Hi, I have had my wonderful Imac for longer than two months, in fact it's a bit over a year now and i tell ya folks, i won't ever go back to using Windows. I have a virtual machine with Windows xp in it, but i use it only for when i want to play audio games and do some team talk and for the few occations when web sites aren't supported because of Flash. I'm doing all of my tasks like scanning, reading emails and such on the Mac now and i like the fact that finally, i have a computer that works with me, not against me. /Krister
21 okt 2009 kl. 17.41 skrev Donna Goodin: > > Wow, Nic, you are a determined soul! :) I'm glad that after all you > had to go through with the install, the Mac turned out to suit your > needs. > > You people who have taken so readily to web-browsing on the Mac, > fascinate me. I keep playing with it, hoping to come to the same > conclusion, but it just doesn't happen. For example, I am currently > job-hunting, and the other night, received a job match from a site I > am registered with. When Safari loaded the page and auto-read, it > read everything just as you would expect. But then, I decided I > wanted to take a second look at the preferred qualifications. I > couldn't find them to save my soul! I arrowed around, I interacted > with stuff, and nothing. So, I booted up my Pc, went into IE, and > found what I was looking for in two seconds. And I still have no clue > what I should have done to locate that info in Safari. I often feel > like because of all the interacting and stuff, that viewing a webpage > in Safari is like looking at it through tinted glass or through a veil > that only lets you see the outline of what you're looking at. Links > of course are no problem, it's the text content that is often very > difficult to locate. > > I highly recommend the iphone, I've found it to be a delightful little > toy, um, I mean, device. *grin* > Cheers, > Donna > On Oct 21, 2009, at 11:03 AM, Nicolai Svendsen wrote: > >> >> Hi, >> >> Definitely quite an interesting story. >> >> I got my Mac on August 1. It was actually an odd experience. I went >> to >> an Apple store a couple weeks prior to my purchase just to try it >> out. >> I had attempted to use OS X 10.4, Tiger in the past at an institute >> for the blind, but I actually didn't like it. I thought it was quite >> literally a pile of crap. >> >> I start listening to podcasts that sighted and blind users have done >> for the Macintosh, and figure I'll give it another shot. I finally >> decided to purchase a Mac, because I had frankly become extremely >> frustrated with Windows and most certainly Vista. XP has always been >> my favorite if I do have to use Windows. I'd become tired of how many >> things you needed for Windows to work efficiently. Sometimes you had >> to worry about corrupted files, leftovers from previously installed >> applications, that sort of thing not to mention the registry. The >> headache. >> >> So I decided to take the plunge. >> >> I read through the entire VoiceOver manual the day before I went back >> to the store, and wrote down notes for the things I figured I'd >> mostly >> be using for a while. When I arrived at the store, I went to try it >> out again to make sure a Mac would be what I desired. It definitely >> was. So much that, in fact, that even though they only had a showroom >> floor model at the time, I grabbed it. The cleaned it off thoroughly, >> wrapped it up and tossed the DVDs I'd need in the box. I was happy. >> So >> very happy. >> >> I arrive home, and I'm practically tingling with excitement. I almost >> rip the box apart (taking care of the DVDs of course), get out my >> shiny Macbook and hook it up. >> >> Oh no! >> >> What I did know was that I had to reinstall it, but I didn't care. I >> didn't want any of that junk on it they had installed to advertise. >> So >> i went ahead. I rebooted it, held down the C-key when the >> installation >> DVD had been sucked into the Mac and I heard the startup sound. It >> displayed the finder and spat out the DVD. Literally. So I decided >> that apparently wasn't working for whatever reason. I located the >> installer DVD in the finder and open it. Authentication. God dang it! >> Behold the password box. I was required