See my responses below. On Sep 2, 2013, at 5:27 PM, Karen Poulakos <kpoula...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Hi, > > I'm currently using a Windows pc with the Window-eyes screen reader, and am > considering switching to Mac when purchasing my next computer. I'm > wondering how the Mac experience will differ from my experience with > Window-eyes. It will be very, very different, so don't go into this thinking it's just a matter of learning a few new keystrokes. It's not better or worse overall, just way different. > > 1. Is there a braille transcription program available? I currently use > Duxbury, with a 15 year old Index Everest embosser. I'm open to using a > different braille transcription program, as long as the cost isn't > prohibitive, but I'd like to be able to use my embosser. There is, but I have little experience with it and it is nothing like DBT. However, I've heard rumors that DBT will be released for Mac sometime in the future, so this question may be moot at some point. > > 2. How about OCR? I currently use Kurzweil 1000. There are several options, and everyone will tell you a different app or set of apps to use. The general consensus seems to be Abbyy Fine Reader, Docuscan Plus, or Prizmo as a somewhat distant third. > > 3. Are there any music notation programs that will work on the Mac? I > currently have not found anything that will work with Window-eyes. I would > like to find software that will allow me to scan music on to the computer, > and will either read or play the music. It would also be nice to be able to > write music notation on the computer. I very much wish there were, but I have not found anything. Sorry. > > 4. How does the word processing experience differ from pc to Mac? I'm not a > high power user of word, but do use it for very basic documents. Is there > much difference in creating and editing documents on a Mac? If it's only basic editing you need, then Text Edit, which is built into every Mac, will do fine. It supports saving files as .txt, .rtf, and .doc, and it can read .docx files. You can bold, underline, italicize, justify, center, change color, and even insert lists or images. The only porlbem is that Voiceover currently has trouble with tables in files, but we're all hoping that will be fixed in the next major OS10 update due out in a few weeks. > > How about email? I really don't like web based email. I prefer to download > my email to Outlook Express. I like the Outlook Express layout, and the ease > in creating folders and mail rules. Can I download my email on the Mac? The Mc's Mail app is really nice and handles multiple email accounts in a great interface. Rules, folders and so on are all easily set up. > I'll probably come up with lots more questions. But, these are the ones I've > been really wondering about for quite some time. Keep them coming. The more you can learn beforehand, the better you can prepare for the big change, or know that a Mac is not for you. > > Thanks, > > Karen P > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from Mac Mini) mehg...@gmail.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
