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Date:         Wed, 2 Sep 1992 02:01:37 EDT
Reply-To:     Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
From:         Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
Subject:      Handicap Digest # 2911
X-To:         LHCAP <l-hcap@VM1.NODAK.EDU>

                             THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                                 Issue # 2911

                        Wednesday, September 02, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******

                           Blink Talk Digest # 702

                              Buying a lap top
                  from the president of syntha-voice 1 of 4
                  from the president of syntha-voice 2 of 4
                  from the president of syntha-voice 3 of 4
                  from the president of syntha-voice 4 of 4
                              Re: Acb/Nfb Feud
                            Information Services
                              Buying a lap top
                           Slimware Window Bridge
                             Low cost ocr system


                                ******


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                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 337-1518



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Subject: Buying a lap top
From: Christopher.Hill@p233.f4115.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Christopher Hill)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/4115.233 - Southern Crossroads, Grapevine TX


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I read your post about laptops, and I thought I'd drop in a few
suggestions.  If you live in a city with some big computer stores,
have a look.  Many notebooks have the features you are looking for,
vga screen, decent power, hard disk, etc, and I'm not sure Toshiba
has come down to the price reality that is happening in the
notebookw world yet.

If you have a COMP USA in your area, you should have a look.  They
carry some Toshiba, compudine, dell, etc.  Compuad also makes some
nice notebooks.  I have an el-cheapo notebook cfrom a mail order
outfit called Evertech in California.   It came with a 30-day
trial, so I found that I liked it before I was stuck with it.

Try to get a 30-day money back on one if possible, this way if
there is something that the salesman neglected to tell you about
the machine, you won't get burned.

Last but not least, you might try to get ahold of the "laptop" echo
available on the fidonet backbone.  It isn't particularly large,
but there is good information there.  I'll mention one last company
in passing.  Everex has a nice line of notebooks, which have a
fantastic service plan.  If there is any problem, I believe they
will ship you a new one asap, and this is usually next day, and you
simply  return yours.  I wish mine came with that kind of service.

One thing you might also look for is a notebook with two serial
ports, in case you want to run a synthesizer and a modem at the
same time.  I've got a synthesizer that'll do parallel or serial,
but it's really nice to have the option.  Other things to ask:
battery life, cost of extra batteries, cost of car adapter, does it
come with a carying case (notebooks don't usually have handles and
they also do need protection), .sdoes it have sleep features to
prolong battery life, is the ram in custom modules, or does it take
simm's, how much are any other accessories such as an internal fax
modem, etc.

Hope this helps..
 Chris

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!124!4115.233!Christopher.Hill
Internet: Christopher.Hill@p233.f4115.n124.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: from the president of syntha-voice 1 of 4
From: Paul.Nobrega@p0.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Paul Nobrega)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:163/266.0 - Vision, Ottawa ON


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Message for Blinktalk
Date: Mon Aug 10 07:05:38 MDT 1992
As the President of Syntha-voice, and being totally blind myself,
I have been monitoring this conference with great interest.  I
would like to take this opportunity to rectify some of the
situations that have been portrayed about our company, and our
products.
I have read several notes about our lack of a Demo Disk.  We are
being quoted as saying that the reason for not having such a disk
is that we say that a blind  user won't have Windows; so what is
the point of a demo.
As the person who takes these enquiries, and gives out the
information, I can clearly state that this is not what is being
said.  Yes, we certainly realize that more and more systems are
coming with Windows on board.
Without a Mouse, WINDOW BRIDGE cannot be installed fully on your
system.  That is, although you may not use the Mouse once the
system is installed, it is used by Windows during the Installation
process to install a Mouse Driver.  This driver creates a Mouse
Pointer.  The Mouse Pointer is used to locate ICONS, and to varying
extents on applications to select options on the screen.  We allow
the Mouse Pointer to be navigated and controlled by the keyboard,
but this is only possible if the Mouse Pointer is present on the
screen.
Yes, we are concerned about a flood of calls on our Toll Free Lines
by Demo Users asking questions about Windows, or Windows
Applications.  Lets be realistic, this is going to happen.
Although Microsoft, and independent Applications Manufacturers have
Customer Support lines for their products, the responsability will
fall to the Adaptive Technology Manufacturer to answer all of the
questions.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!266.0!Paul.Nobrega
Internet: Paul.Nobrega@p0.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: from the president of syntha-voice 2 of 4
From: Paul.Nobrega@p0.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Paul Nobrega)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:163/266.0 - Vision, Ottawa ON