to enter a password to >> proceed. Of course, the Macbook had not been set to require a >> password >> at login. >> >> I call them at the store, and ask them for a password. I told them >> the >> C-key solution had not worked to boot from the DVD, and they promptly >> complied with my request. They gave me several passwords to enter, >> and >> I did. >> >> "The name or password you entered is incorrect." >> >> I went back to the store, and they had a look at it. Most annoying of >> all was that finally, the C-key actually seemed to work. I was >> installing it when I got home. By this point, I was like a kid on his >> birthday. >> >> I thought I'd share my experience with all of you on the list. Yes, I >> am aware it's probably quite long-winded. But what can you do? I do >> run Windows as a virtual machine, but only to MUD. I do sometimes >> find >> it kind of annoying having to run two programs just to scan and >> recognize the image. That is why I liked Omnipage, and there has to >> be >> a solution out there that does exactly the same. >> >> As for my web browsing experience, everything is much more smooth and >> responsive. I can easily find what I want by using the search feature >> in VoiceOver, and ever since Leopard was released the web rotor makes >> it even easier, not to mention Auto web spots. So yes, I do use >> Windows. Rarely, but I do. And I'm definitely not ashamed to admit >> it. >> But if a MUD client was accessible to VoiceOver, I would not touch it >> again. I've found my experience with Mac has not only been >> productive, >> but fun and enjoyable where as with Windows, I wanted to throw the >> machine through the window half the time I was using it due to >> freezes, driver errors and so-forth. >> >> Well, I think I'm done now. I want an iPhone, now that you mention >> it, >> but at the same time you don't always need to have the latest and >> greatest. And I need to realize that. :P. Yes, I loved the iPhone and >> I'm used to the gestures since I use my trackpad quite a lot, but at >> the same time, I need a phone for text messaging and phone calls. >> That >> is about it. It'll probably be faster to accomplish those tasks with >> the iPhone, I have no doubt about it. Maybe one day I'll even get >> one. >> But when I find a really good reason except for all the apps you can >> seemingly install with no issues, perfectly usable, then I won't buy >> one. Besides, who wants to pay $99.95 for an iPhone plan in Denmark? >> Not me. >> >> Have a great afternoon, folks. I at least know those living in the >> Eastern timezone are approaching lunch time. :) >> >> Regards, >> Nic >> Skype: Kvalme >> MSN Messenger: nico...@home3.gvdnet.dk >> AIM: cincinster >> yahoo Messenger: cin368 >> Facebook Profile >> My Twitter >> >> On Oct 21, 2009, at 4:17 PM, Donna Goodin wrote: >> >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> I Thought I'd weigh in here, since I got my Mac around the same time >>> almost, I'm going on three months now. >>> >>> I agree with Anouk, and would add that I often find it's easier to >>> use my PC for work-related tasks. As I mentioned earlier, I use the >>> ap Blackboard, which I have to use Windows for, as Safari isn't >>> currently supported.. Since I'm logged into Blackboard most days, >>> that >>> sort of automatically means I'm using my PC, and the Mac gets >>> relegated to after-hours. >>> >>> I also still strongly prefer web-browsing on my PC. I've had so >>> many >>> experiences where on the Mac I simply cannot locate an item that I >>> know is on a certain page. This never happens to me on the PC. I >>> find >>> that when browsing, I can do things in half the time on my PC, and >>> sometimes on the Mac, even after spending the extra time, I don't >>> find >>> what I'm looking for, and end up going back to the PC anyway. >>> >>> I'm an avid reader, and so do a lot of scanning. I really don't like >>> the idea of having to use two separate programs, one for scanning >>> and >>> one for the OCR, especially when I have one program on my PC that >>> will >>> do both jobs quite nicely. This of course isn't an Apple issue, >>> but I >>> do think that for many of us who are blind, the lack of a good solid >>> scanning/ocr option, is a