[nfbcs] [EXTERNAL] Re: Laptop without bloatware

Wed May 23 16:08:21 UTC 2018

Sarah,

Yes, I did install my screen readers myself.  In my case, I first turned on
the Narrator screen reader by pressing CONTROL and Windows Key with ENTER
and used that to get the installation of JAWS started.  I had a file that
was downloaded that I first copied to my new computer and then started it.
If you purchase JAWS and have the CD, the install process will talk even
without a screen reader running, usually by just inserting the CD.  However,
this ability to automatically run software from a CD or DVD that is inserted
is sometimes turned off for security reasons.  .  If you have NVDA
downloaded but not installed, it will also talk during the installation but
you either need Narrator running to find the installation file to get it
started or there are other tricks you could use.  Although Narrator is
becoming a pretty good screen reader, it is enough different that using it
ahead of time is a good idea.  I gather there is going to be some Narrator
training at the NFB national convention, and this would be very helpful even
if one primarily uses another screen reader.  Narrator has the additional
utility to be available during certain Windows repair functions where other
screen readers might not be able to function.  

It is good to have multiple options available.  In my case, I used
Window-Eyes until its development ended and now JAWS because those programs
worked on some older software I needed to use at work where NVDA and
Narrator did not work.  There are cases, though, where NVDA may be the best
screen reader to use, but for my purposes, I think JAWS is worth the money.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Edwards, Sarah H.
via nfbcs
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 10:52 AM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Edwards, Sarah H. <Sarah.H.Edwards at ssa.gov>
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] [EXTERNAL] Re: Laptop without bloatware

Steve,
Did you install screen reader by yourself?

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve Jacobson
via nfbcs
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 11:46 AM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Cc: Steve Jacobson
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] [EXTERNAL] Re: Laptop without bloatware

Sarah,

I installed JAWS and NVDA on the computer I purchased right away.  I use
JAWS as my primary screen reader but also like to have NVDA as a backup
sometimes.  Narrator is also installed automatically as part of Windows, and
I use that sometimes as well.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Edwards, Sarah H.
via nfbcs
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 10:30 AM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Edwards, Sarah H. <Sarah.H.Edwards at ssa.gov>
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] [EXTERNAL] Re: Laptop without bloatware

Hi Steve,
What screen reader program are you going to install, NVDA or JAWS?

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve Jacobson
via nfbcs
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2018 5:08 PM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Cc: Steve Jacobson
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [nfbcs] Laptop without bloatware

Tracy,

I just bought a computer from Micro Center which is a computer chain and an
on-line store.  They sell other brands as well, but one of their selling
points to me is that the systems they build don't have a bunch of extra
stuff on it.  Mostly I am happy with my system from them, other than I am
having some trouble with Windows Update that I think must be due to the way
things were initialized.  I don't know that for certain, though.  I paid
about $650 for a 250MB SSD drive, a 1 TB drive and 16 GB Ram and an Intel I5
processor.  The case style is a tower.  It has a terrible keyboard with a
layout that was a bit like a laptop keyboard but I used another keyboard.
I've only had it for two months, but I am generally happy with it.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
via nfbcs
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2018 12:19 PM
To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: [nfbcs] Laptop without bloatware

I'd like to research laptops without any of the usual bloatware loaded. 
I'm thinking all I want is the OS, and I'll add what I want, thank you very
much.
Can someone suggest the right words for search for such a thing on Amazon or
Froogle?  It's easy to search for something "with" but not so easy for
"without".
Or, if someone has bought such a machine, what brand and where?
Thanks.
Tracy

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