I have been visiting worksites in Oregon and Iowa since 2000. I have only encountered one that uses the Mac thus far. This is not a reflection on the Mac, but there are some issues that will slow down a transition from Windows to the Mac. In major corporations, there is an extremely conservative mentality when it comes to Information Technology. For example, Principal Financial Group, whose headquarters is in Des Moines, switched to Windows XP from Windows 2000. When you may ask? In 2009. Corporate work places are extremely slow to embrace the unknown, and even when it might seem advantageous to them, they do not do it. However, there are reasons. One reason is control. Corporations usually have extremely locked down systems, and they are extremely zealous about what privileges employees have when it comes to using computer systems. One work site I was involved in took 8 weeks to allow an employee to update their version of a Windows screen reader. Also, corporations tend not to purchase new state of the art computer systems (God I hate that phrase) until they absolutely have too. I believe that the Mac has great advantages over Windows especially when it comes to security and stability, but it will take time before we see a major shift from Windows to the Mac. Corporations are slow plodders most of the time. Yet, it is in such corporations where I would like to see more blind employees with a chance at upward mobility. Then, we must visit the telemarketing jobs that unfortunately, many blind people end up with. These call centers use the cheapest computers they can possibly get away with. One call center in Des Moines, and one in Oregon used computers without sound cards. We purchased computers for several clients with sound cards so they could use a Windows Screen reader here in Des Moines, but in Oregon we purchased Doubletalk synthesizers, and Braille displays. If I had my way in this wicked world, no blind person would ever have to take a telemarketing job, but at least at the beginning of ones career, it is something to put on a resume. Telemarketing firms, which I like to call the broom factories of the 21st century, won't spend any money they can find a way not to spend. So, I would be quite happy to see Macs flooding the corporate world, but it will take a good deal of time, unless things undergo a dramatic change.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Roy" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 8:30 PM Subject: Using OS10 and Windows: was, New User While I do agree that will see them in schools and so on, it will be a long while before you see them in most businesses. That's the sad part. A lot of people who are seeking employment can certainly learn and use the mac, and, hopefully they do. However, they will also have to learn windows, because, that's what's being used in main stream America. Also, I still find there are some things that I can't do on the mac efficiently enough to be fully productive. Spreadsheets are still somewhat of a problem. I know that numbers works, but, not as well as Excell with jaws or windowEyes. I hope that will change in the vary near future. Also, on my job, we do a lot of Braille translation. I don't know of a good translator for the Mac. Hopefully, someone will set me straight on that 1. On Apr 15, 2010, at 4:55 AM, Ricardo Walker wrote: > I think it's happening slowly already. It is just a more cost effective > solution than windows computers with the price of a screenreader thrown > in. The transition will take a while because contracts need to be > fulfilled and such other things. Then we will see thee Mac more in > schools, government agencies and the like. > On Apr 15, 2010, at 5:46 AM, Rob Lambert wrote: > >> Who here thinks we'll see the Mac replacing PCs in AT training offices? >> >> On The, Apr 15, 2010 at 2:43 AM, Joe Plummer <[email protected]> wrote: >> For other A T you can run boot camp or virtual windows to use them. >> >> >> >> Sign, >> Joe Plummer ( JP ) >> [email protected] >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Anne Robertson >> Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 5:46 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: new member >> >> Hello Denise, >> >> I hope the word processor you are thinking of getting is iWork09, since >> MS >> Office for Mac is not accessible. >> >> As for Word documents of almost any level, TextEdit or Pages will read >> these >> just fine. >> >> I can't answer any of your other questions having never been a Windows >> user. >> >> Cheers, >> >> Anne >> >> On Apr 14, 2010, at 11:27 PM, denise avant wrote: >> >> > hello, >> > after having my iphone for six months now, i have really enjoyed my >> experience with apple. To that end, i am looking into purchasing a mac >> book >> pro. In fact, i called for some specs today and have set one with 4 gig >> of >> ram, and a 320 hard drive, 13 in screen. again this is just a >> possibility. >> > i will also have the word processor included. i will also have the >> one-to-one training as there is a nearby apple store in chicago. >> > i am curious as to what those of you who own macs have done about your >> other windows based adatpive equipment, duxbury, openbook or k1000 and hw >> stream companion? how easy is it to move ms word 2003 2007 docs over to >> apple macs, still keep the formatting or move them back again? >> > I thought of just keeping my netbook or sony machine for these >> > purposes. >> there was also the idea given to me that i could have windows on one side >> and the mac on the other side. any thoughts on these questions would be >> apprciated. >> > >> > >> > -- >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> > Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> > For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
