OK, this could be way off, but good old HTML is pretty powerful in the
formatting department, and its probably a lot less to learn than latex.
Again though, latex and HTML are markup languages where you embed the
formatting codes right in the text your trying to format, so both have
obvious advantages for blind people.
-- Rich
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dane Trethowan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by
theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: MS Word alternative
Ok point taken but I've never even heard of a word processor which won't
let you define a format before you start, ain't that what word processors
are for? I mean for instance, isn't that the idea of Templates that you
customise for different tasks etc? Nisus Writer and Word both handle
those.
On 21/09/2007, at 4:26 AM, VaShaun Jones wrote:
Better being grammatically correct, formatted correctly, and informative
is just a few. I am thinking that if the software that Gregg proposed
allows you to format it based on what is needed up front then that is
less to worry about on the back in. Let me ask you this. Do you think as
a blind person you can learn to use the computer better than a sighted
person. Do you know how many people talk down on Mac's because they are
scared of them not because they are die hard Windows fans? So give me the
formatting upfront and the content can be my only focus.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dane Trethowan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
trethowan.net>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by
theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: MS Word alternative
Well, I used an Ibook and a Power PC Mac Mini up until 4 weeks ago,
used Nisus and every other damn thing on it <smile>. I must say though
and I hope people don't take any offense at this as I don't mean to be
offensive but how could a blind person produce a document better than a
sighted person can if he cannot see the documents sighted people
produce? Sure, you do the best you can but the claim made here I think
is.... well at best... a little odd.
On 21/09/2007, at 12:50 AM, James Jolley wrote:
To a point but it comes over slightly arrogant.
Just because you can use a word processor or write well doesn't make
you any better than anyone else. Actually, you didn't really need a mac
book pro for VO, I only have the standard mac book and I am doing
perfectly fine.
----- Original Message ----- From: "VaShaun Jones" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] llc.com>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS
Xby theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:58 PM
Subject: Re: MS Word alternative
What I do is bid on government contracts for local and state scripting
and training work for blind or low vision companies. MS Word has been
great but like I said I spend most of my time formatting documents, as
every bid is different. It is my determination to create documents
better than a sighted person. I don't use word processors to type text
I use it as a vehicle to ensure that we have jobs as blind. I do this
by being the best example through my work. If they looked at my
documents usually about 75 pages and said it was OK to turn in shoddy
work because he is blind. That would infuriate me and make us as a
whole go back a few notches. I am willing to learn whatever is needed
to get ahead. I walked into Micro Center and said give me that big
bad Mac Book Pro, the guy asked if I was doing graphics design or
something. I smiled and told him nope just VO. He said then you don't
need that much computer for that. I said I will master it in two
months and come back and teach you a few things. I say all of that
because I asked for a perfect word processor and it sounds like Latex
is just that. I don't take the easy way out. I hope you understand
what I do and why I do it.
----- Original Message ----- From: "James Jolley"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X
by theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 4:10 AM
Subject: Re: MS Word alternative
Hi Dane,
Yeah it seems odd to me. After all, if Tex is all its cracked up to
be wich it is in it's proper circle, why have screen reader folks
spent all this blody time getting office and other things doable? Why
not have everyone learn tex? After all, this guy who is working for
the government, surely they they should train him on using it then?
On 20 Sep 2007, at 05:20, Dane Trethowan wrote:
Ok, well my only further comment is to go and try these things,
I've made my points as have others, see what you think but again I
will state as others have that it sees odd to me at least that you
have to "learn" how to use a word processor, formatting or no
formatting, reports or no reports etc. I'm curious to know exactly
what you would do that anyone else wouldn't, that is to say what
you would do that any good word processor wouldn't handle.
On 20/09/2007, at 8:52 AM, VaShaun Jones wrote:
Fine for you unfortunately for me. I use every aspect of Windows
imaginable for government reports and contracts and they have to be
perfect. I spend the majority of my time formatting.
----- Original Message ----- From: "James Jolley"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac
OS X by theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 6:45 PM
Subject: Re: MS Word alternative
Well, using TEX for it's intended purpose laying out formulas is
ideal. I still don't see the point in using it to write standard
texts though. Any good word processer will do the job ust as well
to be honest. It's up to yourselves though if you want to jump
through a thousand hoops to write anything I am happy with word or
whatever for standard work.
On 19 Sep 2007, at 21:56, James Austin wrote:
Wow! I have looked at that side of it, and I'm pleased I don't
study maths
On 19 Sep 2007, at 19:59, James Jolley wrote:
It's not that steep I use it all the time for mathematics
On 19 Sep 2007, at 18:18, Greg Kearney wrote:
That's right the learning curve is steep with TeX, the rewards
are well worth it however.
Greg
On Sep 19, 2007, at 11:05 AM, James Austin wrote:
It is free, but please get in touch if you've not used it
before, it is not simply a case of typing as with a word
processor
On 19 Sep 2007, at 17:23, VaShaun Jones wrote:
I think I will be getting Latex . Is it totally accessible
and how much does it cost?
----- Original Message ----- From: "James Austin"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of
Mac OS X by theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 10:19 AM
Subject: Re: MS Word alternative
Hi,
Okay, well there is IText Express, a small free word
processing application, similar to Text Edit, which provides
the ability to add footnotes. There is also Nisus Writer
Express, or Nisus Writer Pro, you can find these at
www.nisus.com
Neither Express or Pro are currently 100% usable with VO,
but very nearly. If you were thinking of purchasing Nisus
Writer, I would recommend the Pro version, as that seems
more accessible.
There is also Latex (pronouned Laytech), which is a type-
setin tool. It is extremely powerful and versitle, but does
require time to learn. Although, the benefits are
rewarding, especially for Blind users in my personal
opinion, as I use it exclusively for my University
assignments. I don't want to clutter the list with
discussions about Latex, so please feel free to E Mail me off
list, if you'd like to know more.
Hope this helps
James
On 19 Sep 2007, at 08:55, VaShaun Jones wrote:
Listers somewhere before I got familiar with my Mac their
was a discussion about a professional word processor. I
wanted to know what it was and how can I get it? Note: one
of its liked features is that you don't have to worry about
formatting (a lister reported).
******************************
Dane Trethowan
From Melton Victoria Australia
Email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
phone uk 0121 288 4976
Phone/tty (+61 3) 9747 975
Fax +61 3 9743 7954
mobile/sms: +61425 777 508
Skype: callto:grtdane12
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Dane Trethowan
From Melton Victoria Australia
Email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
phone uk 0121 288 4976
Phone/tty (+61 3) 9747 975
Fax +61 3 9743 7954
mobile/sms: +61425 777 508
Skype: callto:grtdane12
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Dane Trethowan
From Melton Victoria Australia
Email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
phone uk 0121 288 4976
Phone/tty (+61 3) 9747 975
Fax +61 3 9743 7954
mobile/sms: +61425 777 508
Skype: callto:grtdane12
MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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