Category: Geeks r Us
I was given a copy of Jaws 9 Professional back in 2008 with two upgrades to version 11. I need Jaws 14 for work, so I figured I'd finally call Freedom Scientific and find out how much it would cost to upgrade from version 11 to 14. The cost? $550 to upgrade to version 14 plus $200 for two more upgrades. Uh, what?
I'm perfectly willing to pay $300 or $400 to upgrade everything because that's life -- but come on, $750? Isn't that two thirds the price of the product itself? Was I a naive victim of a desperate sales pitch, or is $550 plus $200 the standard price to upgrade Jaws from version 11 to 14? That seems incredibly high to me. Does anyone have any experience buying or upgrading Jaws? I'm really struggling here...
Brice
You mean, they want to charge you extra for the versions you did not use? that is highway robbery. I need JAWS 14 for work as well. I've asked our organization to purchase it for me. They're dragging their feet. Now I know why. We have JAWS 12 here. This is ridiculous and frankly I am quite disappointed and surprised to hear it.
Tell them you only want jaws 14; you don't want any more versions. I believe they are talking about the maintenance software agreement. Tell them you can't afford that right now. I believe jaws 14 will cost $500. FS is going to find out folks just won't buy their stuff; it's too expensive. I never buy the MSA stuff. When I worked about 7 years ago, we just bought the version I needed.
I could pay the $550 to upgrade from version 11 to 14 and avoid paying the $200 MSA stuff or whatever, but what happens in six months when version 15 comes out and I need to upgrade? Suddenly I'm behind again, and now I've got to throw down another couple hundred dollars. I need Jaws to access work-related materials online that version 11 just won't handle anymore.
But yes, I'm having trouble swallowing $550 to upgrade from version 11 to version 14, plus another $200 to ensure that I don't fall behind again in six months when Jaws 15 comes out. Again, I'm willing to pay. I just think paying that amount is ridiculous and I'm still not sure if I was given correct information from their sales department.
Brice
You'll most likely not need version 15 right away, so would be safe only buying 14.
14 could last you several years depending. You are also given the choice to purchase 15 before it is released, so can ask them this.
Buy 14 now and purchase the aditional 2 upgrades later, but make sure you do before the release and you'll save on it.
Last you could post an add offering to buy some ones licenses for 14. It does happen that people sale them from time to time due to marriage or something so they don't need 2.
I am going to need 14 for the improved text analyzer and other Web features we need for work now, so I will keep an eye on what kind of money they are being asked to pay. Thanks.
As someone who purchases several dozen copies as well as upgrades of jaws monthly for the state, $550 for the upgrade path is correct. Anything past two versions behind the current version, is a flat $550. In other words, if you were running jaws 6 or 11, and upgraded to jaws 14, it'd be $550 plus SMA cost. This is for jaws pro, there is another pricing structure in place for jaws standard. As jaws 15 won't be out until next october, you'd be fine upgrading to current version without SMA, and then it'd cost $240 or so to upgrade one version at a time, assuming you're only one back.
I frankly think that is an obscene pricing scheme, and it is things like this that have led so many people to be so unduly harsh toward Freedom's products. That said, what would be the price point for upgrading from JAWS 12 to JAWS 14?
Thank you for your clarification, BigDogDaddy. I agree with Leaffan's post above and think this is a ridiculous amount of money to upgrade my screen reader. Based on your profile, I see that we work in similar fields and probably need the same general features for work, Leaffan. I could try and use NVDA, but I do not think the same advanced features I need from Jaws can be found with NVDA or another free screen reader.
For example, one simple reason I need version 14 is that there are compatibility issues between the latest version of Internet Explorer and Jaws. These types of small issues build up over time and more or less force people to upgrade.
The $550 I will probably be forced to spend to upgrade my copy of jaws, which originally cost over $1000, could get me another laptop computer or an unlocked iPhone. But I guess I'm going to have to upgrade. I really don't see any other option unless I can stomach using the demo version of Jaws 14 for a while.
So disappointing.
