Window Eyes will get the Jaws refugees. They are the only other professional screen reader for Windows. System Access, NVDA, and friends are not professional. I know that lots of people that spend most of their time in a web browser and chatting with friends on IM will disagree, but professionals need advanced support for Excel, support for Word that goes beyond just reading raw text, etc.
And, actually, Window Eyes will be in the same boat in only a year or two. You might not like high prices for pro level Windows screen readers, but that's what it takes on Windows to make something pro. Windows screen reading is a constant battle to keep supporting programs from version to version, as little changes in the program break your screen reader's previously great support. The screen reader companies make a lot of money off an initial sell, but, once practically everyone that can get a screen reader, has a screen reader, the market is saturated, and the only money that comes in is through upgrade fees. That just is barely enough money to keep going. As much money as they'd been losing, FS had given up on support for any professional apps, outside of Microsoft Office, for the last few years, and supporting that suite of programs as their interfaces are completely overhauled each version became a all-consuming effort. If they wanted to do more than Office, they'd need to charge more money. The cheap-o and freebie screen readers aren't charging, but then they just don't support anything except leisure software. Well, maybe GW Micro can hold things together for a few years with Window Eyes. If not, looks like blind people will be out of clarical jobs. Hope they all can move up to professional employment, or else they'll be moving down to SSI checks. Bryan -----Original Message----- From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Kaare Dehard Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 2:29 PM To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: [bcab] End of Freedom? I feel as sorry for the stupid or missinformed employers who will force the job losses. There are other windows based screen readers out there, some with plenty of scripting capabilities, such as window-eyes whos scripting fits more in to the modern age. We can't expect them all to addopt macs:) but we can pitty them their stupidity if they don't see that the wold wasn't created in 6 days for the blind by freedom:). On 2010-06-05, at 2:21 PM, Donna Goodin wrote: > I agree with you. > Donna > On Jun 5, 2010, at 2:03 PM, Sarai Bucciarelli wrote: > >> I feel sorry for the people who will loose their jobs. >> On Jun 5, 2010, at 12:22 PM, Courtney Curran wrote: >> >>> I certainly agree. Yay, yay, no more overpriced, unfair JAWS. >>> Courtney >>> >>> On 05/06/2010, at 1:19 in the Afternoon, Olivia Norman wrote: >>> >>>> YAY! YAY! YAY! Goodbye Jaws! :) :) :) :) "Innovation distinguishes >>>> between a leader and a follower" Steve Jobs >>>> >>>> On Jun 5, 2010, at 9:42 AM, Kawal Gucukoglu wrote: >>>> >>>>> Off topic, but I feel everyone will be interested especially those people >>>>> who run Fusion on their Macs. >>>>> >>>>> Begin forwarded message: >>>>> >>>>>> From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <ibrahim_gucuko...@sent.com> >>>>>> Date: June 5, 2010 9:36:33 AM GMT+01:00 >>>>>> To: "Kawal Gucukoglu" <kawal_gucuko...@sent.com> >>>>>> Subject: Fw: [bcab] End of Freedom? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Colin r. Howard" >>>>>> <co...@pobox.com> >>>>>> To: <b...@freelists.org>; <access...@freelists.org>; >>>>>> <av...@googlegroups.com>; <ntexpr...@googlegroups.com>; >>>>>> <jaws...@freelists.org> >>>>>> Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 1:30 AM >>>>>> Subject: [bcab] End of Freedom? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> Greetings, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I am posting the main text from a thread just seen on the Blind >>>>>>> Audio List which I am surprised not to have seen on the BCAB or >>>>>>> AccessUK groups. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Ought we to give much credence to this? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I, for one, would welcome any comments from Sight and Sound. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From: "Otto Zamora" <donttreado...@bellsouth.net> >>>>>>> Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2010 05:44:14 -0400 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Morning, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> In an advocate meeting yesterday, the subject came up reference >>>>>>> Freedom Scientific, the company that among other things sports JFw. >>>>>>> Because the company is in the state of Florida, it came up on a >>>>>>> flag by an analyst. >>>>>>> Seems this company is having bad money troubles, not surprising >>>>>>> given the economy, but talk is that they are now looking to sell >>>>>>> off some of their division, mainly their JFW area. >>>>>>> I am not sure who if anyone will buy this division, considering >>>>>>> that there is an entity now selling a fully integrated package for only >>>>>>> $700. >>>>>>> Besides a comprehensive screen reader, if the user chooses to >>>>>>> get the package, there is a browser, along with a customed and >>>>>>> fully accessible web sites, word processing, and E mail. >>>>>>> all of this can apparently be accessed either on line, or as >>>>>>> individual program. >>>>>>> ad to that, the entertainment mogill, and you have a powerful >>>>>>> tool indeed for the kind of money they are asking for. >>>>>>> Another side of the equation is the apple company, now selling >>>>>>> computers already with speech on board right out of the box and off the >>>>>>> shelf. >>>>>>> Put these two aspects together, and you have a deadly combo that >>>>>>> might very well result in a abrupt end to the JFW program. >>>>>>> Considering the way that technology is growing, older versions >>>>>>> of JFW, will only work for a short while until the programs >>>>>>> controlling the OS, begins to outgrow the application. >>>>>>> In seeing this package, one of the things which was pointed out >>>>>>> to me, was the learning curve, which for the new package being >>>>>>> sold by Mr.. Mike Calvo, is very short. >>>>>>> The user has the option to learn as little or as much as they >>>>>>> want without real loss. From: "Alison Trelfa" >>>>>>> <codamu...