[nfbcs] Recommendations for new Windows Laptop

Wed Aug 15 16:23:18 UTC 2018

Hello,

1. Windows Signature machines tend to be machines without extra bloat,
although those bloat programs can be removed as well.
2. The laptop you need depends on you and yoru needs. It also depends on
your budget and how much you wish to future-proof.

In general, the minimum specs I recommend is 4 GB of RAM, 8 is better. 16
tends to be overkill, but it is good if the reason for the computer is for
a lot of multi-tasking, with many browser tabs, lots of programs, or
programs that take up more RAM. Office and the web would not be an example
of this unless you regularly have 40 tabs open. Some laptops have RAM which
is easily accessible and can be upgraded, and getting a machine which
allows for this kind of configurability may be something you wish to
consider. The processor should be an I5 or greater, anything else will
introduce hick-ups and lag, particularly with individuals who rely on
asistive technologies, but an I5 typically runs well, most especially if it
is a quad core processor. I7 or I9 processors are overkill for most people,
but it is good for future-proofing. the processor in a laptop is difficult
to replace, so this is an area where, if you can afford it, you may want to
go higher-end rather than lower. Note the type of laptop that you get. The
ultra-portable laptops have ultra-low voltage processors, which means less
power, even though the processor says I7. the quad core I7 and the
dual-core I7 are very different as it comes to performance. Those laptops
tend to be more expensive, but lighter too, which may be good for students
or individiuals who are on the road a lot. The hard drive should definitely
be a solid-state, for durability and longevity, but also for speed. For the
hard drive, get the size that meets your storage needs. You may be able to
get away with a smaller drive. Also, some laptops allow for swapping out
drives by simply unscrewing a screw from the bottom of the machine.
Manufacturers may charge you more for the hard drive with a larger size
than it would be worth to purchase a drive yourself and install the
operating system on it. Screen size is important, and it is worth examining
your needs as it comes to screen size before purchasing a laptop. The
keybard is also important. While you can use an external keyboard, and in
my case, a mechanical keyboard, you may want to really take time to
evaluate different laptops by typing on their keyboard to determine if the
level of tactile feedback and the click is something you can live with, if
the spacing of the keys is to your liking, etc. Some laptops have no
application key, and some have even gotten rid of the function row. While
keys can be remapped easily enough, it is still important, in my view, to
get a laptop and a keyboard with which you can be comfortable.

Thanks, and if you have questions, please let me know.

On Wed, Aug 15, 2018 at 11:07 AM Steve Jacobson via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Curtis,
>
> How did you get an HP without Bloatware?  I've used HP's through work with
> clean installs and it makes a big difference as you have indicated.  All of
> the HP's I have purchased personally, though, have had a lot of extra stuff
> on them including various tools from HP that were difficult or impossible
> to
> use with screen readers.  You have obviously found a source that offers
> clean machines and that interests me.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve Jacobson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Curtis Chong via nfbcs
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2018 10:54 AM
> To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Recommendations for new Windows Laptop
>
> Greetings:
>
> I recommend a laptop which is free from vendor-specific software (i.e.,
> bloatware) with a memory capacity of 16GB using an I7 processor. For the
> hard drive, it is worth paying extra for a 512 GB SSD flash drive. This
> will
> speed up your boot time immensely.
>
> I myself bought an HP ProBook 450 with the above specs, and I have been
> quite happy with it.
>
> Of course, you will be getting Windows 10. This means that your speech and
> magnification technology absolutely needs to be kept current since
> Microsoft
> introduces a major update to the operating system twice each year.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Cordially,
>
> Curtis Chong
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Ida B via nfbcs
> Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2018 9:50 AM
> To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Ida B <behreini.ida at gmail.com>
> Subject: [nfbcs] Recommendations for new Windows Laptop
>
> Hello,
>
> I am looking for a great windows laptop for my needs. I use JAWS and
> ZoomText in conjunction. I also run my code on programs like Eclipse,
> Visual
> Studio, and other IDEs. I value power and efficiency above all else and am
> willing to invest in a quality laptop. Any suggestions? I heard the Dell
> xps15 and Surface Ultrabook are good choices, but want to know how they
> handle screen readers, programming, and other intensive use.
>
> Thanks,
> Ida
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-- 
Cordially,

Nimer Jaber

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