Hi all, I guess I'll jump in on this thread as well. I haven't had my mac for 2 months yet, but pretty close.
I'm amazed that I was able to make the switch so easily to the mac. In fact, now whenever I have to use a windows machine I finder it a little harder to think of the windows commands because they aren't used by me all the time anymore, smile. I will be putting windows 7 on this mac but again it won't be used all the time, only for scanning because I liked my scanning software for windows and to play games. Other than that, it will be hidden behind mac. I'm glad I made the switch and now go back to the basics and figure out how sl and vo work, lol. On 2009-10-21, at 8:41 AM, Donna Goodin wrote: > > Wow, Nic, you are a determined soul! :) I'm glad that after all you > had to go through with the install, the Mac turned out to suit your > needs. > > You people who have taken so readily to web-browsing on the Mac, > fascinate me. I keep playing with it, hoping to come to the same > conclusion, but it just doesn't happen. For example, I am currently > job-hunting, and the other night, received a job match from a site I > am registered with. When Safari loaded the page and auto-read, it > read everything just as you would expect. But then, I decided I > wanted to take a second look at the preferred qualifications. I > couldn't find them to save my soul! I arrowed around, I interacted > with stuff, and nothing. So, I booted up my Pc, went into IE, and > found what I was looking for in two seconds. And I still have no clue > what I should have done to locate that info in Safari. I often feel > like because of all the interacting and stuff, that viewing a webpage > in Safari is like looking at it through tinted glass or through a veil > that only lets you see the outline of what you're looking at. Links > of course are no problem, it's the text content that is often very > difficult to locate. > > I highly recommend the iphone, I've found it to be a delightful little > toy, um, I mean, device. *grin* > Cheers, > Donna > On Oct 21, 2009, at 11:03 AM, Nicolai Svendsen wrote: > >> >> Hi, >> >> Definitely quite an interesting story. >> >> I got my Mac on August 1. It was actually an odd experience. I went >> to >> an Apple store a couple weeks prior to my purchase just to try it >> out. >> I had attempted to use OS X 10.4, Tiger in the past at an institute >> for the blind, but I actually didn't like it. I thought it was quite >> literally a pile of crap. >> >> I start listening to podcasts that sighted and blind users have done >> for the Macintosh, and figure I'll give it another shot. I finally >> decided to purchase a Mac, because I had frankly become extremely >> frustrated with Windows and most certainly Vista. XP has always been >> my favorite if I do have to use Windows. I'd become tired of how many >> things you needed for Windows to work efficiently. Sometimes you had >> to worry about corrupted files, leftovers from previously installed >> applications, that sort of thing not to mention the registry. The >> headache. >> >> So I decided to take the plunge. >> >> I read through the entire VoiceOver manual the day before I went back >> to the store, and wrote down notes for the things I figured I'd >> mostly >> be using for a while. When I arrived at the store, I went to try it >> out again to make sure a Mac would be what I desired. It definitely >> was. So much that, in fact, that even though they only had a showroom >> floor model at the time, I grabbed it. The cleaned it off thoroughly, >> wrapped it up and tossed the DVDs I'd need in the box. I was happy. >> So >> very happy. >> >> I arrive home, and I'm practically tingling with excitement. I almost >> rip the box apart (taking care of the DVDs of course), get out my >> shiny Macbook and hook it up. >> >> Oh no! >> >> What I did know was that I had to reinstall it, but I didn't care. I >> didn't want any of that junk on it they had installed to advertise. >> So >> i went ahead. I rebooted it, held down the C-key when the >> installation >> DVD had been sucked into the Mac and I heard the startup sound. It >> displayed the finder and spat out the DVD. Literally. So I decided >> that apparently wasn't working for whatever reason. I located the >> installer