[access-uk] Re: My experiences with the Mac
- From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2005 20:51:59 +0100
Justin, my understanding of the screen magnification builtin to OS X is that it
is quite good, and I've heard its very clear in higher magnification. I don't
know how flexible it is, but I hope that Andrewwill get around to giving it a
try as I seem to recall he has some useful sight. Might be interesting too how
effectively it works alongside SpeakOver.
Given my disatisfaction with the on-going exspense of upgrading Zoomtext in the
UK, its just one more reason why I might consider that, £400-500 spent on a Mac
might satisfy my needs in the DTP area more cost effectively than on the PC.
Sure, there is certainly a steep learning curve to start with, but I am
interested in info coming this way about the Mac in order to help assertain the
viability of the Mac as an alternative to a cost-conscious user like me.
Ray
Personal emails: Email me at
mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: "Justin R"
| Hi all,
|
| This is very interesting as, several friends of mine have spoken about macs
| in the past and how much better they are than PC's generally.
|
| What I'd like to know is that as the mac does have a screanreader built in.
| Does it also have a screen "Macnifier" ? Sorry, couldn't resist that!
|
| Does it though? I get nervous with just a screen reader as, I wouldn't be
| able to see what was going on, especially if anything went wrong.
|
| Justin
| ----- Original Message -----
| From: "Ray's Home"
| > To Mary, who might not know, I might also add to Andrew's post, that the
| > operating system which comes with all Macs now includes a screen reader
| > for ffree as part of the operating system. Hence Andrew's and others'
| > interest in the Mac. Its a fair bet that many including Andrew, might be
| > attracted by the stability and relative lack of bugs in the Apple OS, not
| > to mention that the writers of viruses give it less trouble as they tend
| > not to target the Mac to anything like the exstent they plague us Windows
| > users. Arguably, the Apple OS is more secure too.
| > Ray
| >
| > Personal emails: Email me at
| > mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
| >
| > ----- Original Message -----
| > From: "Andrew Hodgson"
| >
| > | Hi Ray,
| > |
| > | The machine is virtually noise free. It does make a bit of noise if
| > | I have my head right by the machine, yes, I can hear a small noise,
| > | but it is silent from my desk.
| > |
| > | I have managed to mess up the config in VO a couple of times, and it
| > | is not reading what I wanted. However, there are reset buttons which
| > | seem to do the business. The voice I think isn't that bad, and it
| > | does get most things right. However, a Dectalk voice would be good.
| > | It is certainly one hell of a lot better than the Narator voice!!
| > |
| > | I am still waiting for my long message to Mac Visionaries to get
| > | through, but it hasn't yet, so I am still waiting to find things out.
| > |
| > | Will keep you in touch.
| > | Andrew.
| > |
| > | On 24 Sep 2005, at 13:52, Ray's Home wrote:
| > |
| > | > Facinating Andrew, and please keep your comments coming to the
| > | > list. You might give us some pointers to what you think of the
| > | > bundled voices for starters, although I know you can opt to upgrade
| > | > to better sounding voices.
| > | >
| > | > Once you've got the Voice Over a bit more sorted, you might,
| > | > further down the line give us some idea of whether the speech
| > | > recognition side of things in O SX works at all with Voice Over.
| > | > If it did, or will, eventually, then that's one hell of a price
| > | > advantage over current Windows options working with screen readers.
| > | >
| > | > One final question, how much noise does the Mini make? I've seen
| > | > one in a local store but there was way too much shop noise gauge
| > | > accurately how intrusive or not the box noise might be.
| > | >
| > | > Looking forward to your findings.
| > | > Ray
| > | >
| > | > Personal emails: Email me at
| > | > mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
| > | >
| > | > ----- Original Message -----
| > | > From: "Andrew Hodgson"
| > | >
| > | > | Hi all,
| > | > |
| > | > | I got my Mac Mini yesterday and I must say I am completely impressed
| > | > | with the system. When I started the system, it gave me a short
| > | > | tutorial on the Voice Over package, and its keyboard shortcuts. I
| > | > | think the main thing is not go go into this with the expectation
| > | > that
| > | > | you will be hand fed the OS in a Windows fashion, as the OS is
| > | > | certainly not Windows, and has several new concepts. I am still
| > | > | floundering to a grate degree, but am able to now read/reply to mail
| > | > | in the Exchange account, am able to read Mac online help, move files
| > | > | around on the hard disk, and have changed a few preferences.
| > | > |
| > | > | I am still waiting to be able to connect to our network folders, (I
| > | > | am able to connect to our NAS, but cannot connect to our domain or
| > | > | our W2k3 server).
| > | > |
| > | > | One thing this Mac is the one with the CD and DVD burner installed,
| > | > | as I wanted to see how easy it is to get running. It also comes
| > | > with
| > | > | a bluetooth and wireless card installed, which I got partially
| > | > | working last night to provide wireless Internet access. This is
| > | > | quite amazing that you get all this in such a small package.
| > | > |
| > | > | Hope this information is helpful.
| > | > | Andrew.
| > | > |
| > | >
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