I am able to use numbers to enter data, do functions like sums, and read spreadsheets. I don't really know much about excel and jaws, but I'm not willing to pay the $1000 to get jaws, when numbers works well. I use it for my personal budgett, as well as a statistics class I'm taking this semester. If office becomes accessible, I will certainly consider purchasing that, because I feel that it would make it easier to use my mac for employment purposes, but in the meantime I'm doing fine with iWork 09. Olivia "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower", Steve Jobs
On Apr 22, 2010, at 6:56 AM, peter Apgar wrote: > I would have to agree. Mac's spread sheath software doesn't hold a candle > to excel. I have problems similar to ones previously listed in this thread > with searches. As for formulas I have had issues with complex reference > formulas. I will also note that many of my problems with the Mac are a > result of not being able to spend enough time with the different programs. > My job requires complex tasks with excel and those are often transferable to > my personal life with budgeting payment calculations ect. The largest > hurdle to using the Mac is weather or not you can incorporate it to your > employment. If this is the case there is not a better system out there. If > your required to operate windows and many of the MS programs the > transition can be a killer. Bring on MS office in Coco. Sorry for the > rant. > > Pete > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dan Roy > Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 11:21 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: the apple user? > > Buddy: > > yes, I did try tables, and, yes, it will read the contents of a cell, > however, I had 1 heck of a time with it reading formulas, the type of column > I was in etc. Also, I could find no easy way to have it read the row and > column at the same time. yes, it's somewhat usable in a pinch. However, > unfortunately, nothing like jaws and Excel. I wish it was different, and, > it could be that I am not knowledgeable enough to get it going as well as I > should. If you have suggestions, I am listening with vary open ears, grins! > > > On Apr 21, 2010, at 7:22 AM, Buddy Brannan wrote: > >> Have you tried tables? >> -- >> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA >> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY >> >> >> >> On Apr 21, 2010, at 8:15 AM, Dan Roy wrote: >> >>> I love my Mac and would never go back to using windows as my main > machine. However,the point about spreadsheets is, unfortunately, a good 1. > I am forced to use windows for spreadsheet work, for now anyway! >>> >>> >>> On Apr 21, 2010, at 3:38 AM, Dónal Fitzpatrick wrote: >>> >>>> good morning Denise, >>>> >>>> I would agree with the others who have replied to this thread stating > that the Mac can be used as a productivity tool. I am a University > professor (in the American sense of that word rather than the Uk/Irish > meaning) which means I must use my mac to write papers, grade student exams > and to carry out other functions. However, I have not totally abandoned my > Dell. While the word processor in iWork 09 is accessible, I don't like > either the Numbers spreadsheet application or indeed the access provided by > VO. It's just an opinion, and no doubt the zealots on this list will > vehemently disagree, but I still believe that the browsing of spreadsheets > using Jaws is unparallelled. Vo lacks the kinds of semantic access to this > kind of data that Jaws/Excel provide. >>>> >>>> I would particularly agree with the comment which said "preview" is a > lovely PDF reader, however it has given me problems when used in full-screen > mode. >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>>> Dónal >>>> On 21 Apr 2010, at 01:23, denise avant wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi, >>>>> >>>>> Yes. Particularly since I am a lawyer with the public defenders >>>>> office. And my primary role as an appellate and post-conviction >>>>> attorney is to write briefs, with case citations. >>>>> >>>>> I knew about the fusion program, as I have spent time talking to >>>>> others about the program. I didn't know about the snap shot. >>>>> >>>>> So thanks. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> From: [email protected] >>>>> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John J Herzog >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 7:14 PM >>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>> Subject: Re: the apple user? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hello, >>>>> >>>>> As a macbook user, who has to write substantial papers for law >>>>> school, and who has used his computer at a summer internship with >>>>> Pepsico, I feel I can helpfully answer your questions. >>>>> >>>>> Forgive the length of this email. >>>>> >>>>> First, the idea that macs are only play toys is complete and utter > nonsense. >>>>> On my mac, I do use the apps like Itunes and Ichat, but I use >>>>> serious apps as well. Iwork is quite accessible, as is text edit, >>>>> allowing you to do extensive formatting of documents. Also, the >>>>> preview application on the mac is one of the best PDF readers I >>>>> have ever seen. The text is readable with voiceover, and there are >>>>> few, if any crashes. What other screen readers can you say that about? