Last year or the year before, an article was distributed here on vicug-l
that showed how the same assembly line and the same workers were used to
assemble computers from many different companies, including some brand
name companies.  Most of the parts of computers assembled here in the
United States comes from overseas, largely from Asia.  today, computers
are indeed global products and the assembly location of the box is
incidental.  In fact, I am composing this e-mail message on an ACER
computer which was assembled in Taiwan.  ACER is the world's third or
fourth largest computer manufacturer.

My new Windows computer is a no-name machine.I had a sighted friend look
far and wide on the invoice and on every square inch of the box
itself.  The issue is not really the brand name but the reputation of the
dealer and the support after the sale.  I bought my computer from a
well-respected adapted technology specialist here in Chicago who works
with a computer store on the north side where I live that is owned by a
couple of Korean guys.  They provide a full one year warren tee on the
computer that includes parts and labor.  I charged my computer to my
Platinum Visa card from First USA, part of Bank One, which extended my
warren tee for an additional year.  This will likely not be necessary as
most major computer problems arise in the first few months of ownership.

One issue to fully consider is that of informed choice, as mandated in the
1998 re-authorization of the Rehabilitation Act.  The new amendments allow
for rehab clients to participate in choosing vendors, equipment, and
software.  Essentially, once there is consensus and support by both the
client and the counselor for using an adaptive technology solution to meet
the stated vocational goal in the Individualized Plan for Employment, the
client has a right, for the most part, to choose the vendor, specific
device model, adaptive technology, and software.  If your state rehab
agency does not allow for this kind of control and direction by the
client, this exclusion of the client should be appealed as it violates the
federal policy of which the state program is based.  While I realize that
this suggestion is after the fact for the machine, there is still the
training portion of the device.  Adapted technology is only as good as the
people who are able to use it.  Therefore, training and support are
critical.  If your friend wrote his or her IPE without a plan on how they
were going to learn how to use it, considering amending the document and
developing a training strategy.  Better late than never.  Today, there are
a number of training options available for the blind computer user,
including high-quality training tapes, excellent online training classes,
textbooks, and in-person training.  These various options cost some
money.  Prices are reasonable, but there is a solid and logical argument
that training costs are necessary to use the device and reach the
vocational goal.  Remember that the new law gives the client more
control.  At the same time it demands more responsibility from the client,
so outcomes may be more successful if the client develops the training
plan them self rather than expecting the counselor to do it.  I hope that
this helps.

kelly




On Sun, 26 Nov 2000, Al Barras wrote:

> One of my clients just  took delivery of a new notebook computer purchased
> by this state's rehab.  It is marked simply "Notebook" and has no name
> brand.  It is not unusual in this state, (Louisiana) to find "white box"
> computers used for adaptive technology (though i don't understand the logic
> of that given the current level of main stream technology), the use of no
> name laptops is something new.  My fear is that support for the thing might
> be hard to find, especially since the vender in question has a very spotty
> record in this area.  Has anyone else had a similar experience, or does
> anyone know who might be the manufacturer of this thing?  i suspect that it
> comes from Taiwan.
> Thanks,
> Al Barras
>
>
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VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
 VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html