That's a hard one. I have a mac with Windows on it, so I can boot into either os when I want to. A lot of it is preference, but Windows can still do some things better than mac (productivity, like wordprocessing or web browsing, for instance). Mac, though, is quite accessible and it works out of the box. The argument you'll hear a lot is that the mac is better because there is no cost for a screen reader. That's true, but NVDA (nvda-project.org) is now a good enough solution that it can replace the paid screen readers out there, so the extra cost for accessibility on Windows is not there. That said, the mac's screen reader, VoiceOver, does braille a lot better and has a great voice to it, plus it is supported by Apple so it is being updated as Apple updates Mac OS. That is compared to the outrageously expensive Jaws updates or the uncertain funding of NVDA.
I guess the bottom line is: join a list like macvisionaries or maccessibility and ask a LOT of questions, like how to do things. Even if something can be done on a mac, that doesn't mean it can't be done more easily on windows, so just keep asking about what you plan to do with the computer. That is, focus on what you expect to do: wordprocessing, web browsing, programming, games, whatever. I can honestly say that I am somewhat disappointed in my mac so far because I find web browsing to be a bit annoying and editing text very frustrating. I am a new user, though, so it could still be that I am getting in my own way as I try to use the mac. Of course, other parts are great (core accessibility, Garage Band, syncing with my iPod via iCloud, and more). Sorry I can't be of more help, but if you have specific use cases you want to know about, feel free to ask. One thing I will say, to keep this sort of on topic, is that my Apex has never worked as a display on Windows, with jfw or nvda. However, it worked with the mac the first time I tried it and, provided you keep it in grade 1, it still does work well. On 10/20/11, Jasmine Kotsay <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Listers, > As the subject says, this is quite off-topic. However, I'm not > sure who else to ask about this. > I was wondering what all of your views as blind individuals are > about the Mackintosh computer being blind friendly? I'm > interested in the Mack, but I wanted to do a little bit of > research on it before I tried to get one. > I'm sorry for being off-topic, but I'm curious. > > ___ > Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. > If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a > copy to the list as well. > > To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to > [email protected] > To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit > http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote > > -- Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from GMail website) [email protected]; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [email protected] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