DVD in the finder and open it. Authentication. God dang it! >> Behold the password box. I was required to enter a password to >> proceed. Of course, the Macbook had not been set to require a >> password >> at login. >> >> I call them at the store, and ask them for a password. I told them >> the >> C-key solution had not worked to boot from the DVD, and they promptly >> complied with my request. They gave me several passwords to enter, >> and >> I did. >> >> "The name or password you entered is incorrect." >> >> I went back to the store, and they had a look at it. Most annoying of >> all was that finally, the C-key actually seemed to work. I was >> installing it when I got home. By this point, I was like a kid on his >> birthday. >> >> I thought I'd share my experience with all of you on the list. Yes, I >> am aware it's probably quite long-winded. But what can you do? I do >> run Windows as a virtual machine, but only to MUD. I do sometimes >> find >> it kind of annoying having to run two programs just to scan and >> recognize the image. That is why I liked Omnipage, and there has to >> be >> a solution out there that does exactly the same. >> >> As for my web browsing experience, everything is much more smooth and >> responsive. I can easily find what I want by using the search feature >> in VoiceOver, and ever since Leopard was released the web rotor makes >> it even easier, not to mention Auto web spots. So yes, I do use >> Windows. Rarely, but I do. And I'm definitely not ashamed to admit >> it. >> But if a MUD client was accessible to VoiceOver, I would not touch it >> again. I've found my experience with Mac has not only been >> productive, >> but fun and enjoyable where as with Windows, I wanted to throw the >> machine through the window half the time I was using it due to >> freezes, driver errors and so-forth. >> >> Well, I think I'm done now. I want an iPhone, now that you mention >> it, >> but at the same time you don't always need to have the latest and >> greatest. And I need to realize that. :P. Yes, I loved the iPhone and >> I'm used to the gestures since I use my trackpad quite a lot, but at >> the same time, I need a phone for text messaging and phone calls. >> That >> is about it. It'll probably be faster to accomplish those tasks with >> the iPhone, I have no doubt about it. Maybe one day I'll even get >> one. >> But when I find a really good reason except for all the apps you can >> seemingly install with no issues, perfectly usable, then I won't buy >> one. Besides, who wants to pay $99.95 for an iPhone plan in Denmark? >> Not me. >> >> Have a great afternoon, folks. I at least know those living in the >> Eastern timezone are approaching lunch time. :) >> >> Regards, >> Nic >> Skype: Kvalme >> MSN Messenger: nico...@home3.gvdnet.dk >> AIM: cincinster >> yahoo Messenger: cin368 >> Facebook Profile >> My Twitter >> >> On Oct 21, 2009, at 4:17 PM, Donna Goodin wrote: >> >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> I Thought I'd weigh in here, since I got my Mac around the same time >>> almost, I'm going on three months now. >>> >>> I agree with Anouk, and would add that I often find it's easier to >>> use my PC for work-related tasks. As I mentioned earlier, I use the >>> ap Blackboard, which I have to use Windows for, as Safari isn't >>> currently supported.. Since I'm logged into Blackboard most days, >>> that >>> sort of automatically means I'm using my PC, and the Mac gets >>> relegated to after-hours. >>> >>> I also still strongly prefer web-browsing on my PC. I've had so >>> many >>> experiences where on the Mac I simply cannot locate an item that I >>> know is on a certain page. This never happens to me on the PC. I >>> find >>> that when browsing, I can do things in half the time on my PC, and >>> sometimes on the Mac, even after spending the extra time, I don't >>> find >>> what I'm looking for, and end up going back to the PC anyway. >>> >>> I'm an avid reader, and so do a lot of scanning. I really don't like >>> the idea of having to use two separate programs, one for scanning >>> and >>> one for the OCR, especially when I have one program on my PC that >>> will >>> do both jobs quite nicely. This of course isn't an Apple issue, >>> but I >>> do think that for many of