And that is yet another challenge, that Windows8 poses on screen reader
manufacturers and users: The Apps. Many tasks in Windows8, can be performed by
use of apps from Microsoft's store. Problem is, that not all apps are well
enough written, comes to accessibility. This might mean, that you will have to
do a bit of try and fail, to find apps that will perform what you want to do,
in a way that is accessible for you.
Please note, the difference between Windows Apps, and the apps developed for
Window-Eyes. The only main thing they have in common, is the term apps, and the
fact that they are being developed by third-parties. The Apps for Window-Eyes,
will always be accessible, since they are developed directly under the screen
reader. Windows Apps, on the other hand, are being developed by people who may
not even have heard about anything called a screen reader. Hence these apps,
may or may not be accessible. Little to do about it, but something to watch out
for.
hth
----- Original Message -----
From: mopdrop
To: David
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 7:32 PM
Subject: Re: Users of windows 8
I am using windows 8 without any problems. I would agree that the metor apps
are a bit of a problem. However, with thunderbird as the email client there is
no problem using windows 8.
On 7/24/2013 1:24 PM, David wrote:
I'd say, if you do not have any strong reason for upgrading, save yourself
all the hazzle. GW informs that their screen reader does support Windows8, and
it might be true enough to a certain extend. Unfortunately, only to a certain
extend. And, long as they haven't released a version that smoothens out some
rather basic issues, which I hope they soon will do, you likely will end up
with some sort of challenges. Windows8 is a quite different beast, compared to
prior versions of the operativ system. And trying to learn a brand new layout -
finding your way through menus that are so different that even well-trained
sighted computer geeks pulls their hair - and doing so with a screen reader
that fails in one way or the other; well, my suggestion is to sit back, and
wait for an updated version of both the operativ system and the screen reader.
Microsoft has released the test version of the Windows8.1, I am being told.
For my own part, I haven't bothered too much in testing it out, so can't tell
if that will fix anything. I simply just have parked my new computer with
Windows8, due to the fact of the screen reader not working as promised. Good
thing, that I could dig up some kind of an XP machine, that will have to do for
right now, awaiting Microsoft and GW-Micro come out with something reliable.
No, I am not telling the one company to be worse than the other, simply
just saying that the combination of current Window-Eyes and Windows8, simply is
not reliable enough, that I would suggest the upgrade at this point. That is,
if you by any means, can do without it. Hopefully, things will be smoothend
pretty soon, leaving us a chance again to go modern.
As for the touch-screen part of Windows8, you can still set Windows8 to be
operated by mouse and keyboard. My experience though, is that many times when
you run into a problem, and you search the net for a solution, the steps
described there are typically given for Windows8 used with a touch-screen unit.
As such, it can be challenging to know how to perform the same kind of actions
with an old keyboard. The idea of tiles, and some of the other stuff burried in
Windows8, it all might seem well enough. But the attempt to have a software in
the style of One-Size-Fits-All, trying to swallow both the touch-screen and
keyboard/mouse market, simply does not work - and has failed. Microsoft has
told the new Windows8.1 to take care of certain of those failures, but I
haven't yet seen any test results or user feedbacks, so I don't know how well
they have managed.
hth
----- Original Message -----
From: Don Smith
To: gwinfo
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 1:50 PM
Subject: Users of windows 8
Hi:
I am contempplating upgrading from windows 7 to windows 8 and am curious
if we 8.2 8 usersare happy with the upgrade.
Not so much with minor bugs, I am sure they will be fixed, but more with
the ease of use, does we 8 work good enough to be useful, and finally is
windows 8 useable without doing the touch thing with fingers on the window.
(smile)
I like a challenge and in reading the tiles in windows 8 seem to have
some nice features.
/Sorry, one more thing, is there much to configure to get we 8 to work
with the software?
Thanks a heap.
Don
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