Just to reply to a few of the issues raised belowe. I've heard it said that no more than 15 per cent of software is accessible to screen reader users generally. GW Micro takes the common sense approach that MS Office and its various components is what many are going to use in the work place and often at home so that's where development gets concentrated. Other apps like Adobe Reader, Flash - more could be done there - and Firefoxalso get a lot of the limited resources GW has at its disposal. Firefox brings me on to mention Webvisum , a FireFox plug in, with its much publicised ability to solve graphic capture problems. It works too! Look at:
http://www.webvisum.com W-E7 works pretty well now with Firefox 3 and Webvisum so give it a try. Beyond that, scripting should help tremendously in the long run to further get around the inaccessability of many programs maybe including Coral Office. We'll have to waite and see. The same goes for some sound editors too. With alternatives such as Open Office we're awaiting a solution to Java access and it has been said that the next version of Window-Eyes will address this. That is if GW isn't strong-armed out of business in the meantime, and the vast majority here obviously hope this won't happen. Cheers, Ray. ----- Original Message ----- From: David Subject: Re: Requesting setfile/script Ok, can any of the staff members confirm this? Is it really so, that if you are blind, stuck with whatever screen reader you want, you simply HAVE NO CHOICE, but to stick with MicroSoft products; no matter what those guys may think to be fun for you. Well, my question gets highly interesting, even the more so, as the development moves on. More and more computers, that you pick up from the store, noaday, come all preloaded with a ton of software. Not only the operating system, as were the case a few years ago; but AntiVirus, Backup utilities, CD/DVD burning utilities - you name it. And, lately, I notice, quite a few with some kind of office suite. The most common one of the preloaded office suites - next to Office 2007 (from guess who), which I have heard qutite a few comments about - is OpenOffice (where Java support breaks us off). Then, a search on places like EBay, brings out Corel Office as a good number three. And, the last few days, I notice here on the list, we have heard about another suite - which I actually ave given a try, but find quite slow and worksome - Easy Office. If it was that easy, you just could throw out the 'trash' they preload the computers nowaday, well, you would be left with a feeling, that you really have better use for your money, than to buy trash. But, at least one computer manufacturer, lately started to block your chances of uninstalling certian ADDON software. Only way you can do it, is to call the manufacturer, give them your credit card number, and after a second or ten - when they have charged you US$50 - you get an uninstall code. My new computer was - fortunately - not of that brand. Still it had stuff on it I didn't want. Have you for instance tried to get rid of Norton lately? Yes, go to their hoepage and download the uninstaller. All it does is to come up with one of these NASTY - yet ooooh so popular - graphic boxes, showing you a code, which you have to retype into an edit box. Helpful, for the one sitting on his own, stuck with the screen reader? If ever GW, or whoever else, could make a way around, how to read these confirmation graphics; you would have served many a person a favor. Fact is, that WE users are like most people: SICK & TIRED of always having to be in the hands of MicroSoft. And, yet, it seems this is not only a problem of WE. Other screen readers do have some cracks too. Yet, it seems like some of them are in the path of doing something about it? Am I saying GW ain't? NO, I just wonder what is being done. Is it GW's idea to make WE only optimal with MS products, or do the staff have any particular plans as to open up for at least one other alternative? from before, the blind user is not just left with the expense of a new coputer. He even has to pick up a screen reader, and maybe even a Braille display. If he is forced - at top of all of this - to buy MS Office (which can range everything from $100, to five times that price); it might just make him somehow reluctant. Also, the screen readers grow - like all the rest of the software - eating more and more resources and power off from the system. This means, that even if you have a system, which runs nicely with your old screen reader, but then you want some of the new features (scripting or whatever else), you might just end up having to buy a new computer. And - wel take a guess - what is on that new computer? Three tons of software, that might be handy, nice, great, and even just what you are looking for; ... but, the screen reader can't do the job! Money for a new computer, money for upgrading the screen reader - and you are stuck with your 'good' old software... You see my frustrating point? OK, back to opic: Has anyone figured out a setfile/script for ANY alternative office pack? you name it Corel, EasyOffice, or heywire - I don't mind the name - just think we are in the line for getting hold of a cheaper alternative, to MS Office. Even if it can't do all THE FANCY STUFF, of MS Office - whcih I guess most of us never uses anyway. ----- Original Message ----- If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. All GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo, and can be searched through and sorted using the search form at the bottom of the page. If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include leave gw-info in the body of the message.
