Hello Charlie. For many, many years, I used a hand-held magnifier to read my desktop computer screen.
Then, applications such as ZoomText came on the market and I was glad for I thought it would make things better for me. The issue was that in order for me to efficiently navigate the screen I had to keep Zoomtext at a level that was too small to read; thus, I continued to use my hand-held magnifier for browsing the web, etc. I also found that it took longer to read long passages with Zoomtext for it would beautifully scroll the screen but at a constant rate--not good for jumping around the screen. Then, notebook computers became very popular. the notebook screens were far too small for my hand-held magnifier so Zoomtext was really the only solution. To be honest, though, it was so very uncomfortable using notebooks with my residual vision. One day, I was visiting a friend who was totally blind. I was amazed at how fast he could navigate computer screens and browse the web using Jaws. Up until then, I never considered Jaws for it was a solution for the blind--not the low-vision of which I considered myself. Returning home I began using my computer but was struck at how much slower I was than he. So, I decided to install Jaws on my notebook. I won't kid you, I hated it for about 2 weeks. It was all I could do to keep from invoking Zoomtext. I felt stupid when I could not remember all of the commands that one needs to use Jaws well. Don't get me wrong, I continued to use my usual method on my desktop computer. In fact, I purchased a huge monitor but found that this did not help me as much as I thought because it forced me to lean further to one side or the other in order to track the Insertion point. One day, someone asked me a question and, without thinking, I went to my notebook and found the information more quickly than I had ever before. After that, I began using Jaws to read emails. I couldn't believe it, I was reading them so fast and without straining my eyes or my body. I realized that I could lean back comfortably in my chair and relax as I browsed the web. What was even more important, I could use my notebook without every sighted person in the room being abel to see what I was doing. It was fantastic. Letting go of my vision as a primary means of using notebook computers was the single best thing I've ever done and, I might add, one of the most difficult. Now I use Jaws and VoiceOver 70% of the time. In fact, I would not consider using Zoomtext or a huge screen on a regular basis, anymore. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy my residual vision and when the proverbial bomb drops and I have to know what's going on the screen, I will use my vision but only in very specific instances such as when I am beta testing. My point: Force yourself to use VoiceOver on your notebook for doing so will free you from the constraints and headaches of using your vision. Making the change will not be easy or feel right until it just does. It's kind of like learning a foreign language. one day, out of nowhere, you will realize that you can speak the language. While I continue to use Jaws 12 and Windows 7 on a daily basis, I can tell you that VoiceOver is one of the most eloquent screen reading solutions I've ever used and given that I got my first screen reader back in 1986, I've seen them all. Good Luck, Mark On Mar 30, 2011, at 8:28 PM, Charlie Bates wrote: > Hi everyone > > I am struggling a little bit and just wanted to know whether anyone > else is in the same situation. > > I have a 2008 iMac and a 2010 Macbook pro. With my low vision, i > generally use the zoom feature on the macs but sometimes use the > voiceover feature when reading long passages of text. > > My issue is this: > > I hate using my macbook pro and would rather be on my imac. I think > its because the imac has the larger screen so when zoomed it has more > screen to pan across than the macbook pros does. With the macbook pro > being only 15 inches, i find it hard to use when i am zoomed because > you have to navigate around the screen so much. > > Does anyone else have this issue? and how do you get over the feeling > of hating the laptop??? because i really would like to use it more. > > I hope this makes sense and you can understand what I am getting at? > > Charlie > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