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

If we are not familiar with the Application used, our inability
to assist the user can be interpreted as unknowledgeable staff.
If we say that the use of this line is for registered users with
specific questions about our technology, it will offend others who
will say that we are not supporting our technology.  We find
ourselves in quite a dilemma here.  I am writing this note as a
method of opening communications with you.
We would like constructive input as to what you would find to be a
reasonable solution.  We have a BBS that has a Conference Area on
each of our products.  Unfortunately, I don't get the Blink Talk
Echo locally.  I have received extracts through some of our users.
I would like to keep on top of this situation, and find a suitable
solution.
For interest sake, it was the unanimous decision of the Beta Group
on this product that a Demo Disk not be released until these
questions are answered.
Therefore, we did not arbitrarily sit here, and say that it should
be purchased outright without any consideration to demo disks.
Do you realize that the use of Demo disks, although popular
in the general industry, was in place in the early 1980's.
However, adaptive technology manufacturers did not get involved
until many years later.
Although you may think that it was through "pressure on the
company" as one Blink Talk Message suggested; it was greatly due to
a conscious decision by adaptive designers who were concerned about
calls being made that were not related directly to their product.
I am not saying that this is good or bad; but we want to keep our
lines open and available to registered users who have a real
problem.
Ask yourself this...

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!266.0!Paul.Nobrega
Internet: Paul.Nobrega@p0.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: from the president of syntha-voice 3 of 4
From: Paul.Nobrega@p0.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Paul Nobrega)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:163/266.0 - Vision, Ottawa ON


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

If I have spent hundreds of dollars on a product, and I have a
problem, how would I feel if I called the manufacturer about
this  problem, and could not get through because the lines were
tied up by people who did not purchase the product, or wanted
Application Program training over the phone.  I know that I would
be upset, and would blame the manufacturer for not handling their
Customer Lines properly.
We are all aware of Adaptive Manufacturers who seem cold when they
give you 1 chance to give your customer number when you call before
hanging up on you.  This was the  way that their company responded
to abuse of the lines.
I am trying to find a happy medium here.
Since you are the consumer, I am approaching you for your
opportunity to have a say on how this should be done. I was not
going to comment on the allegations by 1 writer about our
popularity with the Canadian Government.  This writer referred to
an issue of a Technology article where they claim that the Canadian
Government was not happy with our service or technology.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!266.0!Paul.Nobrega
Internet: Paul.Nobrega@p0.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: from the president of syntha-voice 4 of 4
From: Paul.Nobrega@p0.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Paul Nobrega)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:163/266.0 - Vision, Ottawa ON


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I have not seen this article, and quite frankly am quite interested
in following up on its validity.  I would be more than happy to
pay for the call if the person writing about this article would
call us to give reference to the article, and its issue so that I
can read it myself.
You see, the Canadian Federal Government is constantly purchasing
our technology, and we have recent letters on file praising our
follow-up and support.  This is quite contradictory to this
allegation, and I would certainly like to follow upon it
immediately.  I hope that we can do away with the allegations and
snipping and replace this with open, constructive dialogue; as it
is our intention to keep on going with the design of our technology
as long as it serves the needs of the blind.

