Microsoft Surface Pro?

Category: Geeks r Us

Post 1 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Saturday, 08-Feb-2014 21:59:47

Has anyone ever used the Microsoft Surface Pro (the new generation.) They seem to have pretty good specs, and could certainly run a screen reader. Plus, since they run Windows, you could put Office on them, too. I purchased one, and was wondering peoples experiences. Do you have to have the keyboard with Jaws, or is their another screen reader like NVDA that fully supports the touch screen?
Thanks.

Post 2 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 09-Feb-2014 9:59:58

My mom has a surface Pro first gen running Windows 8.1, but I havent' ever played with it.
we only have the type keyboard.
I only use jaws.

Post 3 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Sunday, 09-Feb-2014 16:22:38

Yeah, that's the one I got.

Post 4 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 09-Feb-2014 17:09:40

the used ones have come down in price

Post 5 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Sunday, 09-Feb-2014 18:03:21

I got a new one, but it is the Surface Pro, not the Pro 2. I don't really see very many differences apart from a little faster processor and more battery life, the latter issue will be resolved for the pro and other MS tablets when the power cover comes out.

Post 6 by b3n (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Sunday, 09-Feb-2014 19:38:20

Hi,

NVDA supports multitouch; I find it to be usable but not overly polished. I don't own a surface, but my laptop does have a touch screen which I use every now and again. I'm pretty sure I'd use it more if it was a convertable but unfortunately that will have to wait.

Cheers.

Post 7 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 09-Feb-2014 23:24:03

I dont find myself ever using touch. as far as the surface goes, its really portible.
I'm using a 17" laptop n now... lol

Post 8 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Monday, 10-Feb-2014 6:00:32

Yeah, well, I'm a college student, and the blindness-specific note-takers are on their way out, I'm afraid. I sold my BrailleSense U2 in order to get the Surface. I mean really you don't need a note-taker, all you really would need is a Braille display, which most note-takers have. As far as note-takers though, they are overpriced and expensive.

Also, if you use NVDA to mess with the touch screen, can you use the on-screen keyboard?
Thanks.

Post 9 by JH_Radio (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 10-Feb-2014 10:54:53

They're only on there way out becasue they aren't useing any updated OS like Windows 8 mobile.
If there was one that I think would be more up to date than the others i'd go with the Braillplus 18 or Hims. inc.

Post 10 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 10-Feb-2014 22:11:17

Even sighted people do better with this machine with a keyboard. Touch only goes so far.
Jaws will work, because Freedom Scientific uses this machine as one of the examples for the reason to buy Jaws 15.
As posted NVDA as well.
How well it works, you'll have to find that out.

Post 11 by hardyboy09 (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Monday, 10-Feb-2014 22:30:38

Yep.

Post 12 by forereel (Just posting.) on Monday, 10-Feb-2014 22:35:59

So, let us know what you think.