A few days ago, I bought test strips. I have been using the OneTouch
Ultra, but thought it would be worthwhile trying the Freestyle
Freedom, as I wanted to check out the software. Unfortunately, one
thing I did not know, is that the software is downloadable only for US
residents, and they will not allow downloads to residents of any other
country.

After I tried to download the software, I called Abbott, and was
informed that they could not even send it to me, but that they could
put me on their list of folks to contact, should they start shipping
it to Canada. They also said that this was going to happen with the
next release.

When I asked why they did not allow it in Canada, the fellow said that
he didn't know all the reasons, but that it was "not bilingual, etc."
Later, I wondered if it had something to do with the different units
reported, but none of that is of any concern to me.

What a bummer! I get so tired of being told that I can't have
something because of the idiots in my government.

My next project is to try to find it somewhere else on the net,
perhaps in a directory I can ftp it from.

Of course, not having the software will not prevent me from writing a
program to download the readings.

On a different topic, I am not overly thrilled with the Freestyle
Freedom. The blood is taken up from the side of the strip, which I
find quite awkward, and have failed to get a good sample several
times. The lancet is only adjustable in 4 increments, and it doesn't
seem to work as well as the OneTouch lancet.