Brice
It would also get you close to a Mac Mini, complete with superior operating system, and built-in screen reader. When will FS, MS, and all he other villains out there realize Apple is winning the accessibility war? The new Narrator is ok at best, and still designed to do the bare minimum so FS can come behind and rob the blind consumer, many times living on a fixed income without the money to spend on the upgrade. Oops, stream of consciousness again. Sorry!
I am on the job market right now, and am wondering what features Jaws has that NVDA doesn't?
Plenty, that is why you pay for Jaws.
Here is my opinion, and I've said this before. If you want a good, quality product it is going to cost you something.
Being on a fixed income doesn't seem to bother many when it comes to an iPhone, or Mac, or whatever, so if your screen reader is an important part of your day to day life, in my opinion, you probably shouldn't allow it to drop behind, so that when it is upgrade time it isn't such a costly venture.
If you think about it Jaws continues to change, and so does Window Eyes, because, frankly, software and computing changes. In a work, or even home setting if you want to use the newer products from many sources you'll need an up to date screen reader.
NVDA is a great thing, and I take nothing from them, however, you get what you pay for.
Nothing is free, not even developing NVDA, and they ask for donations. Without some sort of support they'd not be able to do it either.
I say keep current and use some budgeting so that you don't have to struggle at upgrade time. Also if you are a student these things are offten times given to you in many places, so it works out.
I was thinking more in terms of short-term... I need to be able to use screen reading software at a moment's notice. I haven';t upgraded my jaws because, frankly, I didn't expect to have to find work again. Hopefully the government will fund aan upgrade...
Good topic. I was thinking of upgrading to JFW 14 and have 13. I'm still confused as to when to buy the whole new package and when not too. It sounds like I could just pay $150 or $200 for the upgrade without the $795 complete system. Am I correct?
Also, do I have to install Jfw 12 before installing Jfw 13 on my computer? If so, how do I do that without disabling all speeech? I'm kinda JFW installation idiot!!
if you have 13 now, you can just get 14. I don't have 14 yet, just 13. As I understand it, you only need a complete package if you are getting a new system. In the install, I believe there is a phrase like standard install and you use that to install the program. PM me if you have questions, and I'll try to answer them. Or, there may be someone on here more knowledgeable on installs.
BLW, you never have to install previous versions to update to the latest. If for example you were moving from say jaws 10 to 14, no need to install the version in between as they are always full releases so you can simpley install Jaws 14. As far as licensing once you own jaws, it is always a matter of paying for upgrades rather than purchasing the package again. Because you have jaws 13, currently, if you in fact have no remaining SMA's now would be the time to upgrade. As I previously indicated, to go from more than one version behind on a professional license of Jaws is $550, where one version is about $240. To answer an earlier post to go from Jaws 12, to 14, assuming it's a pro version would be the obligatory $550.
Thanks, I'll do that.
II have JFW 12 on my home laptop and 12 and 13 on my work computer. I will install 13 on my home laptop then 14. Assuming I can actually install it correctly Lol.
Piece of cake. You can download it or wait on your dis. I'd download it. Really easy.
there's been lots of changes from jaws 8 to jaws 14, so I can see how that could be more expensive to upgrade. but from two versions back?
to be fair though, I dunno what goes into developing a product such as JAWS.
I see little things in IE that do change, or just little things you wouldn't think about from version to version.
For my line of work, there is no question that JAWS needs to be chosen over NVDA. If someone sends me a 30 page document and wants me to pay particular attention to the comments made by George and the sections in red, I can find these quite easily with JAWS. To my knowledge, this would be considerably tougher with NVDA, if not impossible. Things like this, that do come up in a work setting, simply cannot be replicated with VoiceOver on a Mac or NVDA, to the best of my knowledge. I certainly don't claim to be a 100% FS supporter at the expense of all other companies, but I think those who trash JAWS just because it's cool to do so are missing a tiny bit of the point. I have JAWS and NVDA installed on my system, and will probably maintain that, but JAWS is my primary screen reader.
I tried upgrading from JAWS 12 to 14, but when I went to activate 14, it said my key was only good for a previous version, (meaning 12, which I was already using.) Um ... so, is that going to cost me an arm and a leg?