@uwclub.net> >>>>>>> Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2010 15:36:47 +0100 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hello, Otto, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I wonder whether many jaws users would move to another speech >>>>>>> program as yet as many of the packages that are not standard >>>>>>> probably wouldn't be supported by the out of the box speech. I >>>>>>> run Sonar and Sibelius 5.25, both of which are using scripts >>>>>>> that have been written by folk who specialise not only in Jaws, >>>>>>> but only in the two programs. I suppose those people who only >>>>>>> need computers for basic commands may well get away with speech >>>>>>> such as you describe, but I don't think that Jaws would just be >>>>>>> dismissed out of hand because Freedom is going. I think Jaws has >>>>>>> changed hands once before if I'm not mistaken? Correct me if I'm wrong >>>>>>> there. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I would be very sorry to see Jaws go under, but I'm not worried >>>>>>> yet. There is a huge following for Jaws and I believe that someone >>>>>>> would take it over. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From: "Otto Zamora" <donttreado...@bellsouth.net> >>>>>>> Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2010 10:49:36 -0400 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> hi, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> You are correct, I am just stating that from what we were told, >>>>>>> they are having a hard time finding someone who will take on the >>>>>>> project,especially since as you point out, most people are not >>>>>>> using anything that is high end, and from what we also have >>>>>>> heard, people are tired of having to pay $1500 and change, when >>>>>>> there now is a program which will do speech and more for only $700. >>>>>>> Given the economy, for many people, the sedition may be financial. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From: Geoff Long <ge...@tisab.demon.co.uk> >>>>>>> Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:20:04 +0100 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi Alison, I wonder how many JAWS users have to pay for their >>>>>>> own equipment. I use window-eyes, which is considerably less >>>>>>> expensive, and as I had to pay for my training and kit from my >>>>>>> own pocket, it makes a big difference. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From: "Dr Norman Waddington" >>>>>>> <normanwaddington...@btinternet.com> >>>>>>> Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2010 16:36:22 +0100 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi Geoff, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I need no introduction to you on this list. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I am a Jaws user and have paid all the way through out of my own >>>>>>> pocket from version 3.5 methinks if I remember correctly. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From: Anders Holmberg <and...@pipkrokodil.se> >>>>>>> Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:37:37 +0200 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hello! >>>>>>> Also we have nvda as a very good and free alternative. >>>>>>> And Hal or supernova which costs less money than jaws. >>>>>>> From: "Mike Stewart" <stewar...@verizon.net> >>>>>>> Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:58:45 -0600 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The entry price is steep, but upgrades only run about $100-$140 or so... >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From: "Alison Trelfa" <codamu...@uwclub.net> >>>>>>> Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2010 21:31:33 +0100 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi, Geoff, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> It is expensive to get jaws I agree with that. The problem I >>>>>>> have is that there are no other programs that support the music >>>>>>> side as far as I know. If all programs worked as well as >>>>>>> microsoft office or outlook express then I think Jaws would >>>>>>> really be struggling. Most of the other programs that I know of don't >>>>>>> support many programs apart from the basics. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From Colin Howard, for whom a small place near Southampton in >>>>>>> Southern England, has the honour of providing a home. >>>>>>> To find out more about BCAB and the benefits that membership can bring, >>>>>>> please visit our website: >>>>>>> http://www.bcab.org.uk/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To manage your subscription to the BCAB mailing list, please visit our >>>>>>> website: >>>>>>> http://www.bcab.org.uk/mailing-list.html >>>>>>> >>>>>>> To discuss matters relating to the mailing list, please email >>>>>>> bcab-moderat...@freelists.org >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ____ >>>>> Kawal Gucukoglu >>>>> >>>>> (E-mail/MSN): >>>>> >>>>> kawal_gucuko...@sent.com >>>>> >>>>> (Skype ID): >>>>> >>>>> kawalgucukoglu >>>>> >>>>> (Mobile/Text): >>>>> >>>>> +447905618396 >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
