From: Keith.Bucher@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Bucher)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Synthavoice Another Opinion
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:21:41 GMT
Reply-To: Keith.Bucher@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23859

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hello everyone.  Since I've been talking about Synthavoice for some time
I've been looking around for more opinions on this company from their
own homeland, Canada.  I am incorporating these two messages about
Synthavoice which I read over on BlindTalk, into this message without
any comment on my part.

D Area: Blindtlk DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
  Msg#: 933             Rec'd                        Date: 08-02-92  20:05
  From: Ian Hebert
    To: Dale Hayes
  Subj: Slimware windowbridge
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
 Quoting Ian Hebert to Dale Hayes 08-02-92  20:05

 DH>I am skeptical because of my past experiences with slimware.  We have their
 DH>package here and we had (I mean HAD) three users here in
 DH>the state.  The technical support was bad, the product did
 DH>not work as stated. (In fact we had some things that even
 DH>Hutchinsons VOS would read that Synthevoice would not!!!) I
 DH>will be interested in seeing them in Charlotte.  I have
 DH>also caught them in some outright lies about their product.
 DH> I think there will be some ex-users from Nebraska who will
 DH>want to (literally) get their hand on them.
 DH>Dale Hayes

 IH> Dear Dale:

 IH> I'm not surprised that there are some ex-users in Nebraska who would
 IH> like to get their hands on Dave Kostyshyn of Synthavoice.  First,
 IH> however, they will have to wait in line--there are a lot of people
 IH> here in Canada who have first dibs on Synthavoice.

 IH> Ian Hebert

 IH> ___
 IH> X OLX 2.1 TD X All hope abandon, ye who enter messages here.

 IH> -!- Maximus 2.01wb
 IH>  ! Origin: NFB NET Baltimore, MD (410) 752-5011 (1:261/1125)

D Area: Blindtlk DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
  Msg#: 934             Rec'd                        Date: 08-02-92  20:14
  From: Ian Hebert
    To: David Andrews
  Subj: Slimware windowbridge
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
 Quoting Ian Hebert to David Andrews 08-02-92  20:14

 DA>DH>I am skeptical because of my past experiences with
 DA>DH>slimware.  We have the
 DA>DH>package here and we had (I mean HAD) three users here in
 DA>DH>the state.  The technical support was bad, the product did
 DA>DH>not work as stated. (In fact we had some things that even
 DA>DH>Hutchinsons VOS would read that Synthevoice would not!!!) I
 DA>DH>will be interested in seeing them in Charlotte.  I have
 DA>DH>also caught them in some outright lies about their product.

 DA>I read your words with interest.  I spoke with a guy who has used the
 DA>SynthaVoice Windows Bridge, for a couple hours, and he says it does seem to
 DA>work.  He will be at NFB in CS tuesday.

 DA>I have also spoken to others in the sensory aids field who share your views
 DA>the company.  In some circles, their reputation is for
 DA>being less than truthful.
 DA>David Andrews

 IH> David:

 IH> I would like to echo your comments regarding Syntha-Voice's reputation
 IH> for being less than truthful.  All I can say about it is that, if
 IH> anything, this belief is even more widely held in Canada than it is in
 IH> the United States.

 IH> I can remember a demonstration that I attended at the Canadian
 IH> National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) about five years ago.  David
 IH> Kostyshyn, President of Synthavoice, was there demonstrating his
 IH> product, as well as Maryland Computer Services (MCS), who were
 IH> demonstrating their Totaltalk PC.

 IH> Mr. Kostyshyn's behaviour during this demonstration reminded me of the
 IH> antics of TSI's Dr. Bliss as described in the latest Braille Monitor.
 IH> Mr. Kostyshyn was his usual aggressive, abrasive self.  At no time did
 IH> he miss an opportunity to run-down or denigrate the Totaltalk or
 IH> Maryland Computer Services--even going so far as to interrupt MCS's
 IH> presentation with his outbursts!

 IH> Even though I was rather impressed with the voice and some other
 IH> features of Mr. Kostyshyn's machine, I remember thinking that as good
 IH> as his product might be, having to deal with him would make it not
 IH> worth our while.

 IH> Once again, last June 23rd, I attended a demonstration at the CNIB at
 IH> which a number of exhibitors touted their wares.  Mr. Kostyshyn was
 IH> again among them.  Judging by the remarks I heard him make that day, I
 IH> would say that he hasn't changed an iota over the last five years.

 IH> Ian Hebert

 IH> ___
 IH> X OLX 2.1 TD X Hello, I am part number ||X||||X||X||X||

 IH> -!- Maximus 2.01wb
 IH>  ! Origin: NFB NET Baltimore, MD (410) 752-5011 (1:261/1125)

... He who dies with the most TAGLINES wins!

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