Keystrokes

Just go to System Preferences->Keyboard and check "Show Keyboard and Character Viewers in menu bar." Yeah, I'm sure this has some lovely bells and whistles, but it's hard to imagine how they could be worth $300.

Well, I would certainly have to characterize this as "abandonware." They have not done the update they promised two years ago. It's a PPC application, so if Lion does, as has been suggested, abandon Rosetta and PPC apps, then Keystrokes is useless to Lion users. And the company has not responded to the e-mail I sent them well over a week ago. Time to find alternatives.

Keystrokes is out of my price range, but Touchstrokes (same company) is definitely worth a look. I've found it to be the most versatile and stable of the virtual keyboards out there. I hope the company makes some of these new Keystrokes features available to Touchstrokes users.

KeyStrokes is the best piece of disability software that I have used in that great care and attention is given to every aspect of it. Most other developers of disability software have an "eh, close enough" attitude, not addressing bugs and letting their products languish as the wheels of progress grind away. On the other hand, no level of imperfection is acceptable to AssistiveWare, as they work diligently to fix bugs and inovate, allowing the disabled to ride the crest of Apple's latest technology through their products. Working seamlessly with Mac OS X, KeyStrokes almost blends with the operating system, feeling like an Apple developed product rather than just a third party application; the end result is an application that feels as natural to the user as a hardware keyboard. On this forum, much fuss has been voiced over KeyStrokes $299 price, but what some people here fail to realize is that comparable products for the PC cost significantly more, and a $299 one time price is not bad for an application that features a multitude of advancements with every update. The developer is in no way making a killing off of any of his applications, no one is getting fleeced - this I can attest to.

I have a disability that means I can use a trackpad with one fingers but can seldom type at all. Without KeyStrokes I'd have the choice of Windows, or of not computing at all. And if I chose Windows, similar software with multiple word prediction, and the other *vital* features of KeyStrokes would cost me FAR more. Like me, most other people needing this software will have an agency which can help with funding. Thank God that there are people like David in the world. [Both of my comments typed using KeyStrokes]

Developer, it´s a crime you make disabled people pay that much to be able to type. Disabled people are poor, wake up to reality. Jobs, do a free on screen keyboard for disabled people, Mac for everybody.

Give me $299, I'll come to your house tomorrow and type whatever you want for you.

There have been some misconceptions about who might need KeyStrokes and whether voice recognition could be a substitute. Well, it is not for the lazy typist! Voice recognition may be nice, but what is if you have no voice or no hands to edit those 4% blunders? Voice recognition may supplement KeyStrokes and vice versa, but it is neither way a substitute. And if you needed to hire someone to type for you 24/7, $ 299 wouldn't get you far, either. KeyStrokes is a very advanced special access tool for point-and-click computer access. As such, it is resonably priced. (This message written using KeyStrokes and a HeadMouse® head tracking device)

Thanks to the developer for your kind explanation about the target user of this utility. After go thru the link provide by developer and read thru the review from the user, I feel guilty for what I rate on this utility in my previous post. I re-rate the features and ease of use column. But I still feel it's too expensive for the target market. Is it possible to lower the price and public still can donate for the utility development so that more affordable for targeting market? I wonder what would Jobs said?

For the price, a person might as well just hire someone to type the words. I think the point about encouraging further development would be better taken if the price were reduced. You'd surely get more customers, at the very least. At $249, it sure is hard to believe nobody's being taken advantage of. Especially considering the target users here. Last suggestion... I don't think you'll reel in more buyers by raising your voice at them. This software is overpriced.

This is to once and for all explain why this software is (1) vital and (2) not free or cheap. 1) Voice recognition software still does not work well enough to use it for every task. In many cases an on-screen keyboard is more practical and more efficient. In practice we see that some people combine the two solutions. Keep in mind also that with some disabilities voice quality suffers or the ability to speak is altogether lost. KeyStrokes has actually led some people to switch from Windows to Mac because it has features unavailable on the PC. 2) In an ideal world this kind of software should perhaps be free, but it is better that someone takes the time to develop it (and thus needs to earn an income by selling it) than that the software does not exist at all. It took three years to develop KeyStrokes for Mac OS X and given the small market for these kinds of products (not everyone uses a Mac and those needing this kind of software form an even smaller group), it is not possible to sell it for less. And, it is still cheaper than comparable products for Windows (a much larger market). Also, if someone is short on cash there are all kinds of ways to get software like this funded. I think that in the long run everyone is better off if the software generates enough income to allow continued investment in further development. Having free or cheap software that is not updated to add new effort-saving features or is made compatible when new OS releases come out does not serve anyone much. KeyStrokes is NOT made to gain a quick buck. The price is not set to made profit, just to gain enough income to continue further development and let KeyStrokes make a difference in people's lifes. David Niemeijer, CTO and lead developer

It's a very good utility for some of my friend who unable to type with hand but still can play with mouse, or so call conditioning handicap. They can use the mouse to perform typing on screen but just can't type on the keyboard. That might help them to survive in IT world. But hey.... you already kill them with the price before they get it. Nowadays, people are go for voice recognition to solve unable typing problem. If people still able to move the mouse and click the button, he should still able to perform typing, even with one finger. So what is the deal with this utility? Or there's any other condition that I can't imagine; need this utility, please let me know. You create utility that trying to solve difficulty but yet difficult to get it. You create utility for those with certain condition requirement where those condition didn't need this utility. You are really making money. Please do let me know if I misunderstand you initial idea of this utility. Thanks.

Good software, but no worth the cost. This software is very expensive.