Blind Author Needs a New Computer

Hi, my name's Asha.

In 2011, I bought my second iMac.

Yesterday it died. Even if I can get it fixed, it's a patch job and the clock is officially ticking.


I started thinking about the pros and cons of what to get next--then I remembered I'm broke. I retired in 2012 due to disability (I was diagnosed with Bipolar--Type 2 and high-functioning autism spectrum disorder) and have been trying to deal with life with a chronic illnesses ever since, including long-term anaemia.

I'm registered blind and this makes buying computers interesting, even ones from Apple which have all the awesome accessibility options.

I have the other RP: retinopathy of prematurity. This means I have no depth perception and I only have one semi-working eye. It also makes me short sighted which means I need things to be super close in order to see them. 

For the last few years, my computer has sat literally in front of my nose and I still have to amp up the zoom settings wherever possible.

Basically, my visual impairment is very specific, I need things BIG. 27" of screen is no longer enough and as much as I love iMacs, once a single part goes, you're screwed.

So I want to buy and customise a new rig around an Apple device, probably a Mac Mini or, worse case, a new iMac. I want it to be as future-proof as possible and last a good five years. I also use Apple and all my apps are based around the OS so an £800 PC tower just isn't an option.

Getting a new rig would involve:

- A large screen (at least 30" with really good resolution): £500+
- A maxed out Mac Mini or, if it's not updated by the point I need it, a 27" iMac: £1500-£3000
- A microphone and webcam: £100
- A secondary screen for using media (prob a 50" smart TV connected to the main computer): £600
- Sundries (cables, a decent set of speakers, a lamp): £100
- Anything more will go to paying GFM's cut which, as I understand it is, 2.5% per donation, plus 20p. See: https://www.gofundme.com/pricing

Why do I need this?

I have two passions: the first of which is writing. I was a journalist first but then made my way into fiction. I've published several novels, written hundreds of short stories.

Here are some of the projects I'm working on:


The second is my side-gig, a hobby I have helping adapt manga. From a practical perspective, while I have a laptop, doing this on a tiny screen is just impossible. I can do it in a pinch but not permenantly. I need to be able to see and read the Japanese scans and because of the way I need to resize them, I need more screen real estate than I have.

Because of my disabilities and my attempts at getting out of manic-induced debt, I simply don't have the cash to replace my largest piece of kit. At nearly eight years old, my iMac has served me faithfully but now I need something more. 

My income is fixed and I don't have the six months I need to save for a new rig. I need everything sorted by May in order to be able to continue writing and my side-gig with no distruption. Because of my income, I'm hesitant to accrue more debt, especially as it's taken me nearly four years to drag myself out of a mire as it is.

So, I want to ask for help. I need to write to stay sane, I need to so my side-gig in order to be able to earn a little extra to--as my Nanna would say--'afford some jam to put on my bread'. 

I'd appreciate any help you can give, even if it's just a shout out.

Thanks

Asha