Category: Geeks r Us
Hi.
For the past 9-10 years, i've been a strong supernova/hal supporter. When a jfw user has asked me stuff about hal, i've always told them that hal could do what they were struggling to do with jfw, and for the most part its been true.
However, there are big things about supernova now that have not been addressed, despite everyone on there usergroup asking for them to be, i'm not talking about little silly things, i'm talking about stuff like internet navigation.
It all colminated today when i needed to use firefox with supernova, and... you guessed it, it doesn't work with ff.
Because of this and other things, i am now for the first time considering making the switch from supernova (i didn't use the magnification) to jfw.
I would be interested to no what features everyone thinks jfw has that i can't get anyware else.
I no this one probably won't happen, but if anyones used a dolphin product and jfw, what do you think of each?
Lastly, whats the situation with scripts? (we don't have to wory about that with supernova). I mean, if an application does not have any scripts, is it totally unusable?
Chears, BEN.
JFW has its own script manager. I don't recommend JFW. I have used the HAL dolphin pen, Wineyes, and JFW. Although I do believe that HAL is a great screen reader, it has a long way to go, and the company is slow to recognize changes in software. You will get support for a variety of more programs with JFW than you will with HAL, but if you want a truly stable screen reader, and one that works with more applications, I would go for WinEyes. It is your preference and choice though, but I would say go to Window Eyes. If you are still thinking about JAWS, check out NVDA, which is a free scree reader. It does pretty much the same things as JFW, and it has most of the same keyboard commands.
Your all idiots. Ben i'd say it depends on what you want to do. NVDA is not what I'd call production quality code. I'll run it off a thumb drive for basic system administration stuff and internet browsing on other computers, but I would not use it at work. Window eyes is fine if your a secritary or basic computer suer who needs excel, word, and internet access. If you want to do any kind of .net programming, java programming that uses a gui other then swing you need jaws. If you have questions I'll be glad to ask, just send me a pm.
Actually, you can do more programing in Java and VB with Wineyes than you can with JAWS. Also, NVDA on a thumb drive runs differently then if you were to install it on your computer. NVDA is as good as JAWS, and it's free. One big problem with NVDA is that it doesn't read sites with frames, but more and more sites aren't using them anyway.
I just got a Hal cd from their distributor and I'm about to test it even if I've told the guy I am not expecting much.
Jaws is good with .net and Eclipse, fantastic with Excel, decent with other Office products. I tried Window Eyes in their 4.5 version and it functioned ok, but I somehow never had the time to get into their keyboard short cuts etc, I'm so used to Jaws it'll take a bit of rme to switch. Still I'm sure WE might be just fine. I've heard both good and bad things about WE and Visual Studio so I'm not sure what the situation is on that.
NVDA is not close to Jaws quality in my opinion, it's cool to have a free screen reader out there and I support that 100% but I do not recommend it yet as your only screen reader.
I'm really curious about System Access, I wrote them and they responded right away saying that full pdf and braille support is upcoming as well as support for visual studio, all this year. If that's the case they will become serious contenders in my book.
cheers
-B
TO post 4, please get a clue. There are scripts for visual studio 2005 and jaws that window eyes can't match. Also last time I checked window eyes doesn't support the java access bridge which is a major component of a lot of java programming.
Chears for the posts. The idea of using nvda as my full time screenreader does seem a little scarey, i mean something that doesn't use intersepting technoligy and that is more or less beeing developed by one uni student that could just quit at any time is a bit of putting.
I'm kinda leaning towards jfw atm based on stuff that has been said.
To b, I think you'll like hal. Most people come to the conclusion that just because everyone says its rubbish that it must be. Install the demo and have a play, but change your voice to synthetic dave, the default girl is crap, dave sounds great at 700.
Also bair in mind that you can change your hotkeys depending on if your using a laptop or a desktop so thats it is easeyer to use; they have also included the jfw desktop and laptop keysets so that should be handy.
Hal is defenetly a contender and i don't think you'll regret trying it out, its just that i'm starting to think its not for me, but if you want any help then just ask.
BEN.
I use JAWS and Window Eyes, I've been a JAWS user ever since I was little its good. Last year though, I started using Window Eyes its more stable, but what someone ssaid earlyer, JAWS does support more programs but Window Eyes is more reesponsive and doesn't crash!!!!!!
I remembered having a teacher who used Super Nova, this was about 5 or 4 years ago I have used that, and didn't really get a chance to really explore the program, but I'm thinking about downloading a demo of that program
-Dom