There used to be IE on the Mac but Microsoft discontinued it years ago.
Pretty much about the time Apple released its KHTML-based Safari
browser. You can download the latest beta of Safari 3 for Windows if you
want to try that out now. Not sure how Jaws would work since Safari does
not appear to update MSAA. Similar reverse problem with Firefox on Mac
since it doesn't update the Apple accessibility layer.
I mentioned this in a previous email but Office on the Mac predates the
release of Voicecover which probably explains why it's pretty much
inaccessible.
One other side note, you can run Windows on your Mac using programs like
Parallels. You can also just make you Mac boot up in Windows using
BootCamp. In Parallels you basically have Windows in a Mac Window so you
can flip to it just like any other application. I actually have Jaws
running under Windows XP in Parallels and it seems to work with web
surfing ok. It complains about the video intercept driver which I just
ignore. Not sure what that does but Parallels has its own video driver
and Jaws' driver mangles it. Plan on lots of RAM to do so. My MacBook
runs about 994MB used in typical day-to-day operations depending on how
many apps I have open. Parallels has config options as to how much RAM
to give it so I end up with another GB of RAM being used by that. So I
just went for 3GB to be safe.
CB
Rafael Bejarano wrote:
Hello,
I'm not sure that I can address all of your questions--maybe some of
the other listers will be able to--but I can certainly answer some of
them. First, text edit, the word processing application that comes
with Mac OS X, allows you to open and save Word files. Second, safari
is very accessible and intuitive. Third, there are TV tuner cards for
the Mac. I don't use one myself, but if you look at the October issue
of Macworld, you will find a good description of what's available.
Fourth, itunes lets you copy and burn CDs.
As you noted, there definitely are limitations to accessibility with
VoiceOver, although things improve all the time. For one thing, an
accessible spreadsheet program has yet to become available, although
Mariner software has informed me that their next release of Mariner
Calc, which is scheduled for this spring, will be
VoiceOver-Compatible. Likewise, drag-and-drop has not been available
up to now, but it will be with the release of Leopard.
Depending on your needs, you may want to consider buying a Mac and
installing Windows as a second operating system, for those tasks that
you must absolutely accomplish but that cannot be accomplished on the
Mac at present. In time, you most likely won't even need Windowsfor
those.
Cordially,
Rafael Bejarano
On Oct 16, 2007, at 5:20 PM, Rob DeZonia wrote:
Hi everyone,
I don't want these questions to sound adversarial, let me start
out by saying that out front. I am genuinely curious about checking
out a Mac as a change. I will be going to our local Mac store Saturday.
Here are my questions. I've been reading the list for a few
days to get a feel for the operating system and potential problems
people are having. It seems that all things are not accessible in
Safari, e.g. the comment about NFL Field Pass. Also, Firefox does
not appear to work well. I have yet to even hear if there is an
Internet explorer for the Mac.
Also, there appears to be no word processor that works with
Microsoft Word, and if I'm wrong about that maybe I misread.
I guess my question is, what is so special about Macs, other
than Apple took the initiative to actually include a screenreader in
it's operating system. That, by the way is a huge step, and I
applauded them for going somewhere where Microsoft has not even
ventured, I don't care what they say about narrator. lol
Anyway, like I said I'm not being argumentative, I do want to be
convinced, and with the imminent release of Leopard it sounds like
things are even rosier in Apple's accessibility future.
Oh another question, what about everyday tasks like burning cds,
converting between different sound file types, and yes, even sound
editing?
Thanks for being patient, but if I'm going to learn a whole new
way of doing things, I want to be fired up for it.
By the way, I was exactly the same way when I was dragged
screaming and kicking from Dos to Windows. lol Thanks for your input.
When push comes to shove, a whole computer (Mac mini) for 600
bucks beats the heck out of paying for Window-eyes upgrades the rest
of my freakin life, that's almost reason enough. *grin*
Oh sorry, one more question, are there TV tuner cards for the
Mac? I like recording shows on the computer when I'm not at home and
I would definitely miss that if I
were to switch over.
Thanks for your time and input.
Rob
