[BlindResearch] Laptop Issues

[Curtis Chong]

Hello Naz:

 

Any new laptop I would buy would have at least 16 GB of RAM, at least a one terabyte flash hard drive, and a processor speed no less than 2.0 gigahertz. The graphics card should be as vanilla as possible, nothing fancy.

 

Three things I do before the computer leaves the store:

 

1.	Ensure that the function keys are set in the BIOS to be real function keys and not media or other control keys and
2.	remove all vendor-specific software, often called bloatware. You want the Windows operating system to be as generic as possible.
3.	Finally, I strongly recommend using Microsoft 365, the subscription version.

 

Software does crash from time to time even on the best system. The trick is to keep the system as straightforward and simple as possible while still getting the most out of the computer. Since Narrator and Magnifier are both Microsoft-supported products, I find it disturbing if either program contributes to a crash scenario.

 

In terms of the operating system, you will doubtless get Windows 11. All reports indicate that Windows 11 is a fairly stable system.

 

Please feel free to contact me directly at chong.curtis at gmail.com <mailto:chong.curtis at gmail.com>  or via mobile phone at 515-306-1654 if you want to talk about this further.

 

Kindly,

 

Curtis Chong

 

 

 

From: BlindResearch <blindresearch-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Nazanin Heydarian via BlindResearch
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2022 8:54 AM
To: blindacademics at googlegroups.com; Blind Academics Discussion List <blindacademics at mailman.rice.edu>; blindresearch at nfbnet.org
Subject: [BlindResearch] Laptop Issues

 

Good morning, everyone

I am on the market for a new laptop and would like to know what others have had success with. I am looking for something I can run a screen reader + screen magnification on without crashing the laptop. On my current laptop, I am running the built-in Narrator and Magnifier, and it crashes my Microsoft apps like MS Word and PowerPoint sometimes...

I can go Mac if necessary, but a lot of the programs and things I need work well on Windows.

I appreciate any help and advice.

Thanks in advance,

Naz

 

-- 

Nazanin M. Heydarian, PhD.

Assistant Professor

School of Social Work

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

 

Project Director: PODER Project

Steve Hicks School of Social Work

University of Texas at Austin

 

Associate Editor

Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research

Pronouns (she/her/ella)

 

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