[nfbcs] jaws so sensitive is BS!

Sat Dec 30 03:50:48 UTC 2017

Hello Nancy and everyone,

	We have nothing wrong with software developers putting limints on the number of instalations. Rather it's how they enforce this protocol that's the issue. In Microsoft's case you're given an authorization code in an e-mail message. When you use the application the first time you must type this code into fields on the activation screen to bring the program to life no waiting for someone to be in the office or having to go to an activation Website to activate an application or to reset the number of authorizations particularly when you're not able to access the Internet. Microsoft monitors the number of instalations you have running. When that limit is reached you're prevented from using that particular authorization code to activate any more copies of that software on additional devices. It would sure simplify things if VFO would use a similar activation process instead of the one they currently use to control the instalations of their software. It works for others why wouldn't it work for VFO? All the best.

Peter Donahue

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of John Heim via nfbcs
Sent: Friday, December 29, 2017 5:03 PM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
Cc: John Heim; Nancy Coffman
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] jaws so sensitive is BS!

The OP wasn't complaining about the number of installs. He was complaining that he had to re-activate because he changed his hardware configuration.  I haven't used jaws in years but I once had to re-activate after swapping out a CD-ROM for a CD-RW. I happened to have done this on a Friday evening and I happened to have run out of activations. Perhpas by now VFO has fixed it so swapping out a CD drive doesn't break jaws. And maybe they've extended their help desk hours so you can get them to reset your activations on a weekend. But that was a major hassle.

On 12/29/2017 04:41 PM, Nancy Coffman via nfbcs wrote:
> Microsoft also puts a limit on how many products you can put Microsoft office on. I don’t think it’s uncommon.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Dec 29, 2017, at 9:21 AM, John Heim via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Right, years ago, Freedom Scientific made a choice to put preventing piracy ahead of customer service. Admittedly, there is always a balance to maintain there. Licensing is always an inconvenience. But I've never seen any other company put the emphasis so much on preventing piracy. I'd be interesting in hearing if you know of any other desktop tool that has a licensing policy like jaws.
>>
>> Years ago, the NFB was part of a group that asked Microsoft not to develop a screen reader for Windows. I was very much against it at the time, BTW. But we did this in large part to protect jaws. IMO, your company now has an obligation to serve the blindness community. I think you have an obligation to rethink this policy.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 12/29/2017 06:33 AM, Glen Gordon via nfbcs wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> The goal of JAWS authorization has always been to prevent wholesale piracy, not to treat licensed users as criminals. A couple of years ago we revamped things so that fewer changes in hardware will cause authorzation keys to become invalid. In cases such as yours where a key needs to be reissued, you won't be penalized for changing your hardware and will be given credit for the "lost key."
>>> We have a web site that allows you to reset your activation count.
>>> https://fsactivate.freedomscientific.com/Activation/ResetRequest
>>> There are limits on how often you can do this without interacting with a human but if you haven't reset your count recently, this should be an entirely automated process.
>>> It is true that you can purchase a dongle to take with you, but assuming that your machine configuration isn't  regularly changing, that's probably not necessary.
>>> --Glen
>>> P.S. It's been over ten years since anything about JAWS authorization involved floppy discs.
>>> Glen Gordon
>>> VFO | Vice President & Chief Technology Officer
>>> 11800 31st Court North, St. Petersburg, FL 33716 T 727-299-6230 
>>> ggordon at vfo-group.com www.vfo-group.com -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David 
>>> Andrews via nfbcs
>>> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2017 3:36 AM
>>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] jaws so sensitive is BS!
>>> No, doing so would be defeating their copy protection, which would be illegal.
>>> Dave
>>> At 07:00 PM 12/28/2017, you wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In the new age when floppy disks are obsolete, for Christmas I 
>>>> bought myself a icy dock dual 2.5" bay drive cage and obtained 
>>>> visual help to make the sata ports hot plug capable in bios.
>>>>
>>>> Everything works great and the computer recognized the drive when 
>>>> it was shoved into the slot then it killed the jaws activation.
>>>>
>>>> Has anyone found a way around the jaws activation BS that burns a 
>>>> key when you make any little change to your hardware?
>>>>
>>>> Bryan Schulz
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>>
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