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
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