Category: Geeks r Us
Good morning all. The Mac is back and I am extremely pleased and excited that this BBS works quite well with Safari and VoiceOver. Break the Windows and grab a Mac.
Tell us more! I've been wanting to hear some experience with the new mac OSX! The screen reader is good? What applications does it work well with? Can you do it all? Word processing, web surfing, quicktime? Rave a little!
Ahh!!! well here's what you can do. E-Mail with a client called Mail, word process with Text edit(it's more then it's name implies), and surf the net with Safari which is the web browser. As more and more people use voiceover they are finding more and more apps that work. Developers are quite interested in complying with the new standards and to this end a company called Mariner software is making there office package accessible and this should be out in a few months. I will actually be presenting on voiceover and the mac with an associate who will be presenting zoom and the Mac. The Mac is back and it can only get better from here. I personally own the powerbook g4 and we have an imac g5 with the dualcore processor from intel in the office. Can't wait to kick the Windows box in to the corner! Okay, what I mean is put it in the closet. Um, at the risk of offending anyone actually I really am simply looking forward to using the Mac for more things. The PC will always be there and be needed for something but at least now we can buy a computer and pay one price for everything rather then bying so much software that makes computing unafordable.
Yeah someone at school has a mac book pro.
Its pretty good, fuckin pricey though, the only thing that i don't like about voice over is that it don't really work with msn messenger? and if you wanna read a page you have to press function and option with the down or ^ key or something like that.
But apart from that, yeah, sounds gd.
BEN.
Cool, I'd love to see VoiceOver in action.
It's a bit too early and too pricy right now but once VoiceOver takes off more I think itmight become a seriously good alternative to Jaws. I would support it but my programming duties restrict me to using the Visual Studio IDE and I believe that cannot be run on mac and VoiceOver would definitely not work well with it.
Now if that software would work with the PC emulator that would be the n neatest thing since sliced cheese.
cheers
-B
Yeah you can get the hack so that you can put os 10.4.something on your pc coz they made the intel version now
BEN
Ben, there is a wonderful alternitave to MSN messenger. It is called fire and will handle multiple accounts such as msn, aim, yahoo, jabra, icq and there might be another one in there. I use fire and love it. easy to work with. Now, I haven't seen a macbook pro yet but sure would like too. Although the smallest one is 15 inch and I am a bit spoyled by the 12 inch small one screen on mine. As far as reading webpages unfortunatley, the sayall command doesn't do well on the web however, there is a nice feature called grouping items on webpages which makes reading easier and also puts things in to columns. Really nice when paying bills online with that big bank that thanks you for your business. Wildebrew, I have never tried running virtual PC on the powerbook. I hear it is extremely slow but people have done it and run Jaws, window-eyes and supernova. I did get to see Window-Eyes work and it was quite strange using an operating system within an operating system. It did work and iI thought of doing it because I still need a spreadsheet program however, Haven't done it yet.
when voice over works with pro tools and digital performer and they have most of the bugs fixed, I'll be getting a dual core g5! Oh yeah!
Don't get me wrong. I'm certainly glad that the mac will be usable by us blind folks, but I will never totally faze out my pc. there will always be a use for it. I'm certainly glad there are apps that people are using on the mac. If I had a good reason, I'd get a mac minni, but... I fail to see why I should spend the 500.
Yup!! the PC will always be a part of our lives but the Mac just gives us another choice. there is a list called MacVisionaries.com that you might want to have a look at. Neet things going on there.
will be purchasing my mac in the next few days. I will be using the mac mini, as the pc will need to stay for a while.
