Hi, Luke: Your analysis is right, in my view. I should say that I am running around with a Thinkpad T20 and it does the job very very well for me. I would, frankly, like something lighter. By the time I load up everything I need to take on the road to support my computer habits, that old briefcase gets quite heavy. Sometimes, I wish I had picked the Thinkpad X20, though the total weight would not have been that different with all of the peripherals. The attraction of the Papenmeier is the thing missing in a Thinkpad--the braille. Also, it is attractive to think that I could show up in public and do all the things that one does on a computer on a device obviously aimed at blind users. There's a powerful message to that. The price is part of the argument against this. But another argument against is the form factor. The Papenmeier is big, far too big, imho, at 8.5 by 11 inches by whatever thickness. On Thu, 15 Nov 2001, Luke Davis wrote: > 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 > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Blinux-list@redhat.com > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > -- Janina Sajka, Director Technology Research and Development Governmental Relations Group American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Email: janina@afb.net Phone: (202) 408-8175 Chair, Accessibility SIG Open Electronic Book Forum (OEBF) http://www.openebook.org Will electronic books surpass print books? Read our white paper, Surpassing Gutenberg, at http://www.afb.org/ebook.asp Download a free sample Digital Talking Book edition of Martin Luther King Jr's inspiring "I Have A Dream" speech at http://www.afb.org/mlkweb.asp Learn how to make accessible software at http://www.afb.org/accessapp.asp