[nabs-l] JAWS and operating systems

[Ashley Bramlett]

Bridgit,
I feel your frustration!
You said
If you're like
me, you hate to learn a new way just after learning to adapt to another
system or program. And this says nothing about the financial side. I
hear similar complaints from both blind and sighted consumers using
computers. "

Yes. My father hates the new microsoft ribons in 2007 and we wish they would 
go back to those menus!
I have  windows 7 and the latest internet explore and microsoft suite.
No IE isn't much of an issue. I just use the same commands I knew from prior 
jaws releases in IE.
I have jaws 12 and since I have a maintenance agreement, I get jaws 13 when 
it comes out.

I liked xp better though. XP was more strictly menus without menu levels 
called tree views. When you open up a menu, you have to open up the 
subfolders to display all the  content. It’s a split screen and that is 
frustrating since I cannot see both sides of the screen as a sighted person 
would.

No I say do not upgrade! Wait til windows 8 and upgrade then when you have 
to, like when your computer crashes.
I know what you mean about cost. I use old technology such as my embosser 
and duxbury because I don't have money to buy new.

And I thought we'd have windows7 for a while! Gosh! This system is less than 
a year old and will be obsolete soon!
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011 5:48 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] JAWS and operating systems

I think one of the biggest issues here is the rate at which programs are
accelerating. In the last few years, computers and computer systems have
changed and grown much quicker than in the past. The technology boom has
gone into warp drive, and everyone is trying to catch up. If you're like
me, you hate to learn a new way just after learning to adapt to another
system or program. And this says nothing about the financial side. I
hear similar complaints from both blind and sighted consumers using
computers. The average person doesn't view these changes with excitement
and joy; all we know is that a change is occurring, and we're going to
have to make yet another adjustment.

When I recently upgraded to JAWS 12, I was told to not upgrade to I E 9
as it wasn't very compatible. Whether running XP or W 7, I E 9 wouldn't
work as well. However, it sounds like those of you running W 7 aren't
experiencing this issue.

We have four computers at home: one desktop, two laptops and one netbook
laptop. The desktop, which is going on six-years-old now,  and my
netbook, which is two-years-old now, run on XP with JAWS 12. One of the
laptops is four or five-years-old now, running on Vista and the other
laptop is brand new running on Windows 7. The desktop needs to be
replaced, but I wonder if updating to Windows 7 on any of the 3 not
currently running it is worth while if Windows 8 is suppose to be
releasing soon. Other than the brand new laptop, all the other computers
are still using MS Office 2002, which needs to be updated as well. I
guess my question is what is compatible with what? I know MS will soon
drop support for XP, and most computers purchased now will run W 7
automatically, but is it worth updating anything at this point?

I am not computer savvy in any sense of the word. In fact, I've learned
how to use a computer better since being blind than I ever did sighted,
so all these changes and new devices just make my head swirl.

One of the reasons we're still running old programs is because of the
cost. Is it worth investing in anything new at this point if it will
just change quickly again? And how do we ensure what we upgrade to will
in deed be compatible with other existing programs/systems/software
especially JAWS? For me, it's a bit overwhelming, and honestly, if I
didn't need to rely on computers and technology for so much, I'd say F
it to most of this and live like some little, old hermit. LOL

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan


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