Hi Donna Funny that I am not the only person who relies heavily on scanning (in my country not all that many people do, many of them just rely on organisations for the blind to get their scanning done but that takes too long for me). At uni you only know 2 weeks forward what books you will need for a certain course so my only option is to scan it myself. I know some people have ties with publishers and are able to get books in pdf format but I am not so lucky. As you know my experience with mac scanning is rather limited but I am not actually SURE if you HAVE to use vuescan AND readiris to get the job done, I guess if you install the drivers for your scanner just readiris will do the job... I am just not sure about the quality of readiris in comparison with omnipage 16 pro especially if you want to scan 25 pages at once and do not want to proofread afterwards. But thats just me being squemish i guess.... I am just still really hoping that abbyy will release their full product for the mac. Greetings, Anouk, ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donna Goodin" <goodi...@msu.edu> To: <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 4:17 PM Subject: Re: my 2 months with a mac
> > 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. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
