Will be upgrading to my first MacBook air from Windows!

This is a smart choice. I have a 13-inch MacBook Air as well and love it. I'll cut a long story short since I'm right in the middle of getting ready for a work event in the morning. My parents and I went to an Apple store in our area 2 days after Christmas last year, and the sales guys who helped us out were great. They first brought out an iPad for me to try out, but since I needed a physical keyboard we asked about the MacBooks. So they brought one out, which happens to be the exact same MacBook Air on which I'm typing this. Prior to actually going to the Apple store though I had mainly been hearing negative things about VoiceOver, but I'm happy to report that I've not found any of those rumors to be true. Others may disagree with me, and that's fine because everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. But I've found VO to work really well. In addition, I just got a Braille copy from a sister of mine who is also a VO user, of a book by Janet Ingber on the subject. It is entitled "Learn to Use The Mac with VoiceOver: A Step-by-Step Guide for Blind Users." I highly recommend her book, in addition to AppleVis and other online resources. Her book is available from National Braille Press and I think a couple other places. I don't know the price off the top of my head since my mom ordered it for my sister, but it has some good information. There's even a section about running Windows on a Mac computer, which I am excited about because I want to do that perhaps when I get good enough on here.

The kind of opiinion that shows clearly how people are imature about technology.

Neither Mac nor Windows are the best choices, both are good and both are bad, both have strong and weak points.

You do not believe that windows is all that bad and that Mac OS is just the perfect system, this is not true s´pecially for assistive technology users.

You should try instead consentrate less on how your life is going to change (believe me it will not change soooooo sooo soooo much) and consentrate more on how to learn the new OS and how to become a proficient VO user. The very same way it's not easy to become a JAWS proficient user, it * will not!!!!! * be easy to become a proficient VO user.

Be aware that on Mac OS things are different and that some stuff ... PDF as an example, scriptability and configuration of assistive technology as another, are pretty better on windows.

So I am saying that Mac OS does not rock?

Not really. I am a Mac OS user. But I am also a proficient windows user and am proud of it. However, everyone I saw who dedicated more time consentrating on the hate of windows than on what is needed to learn the new OS kind of failed on their goals. In fact, a mature person will use each system on what they are stronger.
Marlon

Hi. Have you actually taken the time to sit down at a mac and played with it for a while? Have you become familiar with the vast differences between VoiceOver, and windows screen-readers? What we're saying to you is that the mac is certainly fine but it's not the answer to all your technology woes...don't just get it because people who love it tell you too. You need to make an informed decision and choose wisely. There are vast differences, so please choose wisely.

I'm using both a mac book pro 15 inch and a pretty specced out windows machine from 5 years ago. I've only been using my mac for a year and I love it. However, I need to point out that if you plan on going to school, windows is still your best bet when it comes to productivity. the comment made about PDF is very accurate, and working with pages for hard core word processing is far from ideal but it is doable in a pinch. I am probably using my mac as much as I'm using my windows. I unfortunately primarily use my mac for recreational things such as watching youtube videos, FaceTime, Skype and more. I also use it to take notes in class but that is really about it. when I'm in my dorm room, all my paper writing, assigning completion etc are done on my pc. also, there are some games that will only work on windows but not on the mac.
In closing, what I'm saying is, do not put all your eggs in one basket. Yes getting a mac is a big deal but it could even be a life changing one but for all the wrong reasons. I would try to have a fully functional windows pc around just in case the mac wasn't what you were expecting.