Hello Harry or Linda, This is an excellent point. Bring it up, and many would accuse you of being an Apple basher.
As it stands, Office is not accessible via Voice Over. Blackboard, if it is the same here as it is in the States, is a web Application, and depending on VoiceOver's capabilities, you should have no problems accessing it. The key here is intellectual honesty. Counselors have good reason to be skeptical of the Mac and its viability. As someone who is training to be a Barrister, I would say that key to unearthing any entrenched positions and switching them to yours is willingness on your part to acknowledge the weaknesses of your position, and respecting why others believe differently. Subsequently, any talking point devised to help counselors see the light, must take into account the reason why they get the computers for their clients in the first place. It's all about the education and jobs. And they are going to support a platform that dominates, supporting more applications for the disabled. As much as I love Apple, this is an inescapable truth. To all who are planning on writing anything on this issue, I would implore you to do the following. Focus less energy on wy you think the Mac is "superior" and put more on addressing the actual weaknesses (because they are there). They are not insurmountable, but failure to address them will lead to dismissal and more hardliner points of view on the part of rehabilitation counselors. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Harry/ Linda Bates Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 1:38 AM To: General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS Xby the blind Subject: Re: Macs and a Viable Alternative for State Agencies to Consider Does the mac work well with such applications as MS Word, Quick Book pro, and blackboard just to mention a few well used programs at colleges and universities? In other words is VoiceOver adept at using these programs, whereas I know the JAWS screen reader is. If so, this would be a real selling point for the mac. If not, then it still has limitations, which will still require a windows screenreader and operating system for the beginning and advanced students. I would really like to know the answers to these question. ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Panarese" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by theblind" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 4:56 PM Subject: Re: Macs and a Viable Alternative for State Agencies to Consider > It's interesting because as much as I readily admit I criticize > Microsoft, my background has primarily been Windows. I have been > around Macs for a good twenty plus years, but I didn't actually use a > Mac until VoiceOver. I never got the chance to try Outspoken and > could never get my state counsellor to approve it. Thus, my Windows > knowledge and skills are at the point in which I have and still train > people, and I still utilize it for smaller things at this point. I, > too, look forward to the day in which I am Windows free in my > personal life. However, from the perspective of my business, I will > continue to use Windows and I surely would never desire MS to go > away. Competition, folks, is always a great thing and important > motivator. Microsoft has finally gotten it's lesson in recent years. > > Take Care > > John D. Panarese > Managing Director > Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc. > 9 Nolan Court > Hauppauge, NY 11788 > Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479 > Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com > > AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA, > PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS, > DUXBURY, SEROTEK AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY > IMPAIRED > > AUTHORIZED APPLE BUSINESS AGENT > MAC VOICEOVER TRAINING > > > On Jun 19, 2007, at 4:44 PM, Richard Gardenhire wrote: > >> I use Windows (albeit rarely these days) for games and certain chat >> clients, as well as to listen to Freedombox audio content. That, >> having been said, I look forward to the day when I can use the Mac, >> solely for my business, as well as, recreational activities. That >> day, I believe, is getting closer. I was always taught, from the >> time I left Kansas, in 1970, till now, that I have to assess my >> needs and weigh them according to what's going to help me tap into >> the marketshare for my work, regardless of what I do. The Apple 2GS >> was the first computer I learned to use, in the 1980's, and I'm glad >> I came back to the operating system I love. However, I'm thankful >> for what litttle knowledge of Windows I do have, and am able to >> maintain. As they say in Kansas, "It ain't much, but it gets me to >> where I want to go." And to coin an old company phrase, used by >> AT&T, years ago, "We may be the only phone company in town, but we >> try not to act like it." Sure, I would love to get as many blind >> people on the "good foot," and join the Mac Revolution, but a reality >> check tells me there's a long way before we get to that point, and >> there's room at the proverbial table for everybody, regardless of >> their need. Using both my Mac machines, I feel quite comfortable, >> but sometimes I am willing to "step out of my comfort zone" if I have to, which I find rare, these days. Richie Gardenhire, Anchorage, Alaska. >> >> -- >> Email services by FreedomBox. Surf the Net at the sound of your voice. >> www.freedombox.info >> >
