Hi Jim, I'm not getting into an argument with you, but I think you misunderstood what I was saying. First, I don't have any issues with the new Audio SDK, XAudio2, so I'm not sure why you mentioned it. Second, it is generally a good idea to stay up to date as far as bug fixes, patches, etc but as with everything in life there are pros and cons.
For instance, Windows Vista was a poor release. Nobody, including me, will argue that point. However, Windows 7 is far more stable, has some performance improvements, etc that make it a better option than Vista all things considered. However, the drawback with Windows 7 is that you need a fairly new computer to run it. That isn't a blind issue, but just a standard technical issue that effects everyone. My point, which I think you missed, was that other alternatives like Linux are better at handling system performance and supporting older computers than Windows 7. If you go out and buy a brand new computer with Windows 7 preinstalled you are not likely to run into performance issues as that computer was custom built for Windows 7 where if you take a Windows XP system from five years ago and upgrade you are going to experience a serious performance hit right off because that CPU, ram, etc wasn't designed to run something as processor and graphics intensive as Windows 7. On the other hand there are things about Windows 7 I truly like. For example, the new Microsoft HTML help system. In Windows 7 when you bring up help it is actually displayed as an html page in Internet Explorer 8 you can tab around to links, jump to headings with h, jump to tables with t, and several other accessibility improvements that blows Windows XP's help system away in accessibility. So sometimes upgrading really is better. However, there are some things that have changed in Windows 7 were the screen readers haven't quite caught up with. For instance, Visual Studio 2010 uses a new GUI, some new accessibility framework other than MSAA which was introduced with Windows 7, and Jaws and Window-Eyes didn't know how to handle the new GUI interface. Window-Eyes 7.5 has some support for the new GUI and accessibility framework, but full support won't come until Window-Eyes 8.0. The issue here is not weather or not to upgrade to the new GUI and accessibility framework, but we'll have to wait until it is fully supported by Jaws or Window-Eyes until those apps like Visual Studio 2010 are fully supported by the screen readers. So like I said sometimes upgrading has pros, but sometimes there are cons as well. You kind of have to take the good with the bad with this sort of thing. At least as far as Windows is concerned. With Linux, on the other hand, I've been using Ubuntu since version 6 or so and I've noticed a steady improvement with every major and miner release in terms of accessibility, applications, and I can't believe how much it has improved since 2006. Plus I'm given to understand the new Unity desktop for Ubuntu 11 is suppose to look pretty sharp, and has a bunch of new access features not present in Ubuntu 10 and earlier. So again upgrading for me seems to be the better option than just sticking with what I have. HTH On 4/15/11, Jim Kitchen <j...@kitchensinc.net> wrote: > Hi Thomas, > > I don't mean to be too argumentative but, you always preach that one, us, > needs to have the newest latest greatest OS up dates etc etc. But now you > are saying that the newest IE Windows 7, Vista, the new sound playing SDK > are not the best for the blind. Kind of like what I preach, if it is > working, well use it until it doesn't. > > Again I am sorry, if I am being too argumentative. > > TGIF and BFN > > Jim > > Feel lucky???? Update your software! > > j...@kitchensinc.net > http://www.kitchensinc.net > (440) 286-6920 > Chardon Ohio USA > --- > Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. > --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
