Re: [Bvu-admin] DragonDictate Classic avail. question

[robertb@xxxxxxxxx (robert)]

 > From: "CarolynBC" <CarolynBC@xxxxxxxxx>
 > Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2002 00:00:07 -0500
 >
 > Bob Follansbee spoke at a BVU meeting.  If anyone would like to help him
 > with the issue of DragonDictate Classic availability, please see the below
 > forwarded message.
 > 
 > C
 > _________________________Forwarded message:
 > 
 > ----- Forwarded by Bob Follansbee/EDC on 01/23/2002 01:09 PM
 > 
 > Greetings Speak to Write listserv members.
 > 
 > We have an important poll we are taking to further address the question of
 > whether DragonDictate, and specifically the Classic edition, should remain
 > available. Personally, I was always been a DragonDictate booster, but it
 > does seem that the market is shrinking as the continuous products improve.
 > So, we would like to get a sense of the mood out there.
 > 
 > Several of us hope to present "the case for DragonDictate" to the new
 > Dragonfolk at Scansoft. The case to Scansoft will likely be a financial
 > one, and we would like to show them that the would be enough of a market
 > for the Classic edition that it would be worth their while to press some
 > more copies of it. They may only be willing to do so if they don't need to
 > provide technical support. Consequently, we have a few questions:
 > 
 > 1. Are you aware of anyone (yourself, a student, friend, client, etc.) who
 > can only use DragonDictate (not DNS or other continuous speech products) or
 > who prefers the operation of DragonDictate over that of the continuous
 > products? (if they use it with support products like Keystone, that's
 > fine).

I still prefer DragonDictate because I haven't yet learned how to program
in Python (via NatLink) to program NaturallySpeaking Preferred.

 > 2. Do you know of anyone who would want to buy DragonDictate Classic
 > edition if it were available?

Not presently.  (I bought it myself about 1.5 years ago.)

 > 3. Would this person buy DragonDictate even if it didn't work on newer
 > operating systems?

N/A

 > 4. DragonDictate Power edition is currently available. It costs between
 > $150-200 now. Would this be a satisfactory alternative for the potential
 > purchaser(s) or is cost and vocabulary size an issue?

I bought it used from someone I know.  He sold it to me cheap since he
got numerous discounts when he himself purchased it.

 > 5. Would you be deterred in purchasing DragonDictate if it were sold with
 > no technical support? What if you had to buy technical support?

I am using it fine without technical support.

 > Please answer as many questions as you can, but especially #1 and #2. We
 > need to get a sense of the actual market for DragonDictate. If you can
 > answer all 5 questions, that's great. If you have additional comments, by
 > all means include them. If you can think of others who have an interest in
 > speech recognition or assistive technology more generally who wouldn't get
 > this email, please forward it to them and have them respond to me:
 > 
 > bfollansbee@xxxxxxxxx
 > 
 > If there appears to be no general grassroots interest in DragonDictate,
 > Scansoft may bury the Classic edition and even the Power edition forever.
 > If no one else cares, then I promise to never again darken your virtual
 > doorsteps again with this topic.
 > 
 > Thanks for your consideration.
 > 
 > Bob
 > _________________________
 > Bob Follansbee, EdD
 > Project Director
 > Word for Word Project / Speak to Write listserv
 > Navigating Knowledge Project
 > Education Development Center, Newton, MA