...and interestingly enough, we've only had it for a few days. Are people bowing out because they don't see what they are wanting or because they don't know it is there perhaps in a spotted disguise?
----- 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, November 06, 2007 1:08 PM Subject: Re: macbook for sale Hi James, Like I said, accessibility comes down to ones personal needs and present situation. Thus, whatever works best for one is obviously the way to go. My point is I have been hearing all sorts of complaints about what Can't be done on the Mac when there are many work arounds or other approaches that have been offered by other Mac users. I am curious about what exactly Leopard did not deliver. I have been extremely impressed by what I have experienced, and it is obvious that Apple has committed itself to continued improvements to VoiceOver as time goes on. Beyond that, based on my years of Windows experience, I personally would find it very hard to contemplate having to turn back to that OS for any important uses. Do I still utilize it for specific tasks? Yes, I still do and have to keep my skills sharp for the business. Nevertheless, I honestly am at the point in which I can't stand Windows and its quirks any longer. Again, though, James, I am not sitting in your proverbial chair. Take Care John Panarese On Nov 5, 2007, at 5:47 PM, James Austin wrote: > Hi John, > > I completely take on board everything you are saying. I really do > like the Mac, and it has certainly ben a worth-while experience. I > will be keeping my Mac, and using it for personal use, which means > keeping it up-to-date with all the latest software updates. > > I fully endorse and appreciate Apple's hard work in providing a > Screen Reading solution for us, being that a commercial company, > and that they have no obligation to do so. > > I just find that for my needs at present, that Windows with its > greater access through Window Eyes/JFW better suits my needs in an > academic environment. As I said, I will be keeping my MacBook, I am > certainly not going to get rid of it, but I am getting more and more > frustrated. > > I think it is partly due to the fact that I knew the limitations of > Tiger, and i readily accept them. However, Leopard promised (or at > least implied) so much more, and I personally was disappointed. > maybe I am just being selfish or overly hard to please but right now > in my present situation Leopard does not deliver on what it > promises. I will of course stay on the list and continue to promote > the use of the Mac platform by blind individuals, and who knows, in > the future, I may very well come back to the Mac. > > It is my hope that when i get my own place, to have both mac and > Windows running in my home. I know the inherent problems of running > a Windows machine, having used Windows since 1995, but the access > level is better for my personal needs at this moment in time. I will > of course miss a number of Mac features, but this is the price I > will pay for a different form of accessibility. > > I will still be around on this list if i am permitted, and if anyone > would like to stay in touch, then they are more than welcome to do > so on the below contact details. > > > On 5 Nov 2007, at 18:27, John Panarese wrote: > >> In no way am I criticizing the reasons or decisions one has to >> make to satisfy ones access needs. Obviously, the situation of >> Will or James or whomever is something they must address and in the >> best way they feel is necessary. I will say, however, that seeking >> answers in Windows or from Windows is not exactly going to provide >> those answers as well. The thing to consider is that, regardless >> of the Braille displays currently supported and the state of word >> processors, this is all not a static situation. In other words, it >> will change and access will continue to improve. >> >> On the other hand, in Windows, you still have several other >> factors that will not change. Vista is a horrible mess and in >> order to get it to even function with some bit of speed and >> tolerance is to turn off several features. Even so, it's still a >> resource hog and as slow as crap going uphill. On top of that, it >> is still Windows you will be dealing with, which means instability, >> viruses and all of the security issues Microsoft continues to have >> plaguing them. To me, my experiences moving to the Mac and not >> having to deal with that garbage has made my investments in either >> Mac I have owned worth the money in gold. >> >> Again, when the day is done, the individual has to decide for >> himself or herself, but such a decision should be made with all of >> the potential consequences in mind. Leopard, as with Tiger, will >> progress and I have no doubts that we will have several word >> processor options and spreadsheet choices fully accessible to us >> before long. Also, Braille display support will only diversify and >> expand as time goes on. Sometimes, patience is a virtue, folks. >> Throwing away the bath water can result in tossing the baby with >> it. If you go back to Windows, be prepared for a nightmare and the >> regrets that will undoubtedly occur when something Windows related >> nearly provokes you to light your system on fire as recently >> happened to me with my XP box a few days ago. >> >> >> Take Care >> >> John Panarese >> >> On Nov 5, 2007, at 12:13 PM, David Poehlman wrote: >> >>> I imagine the empower will be supported along with the rest of the >>> braille note family when apple can do it. The launguages are not >>> that hard to implement. >>> >>> On Nov 5, 2007, at 11:20 AM, william lomas wrote: >>> >>> neither i need french and german braille and the m power to be >>> supported >>> >>> On 5 Nov 2007, at 13:51, Greg Kearney wrote: >>> >>>> Do you need UK or UEBC braille rather than he U.S. version that >>>> is in Leopard? Do you need to produce embossed braille as opposed >>>> to display braille? If so contact me before you let your mac go I >>>> can help. >>>> >>>> >>>> Greg Kearney >>>> 535 S. Jackson St. >>>> Casper, Wyoming 82601 >>>> 307-224-4022 >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Nov 4, 2007, at 11:49 PM, william lomas wrote: >>>> >>>>> hi all >>>>> >>>>> as much as i love the mac i am still having to work in windows >>>>> every day for my work needs as i find microsoft word a more >>>>> powerful word processor and i need powerpoint etcetera >>>>> also i do need braille for my needs which is not provided in >>>>> leopard. so to any UK person i have >>>>> macbook core 2 duo intel >>>>> 1.83 ghz >>>>> 2 gigs ram >>>>> the 13.3 inch model with cd rw dvd reader >>>>> and the infovox british english and french voices installed >>>>> asking between 400 and 500 pounds >>>>> i do love the mac but leopard, as good as it is in my view, >>>>> hasn't really come that far with voice over in the last 2 years, >>>>> criticize me all youw ant but there you ahve it, smile >>>>> so anyone interested please get back to me. i prefer to run a >>>>> full blown windos environment on my windows laptop i have at >>>>> home and then i ahve full braille support for the applications i >>>>> need it in like foreign languages >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> > >
