Hey Larry,
Sorry to hear about your frustrations. We all have them at various times for
various reasons. I have to say, if you're looking for an immediate solution
for a particular problem, go with whatever solution works for you. The
Windows route will solve certain issues while introducing others. No
solution is the answer to all problems, clearly. Maybe the Mac isn't right
for you. I wouldn't treat it in that respect. Hey, maybe it'll be right for
you some day. I know that most people on this list have more than one system
and many have Mac, Windows and Linnux all running at the same time. I doubt
anyone will say that any one system is the total answer. For some, who only
need very specific things, there's a good enough answer in one system.
Don'[t feel bad, you gave it a try.
Jerry
----- Original Message -----
From: "LARRY WANGER" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS Xby
theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 12:17 PM
Subject: The $199 question
Well, one of the very apparent differences between my past use of Windows
based screen readers and my new experience with VO is kind of surprising to
me. There just isn't support available from Apple.
Here is some background.
I've asked a few times about different programs that I could use to meet my
needs with my Mac and access to class newsgroups that I use in conjunction
with courses I take as well as insuring that I have access to normally used
file formats like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. You guys have offered some
good suggestions. I can use text edit for word documents. I should be able
to use iWork or Apple Works as well for many of these purposes but I've
tested both products, Made by Apple I might add, and neither works with VO.
Additionally, I was able to activate the Office 2004 test drive that came on
my Mac and none of the applications in that suite of programs was accessible
either.
Beyond this, I called the University technical support line to ask what
programs they support for use with newsgroups on the Mac and they were able
to suggest Thunderbird and or Onterage which are available. I tried
Onterage as said with the Office suite and it would not work and could not
get Thunderbird to allow for access either.
Finally, out of frustration, I called Apple and tried to ask questions, thus
the subject line of this message. I was told that because I have the Apple
Care plan that I could get tech support but the questions I was asking about
VO are usage and therefore I would need to pay $199 to talk with someone.
Guys, this is beyond ridiculous. I've been patient and worked very hard to
make the Mac work for me. I really like it too but the bottom line here is
that the computer must meet my needs and it shouldn't be a project to make
it do so. I've spent now nearly 2 weeks with it and clearly know what I
need it to do. Unfortunately, I'm not getting it to do that. Many of you
will argue that I should be patient and keep working with it. However, the
bigger issue here is that for Apple to make it in the blindness community
and to be a mainstream product, they must realize that probably 99% of blind
people...or anyone else for that matter, won't have the patience and tech
skills to continue to work with it. It must be user friendly and ready to
go right out of the box and folks, it isn't!!!
Perhaps in the future the Mac will make it but its not working for me right
now. Someone made the argument that it's only been six months since VO has
been available and eventually it will get there. I'm sure this is the case
but that won't help me at this moment when I need it to work for me now.
I'm really unsure on what to do at this point but its clear that while I can
use the Mac to read and write Word documents, I can not work with Excel or
PowerPoint documents and I can not yet at this point subscribe or work with
newsgroups for my classes. Someone suggested using Snownews but remember,
not all of us understand this advanced garbage that was on the page there
and I could not even tell which version to download.
I'm trying to balance maintaining a clear overall picture of my experience
here which has been relatively good with the major short-falls that I find
with some specific issues I've got. Realize though that one buys a computer
to perform specific tasks for them. I clearly know what I need to do with
it but the Mac thus far is not allowing me to do so. I'm increasingly
unhappy with it and may in fact need to return this. I expect some of you
to have some sharp reactions to this.How could anyone go back to a PC after
experiencing the Mac? I can see that point but if the computer won't do
what I need it to do and Apple wants $200 each and every time I want to ask
a question then what is the point. I might as well keep paying Freedom
Scientific or GW Micro the high price for a screen reader and get support as
part of that package. I fail to see how Apple defines tech support verses
user questions but maybe someone has some insight on that as well?
Check out my blog at http://lsw999.blogspot.com/
Larry Wanger
Check out my blog at http://lsw999.blogspot.com/
Larry Wanger
