Yes, the mini starts at $600 I believe, but you then need the monitor and possibly an adapter or cable, depending on the monitor you choose. You also need a keyboard and, if she wants one, some kind of trackpad for gestures. So, assume the standard apple keyboard at $40 (for the wired one), a cheap monitor for $100, and the $60 trackpad and we've just gone up to $800. Especially if she will be getting training, you may want to stick with a mobile computer so she can take it around to different places. An iPad works, but it's hard to say that she will be happy with it once she starts to see what it can't do, such as play CDs or offer different voices. I love iPads and other iOS devices, I've just not heard good things about using them as computer replacements.
The screen reader is NVDA (nvda-project.org), and it is free and open-source. You're right, there is no support for it since it is, well free, but I'm sure you can find people who can teach it. It is becoming more popular, so access tech specialists should know it. The speech is hard to get used to, but you will eventually. Still, it's no Alex or Serena.... but again the money problem. I'd like to stress once more that I would personally pick a mac every time, and I only bring up windows to point out that the cost difference may outweigh the benefits of the mac in this one case. If you can get around money, then the mac is the better choice. On Dec 2, 2012, at 10:40 PM, Eugenia Firth <gigifi...@me.com> wrote: > Hi there > I'm not familiar with the screen reader you're talking about, which brings > up the question. Who's going to help her learn a Windows screen reader that > most blind people don't have? I mean quick, if she doesn't know someone who > has this screen reader, I think she stuck. The other question I have is, is > not a Mac mini cheaper than $1000? I haven't talk to her much about this yet, > but for what she wants, there is a good chance that she could use the iPad > And a keyboard. > I have another blind friend who decided to continue with a Windows computer. > She had learned Johnice and windows at work, and when she retired she didn't > want to change it. However, even though she had used the computer at work, > she is pretty shaky when it comes to problems with her computer. This means > that her computer guru brother has had to help her almost immediately with > this computer, And they live in different states. I mention this because I > see some blind people needing a great deal of support in order to maintain > their computers, and not all of them have that support. > This lady that when you're talking about, as far as I know, is on her own. I > live in one city, she lives in another. This means I can't volunteer to help > her. Since I used Windows for a number of years before getting him back, I > could do it if we lived near each other. > I think a lot of us are forgetting here that what some of us on this list > could do quite fine, others who don't have our experience would find very > frustrating and not workable. This lady needs the keep it simple system. > She's very smart, but I don't think she would be motivated to learn anything > that took extreme amounts of time And effort. If she gets a cheaper Windows > computer and she gets a cheaper screen reader, I think she will have to > teach herself. > > > I appreciate any and all opinions on the subject. I asked for them, and I > welcome them. > Regards > Gigi Sent from my iPhone > > On Dec 2, 2012, at 11:04 AM, Alex Hall <mehg...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Okay, please don't shoot me for this, but I think it needs to be mentioned. >> Sorry, but... why a mac? NVDA on Windows is much cheaper and does just as >> well in pretty much everything, even better in some areas (Safari, I'm >> looking at you and your lack of a flat representation). I know this is a mac >> list, and I'm not saying the mac is bad, but when you can get a reasonably >> good Windows laptop for $300, or the basic mac laptop for $1000, and where >> money is an issue... well, you see where I'm coming from I hope. >> On Dec 2, 2012, at 7:54 AM, Eugenia Firth <gigifi...@me.com> wrote: >> >>> Hi y'all >>> I have a blind friend who I think is totally blind, at the very least close >>> to it. She's not quite ready yet to get her technology, but she and I have >>> agreed we're going to visit that issue in June when I am going to Houston >>> where she lives. This friend, in my opinion, needs a Mac or an iPad because >>> she can't get training because of you know why and has limited computer >>> skills now. Money is an issue for this lady, so we need to get the best for >>> her for what she can do. >>> >>> If she gets a Mac of any variety, she can sign up for one to one training >>> and go there once a week if needed. I know there are some issues with this >>> for VoiceOver users, but I think if we have a nice talk with the manager we >>> can get someone who is willing to work with her who is willing to take some >>> extra effort and would consider it fun. Of the two Mac computers, the Mac >>> Mini and the MacBook Air, which one would you guys consider the best for a >>> situation like hers? If she gets an iPad, she would probably need to rely >>> on her blind friends who have iPhones and/or iPads to help her. I don't >>> think this lady can take the group classes Apple offers for IOS devices >>> like the iPhone because I don't think she could keep up, given her current >>> computer knowledge. This lady is in her seventies and has decided to move >>> into the 21st century because she is seeing a need for email. >>> >>> Thanks guys for your opinions on this. >>> >>> Regards, >>> Gigi >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@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. >>> >> >> >> >> Have a great day, >> Alex (msg sent from Mac Mini) >> mehg...@gmail.com >> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@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 macvisionaries@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. > Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from Mac Mini) mehg...@gmail.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@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.