Let me spell it out for everyone here. About september, I decided to go out and take a pretty big chance and went to the apple store to see what computers they had and how they would work. I found out about voiceover and I was very happy that they would put that BUILT in to the system, not a program, but part of Mac OS X. I then saw the zooming functionality, and was sold right there on the spot. not only can a mac read anything to you out loud, but also has a zoomtext like program built in. This program is not like magnifier. This program zooms the whole screen up to 20x! all you can see is a portion of a letter! Naturally I would never use it that big and if I did I would just use voiceover, but the fact that I can read a computer from a normal viewing area is what made me the happiest. Then voiceover. what thing that most people do not know is that Mac OS X is built over a centralized system, and centralized directives. If a program writer makes an application with the correct APIs voiceover will read the application. Think of this as well. How much did that pc cost that you are using? Then factor in how much your screen reader and magnification software is added to the cost of your pc. Now take a mac and just figure the cost of your computer. You do not pay extra for voiceover or the zooming program, you just buy your computer and if you need those features just turn them on. If you still need windows in your life, not to worry. there is a method now to legally dual boot OSX and Windows on the mac intels but it is not recomended to do so. There are rumors that Mac 10.5 Leapord will have the ability to run windows natively on top of itself. I know it seems I am spamming for apple. I would not be putting this here if I did not think it would help the blind community around the world do better with technology. We have such a hard time finding what we need to help us that we sometimes overlook our alternatives. one thing I also like is they do give student discounts. I hope you can make a decision on whether you are going to stick with your pc or your macs now. Oh just to let you know, buy those powerpc macs while they are hot in a few months you won't see them anymore imac g5 and mac mini g4 are no longer around. they are thinking of discontinueing the powerbook next. the powerbook 15inch has allready been discontinued for the macbook pro, but the 12 and 17 inchers haven't.
I'm going to make the Mac plunge soon as well. I played with Voiceover a little in the mac store, and liked it very much. If only more programmers, including Apple would get on board, and start building VO compatible programs? Either way though, Macs are great boxes!
Every apple application (including frontrow) is compatible with voiceover there is an mp3 manual on apple's web site explaining how to use voiceover with ANY apple application and you can also use applescripts to make voiceover do different things.
Mike! man!!! that was such a beautiful post and true... I sure hope more people can understand what you have found and realize that there is now a choice. The beauty of voiceover and zoom is that the commands are basicly the same accross all applications. Once you learn how to use these tools it's the same weather you are using laptops or desktops and in every application. Takes the learning curve out of learning how to read different apps. I have a young 10 year old who is doing so well with mac and voiceover and seeing the same thing. She is quite excited to move on to IChat and I will be teaching her that soon. Now, unfortunately, and i offer this correction gently, Voiceover does not work with all appple apps. This is a bit sad and unfortunate but it is true. Kinda strange but true never the les. However, Third party developers are quite anxious to comply with apples standards and I believe you will find more access from them then apple. Maybe this isn't a bad thing at all. There are people taking some sample apple programs like the dvd player and using xtools to make them accessible. This is perfectly legal and encouraged. Do you see people disecting windows programs for this purpose? Nope. your lucky if you can get in to a windows program. Also, there is a company called mariner write which is making there spreadsheet and word processor accessible. So, it's those application developers that are going to come through. Mike, again, thanks for your enthusiasm and I really hope you can keep getting the word out. Oh! thanks for the heads up on powerbooks. this is sad because I love my 12inch book. nice and small and it works just fine. So, if people see good prices on the 12inch grab it.. you won't be disapointed.
I was told, at an Apple stoe, genreally the new Intel powered Macs will both be slightly cheaper and also the processors will be a lot more powerful than existing Macs so, in fact, it's the opposite, I'm holding off exploring the Macs until they've completed their Intel switch, the processors should be better, faster and more affordable than current macs.
I will be exploring the VoiceOver once me and my fiance have purchased the new IBook. I reserve judgement until then. I'm happy though that by now we appear to hctually have a choie in the computer pmarket.
cheers
-B
Hope I am not violating any guidelines by sharing the following. If so someone tell me please in a private message thanks.
Public Beta Software Enables Intel-based Macs to Run Windows XP
CUPERTINO, California—April 5, 2006—Apple® today introduced Boot Camp, public beta software that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP. Available as
a download beginning today, Boot Camp allows users with a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac®, and once
installation is complete, users can restart their computer to run either Mac OS® X or Windows XP. Boot Camp will be a feature in “Leopard,” Apple’s next
major release of Mac OS X, that will be previewed at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in August.
