Guess you are not lonely on the isle of wishing for more stability, like in the older days, when comes to electronics. As a matter of fact, many sighted people feel the same way. All the continious updates to Windows and software, do affect EVERYONE - not only visually impaired.
As for Apple products, I have never even tried them, so cannot advice anything on that field. Still, you will want to go through your actual needs. For my part, one reason why I have never bothered the Apple products, is that certain of the software I am relying on, only runs under Windows. Getting a Mac would mean for me to stop using such software, and the disadvantage thereof seems higher than the gains of a bit more stability on the computer. Sure, I do know there exists ways of running a Mac with Windows, but you then still will have to face the many updates, I guess. Further, be aware that not all Windows periphals might have drivers for Mac. Such as your printer. Though Apple might have 24/7 assistance - over the phone or whatever - you will have to rely on it. A Windows machine is similar to what your friends and colleagues run, and getting help with things directly on-site, might prove easier. All depend on your situation, and your location. If for instance you lived in a place with no Apple store, and you had to pay for transportation every time you had to take your device to the store, so as to benefit from the special service you described, it could soon enough prove to be a troublesome solution; even if the assistance itself would claim to be free-of-charge. Compare it with having someone over for a cup of coffee and let them fix your issue. Again, it depend on what situation you are in. What need you have for assistance, what software you plan on using, and what other equipment you already have that might or moight not be compatible. Keep in mind, that even Apple products receive updates. Probably not that often, and perhaps not all that overturning in new layouts and so forth. But Apple land likely have its own challenges. Sure, they have a number of voices included in their products. But do these voices fit you? What about special terms, linked to your profession - will they be able to pronounce them correctly? Or, will they have optimal pronunciation dictionary capabilities, enough for you to taylor them to a bearable level? Otherwise a day in office might prove to be a true nightmare, sitting there listening to extremely badly pronounced special terms. I do have one locale voice on my computer here, manufactured by Vocalizer. It sounds very nice, clear and OK natural. Yet no matter how hard I try - with whichever screen reader or dictionary - it simply cannot be made to pronounce certain words correctly. And believe me, it becomes a real stressful experience over time. It even sometimes pronounce things such badly, that it causes misunderstandings. Since I have never used an Apple product, I could not tell what is the case on their screen reader voices. But you might want to do some research, as to what voices might be available, even for later purchase and installing. Many have chosen to use software that no longer is installed all on your local computer, but rather based on Online services. In some cases that might solve part of your learning curve, since they might be similarly working, whether you use Linux, Windows, Apple, or even Android based equipment. That is what we name cross-platform services. Yet, other software, even if they run off the net, might be quite different, from one platform to the other. One thing to keep in mind, is that the cross-platform services, will be updated just as often for all platforms. Let's take a thing like Firefox (and I just picked it out of the air, purely for samplification). If they decide to update, they will update the cross-platform software. This means, whether you run Mac, Android or Windows, you still will have to face the changes made in the new version. In certain cases, this could end up meaning that you have spent loads of money, and considerable resources on learning a new computer, only to ind that what you use your computer for, all is going to be just as often updated and changed, as the one you were running away from.Stary nights come in the jungle, just like in the Prairies. As to what extent you should choose the one system over the other, I do not have the expertise, let alone the urge to start arguing. I simply want to point out, that you will be changing environment, and have to make sure you know what you are doing; and even then, you might only change side so much. Spend your time wisely. And hard as it is to let you know, we all have to face the fact that things do change. Even faster and faster. And the impaired will only fall behind all the more. Personally I have decided to go with what I have, even if my computer has been running for several years, and is still on older Windows. But I will rather stick with things that I know how to deal with, than running for all the new stuff. The day it will not be running any more, might be hard to face, but I then will only have to climb ONE learning curve, and not having to run up and down every moutain that comes my way. Still, I do realize that others have a situation, work, school or living conditions, that might call for a more agressive follow-up on every new lane of technology. I really hope some of the ones who have experience with Apple products will chime in here, and assist us all in making educated decisions. On 5/24/2018 9:33 PM, Paulette Vickery via Talk wrote: > Hi all, > > > > I don't know about you, but I am just getting tired of it and want a > complete change. I am tired of having to change screen readers every so > often. I am tired of continually having to learn new and so called improved > Windows programs and Windows updates. I am tired of wondering, worrying and > waiting for the next change and inevitable scramble to keep up by the blind > in the computer world. > > > > So now, I am considering taking a leap of what ever you care to call it and > try using an Apple laptop, specifically, the Mac Book Air. I know there is a > steep learning curve, but I must say that there is a lot of support > available. > > For example, every Apple store is supposed to have on site training on all > Apple devices for people with disabilities, including blind people. I know > that the store here in Louisville has such training. > > The Apple Care for people with disabilities is available over the phone 24 > hours a day, 7 days a week. That is more than there regular Apple Care. > > The Apple Mac has a built in screen reader with different voices at no extra > cost installed on each device they make. There is also a short tutorial for > how to use Voice Over, the Apple voice and it's software, also at no extra > cost, included on each device. > > I know that it has nothing to do with how it works, but the outer case of > the laptop is metal and has an apple, complete with 2 leaves and a bite > taken from the apple, as the logo which I can touch easily. > > > > Has anyone else thought about using, or has used an Apple mac laptop? If so > what did or do you think about the Mac? > > Thanks in advance for your thoughts. > > > > Paulette > > _______________________________________________ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author > and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/trailerdavid%40hotmail.com. > For subscription options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > . > _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. 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