@BlazieTech i’m sorry… Are you saying you have to pay for each update once you already pay for the device? Was thinking about purchasing this device, but this is quite confusing.

@GraceTechNerd Hi, Grace.
The BT Speak includes a 90-day warranty which covers both hardware and software. Any software updates released during the warranty period are available for you to install. The warranty also allows you to receive an exchange BT Speak in the event that your unit encounters a hardware problem that we’re not able to resolve with a phone call.
You can extend this warranty by purchasing a maintenance contract for your BT Speak. Your maintenance contract can be renewed for either $20.00 per month or for $200.00 annually. The maintenance contract extends your warranty coverage by providing you with the same benefits that you receive with the initial 90-day warranty.
In other words, you can receive a product exchange in the event of a problem, in addition to software updates. Unlike other products, the maintenance contract is continually renewable. We don't limit you to just one or two years of coverage.
If you choose to not purchase a maintenance contract for your BT Speak, you have the option of paying $50.00 any time after the warranty period to receive the latest software update, regardless of how much time has elapsed.

@BlazieTech I find this approach unnecessary and exploitative. I understand software development takes time and money, but charging customers for updates is not a good idea. It leaves users stuck with outdated, insecure, and buggy software despite available fixes, and will likely push people away. Especially when similar devices cost less and include free updates.

@GraceTechNerd @J3317 @BlazieTech Yep I agree. I've heard of the BTSpeak and thought it seemed like a cool peace of tech, but I had no clue you had to pay for software updates. Definitely have lost interest now.

@Kingslayer @GraceTechNerd @J3317 @BlazieTech I disagree that the unit is a cool piece of tech, frankly, but I don't know how the company is supposed to stay afloat and keep writing updates if it doesn't charge for them. I have lost count of the devices which were sold with free updates and then stopped being updated when the company lost interest or the ability to pay developers. Even the Apples and Samsungs of this world update for free during only a limited period, and their cash available is far more than the adaptive tech companies can dream of.

@techsinger @GraceTechNerd @J3317 @BlazieTech Yeah I think the cool factor for me more so came from the history behind the brand and such. I heard about the Braille and Speak from a long time ago but only really started learning about assistive tech in 2013 and that was just VoiceOver so definitely didn't get to be hands on with something like that. So seeing those notetaker style devices getting revived was exciting. And yeah it's so hard because while I do agree with what others in the thread have said about software updates I also do see the point of monetization as well. What I was thinking when I wrote my reply was of things like NVDA where they sell courses on using NVDA or possibly writing some kind of software that is separate from the BTSpeak and can be run on Linux as a whole but is optomized for the device. So then that way they're getting income from BTSpeak users and non BTSpeak users. but these ideas came from a tired brain so could have flaws.

@Kingslayer @GraceTechNerd @J3317 @BlazieTech I really can't, I don't think anyone can, overestimate what notetakers and devices like them were like in the late 80s and for about fifteen years afterwards. They were something new under the sun. They were really something different and earthshaking in history, that is, they effected the entire history of blind people. Before them, reading and writing significant amounts while moving around or even from home/work/school was either very difficult or completely impossible if you were blind. Even with low vision, it was only slightly easier. Having said that, the time for such products has, except maybe in education, passed. I like the idea, but as we can see, it's not really viable on its own, in my view. With respect, NVDA is not comparable. They are basically being sponsored by companies, as I understand it, and they are a charity. I don't think many people would really want to sponsor a product like the BTSpeak, would they? Why would any organization sponsor that, even if the manufacturer wasn't a business and wanted to shift to charitable status?