real obstacle in terms of seeing the Mac >>> as >>> a PC replacement. >>> >>> Like Anouk, I've also pretty much decided to keep both a Mac and a >>> PC. at least for now, though I confess I'm tempted some days to >>> just >>> go back to my PC, in the interest of running just one OS on one >>> computer. When I got my Mac, I had hoped not to upgrade to JAWS 11 >>> and Windows 7, but it looks like I'll be getting both. I use my PC >>> for >>> work, for scanning, and for most of my web browsing, which is 90% of >>> what I do. I like the Mac a lot. I like that VO is built in, I >>> like >>> the speed and responsiveness of the Mac, I like the fact that it >>> doesn't take a year to boot or load an ap, and I like working with >>> Itunes (I'm still running 8.2.), and I think the Mac seems to be far >>> superior in how it works with Media. But the PC is what I go to for >>> the things I really need to get done. I think for me, my experience >>> with the Mac reflects my experience with the iphone. When I compare >>> my iphone with my old Windows Mobile phone, the iphone is much more >>> fun! I love the aps, the games, the ability to quickly do things >>> like >>> check weather, whereas my WM phone was loaded with all kinds of >>> practical stuff for editing documents spreadsheets, powerpoint, and >>> so >>> on. I don't want to do any of that stuff on my phone, so for me, >>> the >>> iphone is by far the better fit. but when it comes to a computer, >>> it >>> cuts the other way, and I find myself favoring the PC which seems to >>> lend itself more to the day-to-day things I need to get done. >>> Best, >>> Donna >>> On Oct 21, 2009, at 5:05 AM, Nicolai Svendsen wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> Hi again folks, >>>> >>>> Yes, broadcasts can certainly be done. Nicecast from Rogue Amoeba >>>> http://rogueamoeba.com >>>> works extremely well. The only issue seems to be the effects scroll >>>> area, but I hope they'll be working on that. Otherwise, it works >>>> ridiculously well, in fact, and I have nothing to complain about. >>>> >>>> I'm not exactly sure about your Thumbkey thing. I don't get it. If >>>> you >>>> can elaborate? Maybe I'm being dense here. :). >>>> >>>> As for VLC, I've never actually tried it out, and I personally love >>>> using Safari for web browsing. For me, everything is much faster. >>>> >>>> Also, which braille display are you using? >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> Nic >>>> Skype: Kvalme >>>> MSN Messenger: nico...@home3.gvdnet.dk >>>> AIM: cincinster >>>> yahoo Messenger: cin368 >>>> Facebook Profile >>>> My Twitter >>>> >>>> On Oct 21, 2009, at 10:22 AM, Tony Bernedal wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi again. >>>>> Wow. Echomac, never heard of it but when I google it I found >>>>> http://echomac.sourceforge.net/ >>>>> I'll try it when I'm back home from work. >>>>> Anouk, I had a fire dtv reciever and used it with dvb viewer on >>>>> windows and Eye tv have driver for it so I gave it a try but it >>>>> doesn't work as I want at the moment. >>>>> I have readiris on the disk and I'm going to try it out and see >>>>> how >>>>> it >>>>> works with swedish language and so on. >>>>> I have heard of some broadcast tools for mac but at the moment I >>>>> haven't looked in to it. I don't broadcast at the moment so it >>>>> doesn't >>>>> have so high priority. I still have my studio pc sitting under the >>>>> desk so I can use stationplaylist and all the broadcast stuff if I >>>>> want to. >>>>> Regards Tony >>>>> >>>>> 2009/10/21, a radix <anou...@home.nl>: >>>>>> >>>>>> Hey Tony, Nice to hear from you! (the world is a small place) >>>>>> Funny >>>>>> we >>>>>> started our mac journey at the seem time. I am curious, can you >>>>>> broadcast on >>>>>> the mac? I guess otsjuke wont work and obiously shoutcast wont >>>>>> either. I was >>>>>> thinking of running windows with vmware but now I am just >>>>>> thinking >>>>>> to ask my >>>>>> brother to help me install windows 7 via bootcamp instead. Has >>>>>> anyone got >>>>>> experience with installing windows via bootcamp as dual boot? Is >>>>>> it >>>>>> diffucult? I presume the drivers for windows 7 for the macbook >>>>>> pro >>>>>> will be >>>>>> available from