[nabs-l] Learning Ally new prices

Tue Aug 9 23:12:05 UTC 2011

You think products other than Stream have better electronic speech. What 
product? Is it as much as the Stream?
What do you mean by innovate in their products?
Perhaps you mean the Book sense, but I thought GW micro made that.
How was it better? Clearer? The stream's voice is a lady but to me its like 
she has a horse voice. The eloquence synthesizwer on my computer is clear, 
thankfully.

-----Original Message----- 
From: T. Joseph Carter
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 6:57 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Learning Ally new prices

Human speech is far better than electronic, that’s for sure.  But
products other than the Stream have at least better electronic
speech.  I was quite impressed by the HIMS products' features and
price point.  They’re also a lot smaller than the Victor Stream, and
they’re actually trying to innovate in their products.  All bonuses!

Joseph - kf7qzc

On Tue, Aug 09, 2011 at 06:45:21PM -0400, bookwormahb at earthlink.net wrote:
>Joeseph,
>Well RFB had several psychology books for me and I remember the days of
>listening to them at night in the library.  I plan to be a student in the 
>future and RFB certainly has more than textbooks; so I belive they are of 
>benefit to non students too.
>I would take four classes and 2 or three texts were generally on RFB audio.
>
>When I was a student, bookshare was more for leisure reading. But I hear 
>now they have more texts.
>For those who like synthesized speech, you can always get an electronic 
>textbook or scan it yourself. But for me, hearing the human voice helps me 
>learn.
>My VR stream has text to speech capability, but I can hardly understandthe 
>fuzzy speech! I am so thankful for RFB and NLS books.
>I used NLS books for some novels in school including To Kill a Mocking 
>Bird, The Prince, and Death of a Salesman.
>I would think if money is an issue that you could ask VR to pay for it. 
>They may say no, but its worth a try.
>Also universities should have their own institutional membership to 
>Learning Ally.
>So if you want their books using your school may be an option too.
>
>Ashley
>
>-----Original Message----- From: T. Joseph Carter
>Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 6:29 PM
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Learning Ally new prices
>
>For me it’s a no-brainer.  I did not renew my Bookshare account
>despite being an avid Bookshare user because I do not have the money.
>
>The Organization Formerly Known As RFB&D wants twice as much, and
>they just don’t have the library of books I need anymore.  Were I
>still a student, that might be different, but the whole time I was in
>graduate school, they had I think two of my textbooks.  I just can’t
>justify the expense, no matter how awesome AnneMarie Cook is.
>
>Joseph - kf7qzc
>
>
>On Tue, Aug 09, 2011 at 05:46:32PM -0400, bookwormahb at earthlink.net wrote:
>>Hi all,
>>With budget cuts to many nonprofits, Learning Ally lost their federal 
>>funding.
>>They are now charging individuals a large fee annually for membership; 
>>when I joined years ago, I paid $35, but
>>its much more than $35 now!
>>Have you heard the news?
>>I received word today via my email from Learning Ally that effective 
>>September 1
>>individual memberships are $99.
>>It said the following:
>> a.. On September 1, 2011 Individual Memberships will be $99 per year -a 
>> little more than eight dollars a month.
>> b.. For a limited time only, we are offering a special opportunity to 
>> renew your current membership for $79 (a savings of $20). Take advantage 
>> of this special membership offer, renew on/before August 31, 2011.
>>So what do you think? Will you pay this fee?
>>I know many of you may be tight on money; I hope your family can chip in 
>>or some group can sponsor you. Budgets are very tight. Personally, I 
>>enjoyed the free books. But I do understand the rationale to begin 
>>charging once again. They are a nonprofit after all. Other college 
>>students pay a lot for their texts. I think a membership to audible.com is 
>>more expensive than this.
>>As for me, I plan to take more classes at community college even though I 
>>graduated in 2009 with a BA degree. I need to keep my writing and study 
>>skills active. I think I will renew my Learning Ally membership. They 
>>recorded several books for me during school; the staff at the studio is 
>>very friendly. Good thing I have a paying internship to help cover the 
>>cost.
>>I knew this was coming when I heard Learning Ally was losing funding. I 
>>knew it months ago prior to their announcement today.
>>Learning Ally has their flaws, but overall their books are helpful. I 
>>cannot study with a human reader at midnight, but I can pull out my 
>>Learning Ally book anytime and hear a human voice read to me.
>>
>>Ashley
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