[nfbcs] NVDA product question

[David Andrews]

This is not true -- a dealer can sell for less -- although most do 
not.  The state of Minnesota, because it purchases a number of copies 
each year has negotiated discounts on various AT products with a wide 
variety of companies.  So, it is possible.

Dave

At 01:14 AM 11/5/2014, you wrote:
>hi,
>
>the actual cost of jaws, etc is the same no matter where it is 
>purchased across the country.
>I was talking about a midwest contractor that was granted golden boy 
>status while two others were forced out of business or the area!
>Bryan Schulz
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Wayland via nfbcs" 
><nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>To: "'Bryan Schulz'" <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>; "'NFB in Computer 
>Science Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 10:46 PM
>Subject: Re: [nfbcs] NVDA product question
>
>
>>Besides that, Blind people are being told who they have to buy from and not
>>be allowed to shop for best prices.
>>There is only one company in this area I can by Jaws from, well, not just
>>Jaws many other products. As well. This doesn't allow me to shop around the
>>country and find a better price. I am not sure if this is even legal. I
>>can't think of any other product other than assistive devices that are sold
>>this way.
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bryan Schulz via
>>nfbcs
>>Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 1:51 PM
>>To: Brian Buhrow; NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [nfbcs] NVDA product question
>>
>>Brian,
>>
>>That's not completely true that vendors are not getting rich from the
>>adaptive technology field especially when other vendors are forced to close
>>or relocate when a specific vendor is favored!
>>Bryan Schulz
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Brian Buhrow via nfbcs" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>To: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>; "NFB in Computer Science
>>Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>; "Michael Forzano"
>><michaeldforzano at gmail.com>
>>Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 12:45 AM
>>Subject: Re: [nfbcs] NVDA product question
>>
>>
>>>Hello.  Everyone who has been following or contributing to this thread
>>>on this list needs to read, multiple times, tim Connell's article in
>>>the November 2014 Braille Monitor, "What is the Cost of a Free Product?"
>>>In that article, he lays out the various funding models for all the
>>>access technology available today and lists the vices and virtues of
>>>each model.  He makes the point, in a few wores, that I've been trying
>>>to make, in a very clumsy fashion, for a number of years.  Free is not
>>>always better.
>>>I'll add to his point that even more important is the fact that we as
>>>blind consumers need to be aware of the cost of free products before
>>>we end up paying the ultimate price of freedom, i.e. with our jobs
>>>and, potentially, our independence.  I find Jaws to be just as
>>>frustrating as the next guy and I don't use it in my daily work.
>>>However, I purchase it because it is there if I really need it and
>>>there may be a day, and there have been a few, when it did something I
>>>really needed.  Many blind professionals I know rely on Jaws every day
>>>and I would be very sad to see them lose their livelihoods because
>>>Freedom Scientivic could no longer afford to support their products.
>>>Sure there are excesses in the market place and companies who've
>>>stocked their treasure chests with the gold of the poor who bought
>>>their products.  However, let's not let the exception make the rule.
>>>Most folks working in the access technology arena are not becoming
>>>filthy rich off our baksand, even better for us, they are dedicated
>>>individuals who truly believe in helping us achieve independence
>>>through improved access to technology and training.  As Tim points
>>>out, the philanthropic model, which is how NVDA is funded, is a
>>>fragile beast and subject to the whims of the funders which, are, in
>>>turn, influenced by a wide array of factors including political
>>>considerations, share holder concerns and issues I can't even think
>>>of.  Contrary to Tim's essay, I'd argue that technologies like
>>>VoiceOver in Apple's iOS  and Talkback in Google's Android survive on
>>>the philanthropic model as well, all be it from one donor rather than
>>>many.
>>>The point I want to make here is that while everyone is discussing the
>>>merrits of NVDA versus Jaws relative to their costs, remember that, as
>>>Tim points out, we probably don't truly know the cost of free yet. I
>>>pray that we will before we actually pay it!
>>>
>>>-thanks
>>>-Brian

         David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
E-Mail:  dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org