >ar >>> >ar On 5/13/2010 11:05 AM, Bryan Duarte wrote: >>> >ar > I am with you on this issue sir. I bought a voice sense, sync >>> >Braille, >>> >ar > and the sense nave right when they were released. now I have >>> had a >voice >>> >ar > sense with no promised up grades, a sync Braille that no longer >>> >works >>> >ar > and to get it fixed they want to charge me 45 dollars a half >>> hour >to >>> >ar > diagnose the problem then parts and labor is separate, and a >>> sense >nav >>> >ar > that has maps from who knows how long ago with no information >>> on >when >>> >ar > and how much a new upgrade will cost. don't get me wrong I love >>> my >voice >>> >ar > sense and the sync Braille when it worked was great. the sense >>> nav >was >>> >ar > awesome when the map was accurate but now that times have moved >>> on >and >>> >ar > the technology has not things are looking down on the >>> distributors >and >>> >ar > manufacturers. to me making new products when the old products you >>> >ar > currently have are not being maintained is a little backwards I >>> >think. I >>> >ar > use to use my voice sense a lot more when it was an all in one >>> >device >>> >ar > that was up to date on all systems. now that I have a firm ware >>> >that >>> >ar > could not even pretend to bat an eye at other note takers and a >>> >sense >>> >ar > nav that was awesome three years ago when it was somewhat >>> accurate >as to >>> >ar > what was around me, but now I have over 8 thousand dollars >>> invested >into >>> >ar > a refreshable Braille display that acts as a Braille paper >>> weight, >and a >>> >ar > GPS RECEIVER THAT TAKES UP SPACE IN MY TRAVEL BACK PACK JUST >>> >WAITING TO >>> >ar > come out and play some day in the future. >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > Bryan Duarte Blind Ambitions >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > ininF:* erik burggraaf [mailto:[email protected]] >>> >ar > ininSent:* Thursday, May 13, 2010 6:36 AM >>> >ar > ininTo:* [email protected] >>> >ar > ininSubject:* Re: [GWN] Tip1 for the new Sense notetaker firmware >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > Again, it's the licensing, not the software that is at issue. >>> >ar > >>> >ar > What I'm reading is that braille note and mobile geo can >>> >physically >>> >ar > share map data on properly licensed and compatible devices, >>> but >>> >ar > braille sense can't, which is a severe limitation. >>> >ar > >>> >ar > Don't forget that all these devices are built on the same >>> >ar > development kit, no matter what brand name you put on it. >>> That >>> >ar > doesn't make them all equal, but it at least holds out the >>> >option to >>> >ar > have them compatible. An option which, based on what >>> people >are >>> >ar > saying here, braille note and mobile geo offer, but >>> sensenav >does >>> >ar > n.. >>> >ar > >>> >ar > Then we have the issue of the licensing for current maps. For >>> >ar > example, I've just found out that 2010 maps are only >>> licensed >to >>> >ar > mobile geo 2. That of course is so that I and others like >>> me >will >>> >ar > have to by mspbled and mgeo2 to get a current map, which we >>> >have the >>> >ar > option to do. But if the 2010 map were licensed to >>> sensenav, >then >>> >ar > one way or the other sensenav could use it. Taking care of >>> >this >>> >ar > licensing shouldn't require a firmware upgrade, but if it >>> did, >then >>> >ar > it could be done by a patch without requiring an entire >>> >firmware, >>> >ar > since they did that very thing for the braille note. If a >>> fee >had >>> >ar > to be charged for upgrading maps, well, so be it. Everyone >>> has >a >>> >ar > right to make money at what they do. Users who aren't greatly >>> >ar > effected by using old map data can buy a case of beer on the >>> >ar > weekend, where-z hard core travellers who need consistent >>> >accuracy >>> >ar > could go without for a weekend or two and get the upgrade. >>> In >fact, >>> >ar > I'm reasonably sure that any one who forked out 6 grand for >>> a >bsp, >>> >ar > and $1600 for sensenav are not going to quibble at a >>> $60-$80 >upgrade >>> >ar > fee for the map data for their high priced kit. Even >>> sighted >gps >>> >ar > users incur that cost, although most commercial gps are farely >>> >ar > disposable and so the cost is usually built into a whole >>> new >unit >>> >ar > and they don't realize they're paying for it. >>> >ar > >>> >ar > This doesn't seem like rocket science to me. Old map, >>> >increasingly >>> >ar > inaccurate, potential time, money and safety concern. >>> Answer, >give >>> >ar > the customer an option to pay for a new map when an update >>> >becomes >>> >ar > available. Then if you want to trundle around unfamiliar >>> areas >with >>> >ar > a three year old map on your $8000 gps, well you go on and >>> >giver, >>> >ar > but the rest of us can be getting on with the best possible >>> >ar > information, especially when you're like me and you need it >>> for >work >>> >ar > or school. >>> >ar > >>> >ar > best, >>> >ar > >>> >ar > Erik Burggraaf >>> >ar > Join me Wednesday, May 26th at CNIB Tech Aids fair in >>> Toronto. >I'll >>> >ar > be at the assistive computing booth from 2 to 4 in the >>> >afternoon and >>> >ar > circulating for the rest of the day. >>> >ar > http://www.erik-burggraaf.com >>> >ar > 888-255-5194 >>> >ar > >>> >ar > On 2010-05-12, at 5:18 AM, Keith Bucher wrote: >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > Erik, >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > Sense Nav is a HIMS OR Gw Micro product not a Sendero >>> >product. >>> >ar > >>> >ar > Sendero licenses it to GW Micro and HIMS. If you use >>> >Sense >>> >ar > Nav, >>> >ar > >>> >ar > as of right now, you are stuck with the 2007 maps. The >>> >later >>> >ar > maps >>> >ar > >>> >ar > are just for the Braillenote products from Humanware. >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > Keith >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >>> >ar > >>> >ar > >>> >ar > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >>> >ar > >>> >ar > http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >>> >ar >>> >ar >>> >ar -- >>> >ar Raul A. Gallegos >>> >ar GW Micro Technical Support And Product Specialist >>> >ar Voice 260-489-3671, Fax 260-489-2608 >>> >ar Web http://www.gwmicro.com >>> >ar >>> >ar If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >>> >ar >>> >ar http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >>> >ar >>> >ar >>> >ar If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >>> >ar >>> >ar http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >>> >ar >>> >ar >>> >ar If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >>> >ar >>> >ar http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >>> > >>> > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >>> > >>> > http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >>> > >>> > >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Have a great day, >>> Alex (msg sent from GMail website) >>> [email protected]; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap >>> >>> If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >>> >>> http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >> >> Ruthie >> >> If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: >> >> http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv >> > > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: > > http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv -- Raul A. Gallegos GW Micro Technical Support And Product Specialist Voice 260-489-3671, Fax 260-489-2608 Web http://www.gwmicro.com If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, visit: http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv
