[nfbcs] Independence with a Price Tag

Fri Feb 5 15:43:54 UTC 2010

Hi John. I haven't checked, but I seem to remember the Wisconsin Council of the Blind (for those of you out of the Badger state, this is a private agency, not a national organization) either has, or is considering eliminating the loan program.. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of John G. Heim
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 9:12 AM
To: NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Independence with a Price Tag

I believe the NFB still has a low interest loan program for accessible technology purchases. And at least the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota have similar programs through state chartered non-profits. In Wisconsin, its the Wisconsin Coundcil  of the Blind and in Minnesota, its the Minnesota chapter of the NFB.

----- Original Message -----
From: "slery" <slerythema at insightbb.com>
To: "'NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 7:36 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Independence with a Price Tag

> There are two different payment plans. Hopefully, if they have success 
> with
> the payment plans they will consider extending it to their other products.
>
> Cindy
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Joe Orozco
>> Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 5:12 PM
>> To: 'NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List'
>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Independence with a Price Tag
>>
>> Hi Cindy,
>>
>> I'm aware of the payment plan concerning Window Eyes.  Are there two
>> payment
>> plans for the screen reader, or does the plan extend to other products?
>> Thanks for any information.
>>
>> Joe Orozco
>>
>> "A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the
>> crowd."--Max Lucado
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of slery
>> Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 4:04 PM
>> To: 'NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List'
>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Independence with a Price Tag
>>
>> GW Micro offers two payment plans. If they can do it, why can't
>> the other
>> companies?
>>
>> Sight people make large purchases on vehicles and they get to
>> use it while
>> paying for it. If we are equating adaptive equipment to the sighted
>> purchasing vehicles, then why is this not the practice from all vendors?
>>
>> Cindy
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>> > Of Bryan Schulz
>> > Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 6:10 PM
>> > To: NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List
>> > Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Independence with a Price Tag
>> >
>> > hi,
>> >
>> > other than solving version conflicts and updating scripts, jaws has
>> > operated
>> > the same for at least 15 years but it is still about 1,200
>> and 200 every
>> > two
>> > years to have the priviledge of getting updates.
>> > don't use the common defense of low users vs software cost
>> but when you
>> > buy
>> > the office suite, you are not forced to pay for updates
>> unless you want to
>> > upgrade.
>> > in the era of being able to buy a talking watch for $25, it's
>> a royal rip
>> > to
>> > have to pay 1,500 for a cell phone/gps or why prices of devices with
>> > refreshable braille won't decrease and the companies won't even allow
>> > payment plans because state agencies will say bill me without even
>> > blinking.
>> >
>> > Bryan Schulz
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu>
>> > To: "NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 10:29 AM
>> > Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Independence with a Price Tag
>> >
>> >
>> > > I've often wondered about the issues you bring up.  About a
>> year ago I
>> > > remember seeing an announcement for a GPS system that was
>> supposedly a
>> > > price breakthrough. The price? $850. For just a talking GPS.
>> > >
>> > > So I understand your frustration. But how can you be sure
>> the prices for
>> > > adaptive equipment are inflated? I think you have to have more than
>> > vague
>> > > suspicions before formally making a charge like that. In
>> fact, doing so
>> > > might do more harm than good. People might demand that government
>> > agencies
>> > > stop buying  adaptive equipment if they suspect that the
>> equipment their
>> > > tax dollars are paying for is over priced. Rather than lowering the
>> > price
>> > > for adaptive equipment, the result might be that government agencies
>> > just
>> > > stop buying it.
>> > >
>> > > A new Pac Mate with a 40 cell display costs about $5600.
>> That seems like
>> > > an incredible amount of money for a product that doesn't
>> even have built
>> > > in wireless, right? But if the Pac Mate is so over priced,
>> why doesn't
>> > one
>> > > of Freedom Scientific's competitors come out with a product
>> that blows
>> > it
>> > > out of the water for price/performance?
>> > >
>> > > Another data point is the KNFB Reader. The NFB itself came
>> out with the
>> > > KNFB Reader. But at a base price of $1600, its not exactly a
>> > breakthrough
>> > > product in terms of price. I doubt that the NFB is part of
>> a conspiracy
>> > to
>> > > keep prices high.
>> > >
>> > > We've been over and over the issue of the cost of the Pac Mate on
>> > > thepacmateger.com email list. And I have come to the
>> conclusion that it
>> > > just costs that much. You can put together the hardware for
>> a lot less
>> > and
>> > > install a free screen reader. But if you figure in the cost
>> of jaws vs
>> > > nvda and the cost of support (and you have to give Freedom
>> Scientific
>> > > credit for providing great support), $5600 doesn't seem far
>> out of line.
>> > > Honestly, I am no fan of Freedom Scientific. I think their licensing
>> > > policies are draconian and I am fed up with their tendency
>> to sue their
>> > > competitors. But when I really think about it, I have to
>> admit that the
>> > > Pac Mate isn't that much over priced.
>> > >
>> > > ----- Original Message -----
>> > > From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com>
>> > > To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>> > > <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> > > Cc: "'Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind
>> Students.'"
>> > > <nabs at acb.org>; <tabs_students at googlegroups.com>; "'NFBnet
>> NFBCS Mailing
>> > > List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> > > Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 10:45 PM
>> > > Subject: [nfbcs] Independence with a Price Tag
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >> Dear list,
>> > >>
>> > >> I'm continuously appalled at the price tags associated
>> with adaptive
>> > >> technology.  While you're in college you might receive
>> assistance from
>> > >> your
>> > >> rehab agency to purchase equipment.  You may get some
>> assistance after
>> > >> you
>> > >> find a job, but inevitably there comes a point when the
>> expense comes
>> > >> directly from your own pocket.  I wonder how many people
>> have had to
>> > >> settle
>> > >> for outdated technology because they simply cannot afford it.  But,
>> > >> that's
>> > >> the thing.  I'm only assuming there are tons of people who cannot
>> > afford
>> > >> this technology.  I'd like to lead a campaign to call
>> public attention
>> > to
>> > >> this monopoly, and, I'd like to hear your thoughts on
>> whether or not
>> > you
>> > >> think me crazy.  If my assumption is wrong, I'll keep my views to
>> > myself.
>> > >> If there is a high number of people unable to tap into emerging
>> > software
>> > >> simply because they cannot pay for it, I'd like to hear
>> from you.  I
>> > >> understand the technology itself costs a lot of money to
>> develop.  Yet,
>> > >> it
>> > >> seems more of the price boost is owed to extravagant government
>> > contracts
>> > >> that allow the few players to charge something like $6,200
>> for a device
>> > >> that, despite its best advertisements, does not perform
>> completely on
>> > par
>> > >> with its mainstream counterparts.
>> > >>
>> > >> At this time I have only a vague idea for a strategy.  Yet it's
>> > something
>> > >> I'm willing to build up if the need can be clearly identified.
>> > >>
>> > >> Looking forward to your input,
>> > >>
>> > >> Joe Orozco
>> > >>
>> > >> "A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the
>> > >> crowd."--Max Lucado
>> > >>
>> > >>
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>> > >>
>> > >>
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>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/jheim%40m
>> ath.wisc.e
>> > du
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >
>> > >
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>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
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