Hi all,
I'm a new member here, and like many before me am pondering whether to
make the switch from a PC to a Mac. A browse of the list archives shows
that this is a well-trodden path, but I have a few specific questions
that don't appear to be quite so well-trodden.
Firstly a little background. I have been using PCs for nearly twenty
years. During that time I have built most of my home PCs (nearly always
to a very high specification) and have passed through every Microsoft
operating system from DOS to Windows 7. I am also a little nerdish when
it comes to following developments and trends in IT. So, I'd like to
think that I know my way around a PC in regard to hardware, software and
peripherals.
However, my experience with Macs is limited to a few months use about 15
years ago. I'm guessing that I should probably dismiss as out of date
any views I might still be holding onto from that time <smile>. Having
said that, in the past 6 months I have bought an iPod Touch, an iPad and
an iPhone 4. These were bought after I had seen just how accessible iOS
devices were straight out of the box. My experience with these iDevices
has been a revelation and a joy, and probably explains why I am now
considering the desktop switch as well.
However, after 20 years, I know exactly how to get the most out a PC in
terms of accessibility. The hardware I use, the operating system
configuration and the choice and personalisation of third party
applications has been fine-tuned to provide me with the best possible
experience. But, that experience is still far from perfect, and raises
new challenges and barriers as my sight continues to worsen.
On the subject of my sight. I am registered as legally blind, but have
enough residual vision to be able to use a PC without a screen reader or
magnification. What I do rely on, however, is a large monitor running at
low resolution (800x600) and a high contrast, white on black, colour
scheme. Much of the software I use has also been chosen because I can
tweak its appearance. I am aware that this arrangement becomes less
satisfactory by the month. The move to using screen magnification seems
a logical (and looming) next step.
This is one reason why I am now considering a Mac. Although the initial
purchase cost is significantly higher than a PC, the built-in
accessibility features appear to offer a viable alternative to the
commercial options available for PC users.
So, finally, here are a couple of questions - firstly, just how
consistent is the white on black colour scheme on the Mac? This has
perhaps been my biggest issue with a PC for many years, as the number of
applications that work with my preferred colours seems to fall by the
year. Many applications stubbornly refuse to use any other colours than
whose hardcoded into it by the developers, or at worst make a total mess
of inheriting my preferred colours. In the latter case this can often
result in white on white or black on black. Is this issue present on Macs?
Also, would running at a 800x600 screen resolution still be an option
(at least until the time when I finally surrender to screen magnification)?
Finally for now, and not really on an accessibility issue, does the Mac
Mini offer enough performance? Sorry, I know that this question is kind
of subjective, but I have had some experience recently on a net-top PC
(atom powered) that has made me all too aware of how much I hate slow
start-ups and the lag between clicking on an icon and actually being
able to use that application. I'm not planning on doing any
resource-hungry tasks, so it is mostly web and email use I am worried about.
I am sorry for the long post, but hopefully the background stuff will
help you to appreciate where I am at.
Thanks
David
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