[nabs-l] New Computer
Beth
thebluesisloose at gmail.com
Wed Jul 18 03:57:02 UTC 2012
Amber and Tyler,
So true. I'll need to take all this and absorb it so that
there's something to kick Rehab's butt, if I say so myself,
and get them to buy me the right computer so that I don't
have to ask my parents or friends to purchase a computer for
me.
Beth
----- Original Message -----
From: "Littlefield, Tyler" <tyler at tysdomain.com
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:05:24 -0600
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New Computer
Your scenarios make no sense at all.
Yes, apple developed Voiceover, Freedom Scientific developed
Jaws.
Because FS is third party does not mean that the screen reader is
going
to be irratic and it might just suddenly decide to send tentacles
out
your USB port to gobble you up for lunch. Whether or not you get
in
touch with apple or FS, or even GWMicro, they probably won't
support a
ton of third-party programs. There are standards to make programs
more
accessible, which is what Voiceover and windows readers use, so
it's not
just some unknown deal. If your going to throw out scenarios, it
really
helps if you have an understanding of the options and how things
work
before you work them out, otherwise it just makes no sense and
you're
left with the message you just popped out with.
Yes, You do get voiceover free on the MAC, but for $1400 I can
buy an
amazing computer that isn't apple as well. I could also use NVDA,
which
no, it's not installed by default, but it can very easily be
installed
and you have not only the ability to buy a cheaper computer with
non-proprietary hardware, but you also have a free screenreader,
which
compares and exceeds a lot of what voiceover can do. You mention
scenarios and accessibility, so here's a scenario for you.
You get an app on the mac, and vo+left/right doesn't work--what
do you
do. Well, you can sort of automate things sometimes, assuming you
can
access things through apple script, you might be able to do it
with
macros, but this is a long shot. On windows you have more
options--you
can use the object navigation or the jaws cursor, or you can
write
scripts for the app itself, rather than some external slow clunky
applescript mess.
I'm not going to totally trash OSX--I totally 100% love the
accessible
install, and I love some of the apps--nothing I've ever seen
beats mail
on OSX. I just want to discourage bad information just for the
ability
to spread mac love.
On 7/17/2012 7:44 PM, Herrin, Amber R. wrote:
Beth,
Something you could add is that it is easier for you to get
computer and
screen reader support because of the fact that it is integrated.
Consider the scenario:
Something, who knows what, pick your favorite (or least
favorite, as I like
to do) program, and assume that something won't work.
You get in touch with the developer of the program, and they say
they don't
know whether or not their program is supported by our screen
reader, and
anyway, your screen reader is a third-party app, so who knows
whose fault
it really is?
You call your screen reader of choice's tech support line, but,
they to,
have no ideas. We're sorry it's broken, but we really can't be
sure that
every program is compatible with our screen reader. If it's not
a popular
program, you can't be sure of anything. Maybe we need someone
to write
scripts for it.
Or:
You discover that something doesn't work, so you call Apple.
Now, Apple
didn't develop this program, but they did develop the screen
reader, so
they kno0w how it should interact with the computer, whereas,
there is no
predicting what any given screen reader will do.
It's cheaper to upgrade the operating system for apple's
products, which
means, whenever the operating system is upgraded, the screen
reader is
automatically upgraded.
I could go on and on about this stuff. If you'd like an actual
conversation about it, please feel free to use information
located in my
signature. I would be glad to talk Apple with you; I have iOs
devices as
well as a Mac Mini.
HTH,
Amber R. Herrin
ATI Student in Training 2012
World Services for the Blind
Mobile: (513) 593-5855
E-mail: herrinar at muohio.edu
2811 Fair Park Boulevard
Little Rock, AR 72204
"It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason
For someone not to try
Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing"
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Beth
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 3:02 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New Computer
What would be a good case to plead? I would want to say that
Voiceover
doesn't require a license key and all this money to update every
two
minutes. Well, maybe not every two minutes, but I want to know
how I could
plead a good case. It is cheaper in the long run to purchase a
Mac rather
than a Windows PC. Plus I could read the books I purchase on
Itunes. I
need help convincing rehab that a Mac is the way to go for me
and not the
overly expensive and money-hungry Windows PC. If you have any
further
ideas, just email me off list.
Thanks.
Beth
----- Original Message -----
From: Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:38:51 -0600
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] New Computer
Beth,
Out here in Utah rehab's been known to buy macs if clients
can plead a
strong enough case to go that route instead of windows. I might
switch
over eventually but, I love jaws, and although I also love my
iPhone, the
learning curve to switch from jaws to voiceover, on a desktop or
laptop,
seems rather steep to me right now.
Best,
Kirt
On 7/16/12, Valerie Gibson <valandkayla at gmail.com> wrote:
Yes mac has a word processor called text edit. I don't think
rehab deals
with macs??hey don't in my state any way.
Good Luck.
On Jul 16, 2012, at 11:12 PM, Beth wrote:
I'm in the market for a Mac. I have a question about Macs.
Is there a
word processor for Mac? Does it come with a Microsoft Word for
Mac or
something? I'm wondering because I need a computer for college
and rehab
will probably be buying it when I give them my two cents. ...
Anyway,
that's all I have to say.
Beth
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com
To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:31:07 -0500
Subject: [nabs-l] New Computer
Good evening everyone,
If those of us in the market for new computers were gathered
at the
national office for a seminar of some kind perhaps Dr. Maurer
would call
us "The New Computer Seminar." I have an HP Pavilion rig that
has served
me well for 8 years and will probably run for a while longer.
But when you
know the clock is ticking and you want an information
processing
powerhouse it's time to shop for a new computer.
Last year we bought one for my wife quite unexpectedly. Now
it's my
turn. We've had great success with HP and Dell computers so I'll
most
likely purchess one of those brands. Mary's desktop and my
laptop (The
"Brains"
of
my recording operation) is a Dell. Both machines are serving
us well. My
HP has given me outstanding service too. If you use Windows as
your
primary operating system and you choose either of those brands
you can't
go wrong.
A Mac machine is further in the future most likely in the
form of an
iPhone, iPad, or a NetBook. Happy computer shopping.
Peter Donahue
??o weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.??
Isaiah 54:17
??hile for our princes they prepare
In caverns deep a burning snare,
He shot from heaven a piercing ray,
And the dark treachery brought to day.??
Anonymous
_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
info for
nabs-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/thebluesisloo
se%40gmail..com
_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
info for
nabs-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/valandkayla%4
0gmail.com
_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
info for
nabs-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kirt.crazydud
e%40gmail.com
_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
info for nabs-
l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/thebluesisloo
se%40gmail.com
_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
info for nabs-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/tyler%40tysdo
main.com
--
Take care,
Ty
http://tds-solutions.net
The aspen project: a barebones light-weight mud engine:
http://code.google.com/p/aspenmud
He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a
fool; he that dares not reason is a slave.
_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
for nabs-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/thebluesisloo
se%40gmail.com
More information about the NABS-L
mailing list