Hi there. I don't use magnification so can't help much there. Regarding the mac mini, I would say that it's a pretty powerful machine, especially the newest model. I'm typing this message on one that is about 2 years old, and it still easily meets my needs. The mini would be a great first mac for you, and the cost is decent, assuming you already have a monitor and keyboard, it costs about as much as a pc would, and it costs less than most windows screen readers. On Oct 6, 2010, at 11:39 AM, David Goodwin wrote:
> 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 I'm guessing that I should probably dismiss as out of date any 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 > > -- > 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.
