Hi robin,
I have a similar story to yours. I am now a casual home computer user
as I no longer do medical transcription. I own a 15 inch Lenovo laptop
which I purchased last spring when my Win7 pc almost died.
When I called Window-eyes Tech support to find out what to avoid with
laptops, I was not warned about the function keys being designated and
the need to press the FN key to overide the default uses. Best buy
didn't tell me this eather until I had already paid for Geek Squad
service/set-up, and my laptop was ready to go home.
fortunately, my laptop does have an application key. Also, my numpad
has an insert key as part of the numpad. the numpad insert key is very
small, but it is there. could you have this key without realizing it
(just a thought)?
I still don't like having to use the FN key when i want to use the
Window-eyes copy & paste key F8 in some programs. It is a nuisance to
use the FN+fF6 key in Thunderbird as if you do it wrong it turns
airplane mode on and I lose my wifi connection. F5 to refresh is the
only other function key I have to look out for, but these are not
Window-eyes command keys. F1 is really tricky because it will mute
speech if the FN key is not pressed. that being said, it is sometimes
convenient to have the system function keys for things like volume and
close down.
I haven't used the laptop layout, but could that be a solution for now?
My Lenovo laptop cost $350 at Best Buy. It was discontinued shortly
after that, but it has what I need. Lenovo could be an option for you.
The only thing I like about laptops is that if the power goes out the
computer doesn't shut down. My husband was able to revive my Win7
desktop, and I will use my Win7 desktop until it really dies and forces
me to become proficient with Win10 on a laptop, possibly with the laptop
layout for Window-eyes.
sorry for lengthening a short ansre. Just my thoughts on the subject.
Brenda
because I will use my Win7 desktop until it really dies.
On 4/12/2017 12:14 PM, Van Lant, Robin via Talk wrote:
Late last summer I got a new HP laptop. The primary thing that drew me to it in the store was the keyboard layout of having the 10-key number pad on the right, yet only being a 15 inch screen. What I did not realize until after I got it home and paid money for a tech to come help me set it up was two things. First, it does not have the application key, which I have learned to get around with the Shift F10 keystroke. The bigger problem was the whole thing we've talked about with now having to push the FN key in order to get the function keys to work the way I want. (I had not found someone who was comfortable going into the bios to help me see about changing this.) The biggest problem Is that this function key thing also applies to the Insert key, as it is right next to the F12 key. I've gotten pretty good at using the caps lock key instead, but this requires some real finger gymnastics to activate certain Window Eyes command. Aside from all this, there is also some
we
ird clicking thing that the keyboard occasionally does that is annoying. All
this to say, it's not been a great experience and had I not invested in paying
a tech to set up the computer for me, I probably would have quickly returned it
to Costco for a refund or exchange.
So, I'm in a situation now where I may be giving this laptop to my sighted
husband and getting a new one, but I'm gun-shy about how not to repeat this
problem in my laptop selection. I am not a heavy computer user at home, so did
not want to spend much money, although I'm not looking for the cheapest netbook
thing either. I mainly looked at Best Buy and Costco, because I wanted to get
my hands on the keyboard and feel the layout. I like that Costco doubles the
manufacturer's warranty and provides great, free help desk support for the
computers purchased there.
Any advice from those of you having purchased computers lately on how to
navigate this keyboard dilemma, especially if buying one online? I'd really
like to stay in the $500 range, if possible.
Robin Van Lant | Sr. Program Manager
Strategy & Performance Management | Key Equipment Finance
720-304-1060 | robin_van_l...@key.com
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