Gene and John, you have given me some very useful information and I thank You both. I wonder if Jaws 17 and 18 work better with Windows 10, but I am still using Win 7 and am happy with it. No plans to upgrade until I have to, and while considering upgrading my Jaws perhaps in the near future, you have both convinced me to go with 16. Judy & Libby -----Original Message----- From: JAWS-Users-List [mailto:jaws-users-list-boun...@jaws-users.com] On Behalf Of John M. Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 4:53 PM To: jaws-users-list@jaws-users.com Subject: Re: [JAWS-Users] Downgrading to JAWS 16
Hi Gene, I have been using Jaws since version 5. Over the years, I have found that some versions of Jaws are very good and others are junk. In my opinion, version 17 is junk. I had upgraded from Jaws 15 to 17. After the upgrade, I had nothing but problems. After several months of struggling, I eventually installed version 16 and that is what I am still using today. I tried version 18 for a short while, but it was still not as stable and reliable as version 16. I am using Windows 7 also. One more thing...I still use Office 2003, because I just like it a lot. Jaws version 17 support for Office 2003 was terrible. I always go back to a saying that I have used for years--"Just because you can doesn't mean you should.". Just because there is a new version of Windows or Office or Jaws or any other piece of software or hardware, doesn't mean you have to rush to install it or purchase it. I rely on my computer on a daily basis to do my job and service my clients. I demand that my core software is extremely stable and reliable. I have Jaws SMAs through version 20. I don't know if I will actually switch to those versions. Time will tell. Best, John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gene Warner" <genewarn...@gmail.com> To: "JAWS Users" <jaws-users-list@jaws-users.com> Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 3:25 PM Subject: [JAWS-Users] Downgrading to JAWS 16 > Hi everyone! > > Back in 2013, when I was finally declared legally blind and had to switch > from Zoom Text to JAWS, JAWS was at version 15. > > As I recall, other than having to learn it on my own because the > Lighthouse here is a bad joke, there were few, if any problems I had with > it, it just worked. JAWS 16 was pretty much the same but with the addition > of the very useful command search function. > > Then came JAWS 17 with the apparent almost complete rewrite of the engine. > From there it seemed like every time I turned around I was running into > another misfunction of JAWS. Version 18, when it came out wasn't much > better. > > So, after long thought, as well as fighting an apparently recalcitrant > version of JAWS, I've finally decided to install version 16 to see how it > compares to version 18. If it works as well as my memory of it recalls, I > will eventually uninstall JAWS 18, and consider not maintaining my SMA > anymore. Besides my dissatisfaction with versions 17 and 18, it seems like > most of the enhancements are for Windows 10 and have no effect on my > Windows 7 system which I have no plans to upgrade. If things do change for > the better in the future, I can always reestablish a new SMA. > > I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this idea or has already > preceded me in downgrading back to version 16. > > Thanks! > > Later... > > For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: > http://www.jaws-users.com/help/ > For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/ For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/
