It is very common for software makers to offer annual
maintenance plans which give people access to the latest version of their
software as well as technical support. Vispero actually has never charged
for technical support even for those who don’t maintain a current Jaws SMA
and are on the latest version. It is typically of great benefit for
software makers to try and get as many people to use their latest software
since it makes support easier. If somebody still runs Jaws 17 or Jaws 18
they probably run into issues with Windows 10 which they then call Vispero
support to help with, but the issues may not be Jaws issues but simply
exist because these older versions of Jaws are becoming increasingly
incompatible with Windows 10.
I don’t think it’s wrong at all for Jaws to charge
somebody who is still using Windows 7 with Jaws version 15 more to jump to
version Jaws 2020 because maybe now their computer died and they had to
get a new Windows 10 computer. If they only ever bought Jaws 15 and maybe
not even had an SMA to begin with, they are now jumping up 7 versions to
Jaws 2020 and others who maintained their SMA helped to pay for the
development of this version, they paid Vispero all these years also so
Vispero can offer technical support which the Jaws 15 user also may have
benefited from.
Vispero is a good sized organization with a number of
software and hardware products and I really don’t get it why people
continue to think that they should give away what they make for free. They
have offices and employees and they incur millions in costs and yet people
always compare them to NVDA which is an open-source project. I don’t ever
see people complaining about the cost of Microsoft Office whether they buy
the retail version or are on the Office 365 subscription nor do I see
people comparing to projects such as LibreOffice, Polaris Office or
FreeOffice.
I think now that in the US people can get up to speed
with the latest version of Jaws for $90 a year with the subscription model
that this is a very fantastic offer by Vispero, yes, it may cost $2.50 a
month more than maintaining your SMA at $60 a year, but having access to
what I call still the best screenreader in the world if you need a
screenreader for more then sending an occasional email and browsing the
web for $7.50 a month is affordable for pretty much everybody. Many of us
pay more for our monthly music or Netflix subscription or other things
like a couple of coffees from Starbucks or your favourite local gourmet
coffee shop etc. If I really had to choose between having a Jaws
subscription or a Apple Music or Spotify subscription because I can only
afford one or the other I’d rather listen to free music and have access to
Jaws or I’ll skip one or two other extras and if that is still beyond me
then there is always NVDA which, by the way, would also no longer be
around if they didn’t get some donations. I am sure those who complain
about the $5 a month to maintain a Jaws SMA or the $7.50 for the
subscription are also not people who donate anything to NV Access, but I’m
sure others do because they like NVDA and want to help to offset the costs
for servers and such so that the project can continue.
Regards,
Sieghard
From: main@jfw.groups.io
<main@jfw.groups.io> On Behalf Of Glenn /
Lenny
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2020 10:15 AM
To:
main@jfw.groups.io
Subject: Re: Question regarding jaws
SMA
That may indeed
be correct, but it is not fair if true.
If someone
decides to live without the latest and greatest for a year, they should be
able to get a new jaws for the same price as a new
user.
So if they
changed their name and address, they can get it for
less?
----- Original
Message -----
Sent: Friday,
February 14, 2020 10:14 AM
Subject: Re: Question
regarding jaws SMA
That depends on how far behind you
are.
If you are on Jaws 2019 and just didn’t have an SMA
to upgrade to Jaws 2020 you should be able to buy a new SMA at whatever
the price is and it will give you Jaws 2020 and Jaws 2021 this
fall.
If you are still on Jaws 2018 you should be able to
buy a new SMA and this would entitle you to upgrade to Jaws 2019 and
Jaws 2020, of course there is no need to actually install Jaws 2019, you
would go straight to Jaws 2020, but at that point your SMA is once again
used up and if you want Jaws 2021 this fall you would need to buy
another SMA either right away or at the latest by
October.
If you are on anything prior to Jaws 2018 like Jaws
18 or even 17, you would have to immediately buy 2 SMA’s to even get
Jaws 2020.
Alternatively, if you live in the US you can switch
to the Jaws subscription model which is I believe $90 a year, this would
entitle you to upgrade right away to Jaws 2020 no matter what version
you are on, then you continue to pay $90 each year and this will always
entitle you to install and use the latest update.
Having said all this I would highly recommend you
speak to Vispero directly at 1-727-803-8600, let them look up your
account via the Jaws serial number you have and ask what your options
are.
They do also have a toll free number, but I don’t
currently have it handy.
Best regards,
Sieghard
From: main@jfw.groups.io
<main@jfw.groups.io> On Behalf Of Blind
Gamer
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2020 6:37 AM
To:
jfw@groups.io
Subject: Question regarding jaws
SMA
Hi I have one question
If we didn't renew jaws sma then how much
price for upgrade
Thanks
