To those who say I overdid it with my MacBook Pro on the specs, how do you know?
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To those who say I overdid it with my MacBook Pro on the specs, how do you know? With vibe coding, who knows what I will do with it?
@technocounselor We buy what we can afford, whether that’s a $6k computer or a $20k blindy device. It’s your money, credit, whatever. It isn’t anyone’s business. Heck even if you were broke but had the credit and decided to go into debt for purchases it’s nobody’s business. Yet one more reason why I might share tech purchases with people, but never with the masses. Opinions are like assholes: everybody’s got em and online, virtually everyone is one. :). Enjoy your new toy beast!
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@NightDrake @technocounselor I agree we shouldn't judge one another's tech choices. But I want to encourage people, especially those who are tech minimalists like myself, to speak up about their experiences too. I see that lacking here, and I don't think it is because there are so few of us. I think it is precisely because people are afraid of criticism and being disrespected. I'd like this to change. And if I had the technical skills, I would start that type of Mastodon instance.
@Lynn @NightDrake @technocounselor See personally I wouldn’t want this, because regardless of intent it comes off badly in writing and looks more like bragging or trying to say someone is better than someone else because they’re a tech minimalist, or a stuff minimalist, whatever. It always comes off as shaming in writing. I feel the same way about clean eating or discussing food choices. There’s just certain topics that do not work in writing, especially if being voiced by a synthetic speech engine. There’s just no way around it. That tone becomes implied and there’s no way changing that.
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@Lynn @technocounselor I don't know why people have to express negative opinions on anything. Tech or not. I think a lot of it stems from jealousy though. Or those who have more money than others. I was so hesitant to ask anything about the BTSpeak because of how a lot of the people in the blind community can be. But surprisingly enough I got amazing feedback. It was such a breath of fresh air. No one needs to tell others what they do or don't do with their money. I'm actually a believer of not talking about finances one way or the other with anyone other than Bob. Like if I'm going to make a big purchase which doesn't at all happen very often I talk it through with him. Not to ask for permission. But so that he can help me think of questions if I need to. Or say yes, this is a bad idea. Or no, go for it. So many are wanting the latest and greatest this or that. But if they have the money and if that's how they choose to spend it that's not anyone's business but the person buying the product in question.
@NightDrake @Lynn @technocounselor I agree. I’m not married, but I still talk about stuff like that with my partner; just no one else. Lol. The one in my house is the only one whose opinion truly matters when it comes to tech purchases or any large purchase for that matter. :). And if I’m interested in spending money on any kind of assistive tech, I’ll reach out to people directly that I trust who use the things I’m looking at daily because the other thing I’m noticing is that the majority of people who feel the need to judge comment aren’t often even using the thing.
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@NightDrake @Lynn @technocounselor You're right. If I make a big purchase I also run it by Bruno. Not for permission but just to make sure it's not going to interfere with something he would like to do. Why can't people be happy for those who get something new? You are right. I do think part of it is jealousy or envy. I hesitated to talk about getting my stream a while ago because of the negative comments people made about having a separate device blah blah blah. But finally I said screw it.
@baxaphobia @NightDrake @Lynn @technocounselor I loved my stream when I had one. Do they still look like a Walkman? This at least is what the one I owned back in 2009 reminded me of anyway.
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@technocounselor @Bruce You bought the exact machine I'd buy, if I felt like pulling my hair out with Voice Over. LOL
@quanin @technocounselor @Bruce True story! This is the very thing that will continue to prevent me from owning anything Mac because I know the nonsense that already makes me want to throw my over priced but necessary iPhone out the window and curse all things Apple, because voiceover already often makes me want to pull my hair out on iOS. If I’m spending four times as much for a product because it has a cute little apple on it, then it had better work better in that regard not run with the same intentionally flawed screen reader technology. But that’s me. There are lots who don’t mind apple’s brand of torture. I’m not one of them. Android and google have their own special breed too but I stick with iOS because it is the devil I’m most acquainted with and I don’t have a desire to play in Android full-time as I’m not a fan of that either. Lol. Tech is often about what you’re willing to put up with.
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@NightDrake @technocounselor I think it's fine to talk about specifics like the cost of technology and what various devices can and cannot do. That is because, had anyone shared with me about what technology could best serve me, I wouldn't have invested nearly the amount I did initially. So I think such discussions are important. That is much different than suggesting what dollar expenditure is right for another person. The blindness community, I feel, should stop criticizing one another's choices, but should explain the costs and also options that work for them. That, in my view, would be much more helpful. All we seem to hear about is expensive devices which many cannot afford, rather than lesser expensive options. How can anyone make an informed choice if all they hear about or are made aware of high end tech?
I wish the community would champion the idea that the first thing anyone needs to know is exactly what they need their technology and devices to do. Only then can one make an informed choice.
One thing I am noticing is more reference to NVDA as a screen reader. I'm glad more people are learning about it, and more people are also learning about Android.
@Lynn @NightDrake @technocounselor But there’s not a blind community. That’s problem number one.
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@Lynn @NightDrake @technocounselor See personally I wouldn’t want this, because regardless of intent it comes off badly in writing and looks more like bragging or trying to say someone is better than someone else because they’re a tech minimalist, or a stuff minimalist, whatever. It always comes off as shaming in writing. I feel the same way about clean eating or discussing food choices. There’s just certain topics that do not work in writing, especially if being voiced by a synthetic speech engine. There’s just no way around it. That tone becomes implied and there’s no way changing that.
