[mac4theblind] Re: Introduction
- From: Scott Granados <scott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "mac4theblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <mac4theblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 10:23:53 -0400
I would think your going to be able to run Duxberry under the virtual machine
in an existing windows environment so to the program it wouldn’t know the
difference. As for the braille device not sure. Do you happen to know what
sort of interface it uses? Is it USB or RS232 serial or what do you use to
connect it to the computer. Also are there special drivers involved or does it
support the normal print protocols. I don’t know the answer to this but I
would guess the manufacturer would have a good idea whether this could be done
and how. If it’s a simple matter of making Serial work you can use something
like a WUSB11 serial to USB adapter from Keyspan to do the trick. It may be
more involved than that so I’d suggest you ping the manufacturer of your
braille hardware.
Thanks
Scott
On Jun 16, 2014, at 10:15 AM, Tom Behler
<tombehler@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:tombehler@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Scott:
Thanks for this very thoughtful response. I appreciate it greatly.
Do you know whether or how a Mac with Voiceover can successfully be integrated
with the Duxbury Braille translation software, and a Juliet Pro-60 Braille
embosser?
This is important for me, since I use these items in many aspects of my college
teaching work.
Dr. Tom Behler
From:
mac4theblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:mac4theblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:mac4theblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Scott Granados
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2014 9:52 AM
To: mac4theblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:mac4theblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [mac4theblind] Re: Introduction
Hi Tom, I would suggest you run and not walk and switch to a Mac.
Here’s my reasoning.
First while you’re correct your Microsoft productivity applications
may not be accessible natively under the Mac OS there are lots of good work
arounds like Apple IWork which uses comparable programs that are compatible
with the office files. So instead of Word for example you would use Pages and
probably enjoy the use of Pages better. (I like the interface better myself)
The quality of the Apple hardware is far superior to that of your
average Dell. While you can soup up a Dell with Apple you know all your parts
work together and integrate nicely. Everything form setting up printers to
networks etc is easier and more logical.
Next, with software like VMWare Fusion you can run windows under
your Mac at the same time (in another window) as Mac OS so you can have the
best of both worlds available to you at the same time. I frequently drag and
top files between Mac and Windows between the applications and find the
integration very smooth. So you can run Jaws inside your virtual machine and
voice over outside giving you a fully speaking path between both environments.
Next, Apple is the future in my mind. Most companies that I have
worked for in recent years have migrated to Mac away from Microsoft products.
I worked for a company where we swapped out 60,000 Dell laptops with Macbook
Pros and never looked back.
Next support, Apple support as in direct from the company is miles
ahead of Dell. Just the quality of the support and backup you receive by Apple
is superior. This may not matter so much since you have in house staff at your
university but for a solo guy like my self running his own business it’s
important.
Next, if you chose to fully participate in the Apple Ecosystem
you’ll have a much better time with integrating your Mac to your phone, tablet
and TV than you will with Dell.
That’s just a few reasons that come to mind. You lose nothing by
making the apple switch but you gain a lot in functionality.
How’s that?
On Jun 16, 2014, at 9:18 AM, Tom Behler
<tombehler@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:tombehler@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Thanks very much, David.
You may be quite correct. … I’m just trying to keep an open mind about the
choice until I have to make a decision early this Fall.
P.S. To all list members: I would have replied to David individually, but
couldn’t pull his personal e-mail address out of his reply, so sorry for the
extra list traffic.
Dr. Tom Behler
From:
mac4theblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:mac4theblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:mac4theblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of David hilbert poehlman
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2014 9:59 PM
To: mac4theblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:mac4theblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [mac4theblind] Re: Introduction
Given your circumstances I see no advantage at all
Jonnie Appleseed
With his HandsonTechnolog(eye)s
Touching the Internet
Reducing technology's disabilities
one byte at a time
On Jun 15, 2014, at 19:24, "Tom Behler"
<tombehler@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:tombehler@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
Hello, everyone.
I have just joined this e-mail list, and would like to introduce myself as a
means of letting you know why I am reaching out to you for a bit of assistance.
Hopefully, this intro will help you understand who I am, what my situation is,
and what I’m trying to accomplish.
I am a blind Professor of Sociology at Ferris State University in Michigan. I
have been teaching for over 30 years, and have used adaptive computer
technology to perform various aspects of my job for the vast majority of that
time. Of course, like all of us, adaptive technology has been fundamentally
important to me in various aspects of my personal life as well.
Anyway, since Ferris State University is still pretty much a windows-based
institution,I currently use Windows 7, Office 2010, Jaws 14, the Duxbury
Braille translation software, and the Juliet Pro-60 embosser to do my work both
at my office and at home.
My office computer is slated to be replaced this Fall, and I have been given
the opportunity to at least play around with a loaner Macbook Pro laptop over
the summer, to test out its possible usefulness for me as a replacement
computer. The Macbookpro that I’m borrowing over the summer uses the Mavericks
10.9 OSX operating system. If I go with a Mac for my actual office replacement
computer, it would be an Imac desk top.
If I do not decide to make the switch to a Mac, I’d simply go with a Dell
desktop PC.
I understand that Microsoft Office programs for the Mac, such as Word, Excel,
and Internet Explorer are not very accessible with Mac Voiceover. I also have
been told that there may be some major compatibility issues with the Duxbury
Braille translation software, and my Juliet Pro-60 embosser.
What I am requesting from you is some basic guidance regarding whether trying
to learn, and switch over to a Mac would be feasible, given the above concerns,
and given the short time I would have to learn a Mac, in order to get it
totally up and running for the Fall semester.
Are there some very general podcasts and/or tutorials you could point me to to
help give me at least some idea of what I’d be getting into as I try to learn
the mechanics of basic Mac operation?
Thanks for whatever you can do to assist me. Although I may not respond to
every post I receive, please know that each reply will be read and considered
seriously.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tom Behler, Professor of Sociology
Department Of Social Sciences
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI
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