Category: Geeks r Us
OK, in mid-May, I recieved my Mac. I really like it; however, I'm having issues with little things. For example, it takes me forever when I've downloaded a program to find it and then move it to my applications folder. Just little things that I'm not really sure what the shortcut keys are for voice over yet. Can anyone give me any advice for beginning Mac users.
Hi, faithful angel,
When you download a program for the Mac, it comes as a .dmg file. Mac OSX usually puts downloads in the Downloads directory which is on your doc. As for moving the app from the DMG to the Applications folder, the way I do it is:
Find the app name in the DMG
Copy the Application to the clipboard
Go to the finder and go to Local Drive
Hit command+shift+a to go to your aplications folder
Paste the application into the folder
Eject the DMG from the Mac, hth.
hey faithful angel.
I'm with you on that one. I received my mac on mid may. i actually got it as a graduation present from my parents and i love the thing. I am pretty good at figuring out stuff like that. but i would suggest going to an apple store and gett some training for basic mac stuff because the apple staff are very friendly and knowledgeable.
Hi, listen to the podcasts about VoiceOver at www.blindcooltech.com
I was just about ot say the same thing poste 4 has already said. mick erigo has done a hell of a job on those podcasts. it's kind of funny, becuase it seems like I know a lot about the mack and don'teven have one here, well, not at this time I don't but i'm hopeing soon i'l get one. smile. good luck megs, and go apple
it's weird typing on a PC now because i think that the window's start key is the option key on the PC
me to! i finally own a mac book pro last september28 and i'm overwelmed. i listen to mike arrigo's podcast. i went to lioncort.com, apple's websight, i can do this thing.com, switch101 and ashley cock's websight. and stil i'm verry confuse. what should i do?
i'm planning to stop using windows for awile. maybe i'm just to windows minded to lern? lol! i been using windows for 10years now.
P.S i'm not sure that the apple staff here know much about voiceover.
[ritchie]
if you stop trying to fit the mac in to a windows frame of mind you'll do fine. all i used was windows until last december and i took the mac up almost instantly, actually like it over windows more these days. Sure i still use my windows machine, using it now as a matter of fact, but my mac is becoming more and more my main computer especially for mobile use.
strongly considering a hackintosh to get my feet wet with the mac os
I've used Mac OS before, so whenever I can get the money to get a Mac, I'll pretty much be on my way when I get it in terms of surfing the web and the like.
I love my mac. However, something happened with my fonts, and basically I'll have to do a system restore. The only thing I hate using my Mac for is my online classes because there are so many frames to interact with. Other than that, I love mine.:)
my advice to you, if you go mac, go pure mac, not something to make it run on an AMD processor. those generally have problems that pure intel macs never see what so ever
What's a hackintosh? I'm considering a mac book pro, and I could run a dual OS system like in mac demo 5 on blind cool tech.
Well, Mac is meant to be Intel based anyway, so...
here's another podcast that help's me a lot
Vision Australia
http://www.visionaustralia.org/info.aspx?page=2296
[ritchie]
I am also new to the Mac, so I'm looking at this topic closely now. We just got this IMac Wednesday. I totally agree that if you can unlearn Windows, this should probably work well.
Lou
i'm beginning to think that lerning windows are a no-brainer compared to mac. lol!
[ritchie]
i'm using my mac to post this!
i'm slowly getting the hang of this!
i know! 1 small baby steps @ a time. lol!
hey guys can you recommend me a alternative to itunes in mac? i'm accustom to using winamp in windows. and is calebre and firefox for mac accesible?
thanks!
[ritchie]
i'd get used to ITunes if i were you, it's not that complicated unless you make it. i'm not sure if firefox works or not but safari does wonders with voiceover
yep. I realize that i have no choice but to learn itunes. Fore now, it is just too complicated For my liking.
i find vlc for mac accessible for playing videos though!
What about reading books? how can i open .epub, .lit, .mobi, .lrf, .rtf, .doc, .docx, and .pdf in mac aside from installing vmware fusion?
and also archives like .zip, .rar and others?
sorry for my newbie questions!
[ritchie]
As far as I know, firefox is not accessible with VoiceOver. However, the latest version of VoiceOver in Snow Leopard is scriptable, just like Window Eyes and Jaws are. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
for opening the doc and rtf files at least you coulg et openOffice, works quite well with voiceover, and for rar files and 7z too if you use them look for the unarchiver. that'll get ya along quite well.
if you need help finding any of these programs just let me know and i'll see what i can do to help you find them.
thanks! are those freeware? just asking.
I installed vmware fusion with windows XP,sp3 and jaws11 last nite for the aps that i used in windows that i don't know yet the counterparts in mac such as encarta and kurzweil.
after installing jaws. I encounterd problems in using it. Such as
1. insert key.
Macbook pro don't have a insert key.
2. application-key.
None that i know.
3. switching between jaws and PC cursor.
Although I set the keyboard in laptop mode, the caps-lack still function like a normal key.
4. Left and right mouse button.
I think I have to asign those.
