I'm all for integrated screen readers and more affordable technology, but that is probably more of a concern to end-users than voc-rehab agencies.
The only main reason that vr agencies exist is to get you a job. If you're going to college on your own to be a professional, or otherwise planning your own career, then you, as a professional or contractor, will be working pretty much independently, and so you can use what-ever computers suit you. In this case, you aren't going through vr most likely, and so they won't have any reason to train you on a Mac. On the other hand, if you're depending on vr to get you a job, they're going to be focused on putting you to work in a front office or a call center somewhere. Those places use Windows, so vr will train you on Windows. There really isn't much point for vr to train people on Macs if the jobs where they're placing people don't use Macs, which they don't. Remember, vr doesn't exist to buy people toys, or to get you on the Internet, or to buy you the best computer for you. Everything they do for you is only to get people working and off SSI. Bryan -----Original Message----- From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ricardo Walker Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 6:44 AM To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: new member Hi, I think it has to start with agencies for the blind and the educational system. As an adult it's easy enough to just get up and go to an apple store, or have the money to pay for 1 on 1 training at said apple store. But a 12 year old not so much. I think younger people must be exposed to other options. It doesn't even have anything to do with how great Apple is. It's just creating a market where people can obtain access to the technology they need without selling their first born. lol. If anything, I think Apple has started to make makers of adaptive technology squirm a bit. It becomes harder for them to justified the cost of their products. On Apr 15, 2010, at 6:30 AM, marie Howarth wrote: I know in my local store, there are two designated VO trainers and other staff constantly tell me they have played with VO on varying products. I think where there is a demand for it it will happen. Apple is extremely flexible. :) On 15 Apr 2010, at 11:27, Rob Lambert wrote: I agree. Only time will tell, of course. Who better to train people on their products than Apple themselves? I haven't used it, but I do like their one-to-one service, and my hope is they've set aside some staff that have been trained in VoiceOver for us. If not, they should. On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 3:24 AM, marie Howarth <marie.jane2...@gmail.com> wrote: I think it all depends on the user and their attitude too. An individual may hear about macs on a podcast or know of another user with a mac who is also VI, and take themselves off to the Apple store. In manchester, I know due to myself and a few other VI customers, most of the staff in the store are highly familiar with voice over. As for training, I think its coming from Apple in the near future. On 15 Apr 2010, at 10:54, Dónal Fitzpatrick wrote: I'd very much doubt it Rob. I don't know what it's like in other countries, but here in Ireland most of the trainers are actually sighted. Macs haven't penetrated the mainstream userbase to the same extent as windows-based Pcs. Consequently the level of knowledge among the trainers on the actual OS itself (not including VO) is virtually non existent. The fact that the trainers would have to go and learn an entirely new platform, and then educate themselves in a new style of assistive technology makes it pretty certain that the majority of blind users will be stuck with Jaws and other badly implemented screenreaders for the foreseeable future. It's sad, but in my opinion true that this is the case. Dónal ________________________________ From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rob Lambert Sent: 15 April 2010 10:47 To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: new member Who here thinks we'll see the Mac replacing PCs in AT training offices? On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 2:43 AM, Joe Plummer <joeplum...@tds.net> wrote: For other A T you can run boot camp or virtual windows to use them. Sign, Joe Plummer ( JP ) joeplum...@tds.net -----Original Message----- From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Anne Robertson Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 5:46 PM To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: new member Hello Denise, I hope the word processor you are thinking of getting is iWork09, since MS Office for Mac is not accessible. As for Word documents of almost any level, TextEdit or Pages will read these just fine. I can't answer any of your other questions having never been a Windows user. Cheers, Anne On Apr 14, 2010, at 11:27 PM, denise avant wrote: > hello, > after having my iphone for six months now, i have really enjoyed my experience with apple. To that end, i am looking into purchasing a mac book pro. In fact, i called for some specs today and have set one with 4 gig of ram, and a 320 hard drive, 13 in screen. again this is just a possiblity. > i will also have the word processor included. i will also have the one-to-one training as there is a nearby apple store in chicago. > i am curious as to what those of you who own macs have done about your other windows based adatpive equipment, duxbury, openbook or k1000 and hw stream companion? how easy is it to move ms word 2003 2007 docs over to apple macs, still keep the formatting or move them back again? > I thought of just keeping my netbook or sony machine for these purposes. there was also the idea given to me that i could have windows on one side and the mac on the other side. any thoughts on these questions would be apprciated. > > > -- > 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 <mailto:macvisionaries%2bunsubscr...@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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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. 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