David Kostyshyn
President
Syntha-voice Computers Inc.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!266.0!Paul.Nobrega
Internet: Paul.Nobrega@p0.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: Acb/Nfb Feud
From: Isaac.Obie@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Isaac Obie)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/460.0 - VI/BUG, Holbrook MA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Chris, Perkins is a very famous school for the blind in Watertown,
Massachusetts. It's where Helen Keller learned or finished her
education. I should have written it as Perkins School for the blind. At
any rate, your idea of pins popping up on the xcreen to indicate letters
or lines is exactly what the Versabraille and Navigator does. The
Versabraille is a braille computer contained in itself. Stand alone.
It's slow and has only a 32K capacity. so you can imagine how limited it
is even though it costs seven grand. The Navigator on the otherhand is
strictly a braille display unit. It comes with twenty, forty or eighty
cells or character displays. It works strictly with a computer. Alone
it's just plastic and metal and wires. No, it's not cumbersome to read
my messages in this manner cause it's the only way I *can* read them.
The Versabraille is a bit more combersome than the Navigator cause it's
older. BTW, where are you located? I am in Boston. Or Beantown as they
call it locally. I hope I won't have the versabraille too much longer. I
hope to get a second Navigator or a KTS later on. KTS is like Navigator,
but much more advanced and complex! It can read highlights and icons and
lightbars. My hesitancy is serviceability. Legimate when spending seven
grand for a piece of equipment.  Now let me tell you just in case I
haven't already. that I am blind and very hard of hearing. So, I need to
use these braille display units. I am telling you this because I am
leading up to something. remember how you said the government ought to
help with this equipment? well there's a braille TTY device which costs
$5500! Yes, fifty five hundred big buckaroos! Well in California, the
phone company provides a loaner of all this equipment to deaf/blind
folks. We just started such a program in Massachusetts. I don't intend
to take advantage of it just yet cause I do most of my phoning via
voice. I can hear just enough to carry on a conversation on the phone.
well, I hope I've clarified things a bit. See you next time..

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460.0!Isaac.Obie
Internet: Isaac.Obie@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Information Services
From: Ron.Denis@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Denis)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I would like the pros and cons of some of the info services like
genie, Delphi, America on line, videotext,....  Ever since I bought
my new modem, my first actually, I've been getting these adds from
various places.  I'm interested in anyone's experience regarding
utility, value, and speech friendliness.  Although I prefer the
smaller ones, information on the BIg THREE would also be
appreciated.  What's good out there folks, and what's it good for?

     Ron

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!Ron.Denis
Internet: Ron.Denis@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Buying a lap top
From: Juan.Mojena@p2.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org (Juan Mojena)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2603/203.2 - The Shop Mail Only, Flushing NY


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I don't have suggestions about what machine to get.  I have one
question, though.   How much does it weigh?  I got a laptop several
years ago.  I thought I would use it in school.  The problem was
that at ten pounds it became kind of heavy to take it to work and
then school and then back home again.  So it stayed at work
collecting dust.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2603!203.2!Juan.Mojena
Internet: Juan.Mojena@p2.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Slimware Window Bridge
From: Juan.Mojena@p2.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org (Juan Mojena)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2603/203.2 - The Shop Mail Only, Flushing NY


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 >> When I asked about a demo  of

 >> the Window Bridge, I was told that there was no need for
 >> a demo
 >> since blind people do not have Windows so why have a demo?
 >>
 >> Great logic, huh?

I'm legally blind but when I bought my computer it came with
Windows just like many other people.  If I had a demo I could, at
least, try to use it.

 > I have windows, but I don't like taking the windex to them.
 > Bill, have you used any of Syntha-voice's products yet?

He couldn't, he didn't have a demo.

 > Bill, what colour would a choking smurf turn?
 > Bill, are Cheerios really baby donuts?
 > Bill, if you were in a car, travelling at the speed of light, and you
 > turned on your headlight, would anyone be home??

These comments aren't helpful.

 > My apologies Bill, if this sounds harsh, and we've all struggled big
 > time with our hardware/software configs, but unless you live in a
 > shit house you shouldn't throw bumwad.
 > Criticize a product, after you've taken it for a test drive.

Test drive, how could you do that THERE ISN'T A DEMO to take a test
drive with.  I'm dying to try this product but with all the
complaints I've heard of people who haven't gotten their order
after waiting  for a month, I think I'll wait for someone else to
write a Windows reader.  Your comments don't help me make up my
mind either.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2603!203.2!Juan.Mojena
Internet: Juan.Mojena@p2.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Low cost ocr system
From: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/168 - Braille Bank BBS, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Sorry, I am not familiar with the Microtech scanner you mentioned.
I have heard that Microtech scanners are very good.  I chose the
Panasonic 506 myself because it had better true resolution than the
HP Scan Jet and, like the Microtech you mentioned, it has the
ability to scan legal length documents.

As to the quality of Discover 386 software I only know what I am
told by others who have used it, and everyone I know who has tried
it was well satisfied.  WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER IS THAT WITH THE
Discover software you will not get the immediate reading back of
the file like you do with Arkenstone, Oscar, and Recognita.  D. T.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!168!David.Tanner
Internet: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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                                ******

                  End of Issue # 2911 of the Handicap Digest

                                ******
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