apple? I still want to try vuescan an dreadiris, >>>>>> in >>>>>> fact i >>>>>> have the programs on my computer bu tI want to wait till hp >>>>>> releases the >>>>>> drivers for my scanner that are native to sl, also I hope by that >>>>>> time abbyy >>>>>> will have released a demo of finereader for the mac that is >>>>>> native >>>>>> to sl. I >>>>>> am just concerned that either adf wont work, scanning iwll be >>>>>> very >>>>>> slow or >>>>>> dutch character recognition wont be as good as omnipage. >>>>>> I am surprised that you also have the thumbkey problem, i thought >>>>>> it was >>>>>> something stupid on my part, corrupt install whatever. I guess we >>>>>> will both >>>>>> have to mail apple accessibility about this. >>>>>> So, you are using a tv tuner with your mac? This is the next >>>>>> thing >>>>>> i want to >>>>>> taccle since now I have an analog tv standing on my desk and it >>>>>> is >>>>>> taking up >>>>>> space that I could use otherwise. I did have digital tv in the >>>>>> past >>>>>> bu tI >>>>>> had a lot of trouble with it and in the end just went back to >>>>>> analog. There >>>>>> are not that many tuners for the mac I think (analog or >>>>>> otherwise) >>>>>> and I >>>>>> guess even less that are available in Europe. Which do you use? I >>>>>> guess as >>>>>> long as I get one with a remote things will be ok (if it indeed >>>>>> can >>>>>> find the >>>>>> channels). >>>>>> I too LOVE the sleep features of the mac, i never turn mine off, >>>>>> just close >>>>>> the lid and thats it. >>>>>> Greetings, Anouk, >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>> From: "Tony Bernedal" <t...@bernedal.net> >>>>>> To: <macvisionaries@googlegroups.com> >>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:16 AM >>>>>> Subject: Re: my 2 months with a mac >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi Anouk. >>>>>>> I have also used my mac for around 3 months now, and like you I >>>>>>> still >>>>>>> use windows for a couple of things. I trying to get the scanning >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> ocr to work on the mac but for now windows and omnipage have to >>>>>>> do >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> jobb. I had a license for windows xp lying on the shelf from a >>>>>>> no >>>>>>> longer working laptop and I installed xp with vmware as a >>>>>>> virtual >>>>>>> machine and doing my scanning there and it works good but the >>>>>>> virtual >>>>>>> machine is very slow. I also use windows for Echolink, wich is a >>>>>>> ham-radio software wich don't exist on the mac. Also the >>>>>>> software >>>>>>> to >>>>>>> setup and program my hamradio stations is only windows programs. >>>>>>> I'm >>>>>>> very happy mac user now and after some updates to snow leopard >>>>>>> my >>>>>>> problems with it is gone. >>>>>>> I hope the issue with the thumbkey on your display can be >>>>>>> solved. I >>>>>>> have same issue with alva satelite. >>>>>>> I also have a battle with EyeTV software wich for some odd >>>>>>> reason >>>>>>> doesn't find my tv channels on the cable network. And it is also >>>>>>> very >>>>>>> tricky to use with VO. I use VLC for webradio and movies and it >>>>>>> works >>>>>>> great (vlc version 1.x doesn't work under windows and linux at >>>>>>> all >>>>>>> with screenreader, only on mac, great!). >>>>>>> And I also like the speed, starting my windows pc here at works >>>>>>> take >>>>>>> forever and the mac is at the desktop in almost 0 time. And, the >>>>>>> sleep >>>>>>> works well too. >>>>>>> So I'm happy with my mac system. >>>>>>> Good luck with your mac! >>>>>>> Regards Tony >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 2009/10/21, a radix <anou...@home.nl>: >>>>>>>> Hello, I have been using my mac for about 2 months now >>>>>>>> especially >>>>>>>> at >>>>>>>> school >>>>>>>> although at home I still often use my pc and I will explain >>>>>>>> below >>>>>>>> why. In >>>>>>>> general my experiences with the mac have been very positive >>>>>>>> especially >>>>>>>> after >>>>>>>> installing snow leopard. I can use skype and msn just as well >>>>>>>> as >>>>>>>> on my >>>>>>>> pc. >>>>>>>> And after I dumped itunes and started using vlc instead >>>>>>>> watching >>>>>>>> movies >>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>> listening to music became a breeze. I recently bought apples >>>>>>>> office suite >>>>>>>> because I prefer that over using textedit or the free text >>>>>>>> editors/office >>>>>>>> suits that are available. I am also intending to go and use >>>>>>>> garage band >>>>>>>> in >>>>>>>> the future if I can get that working with my yamaha keyboard. I >>>>>>>> like the >>>>>>>> built-in speakers and sound quality alhtough listening through >>>>>>>> its sound >>>>>>>> output with my own in ear monitors is nothing special. I still >>>>>>>> find using >>>>>>>> the internet on the mac a bit mor ework then i did while using >>>>>>>> my >>>>>>>> pc and >>>>>>>> it >>>>>>>> goes a bit slower also when reading docucments i notice that I >>>>>>>> cannot >>>>>>>> endlessly use the right thumb key on my braille display to >>>>>>>> continue >>>>>>>> reading, >>>>>>>> eventually i have to press the right arrow on my normal >>>>>>>> keyboard >>>>>>>> if I >>>>>>>> want >>>>>>>> to read onm. This does become irritating after a while if you >>>>>>>> need to >>>>>>>> read >>>>>>>> long documents. >>>>>>>> At home I still mostly use my windows pc although i now have >>>>>>>> gotten mail >>>>>>>> working on the mac as well because 1. I use omnipage pro 16 >>>>>>>> under >>>>>>>> windows >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> scan my books for school, while I know that there are some >>>>>>>> scanning >>>>>>>> solutions for the mac that i will probbably try once the hp >>>>>>>> drivers for >>>>>>>> sl >>>>>>>> have been released I just dont know if they will be as good and >>>>>>>> easy as >>>>>>>> using omnipage pro 16 and am a bit hesistant to try it because >>>>>>>> of >>>>>>>> that (I >>>>>>>> really really hope that a full version of finereader will >>>>>>>> eventually be >>>>>>>> released for the mac since I have heard it can rival omnipage >>>>>>>> pro). >>>>>>>> Secondly there is filesharing, i will be brief. Ftp does work >>>>>>>> on >>>>>>>> the mac >>>>>>>> with transmit which I rather like although I have not >>>>>>>> registered >>>>>>>> it yet, >>>>>>>> questions i asked its support team went unanswered. Usenet also >>>>>>>> works but >>>>>>>> udner windows I preferred to use other programs which are not >>>>>>>> available >>>>>>>> on >>>>>>>> the mac. >>>>>>>> The third point is playing games which I do a lot on the pec >>>>>>>> especially >>>>>>>> interactive fiction and muds. There is an interpreter for >>>>>>>> interactive >>>>>>>> fiction called zoom which I tried and although I can open games >>>>>>>> with it >>>>>>>> saved games were a problem for me since I could not open a >>>>>>>> saved >>>>>>>> game >>>>>>>> file >>>>>>>> (made in frotz). >>>>>>>> For muds the situation on the mac is not so good, I play them >>>>>>>> all >>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>> time >>>>>>>> on windows but there is only one mudclient that I know of which >>>>>>>> works >>>>>>>> under >>>>>>>> sl and which is still being developed, jamochamud which works >>>>>>>> under java. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> It >>>>>>>> is not too accessible at the moment but the programmer has >>>>>>>> promised to >>>>>>>> look >>>>>>>> at it, still it does not offer all the features even then >>>>>>>> that I >>>>>>>> am used >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> on a windows client. >>>>>>>> As soon as windows 7 becomes officially available I am planning >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> install >>>>>>>> it on my mac (probbably via bootcamp) so that I at least can >>>>>>>> use >>>>>>>> my mac >>>>>>>> all >>>>>>>> the time even if I need to use windows, hopefully for the >>>>>>>> scanning and >>>>>>>> downloading tasks I will in the future be able to use the mac >>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>> I have >>>>>>>> hopes for muds as well but for now at least my mac is mostly >>>>>>>> used >>>>>>>> at >>>>>>>> school >>>>>>>> and in the library. >>>>>>>> Greetings, Anouk, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>>> >> >> >>> >> > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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