I don't own a Mac, myself, but you've got it basically right. The only big problem I see from your perspective is that there doesn't seem to be a really useable spreadsheet program in the Mac world. Numbers is not quite VO compatible yet. That will probably change, but who knows when and how well. Otherwise, you're probably fine. Kevin
-----Original Message----- From: Donna Smith [mailto:donnafsmit...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 10:23 PM To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Subject: Introduction and Newby Questions Hi all. I am a long-time, frustrated Windows/Microsoft Office/JAWS user, and I have recently become very intrigued with the possibility of switching to a Mac, at least for personal use. My work duties are too tied to being able to share files with colleagues in PowerPoint, Excel and Word, and we're required to use Outlook calendar, etc., but personal use is a different story. So please tell me if I understand correctly that an off-the-shelf Mac laptop will be accessible via Voice Over for most typical functions? I need the internet, e-mail, some kind of word processor, and I'm a farily big user of Excel and am not sure what the comparable Mac program might be. I understand that there is a learning curve to make such a switch, but is it possible to do this without purchasing another type of third-part screen reading software? I am so sick of JAWS! This all started when I was looking at iPhones. I am very excited at the prospect of having a functional, accessible iPhone and the descriptions I've read that allow you to move through information via the touch screen, thus getting a real sens of page layout, has really sparked my interest. Do I understande correctly that laptops also have some kind of touch pad mouse that allows this same kind of interaction with information on the screen so that it's not always necessary to arrow up and down endlessly through massive amounts of web site jumble? I should add that though I've been using computers for about 20 years now, I am no programmer or technician. I am a functional user who has reluctantly had to learn more than I ever wanted to know about computer set-up and the inter-workings of various software out of necessity. So don't get too technical on me. <smile> Keep it simple! Thanks much for allowing me to join and I promise not to interfere with the flow of techie talk too much with irritating newby questions. Donna -- 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.