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Next, I will address your concern about microsoft office >>>>> applications not being accessible. It is true that they do not work >>>>> with voiceover. However, for about seventy dollars, you can pick up a > program called VMware fusion. >>>>> Fusion allows you to install windows and run it at the same time as >>>>> your mac. This means that you can use whatever screen reader you >>>>> like for windows and run office without a hitch. >>>>> >>>>> There is one more upside to running fusion on mac. After you have >>>>> configured windows just the way you want it, you can create what is >>>>> known as a snapshot. The snapshot will restore your system to its >>>>> exact configuration at the time you took it, meaning you will >>>>> always have a fresh install of windows, office, and your screen >>>>> reader a click away. It's awesome, because it does a complete and >>>>> utter system restore when windows decides to go south on you. For a >>>>> blind person, I actually think a mac with fusion is better than a >>>>> standard windows PC for this reason. Note that a fusion snapshot >>>>> literally restores all files and settings to the way they were when >>>>> you took it. It is much more extensive than using the built in >>>>> windows system restore utility. It has saved my skin a number of times, > and I will give you a perfect example. >>>>> >>>>> At the beginning of law school, I found it necessary to purchase a >>>>> scanner with a document feeder. Previously, I had a different >>>>> scanner that I was using with kurzweil 1000. Now, when I installed >>>>> the twain drivers for the new scanner, after trying to >>>>> unsuccessfully remove the old drivers, I found myself in a >>>>> situation where neither set worked. If I had a standard windows >>>>> machine, I was facing the real possibility of having to reinstall >>>>> windows to get either unit to work reliably. Either that, or it was >>>>> having to spend hours and hours messing with system dll files, and we > all know what happens after that. >>>>> >>>>> So, instead, I just restored a snapshot I made of my XP machine >>>>> prior to having installed either Kurzweil or the scanner software. >>>>> I then installed both on what was essentially a fresh copy of >>>>> windows, and all was smooth sailing from there. It saved me from >>>>> endless headaches, plus the burden of having to get a sighted >>>>> person to help install the screen reader again, and the time that would > have been wasted in such a pursuit. >>>>> >>>>> I hope this helps answer your questions. >>>>> >>>>> John >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> P.S. If you go to www.blindcooltech.com, you can find some >>>>> excellent demos of the macintosh by Mike Arigo. He even shows how >>>>> fusion and voiceover work, and he runs window eyes on the XP side of > things. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hope this helps. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Apr 20, 2010, at 7:52 PM, denise avant wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hello all, >>>>> >>>>> Please forgive the length of this message. >>>>> >>>>> In researching the issue of whether to purchase an apple mac or >>>>> not, I've come across a few people who have expressed criticism if >>>>> not concern about the mac computers themselves. I own the iphone, >>>>> and have enjoyed it tremendously. I've been able to do things with >>>>> the phone I was never able to do with other phones. The only >>>>> problem I still have is putting in extensions and account numbers once > the number is connected. >>>>> >>>>> But having said this, I seriously doubt whether I will ever buy >>>>> another phone, where I don't have accessibility built in. >>>>> >>>>> There is an applestoe here in Chicago, and when I've had any >>>>> problem of any kind, the sales staff has been very easy to deal with. >>>>> >>>>> Even when I call on the telephone, I find a very friendly staff. >>>>> >>>>> I have my own personal sales representative since I have mac book >>>>> pro on the drawing board. >>>>> >>>>> What I enjoy most of all, is that I can go to an appelstore, and >>>>> with the exception of a couple of products, there is accessibility >>>>> right out of the box, with no extra costs or smas to worry about. >>>>> >>>>> I'm seeking opinions from those of you who use these computers with >>>>> voice over. The biggest criticism I've heard that if you're >>>>> conducting a business or doing a serious project, the mac is not >>>>> for the blind user. This apparently has to do with the fact that >>>>> the office aps are not accessible with vo, and iwork9 acts strangely > sometimes. >>>>> >>>>> Basically, one person, who doesn't use the mac, but is familiar >>>>> with the product line, told me that the operating system was those >>>>> who wanted to "play." >>>>> >>>>> Can those you have used the macbooks or other appel operating >>>>> systems address these issues. Thanks. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus >>>>> signature database 5045 (20100420) __________ >>>>> >>>>> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. >>>>> >>>>> http://www.eset.com >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> 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 >>>>> [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. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus >>>>> signature database 5045 (20100420) __________ >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> http://www.eset.com >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> 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.
