As I wrote earlier, VO is updated with the OS updates and typically shows major steps forward when the OS is actually upgraded.
So, $29 for screen reader update and $0 for the rest of the OS if you want to look at it this way. With JAWS, $250 (assuming you have SMA) for two screen reader upgrades and $200 for OS upgrade. In upgrades alone, you save $420 and Apple is pretty consistent with software updates across its entire product line.
JAWS is a very good program but is it worth $1100 new when one can buy a really kick ass MacBook 13 for $999 or a really sweet MacBook Pro 13 for only $1199?If you are happy with the really nice plastic model, it's like buying the VoiceOver screen reader for $1100 and getting $100 back if you are willing to accept a really delightful laptop from Apple.
If you search through my blog archives (http://www.blindconfidential.blogspot.com ) you will find three things: first, that I used to trash Apple for its poor accessibility and lack of a commitment to such; second, that I now praise Apple for making a major turn around; third, that for years I have been advocating for mainstream products to include access features so we blinks can enjoy the fiscal benefits of the economies of scale afforded those who do not identify as having a disability.
Apple has become the only company to apply universal design principles to its entire product line. For people like me who follow this stuff for a living, I've never seen anyone do a better job nor have I seen a company, once committed, to move so rapidly toward a comprehensive solution. Apple supports VoiceOver in its entertainment products (iPod and AppleTV), telecommunications (iPhone) and, of course, on its computers. It does all of this without requiring a VO user to invest an extra penny, Rupee, Pound Sterling, Euro, Yen, etc. - a truly remarkable feat that is only matched on computers in GNU/Linux distros and no where on entertainment or telecommunications products.
I am not on Apple's payroll, I do enjoy a personal relationship with a handful of people at Apple with whom I sat on committees back when I worked at FS. My opinions on all of this come from observing products accessible to people with vision impairment through an expert's lens and with a solid knowledge of the recent (15 years or so) history.
Happy Macking, cdh On Nov 7, 2009, at 7:47 AM, dennis wrote:
but do they release updates for it ?----- Original Message ----- From: "David Poehlman" <david.poehlman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >To: <macvoiceover@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 7:22 AM Subject: [macvoiceover] Re: macs vs pcs it is built in. On Nov 6, 2009, at 11:38 PM, dennis wrote: do they update the screen reader?----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Hofstader" <cdh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >To: <macvoiceover@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 6:33 AM Subject: [macvoiceover] Re: macs vs pcsHi,Also, coming from the world of extreme geekdom, research and trying to use a crystal ball to design future user interfaces, Apple on computers, entertainment products (iPod, Apple TV) and telecommunications (iPhone), is the only company I know of that is actively applying universal design principals to an entire product line. If you start with VoiceOver on a Mac and later get an iPhone or iPod, you will find the interface designed for people with vision impairment to be fairly consistent with the differences being apropos to the device being used.With its iPhone 3G s and Macintosh Snow Leopard releases, Apple has raised the bar in UI for our population by adding a second dimension which makes navigating much more efficient when you get used to it.Apple hardware are also things of beauty. They are much more well constructed and use much better components than all but Sony and Toshiba whose very expensive (much more than most Macs) hardware is similar but you still need to spend an extra grand for JAWS.At my presentation at ACB Mid-Atlantic convention this past Saturday, I included the funny (to a geek at least) line, "I paid the same for VoiceOver as I would have for JAWS and, for an extra hundred bucks, Apple through in a MacBook Pro!" In reality, VO is at least as good as either JAWS or Window-Eyes in most areas and it's rapidly improving. JAWS remains the leader among obscure, niche and proprietary corporate applications. JAWS also does the best with really rich Web 2.0 applications like googledocs so, if these are important to you, you will probably be better off waiting to jump on the Apple bandwagon; if, however, you are like the 95% of the population that uses relatively standard programs, the Mac is more reliable (I once kept a MacBook 13 turned on without a reboot for over 45 days - most Windows screen readers would be happy with a day or two at the most).I hope this little rant holds some value for its readers, I've still had less than a few sips of coffee and I've a cold and have a bit of Alka Seltzer Plus head too.Happy Hacking, cdh On Nov 6, 2009, at 12:18 AM, Ignasi Cambra wrote:And this is priceless. Even if you don't get a mac, learn how to use VO. There are public mac workstations in many many libraries and other places. It really was a new experience to me the firs time that I stopped by one of those, turned VO on and checked my email just like anyone else.On Nov 5, 2009, at 9:34 PM, carlene knight wrote:You also have speech on virtually any mac, no thumb drives or dongles are needed. On Nov 4, 2009, at 4:19 PM, Marty Rimpau wrote:Hi Dennis, you have no ad ware, or spywareto worry about on the mac, and though macs are largely restricted to apple hardware, they are built better, and also, no viruses to worry about either, just some of the reasons for a mac over a pc.On Nov 4, 2009, at 11:37 AM, dennis wrote:could someone who switched to a mac from a pc tell me what is better about a mac? what am i lookin at price wise? your thoughts ar appreciated.Click on the link below to go to our homepage. http://www.icanworkthisthing.comManage your subscription by using the web interface on the link below.//www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover Users can subscribe to this list by sending email to macvoiceover-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxwith 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by logging into the Web interface at //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceoverClick on the link below to go to our homepage. http://www.icanworkthisthing.comManage your subscription by using the web interface on the link below.//www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover Users can subscribe to this list by sending email to macvoiceover-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxwith 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by logging into the Webinterface at //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceoverClick on the link below to go to our homepage. http://www.icanworkthisthing.comManage your subscription by using the web interface on the link below.//www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover Users can subscribe to this list by sending email to macvoiceover-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxwith 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by logging into the Webinterface at //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceoverClick on the link below to go to our homepage. http://www.icanworkthisthing.comManage your subscription by using the web interface on the link below.//www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover Users can subscribe to this list by sending email to macvoiceover-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxwith 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by logging into the Webinterface at //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceoverClick on the link below to go to our homepage. http://www.icanworkthisthing.comManage your subscription by using the web interface on the link below.//www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover Users can subscribe to this list by sending email to macvoiceover-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxwith 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by logging into the Web interface at //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceoverClick on the link below to go to our homepage. http://www.icanworkthisthing.comManage your subscription by using the web interface on the link below.//www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover Users can subscribe to this list by sending email to macvoiceover-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxwith 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by logging into the Web interface at //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceoverClick on the link below to go to our homepage. http://www.icanworkthisthing.comManage your subscription by using the web interface on the link below.//www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover Users can subscribe to this list by sending email to macvoiceover-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by logging into the Web interface at //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceoverClick on the link below to go to our homepage. http://www.icanworkthisthing.comManage your subscription by using the web interface on the link below.//www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover Users can subscribe to this list by sending email to macvoiceover-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxwith 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by logging into the Web interface at //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover
Click on the link below to go to our homepage. http://www.icanworkthisthing.com Manage your subscription by using the web interface on the link below. //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceoverUsers can subscribe to this list by sending email to macvoiceover-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by logging into the Web interface at //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover
