Re: Macs and a Viable Alternative for State Agencies to Consider

[Richard Gardenhire]

It is skepticism like this that slows down our progress with respect to 
information technology.  With all due respect, Abdul, I used precisely 
that same argument for not switching over to Windows in 2000, only to 
be lambasted by my counselor, who told me, in no uncertain terms, I 
would never get a job in the workplace with using a Mac.  Even though I 
made the change, (reluctantly) I still held out hope.  I continued 
using outSpoken, while learning Windows, until 2004, when my friend, 
Trudy, called me and said that Apple was making their own screen access 
software, and that I should try it.  So I bought an iMac G$, with 
Panther, installed, and learned to use it, despite some limitations.  
The day Tiger was released, (April 29, 2005) I bought the operating 
system and a colleague at the store showed me some things to, at least, 
get started.  The rest, as they say, is history.  All this to say that, 
while I reluctantly went and learned Windows, I'm glad I have a little 
bit of knowledge to use it, should the need arise.  However, I didn't 
give up on Apple, simply because it had its limitations, back then.  
This is why we have lists such as Macvisionaries--not only to educate 
the blind, but to express our concerns to Apple, too.  There are tons 
and tons of lists for users of Windows screenreaders, and they all have 
their place; let's take what we have, and run with it!  Even though I'm 
not a Windows fanatic, I do use it on rare occasions.  I choose to stay 
with what "brung me to the dance".  This is only my two cents worth, 
and personal observation, so y ou don't have to take my word for it.  
Richie Gardenhire, Anchorage, Alaska.

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