5. Delete key.
You cannot delete something unles you will press the function key with it...
I'm currently learning the Sharp keys and key tweak software. maybe this wil solv the problem?
[ritchie]
you have to remember, it's not a windows machine. it may be running windows, but it's not pure windows so the mac still controls stuff. i've heard there's ways to define keys, but don't know how too myself. also, the programs i have mentioned are free for the most part.
By the way, how much did your laptop cost, and how much ram and hard drive space does it have?
my macBook through best buy mind you with apple care protection cost 1200 bucks. has a 250 gig hard drive, 2 gigs of ddr3 ram i believe a 2.2 ghz dual core processor. i'm quite pleased with mine for a laptop
Good. I want to buy a mac, but couldn't find a price range.
I'm using a macbook pro with 2.4ghz processor 4gb of ram and a 250gb HDD. I bought it last september28-2010.
It cost 58000.00 philippine pesos. I don't know the exact price there in the US but here is a link to there US websight.
http://store.apple.com/us
@ Rat. yep. i'm trying to have the best of both worlds. I'm now googling about defining keys in mac. I just really need my windows for now!
Btw thanks about the apps recommendation. It helps me a lot!
[ritchie]
no problem, and if you can find out how to define keys i'd be greatful if you'd let me know, trying to get that myself. i'm somewhat the same as you, there just a few things i can't give windows up for yet, and don't know if i eer will be able too at present
ser try sharp keys. it works for me.
i will post aboutit later.
I was able to remap the right alt and right windows button to insert and application buttons with sharp keys.
This amasing software can be found @
http://www.randyrants.com/2008/12/sharpkeys_30.html
DISCLAIMER!
use @ your own risk!
BTW this is a freeware.
Instruction.
things neded.
1. windows xp/vista/7
2. .net framework version 2.0
sharp keys will not install using other version of .net framework. I tried installing version4 but it did not work. I only tried it in windows XP pro sp3 though.
If you want to try this using vista/7, You may want to turn off the UAC. So that sharp keys could access the registry to modify the keys...
To look for version2 go to filehippo.com
3. sharp keys version3.
steps
1. install .net framework.
2. install sharp keys.
3. restart windows.
4. Open sharp keys and pres the tab button. go to add and press it.
5. go to map this key from key. listbox and select from the list the key that you want to remap.
6. tab to the to this key to key listbox and select from the list the desired change...
7. pres OK
8. pres write to registry button.
9. press OK and close.
10. restart windows.
you have now remap your keys!
hope this helps!
[ritchie]
btw you could undo your keyboard remapping by
1. selecting from the list the key you want to undo and pressing the delete button.
2. press the wright to registry to to undo.
3. restart your windows for the changes to take effect.
so no problem if you mess up...
I'm sorry, but the question was how to do just this on a mac, not on windows, sorry. I might use this on windows, but are there any mac equivalents you know of?
Wow, been off this thing for quite a while and great to see all of you Mac users. I teach a mac course in NYC as well as use it for my primary machine. May I recommend going to www.icanworkthisthing.com and clicking on the link mac with voiceover. You will find a guide called using mac applications the snow leopard addition. it has been helpful to many. Don't give up and keep enjoying those macs!!!!!!!!
@ synthesizer101 I installed this on my virtual machine that have windows xp in my mac book pro that's why i needed a key remapping. to have a insert button and application button.
by the way for the jaws/P.C cursor and right and left mouse button problem. just attach a windows numeric keypad in your mac laptop...
Does anyone know how to cheaply or freely allow macs to speak Spanish? Especially with a Latin American accent?
I'll be honest, I am finding it a lot easier to totally switch over to the mac. I have friends that have windows running on their macs and some have had trouble with it. As of right now, my mac is having a few problems, so I'm back to using my PC which is frustrating because for a while my mac was my primary computer.
Oh, and another question. Is there a good calculator on the mac, or a good free one to get?
yeah. i love mac to. but windows is neded in my work and i don't have a PC laptop anymore.
windows is working grate in my VM. i got no problem with it.
just want to give you guys options.
sorry for my bad english/spelling.
*smile*
[ritchie]
The calculator on the mac works quite well. For spanish voices go to:
http://assistiveware.com/visiovoice.php
Or try:
http://assistiveware.com/infovox_ivox.php
For a great guide on using Snow Leopard including the calculator go to:
http://icanworkthisthing.com/docs/mac_with_voiceover/Using_Mac_Applications_with_Voiceover_the_Snow_Leopard_Edition.shtml
Okay the pod casts on blind cool tech are okay but the ones from vision Alstralya are way better just google them the podcasts are more indeapth and more up to date
there's a rar expandar that cah open rar files. and it works on my mac.
Google rar expander and you'll see what i'm talking about and it's free.
It's called stuffit expander and is free.
does the braille note apex work with the mac?
Stuffit Expander goes back to the 1990s, though nice to know now it manages rar.
Stuffit is to Mac what PKZip was to DOS and Winzip was to Windows: The only way to do it for quite a while, when all they shipped were binhex archives ...