I would still like to know what one of these cost. *Without* a corporate discount, an IBM Thinkpad A20E, with CD and Zip Drive, is less than $1,400.00. That *is* a full featured laptop, and unless a particularly assistive device is going to be at least a third, and probably more, less expensive than the Thinkpad, I, as someone who wants full functionality, am going to buy the Thinkpad. On Thu, 15 Nov 2001, Janina Sajka wrote: > Tommy: > > I need to respond to this last note from you. I appreciate what you say in > this note. While I do not agree with all of what you say, I do agree that > that the Papenmeier is probably far and away the best choice among > available products of its kind today. As you said in another note on this > list the other day, it comes close to a laptop computer. In fact, were I > to get one (and I might), I would try to use it just that way. > > My comments, while strongly stated, are certainly not directed against you > personally. I sincerely hope you don't take them that way. The failure of > the assistive technology industry to bring the price of such units down > is, in my view, no longer acceptable. And, to my understanding, it is the > product that takes advantage of free software which bears a greater > responsibility to its customers in this regard. But, the responsibility > can also be shared out among various not for profit agencies and > governmental entities. Fortunately, price is also negotiable and subject > to change. Market pressure is just one way it can change. > > In short, the part I don't agree with is is where you say that you and I > have no control over price. I intend to push down on the price by several > means, which include those I have employed here in the past few > days--where I've challenged you, as the representative of the > manufacturer, to justify it. You, as the manufacturer's representative on > this list, might take what is said here back to headquarters. I would > regard that as your duty to us, actually. > > On Tue, 13 > Nov 2001, Tommy Craig wrote: > > > One last post. I am not part of the development team so I'm not really > > qualified to answer exactly what went into the development. You see although > > I am fairly technical and I have been working in this field for a number of > > years I couldn't build one. I think the best way for you to get your > > questions answered is to actually spend the time and look at a unit. > > > > I didn't get into this discussion to start a feud. I don't control the > > pricing and neither do you. I tried to answer a question concerning the > > shipping time for the unit. I am also happy to answer any productive > > questions that people might have. I am not willing to spend my time arguing > > about something that accomplishes absolutely nothing. All I would ask is > > that if you are interested in a Notetaker with a Braille display that you > > give the ELBA a look. Compare it to the other devices that are available, > > including comparing prices and pick the one that is right for you. That's > > the real world. I feel very strongly that if you do this you'll see that the > > ELBA is a good product at a competitive price. > > Tommy > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Blinux-list@redhat.com > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > >