Hi Whoever (there's no name), Yes, they obviously get a small payment from Microsoft for offering the "free" Window-Eyes; however, as I said separately, you do not get any support, and I believe, you do not get any "high quality" synthesizer. Both of these are really worth it alone.
As for SMA: did you realize if you had had an SMA when 9.2 was released, you would get it for free and not use up your SMA? This is just one good reason for buying an SMA; the company offers you free upgrades when others pay, and you don't always use your SMA. When you do, it costs less than paying for the upgrade, and you know at the time you buy the SMA how much it is costing and whether you have the money. Otherwise, in a year or two, there could be a major upgrade which costs much more than you expected and you may not have the money readily available. Also, if an employer or institution is purchasing WE for you, it's often easier to get them to include an SMA rather than to purchase the upgrade later (a colleague of mine just went through this at work). Chip -----Original Message----- From: Talk [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of via Talk Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 6:18 PM To: john s; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: SMA or free version I have never understood the thinking behind the Free version of Window Eyes for those using MS Office. I have had the sense that GW Micro was running short of Cash flow the last few years, and was looking to do something to keep the business going. I hope I am incorrect about this, but this is my sense about GW Micro's last three or four years. Unless they get some sort of payment from Microsoft, I can't see where it benefits GW Micro, now A I Squared, to have a Free edition. Seems like that would take away from the Bottom Line, rather than add to it. but, Hey, A Company can do what it wishes. What do I know. I've been a Paying customer since the DOS days with Vocal eyes, and have bought every Upgrade as it came along. I have not understood the SMA thing either, because here again, the only reason why I can think of to even have such a system, is to obtain much needed cash flow. Although, all that is happening, is that the Company is borrowing from its Customers. This is not Smart. Sure, Sure, it is marketed in such a way, that it sounds like it is the Customer who benefits the most. Sure, you get a slight discount for purchasing ahead, but the Company that borrows from its customers, end up with less when they release a new edition. I don't know what the best answer is when operating a Company such as a Screen Reader manufacturer. the idea is to sell product, to make a profit large enough to pay for Research and Development, and to make the owners and Employees happy enough to keep doing what they are doing. It is a very limited market, as only the seriously blind are likely to need such a program, and most seriously Blind are also seriously limited when it comes to buying items that are expensive. I am sure trying to keep up with every new Operating System from Microsoft is no easy task. And the Web has to be an absolute nightmare when it comes to attempting to make a screen reader work with what is likely to be found on web sites put up by all kinds of people, all around the World. I feel sorry for those guys in Development that have the chore of making a Screen Reader work with most everything found on the ever changing Web. _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/chip.orange%40 gmail.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
