Hi.
Thanks for your message, but I feel I have to correct you on one point.
Speakup isn't a stand alone application. It is build into the Linux
kernel. Because of this, it will only work on a Linux system and is
useless on anything else.
Hope this helps.
Kenny
On Sat, Apr 30, 2005 at 03:31:38PM -0700, Jane Lee wrote:
> I'd just like to make it clear that VoiceOver is built into the Mac OS
> X operating system, not a standalone program like speakup or Jaws.
> After Freedom Scientific and others gave up on the Mac platform
> because of the even smaller market, Apple and their devs figured they
> should do all of the accessibility work in house, and that's how
> VoiceOver started.
>
> You cannot, I repeat, cannot, port VoiceOver to another OS like
> Windows or Linux. It relies on the Mac OS too much. This also means
> that VoiceOver cannot work on an iPod.
>
> On another matter, the cheapest Mac out there is 500 dollars, and is
> called the Mac mini. Since the new operating system came out on the
> 29th of April, as of now, if you go online or to a store and buy the
> Mac mini, it will come with the OS and VoiceOver. If you're planning
> on going out maybe today or within the next week, inquire about
> whether or not it comes with Tiger, which is the OS that VoiceOver
> comes with, and not Panther just in case. Be warned, the Mac mini
> does not come with a keyboard, a mouse or a monitor. This computer
> was meant for PC and Mac users already with older computers that don't
> mind keeping their old setups. Mac laptops, such as the iBook or the
> Powerbook, start at around 1000 dollars.
>
> Voiceover is not an additional application that you have to pay for,
> it comes with the OS, which is 129 dollars. Some third party
> retailers will have it at a discounted price, while schools, teachers
> and college students will be able to buy the OS from Apple or a
> university bookstore at the education price, which is 69 dollars. A
> "family pack" that gives you a license for use up to 5 computers is
> 200 dollars but has restrictions and only comes with one install disk.
>
> Personally, I haven't been able to try out VoiceOver much on my Mac,
> but I found that the accessible installation of OS X, the VoiceOver
> enabled login menu and the overall integration makes it fun and easy
> to use. There's no serial number to install the OS and there's no
> activation (like Windows) either.
>
> If you have any specifics on how to use a Mac, go to the local Apple
> retail store and ask one of the people there. The genius bar at all
> the stores should be able to help you out with setup (like turning on
> VoiceOver for the first time). If you have technical questions on
> problems with your Mac, feel free to drop me an email :) I can help
> out with most of the smaller issues.
>
> If you're looking for anything in particular though (about Apple,
> their computers, anything, really) feel free to drop me an email.
>
> cheers
> jane
>
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> Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
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