Yes, but there are some folks who could get by with an IOS device only. If you do wanted BARD, email, and the ability to write text files, you could very easily just use your iPhone, maybe with a keyboard. I know a blind gal right now that, if she got a computer, would be better off with an iPhone instead of what she might be about to do because somebody is talking her into it.
There is an organization here in Texas that gives away Windows computers to blind people. Sounds real good right? The only thing is that they are giving these computers to blind people that are unable to get them through the state and in most cases, as far as I can tell, usually people with very low income. However, there's no training, and they are giving them to people, for the most part, who know nothing about computers. They come right out and say that you have to have someone on hand to help you learn your system because they don't do it. The other thing they do is to put the demo version of WindowEyes in the computer, and then the receivers of these computers that they will need to get WindowEyes when the time runs out. My friend is considering this, and I told her to make sure that the person that was helping her get this computer was going to hebbp her later, and I warned her about getting WindowEyes later. She could NVDA in there, but then she would have to to learn a new screen reader, and this lady knows just about nothing concerning computers. I'm glad she told me she was thinking about it. If she were to get an IOS device, she wouldn't have this problem. In fact, she wouldn't have this problem if this same organization would figure out a way to give some of these people Macs. At least they wouldn't have to get screen reader software later. I recently heard a talk given by a representative of this organization, and I asked him if they would be receptive to other computers. He said yes, but then he sort blew off my concerns when I started to mention the issues above. Regards, Gigi On Apr 1, 2014, at 8:08 PM, Josh Gregory <joshkar...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi, If I may, and no disrespect, but a computer is still needed for some > things that a tablet or smart phone cannot currently do. Having said that, I > will give you that these devices can do a heck of a lot more than they could > several years ago. > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Apr 1, 2014, at 9:12 PM, erik burggraaf <e...@erik-burggraaf.com> wrote: > >> I find my mac more stable than pc's although I so seldome use a pc these >> days and the ones I do use are tweaked down so they perform really well. >> >> I've been using a mack for 6 years now and have no reason to prefer a PC >> these days. Having said that, this will be my last ever mac. When it is >> ready to move on in another couple of years, the personal computer itself >> will be on the longtail and it just won't make any sense to invest in >> another personal computer, mac or PC. In fact, an increasing number of my >> clients are just as effective on a tablet or smart phone as they are on a >> computer, and it meets all of their day to day computing needs very well, >> including: email, web browsing, web applications such as apps and mobile >> banking, OCR reading, bar code identification diabetes and other medical >> monitoring, non-verbal communication, literature access in braille, large >> print and audio, and more. The world of office tasks has now opened up to >> us using IOS 7 and android 4.4. Several printing solutions are accessible >> including the samsung one that I am currently using. Simple audio >> production tasks are viable. And we have access to features that aren't >> really viable on pc's such as security systems management, and GPS >> navigation. Soon we'll have micro-location support and many other >> opportunities that will encourage us to leave the desktop/laptop world >> behind. It may behoove you to simply invest more time learning IOS and >> picking up apps and accessories that enrich your experience in the mobile >> world, rather than investing in a switch to an expensive new technology that >> will be obsolete in three years. We are just now stepping inside the time >> frame where cost vs efficiency of PC systems is about to become a serious >> concern in the consumer market. >> >> Best, >> >> Erik Burggraaf >> Ebony Consulting toll-free: 1-888-255-5194 >> or on the web at http://www.erik-burggraaf.com >> >> On 2014-04-01, at 5:24 PM, Mike Arrigo <n0...@charter.net> wrote: >> >>> I find the mac to be very stable, certainly far less problems than with >>> windows. It's not perfect, no platform is, but I have 3 macs and have no >>> desire to switch back to a PC. >>> Original message: >>> >>>> Hi Everyone, >>> >>>> As I said previously, I am thinking about getting a Mac and the main >>>> reason is that I am tired of the increasing instability of the PC >>>> environment. My first question is, is this really different on a Mac? >>> >>>> I am using JAWS 15 with Windows 8. Both are not all that stable. I have >>>> been a JAWS user for 17 years and I have noticed a definite progressive >>>> increase in instability with the last few releases. JAWS crashes >>>> frequently and, even if it doesn't crash, it often stops talking when >>>> errors occur with other applications. Then, there's Windows 8. I don't >>>> mind the Windows 8 interface but several times per week, I will have a >>>> problem that requires me to restart my computer. I did not have that >>>> nearly as much with Windows 7. Also, it isn't unusual for me to install a >>>> program which will, either directly or through add ins, make Windows >>>> and/or JAWS more unstable. I then have to decide rather the additional >>>> functionality is worth the increased instability. I'm just tired of all >>>> the crashes and reboots and having to use three or four screen readers >>>> because I have to run one when another one crashes. >>> >>>> By contrast, my iPhone and iPad, while not perfect, are certainly more >>>> stable. VoiceOver seldom just stops working. Of course, every single app >>>> is not accessible and they do not all work correctly but any problems with >>>> an app are almost always confined only to that app. When an app crashes, >>>> it usually does not also cause VoiceOver or the device to crash. Is this >>>> also true of the Mac? >>> >>>> I have certainly used technology enough to know that none of it is >>>> perfect. However, I would like something that is better than the PC, when >>>> it comes to stability. Over all, in your experience, is the Mac more >>>> stable? >>> >>>> Thanks, >>> >>>> Scott Duck -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com >>>> <mailto:macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com>. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com >>>> <mailto:macvisionaries@googlegroups.com>. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries >>>> <http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries>. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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