@amy0223 @technocounselor @NightDrake No topic is ever totally objective. Why? because we each have connotations or ideologies and perhaps different points of view connected with almost any topic. That can't be helped. I have never felt someone who may want a lot of technology or things is a better or worse person than me. To think otherwise would be ludicrous and judgmental on my part. If people feel this subject shouldn't be discussed, by all means, they shouldn't feel compelled to discuss it. The same goes for politics or religion or any other subject. As I said, I feel tech minimalism is a subject missing within the blindness community, and I'd like to see that changed, because I don't feel I'm the only person in this community who chooses to use minimal technology. If the blindness community feels it can't be discussed, then that attitude is limiting and non-inclusive. I think we already have enough war on diverse thought and ideas in this world. I'm hoping we're not adding tech minimalism to the already long casualty list. I also ask myself if this subject is something equally not discussed outside of the blindness culture? I tend to think it isn't a taboo subject elsewhere, judging by the number of books written about digital minimalism and its various aspects. I will make an effort to look into this in greater detail, out of curiosity. Just to clarify, this is not about accessibility or the lack thereof. What I am talking about is a deliberate choice, not accessibility.
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@Lynn @NightDrake @technocounselor But there’s not a blind community. That’s problem number one.
@amy0223 @NightDrake @technocounselor What then would you call mastodon instances primarily composed of people who are blind and/or visually impaired, where most of the topics discussed have to do with blindness and/or disability related issues? Like it or not, we are a group/community. We have a commonality. And we have diverse thoughts, perspectives and ways of doing things as we live our lives, just as any group or community has.
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@technocounselor @Bruce I will let you know when I get around to getting my new MacBook and then we can make that happen.
@JamiePauls @Bruce Awesome!
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@technocounselor @Bruce You bought the exact machine I'd buy, if I felt like pulling my hair out with Voice Over. LOL
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@FreakyFwoof Oh God yeah, and I wouldn’t care if they just loved it and used it and talked about it for themselves, but they just go on and on about how everybody has to use Lennox or they’re not a real computer user. It’s exhausting.
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@mhussain @FreakyFwoof I feel like it should be used what you want when you want for what you want to do, regardless of what the operating system ends up being.
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@FreakyFwoof Oh God yeah, and I wouldn’t care if they just loved it and used it and talked about it for themselves, but they just go on and on about how everybody has to use Lennox or they’re not a real computer user. It’s exhausting.
@technocounselor @FreakyFwoof If we're not real computer users, we can be proud of that, as far as I'm concerned: I've never used Linux, and I have no plans even to try it. One thing everyone should do is use what suits them best.
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@technocounselor Screw the haters! Enjoy the tech! I went way overkill on my Mac Studio when I bought it after I came back from CSUN last year but I’m so glad I did. Never thought I’d need the power but I’m glad I did. You’re going to be able to so much with that beast of a machine.
@stevenscott I knew you would understand. Yeah I’ll be able to make anything. I can’t wait, but unfortunately it looks like I’m going to have to because it’s still saying May 26 to June 2. I need an apple prime subscription. Lol.
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@technocounselor @Bruce That’s the spec to get. The hard drive prices are so high but if I could I’d go for 8tb. I’d much rather have the most storage. A boy can dream
@stevenscott @Bruce Yeah, the only reason I didn’t do that is because it was going to add $1800 to my already skyrocketing price. I have enough cloud storage that I should be OK.
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@baxaphobia @NightDrake @Lynn @technocounselor I loved my stream when I had one. Do they still look like a Walkman? This at least is what the one I owned back in 2009 reminded me of anyway.
@amy0223 @baxaphobia @NightDrake @Lynn Oh yeah, my first generation stream was everything. It got me through grad school. I remember saving to pre-order it and being so excited when it got to the house. It was the first of its kind.
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@technocounselor @FreakyFwoof If we're not real computer users, we can be proud of that, as far as I'm concerned: I've never used Linux, and I have no plans even to try it. One thing everyone should do is use what suits them best.
@frog67 @FreakyFwoof Exactly. I tried it a very little bit and found it didn’t suit my needs, and that’s OK.
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@frog67 @FreakyFwoof Exactly. I tried it a very little bit and found it didn’t suit my needs, and that’s OK.
@technocounselor @frog67 @FreakyFwoof I think the message, while perhaps well-meaning and not without merit for various reasons, is far too evangelical and doesn't take sufficient account of the cognitive load people would have to embrace learning a new operating system, the accessibility barriers there might be or the lack of perceived return on that investment of effort.
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To those who say I overdid it with my MacBook Pro on the specs, how do you know? With vibe coding, who knows what I will do with it?
@technocounselor Good on you if anybody can do it you can.
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@FreakyFwoof Oh God yeah, and I wouldn’t care if they just loved it and used it and talked about it for themselves, but they just go on and on about how everybody has to use Lennox or they’re not a real computer user. It’s exhausting.
@technocounselor @FreakyFwoof I wish Linux was up to the level of usability for it to be used more by blind folks, but its not, and the developer support for key apps is still not there yet, and if you wanted to run Windows apps there's the whole setup with Wine, yeah no, people need to understand that for a lot of us Linux is not feasible.