us who are blind, the lack of a good solid >>> scanning/ocr option, is a real obstacle in terms of seeing the Mac >>> as >>> a PC replacement. >>> >>> Like Anouk, I've also pretty much decided to keep both a Mac and a >>> PC. at least for now, though I confess I'm tempted some days to >>> just >>> go back to my PC, in the interest of running just one OS on one >>> computer. When I got my Mac, I had hoped not to upgrade to JAWS 11 >>> and Windows 7, but it looks like I'll be getting both. I use my PC >>> for >>> work, for scanning, and for most of my web browsing, which is 90% of >>> what I do. I like the Mac a lot. I like that VO is built in, I >>> like >>> the speed and responsiveness of the Mac, I like the fact that it >>> doesn't take a year to boot or load an ap, and I like working with >>> Itunes (I'm still running 8.2.), and I think the Mac seems to be far >>> superior in how it works with Media. But the PC is what I go to for >>> the things I really need to get done. I think for me, my experience >>> with the Mac reflects my experience with the iphone. When I compare >>> my iphone with my old Windows Mobile phone, the iphone is much more >>> fun! I love the aps, the games, the ability to quickly do things >>> like >>> check weather, whereas my WM phone was loaded with all kinds of >>> practical stuff for editing documents spreadsheets, powerpoint, and >>> so >>> on. I don't want to do any of that stuff on my phone, so for me, >>> the >>> iphone is by far the better fit. but when it comes to a computer, >>> it >>> cuts the other way, and I find myself favoring the PC which seems to >>> lend itself more to the day-to-day things I need to get done. >>> Best, >>> Donna >>> On Oct 21, 2009, at 5:05 AM, Nicolai Svendsen wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Hi again folks, >>>> >>>> Yes, broadcasts can certainly be done. Nicecast from Rogue Amoeba >>>> http://rogueamoeba.com >>>> works extremely well. The only issue seems to be the effects scroll >>>> area, but I hope they'll be working on that. Otherwise, it works >>>> ridiculously well, in fact, and I have nothing to complain about. >>>> >>>> I'm not exactly sure about your Thumbkey thing. I don't get it. If >>>> you >>>> can elaborate? Maybe I'm being dense here. :). >>>> >>>> As for VLC, I've never actually tried it out, and I personally love >>>> using Safari for web browsing. For me, everything is much faster. >>>> >>>> Also, which braille display are you using? >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> Nic >>>> Skype: Kvalme >>>> MSN Messenger: nico...@home3.gvdnet.dk >>>> AIM: cincinster >>>> yahoo Messenger: cin368 >>>> Facebook Profile >>>> My Twitter >>>> >>>> On Oct 21, 2009, at 10:22 AM, Tony Bernedal wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi again. >>>>> Wow. Echomac, never heard of it but when I google it I found >>>>> http://echomac.sourceforge.net/ >>>>> I'll try it when I'm back home from work. >>>>> Anouk, I had a fire dtv reciever and used it with dvb viewer on >>>>> windows and Eye tv have driver for it so I gave it a try but it >>>>> doesn't work as I want at the moment. >>>>> I have readiris on the disk and I'm going to try it out and see >>>>> how >>>>> it >>>>> works with swedish language and so on. >>>>> I have heard of some broadcast tools for mac but at the moment I >>>>> haven't looked in to it. I don't broadcast at the moment so it >>>>> doesn't >>>>> have so high priority. I still have my studio pc sitting under the >>>>> desk so I can use stationplaylist and all the broadcast stuff if I >>>>> want to. >>>>> Regards Tony >>>>> >>>>> 2009/10/21, a radix <anou...