Interesting characterization here. So far, in this thread, I've seen: 1. Blind allegiance to the PowerPC microprocessor. As I understand things, Apple's switch to Intel was brought about partially because production of the PowerPC processor was no longer feasible at a low enough price that would allow for consumers to even *AFFORD* one of these systems. So far, the only reason I've seen voiced by some on this list for this being a problem is that, well, Intel CPUs run Windows (this is to say nothing of Linux, OpenBSD, FreeBSD and ... isn't there an OpenVMS port for X86?)
2. Trashing the competition. Whilst people are certainly entitled to their opinions insofar as none of us live in a police state yet, I was always of a mind that e-mails purporting to be from a company that supported many platforms should, at the very least, be platform-neutral or, if there was an opinion, tout the positives of that platform rather than smearing the other. I used to do some work for two assistive technology companies selling blatantly competing products, one because they needed someone extra, and the other because they ... had a lot to learn about blindness technology, and both because they were neither one in a position to hire me full time. Trying to juggle the pros of each product was interesting, but you'd never catch me slamming product A in favor of product B or vice versa (fortunately for me, I've shuffled off that particular AT coil in favor of a software development position at a company that I dare not name here, lest many eggs and rotten fruit be pelted at me from on high). The fact remains, whether anyone enjoys this fact or not, that if you need to write a spreadsheet or some GUI software, need access to Macromedia presentations or protected PDFs or even occasionally pay a call on websites where the image files are logically named (i.e. "clock.gif") but don't have alt tags, the Win32 solutions still provide the better bet. Similarly, the fact remains that, if you want a free screen reader that is integrated with the operating system, is stable, doesn't take up a lot of memory, and allows for independent installs of the operating system without the pesky, demeaning, inconvenient and less than tasty use of sighted help or the complex process of burning a custom Windows image with your unattended installation file and your product ID filled in, not to mention the time on hold with Microsoft or the agita explaining to them why you need them to generate you a key, you just can't go wrong with Mac OS X. And as far as Apple offering a means to boot Windows, it's not as though they're shooting themselves in the foot. I invite anyone with the time and inclination to look for a book entitled "In The Beginning There Was The Command Line" which points out that Microsoft is a software company and Apple, conversely, is a hardware company. You may have noticed the virtual cornucopia of software that Apple provides gratis with their systems. They certainly won't lose vast amounts of money if people elect to run Windows, particularly concurrently with MacOS, on their boxen. Just my $0.002. -C- -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of BlindTech of BlindTechs.Net Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 11:58 PM To: General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by theblind Subject: Re: game over Joe i find this statement very tackie. although it may be manager for us professionals who get paid for supporting the god offle os, that doesn't mean we enjoy it. BlindTech of BlindTechs.Net [EMAIL PROTECTED] website: http://blindtechs.net Visit our website where we offer free email, shell accounts, shoutcast radio service, online games and more! Powered by Unix not Microsoft On Apr 6, 2006, at 9:49 AM, Kafka's Daytime wrote: > My guess is that experienced Mac users on the list aren't > "screaming bloody murder" about the dual-boot option because > they're not interested in engaging in a Mac vs. Windows religious > war but rather, a balanced, informed debate. As a developer I > sometimes have to use Windows professionally (since 1998 or so) and > have found that, with some care, the security situation under > Windows is perfectly manageable. > > Joe > > On Apr 6, 2006, at 10:13 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> I think I disagree with your statement that this would only screw >> up the Windows part/file system. Often there have been viruses >> and worms that have been able to totaly fry your hard drive and or >> damage the file system on the drive. I'm curious if the issue >> would be that such a virus would just fry the Windows file >> structure or if Windows would just be its entry point and from >> there if it could fry the entire drive. I'm still convinced this >> is a bad move. Don't bow to the Windows folks, stick to your guns >> and market the OS as a better way of doing things. Windows is >> really a terrible OS and I just don't see the point of this. >> Further, I'm shocked that the die hard Mac users I know are on >> this list aren't screaming blody murder. I remember when I first >> got my Mac and suggested that Windows might have been easier or >> that I could not do things on my Mac that I could on Windows. >> You'd think I committed a crime against humanity by the reaction I >> generated just a few months ago. And, now, well, seems like you >> guys are fine with this latest move by Apple. Where are you Mac >> purists? >> >> >>> >>> From: Buddy Brannan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> Date: 2006/04/06 Thu AM 01:15:47 EDT >>> To: General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac >>> OS X by the >>> blind <[email protected]> >>> Subject: Re: game over >>> >>> The good news is that you'd only screw up the Windows side of your >>> Mac. Not the Mac stuff at all :-) >>> On Apr 6, 2006, at 1:00 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> >>>> So, two questions as I think about this. >>>> >>>> 1. Is/will Apple end up selling both operating systems then. I >>>> mean, they could market this Windows/OS thing and sell machines >>>> with both. >>>> >>>> 2. Is/will this be something easy enough to do so that any person >>>> could operate and switch between OS and Windows on the Mac? Or, is >>>> this just a pitch for the real geeks out there? >>>> >>>> I'm still concerned about all of the security issues with Windows >>>> and the idea that I could put Windows on my Mac and screw it up. >>>> >>>> Does anyone see this as a bad move by Apple? Have they given up on >>>> trying to promote the superiority of the OS in favor of trying to >>>> bridge the gap between the PC and Mac world. Instead of selling >>>> machines that are better with a better OS, now they are doing that >>>> while saying oh, you can put Windows on here because we know that >>>> 95% of the computer world does and we can't convince you to just >>>> switch. I just don't know about this. Soon, will I just be able >>>> to buy a Mac with Windows on it and never bother with the OS? >>>> >>>>> >>>>> From: John Denning <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>> Date: 2006/04/05 Wed PM 05:28:25 PDT >>>>> To: General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac >>>>> OS X by the >>>>> blind <[email protected]> >>>>> Subject: Re: game over >>>>> >>>>> I think you answered your own question. Most of us would 't >>>>> want to. >>>>> But being able to is cool. And the GEEK in many of us might >>>>> make us >>>>> do it just for that reason alone. >>>>> >>>>> As you and others said, the selling point to VR. Wow how can >>>>> you go >>>>> wrong. OK, you want Windows, here it is. Now let me show you >>>>> the Mac >>>>> OS side of your new computer. >>>>> >>>>> Then there is the virtualization software that is being >>>>> developed. No >>>>> dual boot, but have both running at the same time. Not just Mac >>>>> and >>>>> Windows, but Linux also. That is cool, and super geeky. I love it. >>>>> >>>>> On Apr 5, 2006, at 8:16 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Well, as someone who switched from the PC and Windows to the >>>>>> Mac I >>>>>> am left wondering why I would want to even bother with this. >>>>> >>>>> - JD - >>>>> John Denning >>>>> AIM: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> A+ MCSA MCSE >>>>> And glad to be a Mac snob again! >>>>> Roswell, GA >>>>> >>>>> My very old web site: www.jdenning.net >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV | Work from home the Watkins way! >>> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Your phone and computer can really >>> pay! >>> 888-75-BUDDY (888-752-8339) | More info at http://www.tastybiz.com >>> AIM/Skype/Yahoo: kb5elv | Check out the extensive selection of >>> MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Watkins' essential products: >>> http://buddy.brannan.name | http://www.tastyshop.net >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> > >
