[Athen] Assistive/adaptive software & hardware & iMac... oh my

[Phillip Goodman]

Not to bash Macs, nothing wrong with them for those who prefer to limit the
applications they can run, the bottom line is that Macs only account for a
small percentage of the computers being used worldwide.

 

It sounds like a huge waste of money in both equipment and IT staff time to
me.  What is the point?  If they want both Mac and IBM compatible machines
why don't they have some of each?  Macs have always been more expensive that
PC's (apples to apples) and now they want to make sure they are paying more
for ALL the workstations as opposed to half (or less)!. There are known
issues with running some of the accommodations software using the Boot Camp
and or Parallels boot systems, but I doubt they have investigated these
issues. Have they given a reasonable explanation for why they want to do
this? 

I smell an equipment deal or a Mac fanatic somewhere here!

 

Phillip A. Goodman B.S. OTR/L

Assistive Technology Consultant

 

From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
Behalf Of normajean.brand
Sent: September 20, 2007 8:01 PM
To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network
Subject: [Athen] Assistive/adaptive software & hardware & iMac... oh my

 

Fellow ATHENians,

Is anyone on the list using assistive/adaptive software (ZoomText, JAWS,
Kurzweil, WYNN, etc.) installed on an iMac? And, if so, how successfully?

 

The Academic IT Support team, where I am employed, is considering pulling
all PCs from the classrooms and labs and installing iMacs, with Windows OS
running in the background or foreground depending on the boot sequence. I
have used Macs off and on since 1984 and they have some very good qualities
about them, however I am concerned that ZoomText and other assistive
software and possibly hardware will not run effectively, or at all, on the
iMac environment. Not to mention segregating and calling attention to those
users who may need the PC environment to access learning materials with
assistive/adaptive software and hardware, I have major concerns regarding
this plan of action. 

 

Any thoughts? Constructive suggestions/criticisms welcome. Dodging bullets
here as they try to shoot the messenger...

 

Thank you for sharing...

 

NJ

 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Personal Mission Statement
Integrity, trust, commitment and talent is the foundation of my existence.
My dedication to providing the highest level of technical expertise to help
solve client's problems is why I'm here. I strive to create, innovate, and
to
research solutions to meet and exceed expectations.
-- NJ Brand
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ Brand
Houston Community College-NW
Technical Support and Innovation Center
Assistive Technology Specialist/Sr. Lab Assistant
Town and Country Square Campus
MC 1379 Room RC13
1010 W. Sam Houston Pkwy N.
Houston TX 77043
VM/Office: 713.718.5604                    
FAX: 713.718.5430 
Email:  <mailto:normajean.brand at hccs.edu> normajean.brand at hccs.edu
 <http://nwc.hccs.edu/> http://nwc.hccs.edu 
 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman12.u.washington.edu/pipermail/athen-list/attachments/20070920/d3e87285/attachment.html>