[gui-talk] Windows XP to Windows 7?

Mon Nov 1 12:57:30 UTC 2010

I have heard that iWork for Mac works very well and iTunes on the Mac works much more smoothly than on any PC.

Tai

_______________
Tai Blas 
Transition Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor 
Iowa Department for the Blind
524 Fourth Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Office: (515) 281-1253
Toll-free: (800) 362-2587
Mobile: (515) 250-2160 
Email: tai.blas at blind.state.ia.us

See what your state government is accomplishing at http://www.idbonline.org

One Iowa, One Unlimited Future

-----Original Message-----
From: gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2010 4:44 PM
To: NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Windows XP to Windows 7?

Hi, Steve.

I tend to concur with your opinions re 64-bit machines.  The only specialized hardware I use is a DECtalk USB speech synthesizer and I know from the guys at Access Solutions that there's a 64-bit driver for it.  Now whether program like TotalRecorder have been updated for Windows 7 is another story.  Hafta look on the High Criteria web site to figure that one out.

But I'd tend to go with the 64-bit machine.

AS to antivirus programs, I used Norton for a decade and although it became less and less accesssible using standard keystrokes, I found I could still deal with it using the simulated mouse buttons.  However, it was rather a processor hog so I deleted it and have been using Microsoft Security Essentials for a year or so now without problems.  Actually, if I had my druthers, I'd just stick with M S E E and forget about the fancy antivirus programs as it appears to this observer as if *none* of them is truly accessible.  Guess we're too small a market.

I suppose I'd even consider a Mac except that I want true Office compatibility.  And I wish there were a command-line version of iTunes. 
(grin)

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
To: "NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2010 12:14 PM
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Windows XP to Windows 7?

