Lol. That mentality is a microcosm of Windows users thinking
about the Mac in many instances. They think they have it better and
are content with crashes, viruses and all that good stuff, claiming
the Mac is dying, is a toy or there is no software out there for it.
It's amazing how some folks get so rooted in something to the point
in which they will make things so hard on themselves needlessly.
In regard to JFW and WE, I also can't figure out that mystery.
I used JAWS for a while, but will never go back beyond the occasional
use to keep myself familiar with it. Window-Eyes is a superior
product, and Freedom Science Fiction continues to drive JFW into the
ground as affectively as a ranting Bill Gates is doing the same to
Windows' credibility.
Take Care
John D. Panarese
Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,
DUXBURY, SEROTEK AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
AUTHORIZED APPLE BUSINESS AGENT
MAC VOICEOVER TRAINING
On Apr 16, 2007, at 2:17 PM, Josh de Lioncourt wrote:
On Apr 16, 2007, at 10:38 AM, Joshue O Connor wrote:
I agree with John, there are many users who would consider going
over to
the Mac if VO was more JAWS like or at least to convince them - VO
would
probably have to do what JFW does and then some. Aside from its
direct
interaction with the OS its limitations with web browsing/application
support would deter people. However many JFW and other screen reader
users I know would be very interested in switching to VO and possibly
will in the future, but the consensus seems to be, whether true or
not,
is that VO is not quite there yet. Though I know users who prefer the
'feel' of VO to JFW. We will wait to see what Leopard delivers
and take
it from there.
Actually, I've found that this is a mentality of JFW users in
general. Window-Eyes, though a superior screen reader in my
opinion, is definitely the underdog, mainly because JFW users are
often unwilling to even try Window-Eyes. They believe that JFW is
the better screen reader, and that WE is awful, and nothing you can
say will convince many of them. WE and VO both suffer from a
massive amount of false information being propigated through the VI
community, which is particularly dentrimental in a minority group
that relies as much as the VI one does on word-of-mouth. I think
the Access World article publishedon VO could be fairly summarized
as saying, "It's not Jaws, therefore it sucks." That was one of
the most horrible pieces of so-called journalism I've ever read
where regards access technology.
The reason for this mentality is up for debate, but in the end it
doesn't really matter. I used to be a huge advocate for Jaws, and
then I found other sollutions that, when fairly judged against it,
stood up better in the overall picture, and also in the areas for
which I needed my screen reader to perform well.
I think making VO more "Jaws-like" would defeat its usefulness in
many respects. Yes, there are some commands that I'd like to see
introduced in VO that are included in Windows screen readers at
present. But VO is a very strong tool as it is now, if one takes
the time to learn to use it properly.
And, I should probably also point out that this sort of thinking is
not exclusive to Jaws users. On the contrary, this seems to be a
relatively common problem in the VI community. I remember 15 years
ago or so, many blind people swearing by their Braille'n'Speaks,
even though there were far better devices out there. The BnS had
been well marketed and word-of-mouth spread that it was the best
there was, when in fact several other, better, products existed.
Convincing a BnS user to try something else was like pulling
teeth...I know, because I used a lot of the other types of
products. I've always been one to try everything I can get my
hands on, and make an informed decision. Over the years I've used,
just to name a few, JFW, WE, VO, outSpoken for Windows, outSpoken
for Mac, outSpoken 98, Eureka A4, Aria, Braille Note,
Braille'n'Speak, Braille Lite, Braille Note, KeyNote, Type'n'Speak,
Pocket Braille, and dozens of others, all to quite an extent. Most
blind people say, "What should I use?" and then get whatever they
are told is the best, without any real knowledge of whether it
really is right for them.
Stepping off my soapbox now. *grin*
