THe greatest challenge in my opinion for someone who has used WIndows and a WIndows-based screen reader such as WIndow-EYes or JAWS is the effort in unlearning everything you previously learned. Like it or not and I'm not interested in creating a flamewar here, but reality is how you interact with windows and using a windows screen reader is simply different on so many levels as compared to a Mac. Everyone will have a learning curve that is unique to their individual level of experience, learning abilities, and so forth. If you truly are interested in making the switch you will have to dedicate yourself to the effort and understand that you do have to put aside the windows machine and submerse yourself in the Mac experience. Lots of people are sliders and I had to learn to be a slider since I use a Mac at work, but also have to use WIndows. So, it is quite possible, but you do have to make the decision and ask yourself why you want to switch to a Mac and accept that there will be challenges along the way. Most folks I know who have switched from windows (even sighted) do not regret the switch. I did not give my wife a choice, I had all I could stand trying to keep a windows machine up for her and my kid. I eventually forced them over to TIger and neither suffered as a result and actually took to the Mac OS just fine. :)
On Mar 30, 2012, at 7:59 PM, Ioana Gandrabur wrote: > HI there, > > I am going to create some controversy probably with my post. > > I think the mac has some amazing features like being able to use the > trackpad, having easy access to many different languages, using any mac you > encounter on equal footing, having a stable system, etc. > > I will say that there are enough areas where I find windows (in my case with > jaws) easier to use or more smooth, consistent to use > > I have not used other browsers than safari and I find that when pages contain > frames it is harder to find relevant information on a page, especially when > you do not know the page yet. When you do, it gets faster. I also find > selecting text on webpages much more intricate and less reliable > I do not need my computer for much other than browsing and emails and from > time to time creating some more official letters so these differences do not > affect me and I can fully enjoy the cool fun sides of the mac like the > variety in voices. But I find sometimes I am more efficient on the pc. It > might be that I am still new to the mac (about 5 months) but I guess maybe > this side of things is worth putting out for discussion. > But, after all, you can still install windows on your mac and get the best of > both worlds. I do not have a pc and do not have a windows version to install > on my mac so it was swim or sink with the mac for me. I think I have not > drowned yet and am enjoying the swim despite the hurdles. > > > Hope this helps a bit. > > Ioana > > > > > Please check out my cd on www.ioanagandrabur.com on iTunes and most online > stores. > > On Mar 30, 2012, at 10:05 AM, Marc Rocheleau wrote: > >> Hello there, >> >> It's funny you mention flash because one of my big questions is >> browsing the web. I use sites like facebook, gmail, etc... on a >> regular basis and was wondering how easy/difficult they are to use >> with a Mac and VO -- I know facebook is a pain to navigate through >> with jaws on my PC sometimes. What web browser do people mostly use, >> safari? Also, I use twitter but have the qwitter client on my PC... is >> there any program for the Mac that is similar? >> >> I'd be very grateful for any info on these topics. Thanks in advance! >> >> -Marc >> >> >> On 3/29/12, Gigi <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Hi Mark >>> I would like to say that the two biggest problems, and it's not a problem >>> for everybody, our tables and PDF files if you need to fill out forms. I >>> have gotten around this by telling one of my customers that tables were not >>> an option right now. That is a choice I had. Not everybody has that choice >>> of course. Ask for PDF files, I'll just have to use my vista computer when I >>> absolutely have to. Actually, I gave it to my husband. >>> Some people have said that there is a problem with flash also, but I haven't >>> had much trouble with that. >>> Regards Gigi >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Mar 28, 2012, at 10:12 AM, Marc Rocheleau <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Hey all, >>>> >>>> I'm a transplant from the viphone list here and this is my first post >>>> to MacVisionaries... be gentle. >>>> >>>> In the same way I used that list to educate myself before purchasing >>>> an iPhone, I'm hoping to learn some stuff about the Mac here since I'm >>>> thinking of making the jump. Seeing as how I have the iPhone 4, plan >>>> on getting the next iPhone that's released in the fall and own an >>>> Apple TV, I figured it made sense to migrate to the Mac... or at least >>>> entertain the possibility. I live in Ontario and, thanks to the >>>> assistive devices program, 75% of a new computer is covered every five >>>> years for those with accessibility needs. >>>> >>>> They recently started covering Apple products and my five years is up >>>> this fall so I was thinking of taking full advantage of this. >>>> >>>> With that being said, I have a variety of different questions to ask >>>> on here. I just wanted to know what the best way to go about it was. >>>> They cover a wide range of topics and I don't want to spam the list. >>>> On the other side however, putting them all in one e-mail would >>>> probably deter people from viewing certain questions they could answer >>>> because of other questions. >>>> >>>> So erm... I guess I'm asking what standard practice is around here for >>>> such things. I bet you guys get the same questions from new comers all >>>> the time so I don't want to be repetitive either. >>>> >>>> Thanks for any advice you can lend and I look forward to learning >>>> about the wonderful world of Mac! :) >>>> >>>> -Marc >>>> >>>> -- >>>> 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.