@home.nl>: >>>>>> >>>>>> Hey Tony, Nice to hear from you! (the world is a small place) >>>>>> Funny >>>>>> we >>>>>> started our mac journey at the seem time. I am curious, can you >>>>>> broadcast on >>>>>> the mac? I guess otsjuke wont work and obiously shoutcast wont >>>>>> either. I was >>>>>> thinking of running windows with vmware but now I am just >>>>>> thinking >>>>>> to ask my >>>>>> brother to help me install windows 7 via bootcamp instead. Has >>>>>> anyone got >>>>>> experience with installing windows via bootcamp as dual boot? Is >>>>>> it >>>>>> diffucult? I presume the drivers for windows 7 for the macbook >>>>>> pro >>>>>> will be >>>>>> available from apple? I still want to try vuescan an dreadiris, >>>>>> in >>>>>> fact i >>>>>> have the programs on my computer bu tI want to wait till hp >>>>>> releases the >>>>>> drivers for my scanner that are native to sl, also I hope by that >>>>>> time abbyy >>>>>> will have released a demo of finereader for the mac that is >>>>>> native >>>>>> to sl. I >>>>>> am just concerned that either adf wont work, scanning iwll be >>>>>> very >>>>>> slow or >>>>>> dutch character recognition wont be as good as omnipage. >>>>>> I am surprised that you also have the thumbkey problem, i thought >>>>>> it was >>>>>> something stupid on my part, corrupt install whatever. I guess we >>>>>> will both >>>>>> have to mail apple accessibility about this. >>>>>> So, you are using a tv tuner with your mac? This is the next >>>>>> thing >>>>>> i want to >>>>>> taccle since now I have an analog tv standing on my desk and it >>>>>> is >>>>>> taking up >>>>>> space that I could use otherwise. I did have digital tv in the >>>>>> past >>>>>> bu tI >>>>>> had a lot of trouble with it and in the end just went back to >>>>>> analog. There >>>>>> are not that many tuners for the mac I think (analog or >>>>>> otherwise) >>>>>> and I >>>>>> guess even less that are available in Europe. Which do you use? I >>>>>> guess as >>>>>> long as I get one with a remote things will be ok (if it indeed >>>>>> can >>>>>> find the >>>>>> channels). >>>>>> I too LOVE the sleep features of the mac, i never turn mine off, >>>>>> just close >>>>>> the lid and thats it. >>>>>> Greetings, Anouk, >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>> From: "Tony Bernedal" <t...@bernedal.net> >>>>>> To: <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> >>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:16 AM >>>>>> Subject: Re: my 2 months with a mac >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi Anouk. >>>>>>> I have also used my mac for around 3 months now, and like you I >>>>>>> still >>>>>>> use windows for a couple of things. I trying to get the scanning >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> ocr to work on the mac but for now windows and omnipage have to >>>>>>> do >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> jobb. I had a license for windows xp lying on the shelf from a >>>>>>> no >>>>>>> longer working laptop and I installed xp with vmware as a >>>>>>> virtual >>>>>>> machine and doing my scanning there and it works good but the >>>>>>> virtual >>>>>>> machine is very slow. I also use windows for Echolink, wich is a >>>>>>> ham-radio software wich don't exist on the mac. Also the >>>>>>> software >>>>>>> to >>>>>>> setup and program my hamradio stations is only windows programs. >>>>>>> I'm >>>>>>> very happy mac user now and after some updates to snow leopard >>>>>>> my >>>>>>> problems with it is gone. >>>>>>> I hope the issue with the thumbkey on your display can be >>>>>>> solved. I >>>>>>> have same issue with alva satelite. >>>>>>> I also have a battle with EyeTV software wich for some odd >>>>>>> reason >>>>>>> doesn't find my tv channels on the cable network. And it is also >>>>>>> very >>>>>>> tricky to use with VO. I use VLC for webradio and movies and it >>>>>>> works >>>>>>> great (vlc version 1.x doesn't work under windows and linux at >>>>>>> all >>>>>>> with screenreader, only on mac, great!). >>>>>>> And I also like the speed, starting my windows pc here at works >>>>>>> take >>>>>>> forever and the mac is at the desktop in almost 0 time. And, the >>>>>>> sleep >>>>>>> works well too. >>>>>>> So I'm happy with my mac system. >>>>>>> Good luck with your mac! >>>>>>> Regards Tony >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 2009/10/21, a radix <anou...