> Mike,
>
> I have been using Windows 7 on my new netbook for six weeks or so and have 
> pretty much had the same experiences that Curtis has described.  I think,
> though, that I could get used to just searching for programs from the 
> Start Menu search box.  Also, I probably will use the desktop more than I 
> did under XP
> and there are ways of attaching programs to the Task Bar that I have not 
> used.  These are all things that may change your mode of operating but are 
> more
> a change in habbit rather than steep learning curves.  The control panel 
> is a good deal different, and you will find more cases where you have to 
> explore
> with the arrow keys because the arrow keys will find buttons that are not 
> in the TAB order.
>
> Regarding 64-bit machines, I have to replace another computer within the 
> next few days and am trying to decide what to do.  Like you, I tend to use 
> a
> computer for a long time, so I am leaning toward biting the bullet and 
> going with a 64-bit machine rather than regretting that I bought a 32-bit 
> machine for the
> next five years or more.  I am finding it very hard to find anything but 
> 64-bit computers except in the Netbook class.  I suspect the negative 
> aspects of a 64-
> bit machine will go away fairly soon unless, of course, you have an old 
> piece of hardware that you can't live without but is no longer supported. 
> This would
> then have to be a consideration.  If you need to, you can use Microsoft's 
> Security Essentials for virus protection which is free until you decide 
> what you will
> do in the long run.  Anyway, good luck.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve Jacobson
>
> On Sun, 31 Oct 2010 11:18:45 -0700, Mike Freeman wrote:
>
>>Thanks.  Appreciate it.
>
>>Mike
>
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: "Curtis Chong" <curtischong at earthlink.net>
>>To: "'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'" <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Sunday, October 31, 2010 10:32 AM
>>Subject: [gui-talk] Windows XP to Windows 7?
>
>
>>> Mike:
>>>
>>> Here are some radnom thoughts that I can share with you regarding my
>>> transition to Windows 7 from Windows XP.  I hope they will provide you
>>> with
>>> some helpful information.
>>>
>>> 1. In Windows 7, you will notice some differences in the behavior of
>>> Windows Explorer.  For one thing, the title bar will not, by default, 
>>> show
>>> you the full file path.  If you want to find out which folder you are 
>>> in,
>>> the best way to do this is to press ALT+D to move your focus to the
>>> address
>>> box.  Then, you'll have to hit Shift Tab Twice to get back to the list 
>>> of
>>> files and folders.  In Windows Explorer, you will notice some things 
>>> like
>>> the "name split" button.  Don't press it unless you intend to have your
>>> files sorted in a difference sequence<smile>.  There is an advantage to
>>> using the new Windows Explorer.  If you are looking at a list of files,
>>> you
>>> can press the right arrow key to move between columns.  This way, you 
>>> can
>>> quickly jump to a column showing when the file was created, when it was
>>> modified, and how big it is.  In my opinion, this different and better
>>> than
>>> the Windows Explorer that runs under Windows XP.
>>>
>>> 2. The Start Menu is vastly different.  When you press the Windows Key,
>>> you are put into a search box.  Many people seem to like the Search box,
>>> because from there, you can type what you are looking for, and Windows
>>> will
>>> quickly try to find it.  For example, if you are trying to start Word,
>>> just
>>> type Word, and entries in the Start menu containing Word will show up
>>> fairly
>>> quickly.  I myself don't like this as much because I have this crazy
>>> notion
>>> that I like to know where in the menu structures programs and files are
>>> located before I actually start to use them<smile>.
>>>
>>> 3. Avoid 64-bit processors.  I find that the transition to Windows 7 is
>>> made much simpler if you can avoid buying a computer with a 64-bit
>>> processor.  Alas, the default in most big box stores is the 64-bit
>>> computer.
>>> So, you'll have to go to some lengths to get a 32-bit machine.  What, 
>>> you
>>> say, is the problem?  Mostly, not much if you are tech savvy.  You have 
>>> to
>>> be sure to use the right version of JAWS, you have to get the correct
>>> drivers for scanners, Braille displays, and the like, and you have to be
>>> sure that your security software (i.e., antivirus and anti-spyware
>>> programs)
>>> support 64-bit processors.  If you can do all of that, then perhaps the
>>> 64-bit processor will not be that much of a problem for you.  The cool
>>> thing
>>> from a technical perspective is that with a 64-bit processor, Windows 
>>> will
>>> be able to take advantage of all 4 gigabytes and more of available 
>>> memory.
>>>
>>> 4. At work, I am running Office 2010 and Windows 7.  I noticed right
>>> away that the "My Documents" folder has gone away.  Windows 7 now likes 
>>> to
>>> use libraries which are essentially collections of pointers to files and
>>> folders.  Beware of the library if you like to know where things are
>>> located
>>> on your hard drive or on a network drive.  I find myself doing more
>>> copying
>>> and pasting of paths in Windows 7 than in previous versions because of 
>>> the
>>> absence of the My Documents shortcut.
>>>
>>> 5. In Windows 7, Outlook Express no longer exists.  If you are already
>>> using Microsoft Outlook or some other non-Microsoft email client, then
>>> this
>>> should not be a problem for you.  If, however, you have been using 
>>> Outlook
>>> Express, you will have to decide whether you want to switch to Outlook,
>>> use
>>> Windows Live Mail, or get another email program.  Since I was already
>>> using
>>> Outlook both at work and at home, this was not an issue for me, but I 
>>> can
>>> understand why it would be an issue for those people who have been using
>>> Outlook Express.  Alas, I do not have much personal acquaintance with 
>>> the
>>> replacement to Outlook Express.
>>>
>>> 6. Shutting down Windows in Windows 7 is a snap.  Just press the
>>> Windows key, press Right Arrow once, and then press Enter.  It's reqlly
>>> quite simple<smile>.
>>>
>>> Well, that's pretty much all I can share at this point.  Bear in mind 
>>> that
>>> I
>>> have had only three weeks of experience with Windows 7 and Office 2010. 
>>> I
>>> am sure that over time, I will learn a lot more.
>>>
>>> Cordially,
>>>
>>> Curtis Chong
>>>
>>>
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