Hi Bill, On 16 Mar 2010, at 09:12, Nicolai Svendsen wrote: > I would definitely choose a Mac. The benefit to the Mac is that you have to > do things the same way that sighted users do, whereas scripts accomplish the > tasks for you.
Nic is absolutely correct. The in-built tutorial he mentioned is very informative and intuitive. Also, as well as learning to use the Mac as a sighted person would, Voice Over also teaches you the layout of objects on the screen. I personally find this a lot less confusing than using artificial navigation techniques such as those used in JAWS such as the JAWS Cursor. However, if the cost of the Mac is prohibitive for your friend, so we don't clog the list, drop me an E-Mail off-list and I can give you some other solutions. I would also be happy to record some demos/tutorials if that would help too for using Voice Over with Mac. BlindCoolTech also has a number of Mac/VO related tutorials. Mike Arigo has created around twelve and they are very good at introducing the Mac to new users. You may need to search the BCT archives, but you can find them at: http://www.blindcooltech.com HTH TC James, Lyn, Nash & Twinny > Hi, > > I personally think VoiceOver is a greater screen reader than for example, > JAWS for Windows, and much more intuitive. This is due to the fact that > VoiceOver teaches you how to use the operating system itself, and not on a > basis of scripts that will accomplish the same tasks but perhaps faster. > > VoiceOVer also contains a very in-depth tutorial, which will enable you to at > least get a hang of the basic navigation keys. > > I would definitely choose a Mac. The benefit to the Mac is that you have to > do things the same way that sighted users do, whereas scripts accomplish the > tasks for you. > > I have been using my Mac for seven months now, and I continue to be amazed. > > Regards, > Nic > Skype: Kvalme > MSN Messenger: nico...@home3.gvdnet.dk > AIM: cincinster > yahoo Messenger: cin368 > Facebook Profile > My Twitter > > On Mar 16, 2010, at 1:55 AM, E.J. Zufelt wrote: > >> Good evening, >> >> I would say that it is likely easier for someone to learn to use an Apple >> with the VoiceOver screen-reader if they have never used a Windows >> screen-reader before, than if they had. That being said, I personally find >> the JAWS screen-reader for Windows a little more intuitive than VoiceOver. >> I have, however, been using JAWS for Windows for 5 years and VoiceOver for >> only one year. >> >> I think that learning either VoiceOver for Apple or JAWS for Windows are >> quite a reasonably accomplishable task for someone who is willing to put in >> the time and energy to learn. >> >> HTH, >> Everett Zufelt >> http://zufelt.ca >> >> Follow me on Twitter >> http://twitter.com/ezufelt >> >> View my LinkedIn Profile >> http://www.linkedin.com/in/ezufelt >> >> >> >> On 2010-03-15, at 8:47 PM, bilgerat wrote: >> >>> I'm not blind myself but have a blind friend. She's in her fifties and >>> has little experience of computers. She was sold a Mercury system by >>> RNIB a couple of years back but can't get to grips with it. Nor can I. >>> the system seems unstable and support is extremely limited. There is >>> also no tuition available at all except audio discs which are >>> seriously deficient in various respects. >>> >>> So as a macbook user myself I wonder whether that might be a suitable >>> alternative for her. Basically she wants a computer for using the >>> internet, for such everyday things as reading a paper, ordering >>> groceries online, and using the BBC's I-player. But I'm really >>> concerned that it might be too difficult to learn. There doesn't seem >>> to be anyone at Apple UK who is actually experienced at using >>> voiceover. I found one guy at Apple who gives one-to-one tuition to a >>> blind user, but he told me they have given up on trying to use it to >>> navigate web pages because it's just too complex! >>> >>> So I would be really grateful for advice on this - how difficult is it >>> for a computer beginner to learn to use; what kind of support if any >>> is available, any any other things that need thinking about. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@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. >>> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@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. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@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. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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