@home.nl>: >>>>>>>> Hello, I have been using my mac for about 2 months now >>>>>>>> especially >>>>>>>> at >>>>>>>> school >>>>>>>> although at home I still often use my pc and I will explain >>>>>>>> below >>>>>>>> why. In >>>>>>>> general my experiences with the mac have been very positive >>>>>>>> especially >>>>>>>> after >>>>>>>> installing snow leopard. I can use skype and msn just as well >>>>>>>> as >>>>>>>> on my >>>>>>>> pc. >>>>>>>> And after I dumped itunes and started using vlc instead >>>>>>>> watching >>>>>>>> movies >>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>> listening to music became a breeze. I recently bought apples >>>>>>>> office suite >>>>>>>> because I prefer that over using textedit or the free text >>>>>>>> editors/office >>>>>>>> suits that are available. I am also intending to go and use >>>>>>>> garage band >>>>>>>> in >>>>>>>> the future if I can get that working with my yamaha keyboard. I >>>>>>>> like the >>>>>>>> built-in speakers and sound quality alhtough listening through >>>>>>>> its sound >>>>>>>> output with my own in ear monitors is nothing special. I still >>>>>>>> find using >>>>>>>> the internet on the mac a bit mor ework then i did while using >>>>>>>> my >>>>>>>> pc and >>>>>>>> it >>>>>>>> goes a bit slower also when reading docucments i notice that I >>>>>>>> cannot >>>>>>>> endlessly use the right thumb key on my braille display to >>>>>>>> continue >>>>>>>> reading, >>>>>>>> eventually i have to press the right arrow on my normal >>>>>>>> keyboard >>>>>>>> if I >>>>>>>> want >>>>>>>> to read onm. This does become irritating after a while if you >>>>>>>> need to >>>>>>>> read >>>>>>>> long documents. >>>>>>>> At home I still mostly use my windows pc although i now have >>>>>>>> gotten mail >>>>>>>> working on the mac as well because 1. I use omnipage pro 16 >>>>>>>> under >>>>>>>> windows >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> scan my books for school, while I know that there are some >>>>>>>> scanning >>>>>>>> solutions for the mac that i will probbably try once the hp >>>>>>>> drivers for >>>>>>>> sl >>>>>>>> have been released I just dont know if they will be as good and >>>>>>>> easy as >>>>>>>> using omnipage pro 16 and am a bit hesistant to try it because >>>>>>>> of >>>>>>>> that (I >>>>>>>> really really hope that a full version of finereader will >>>>>>>> eventually be >>>>>>>> released for the mac since I have heard it can rival omnipage >>>>>>>> pro). >>>>>>>> Secondly there is filesharing, i will be brief. Ftp does work >>>>>>>> on >>>>>>>> the mac >>>>>>>> with transmit which I rather like although I have not >>>>>>>> registered >>>>>>>> it yet, >>>>>>>> questions i asked its support team went unanswered. Usenet also >>>>>>>> works but >>>>>>>> udner windows I preferred to use other programs which are not >>>>>>>> available >>>>>>>> on >>>>>>>> the mac. >>>>>>>> The third point is playing games which I do a lot on the pec >>>>>>>> especially >>>>>>>> interactive fiction and muds. There is an interpreter for >>>>>>>> interactive >>>>>>>> fiction called zoom which I tried and although I can open games >>>>>>>> with it >>>>>>>> saved games were a problem for me since I could not open a >>>>>>>> saved >>>>>>>> game >>>>>>>> file >>>>>>>> (made in frotz). >>>>>>>> For muds the situation on the mac is not so good, I play them >>>>>>>> all >>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>> time >>>>>>>> on windows but there is only one mudclient that I know of which >>>>>>>> works >>>>>>>> under >>>>>>>> sl and which is still being developed, jamochamud which works >>>>>>>> under java. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> It >>>>>>>> is not too accessible at the moment but the programmer has >>>>>>>> promised to >>>>>>>> look >>>>>>>> at it, still it does not offer all the features even then >>>>>>>> that I >>>>>>>> am used >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> on a windows client. >>>>>>>> As soon as windows 7 becomes officially available I am planning >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> install >>>>>>>> it on my mac (probbably via bootcamp) so that I at least can >>>>>>>> use >>>>>>>> my mac >>>>>>>> all >>>>>>>> the time even if I need to use windows, hopefully for the >>>>>>>> scanning and >>>>>>>> downloading tasks I will in the future be able to use the mac >>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>> I have >>>>>>>> hopes for muds as well but for now at least my mac is mostly >>>>>>>> used >>>>>>>> at >>>>>>>> school >>>>>>>> and in the library. >>>>>>>> Greetings, Anouk, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>>> >> >> >>> >> > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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