Category: Geeks r Us
Some keys on my Macbook decided to quit working so I need to send it in for repair. So I got an Acer Aspire One aoa 150, the 8,9 inch model. It has Windows XP Service Pack 3 installed which means it comes with a horrible version of Internet Explorer that can't be removed. I installed Webb IE which is working quite nicely but want to know how to use Firefox. What are the commands I need to know? What a Windows multiplatform client client, like Adium for the mac, that's accessible with NVDA, Hal or JFW? I heard that miranda works but can't figure out if it's logging me into my accounts or what cause it's not showing me a contact list like Windows Messenger does. How do I change that? How do I get skype to work with NVDA or do I need to use another screenreader? I downloaded the 3.whatever version that they suggested for the blind. What is a good basic program for recording from microphone and line-in? I won't be editing or anything advanced, just recording. If possible, please recommend one that automatically converts directly to mp3 or another format that doesn't take up too much space. Btw, I use a wonderful little ap called TapeDeck on the Mac that converts to m4a. Finally, what's a good program that I can use for making videos? I use Photobooth on the mac but don't remember if XP has an accessible ap like that or if I need to download something. Thanks for everything.
Sorry, one more thing. I asked Mom where the home, function, page up and page down keys are on my netbook and she told me. But when I hit alt home it doesn't work in WebbIE. I have no clue why, since it works on my desktop and worked on my other XP laptop. I know I'm using the alt key cause I can use it to access menus etc. If you can't help me fix that then is there a way to reassign the home key to something else or to change the hot key for WebbIE to go to my homepage? Also, when I do get to my homepage it keeps asking me to sign into GMail even though I told it to save my info. What's going on there?
What is so horrible about IE? I've used pretty much every version of IE since 6.0 and I find them all highly accessible and easy to use, more so than Firefox, although I don't mind it either.
There is a Windows Movie Maker app under "accessories" but I've never used it really. I need to Google a bit or look back for a good recording app, there is one that comes with Windows but I've never used it, but there's often good freeware e.g. from www.filehippo.com. You might want to consider downloading Hal or Jaws and just use them in trial/demo mode for things like Skype or more specialized software that System Access or NVDA can't deal with, SystemAccess from www.serotek.com is pretty decent and it's a 30-day trial. I guess you don't have cookies enabled and that's why GMail keeps asking you for sign in information, but I don't know how to change those settings in WebbIE.
Best of luck
-B
I don't do trials. lol But you're right. I should probably install another screenreader and I do have Hal, which also has Greek support like NVDA, and JFW so. The quality of recordings with Sound Recorder isn't good and the files it makes are huge. I was hoping, though, just to test out the built-in microphone but it's not accessible with NVDA. I'll try filehippo as suggested and also see what I can run with System Access to Go for now. As for IE, I never had a problem with 6 or below, only with these newer ones. It keeps changing my webpage to ask.com and I can't navigate the web as easily nor can I open a url with the usual ctrl-o. Very annoying and it's not the screenreader either cause 6 works fine for me under all readers.
Hmm, strange that, very strange, for one thing, go to tools, internet options and set the home page to Google.com, or whatever you choose, the default asp page is huge, useless and irritating, to say the least, ctrl-l works in Firefox and may be in this version of IE as well to open locations, ctrl-o opens files in explorer, never saw the point as I generally never open files on my computer with IE, but this seems to be a trend.
Ok here we go. Ready?
Recording program: goldwave.
If you wanna mix, adobe audition.
Miranda not reading your list? Get the speak plugin. Miranda is in your system tray. Click it once, with your applications key, it will say hide show miranda, hit that. It'll hide it if its showing. Do it again, and your focus will move to the contact list.
Or if you get frustrated with miranda, get mIRC and connect to testing.bitlbee.org register and identify load your accounts and enjoy that.
Skype 4 works with jaws or NVDA.
Let me know if you need anything else.
I actually found a wonderful program called Step Voice Recorder. It allows you to record directly to mp3 and goes from 0 to 100 kbps. But I wouldn't normally go higher than 50 as the files get really big after that. When I tried Skype (several versions exxcept 4) it wouldn't even read the menus. It just says submenu and 1 of 7, 2 of 7 etc. I tried the trick of v then a and then s but it did nothing. I thought mirc was a paid subscription. Trying to avoid that. Besides, I've never used an irc program except amc. But yeah, any help would seriously be appreciated. I'll try your suggestion for Miranda. Thing is that I can never find it in the system try. How do I click on it? Do I just hit enter?