“Apple has no desire or plan to sell or support Windows, but many customers have expressed their interest to run Windows on Apple’s superior hardware now
that we use Intel processors,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We think Boot Camp makes the Mac even
more appealing to Windows users considering making the switch.”
Boot Camp simplifies Windows installation on an Intel-based Mac by providing a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application to dynamically create
a second partition on the hard drive for Windows, to burn a CD with all the necessary Windows drivers, and to install Windows from a Windows XP installation
CD. After installation is complete, users can choose to run either Mac OS X or Windows when they restart their computer.
Pricing & Availability
The public beta of Boot Camp is available immediately as a download at
www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp,
and is preview software licensed for use on a trial basis for a limited time. The final version of Boot Camp will be available as a feature in the upcoming
Mac OS X version 10.5 “Leopard.” Apple does not provide support for installing or running Boot Camp and does not sell or support Microsoft Windows software.
Apple welcomes user feedback on Boot Camp at
bootcamp@apple.com.
System Requirements
Boot Camp requires an Intel-based Mac with a USB keyboard and mouse, or a built-in keyboard and TrackPad; Mac OS X version 10.4.6 or later; the latest firmware
update; at least 10GB of free space on the startup disk; a blank recordable CD or DVD; and single-disc version of Windows XP Home Edition or Professional
with Service Pack 2 or later.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today,
Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional
applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.
BOOT CAMP RULES!!!!
I just installed it and it works GREAT I am running windows xp on a 10 gb partition on my imac core duo and I can play quake 4 without a problem like on my well built pc. windows sees the dual core processor and acts accordingly plus there are apple drivers to make windows work right. also with voiceover there is an online book in mp3 to look over that tells the user how to work with all supported applications. i have not read it because I barely use voiceover, but it is worth a look. Boot Camp makes the mac intel hardware by far the most powerful workstation hardware out there. Also, it is true for desktop machines that the intel processor makes them more affordable, but for the laptops they are more expensive by $500. These machines run faster, but cost a bit more for what someone with a visual impairment would need. for word processing and internet surfing there is no speed difference that can be really noticed unless one pays a lot of attention. I am a power user, but I love my ibook g4 it is small but enough ower to be a developer platform for web sites and java application development.
I think I'm gonna run out and buy an iMac 17 today. The bug has bit, and I need a new desktop anyway.
I'm going to wait till August when the dual booting will be a part of Leppard.
don't know how you can bear to wait that long I me3an I am loving it now without having the new OS hehe it is sweet!
Hehe, it's just a computer, not the beginning of a ne era of humanity <grin>.
I'm very happy with my PC and windows, got software for everything I need and lots of things I don't need, rock solid stable with XP Pro and Jaws, I have Visual Studio developjent platform, that I like a lot, email and explorer are well scripted <grin> Mac will be an interesting experiment and expansion into ne realms but for one thing I'd rather avoid the first generation of Intel processor desktops, they are bound to have a few issues, they've already been making minor modifications to the notebooks, nothing serious but have had a few complaints.
It's a cool new direction for sure but I don't see Windows going away any time soon, I do wonder if Micrrosoft will counter act by making it easier to dual boot Mac OSX on Windows machines, I wouldn't be surprised.
cheers
-B
Welcome Jesse A. Kragiel to the Mac community! Out of the box, this is so easy to use! Voiceover's intuitive!
Mikedoise, don't worry, he won't be waiting so long *grin*. This is the fiancee speaking, and if I have anything to say about it--which i do :-)--our very own Wildebrew will be a Mac fan in no time! Just kidding :-)Glad to hear you like Voiceover, Jesse. I'm really curious...
yeah I don't think I will go back to using a pc ever gain at least at home.
Wow, wonder if we can get some opinions here: I am going to gether more and more are going to try the windows on the mac setup and would love to know how it's going. WE have one in the office and I have to cinvince our people to try this with Jaws and Window-Eyes. Looking forward to some good thoughts.