Andy, Great question and was one I also wondered about using a different keyboard. First, I tested with my Wireless Microsoft Keyboard that I've been using on my office machine for a couple of years. I plugged in the USB Wireless dongle and the keyboard worked perfectly. But, I don't want to carry a separate keyboard around with the tablet PC. These are designed to have the keyboard attached, acting as a cover for the screen. So I searched on line and at this point, I have found no other third party keyboard designed to connect to the Surface that resolves the issues.
Regards, Eric -----Original Message----- From: JAWS-Users-List [mailto:jaws-users-list-boun...@jaws-users.com] On Behalf Of Baracco, Andrew W Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2013 1:08 PM To: jaws-users-list@jaws-users.com Subject: Re: [JAWS-Users] My experience with a Windows 8 MicrosoftSurface Proand JAWS Maybe this is a stupid question, but can you use any other keyboard other than the MS one that you mentioned? Andy -----Original Message----- From: JAWS-Users-List [mailto:jaws-users-list-boun...@jaws-users.com] On Behalf Of Eric Damery Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2013 9:50 AM To: jaws-users-list@jaws-users.com Subject: Re: [JAWS-Users] My experience with a Windows 8 MicrosoftSurface Proand JAWS Hi Scorpio, I'm aware of using the BIOS to make this change and have done it on other computers before. But, after a day's worth of research on-line, and a couple of communication with Microsoft, I've become convinced that it really isn't possible to get into the BIOS and adjust it on these Surfaces. Believe me, I tried. Regards, Eric -----Original Message----- From: JAWS-Users-List [mailto:jaws-users-list-boun...@jaws-users.com] On Behalf Of Scorpio Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2013 12:35 PM To: jaws-users-list@jaws-users.com Subject: Re: [JAWS-Users] My experience with a Windows 8 Microsoft Surface Proand JAWS Hi Eric, The ability to turn off the FN key with the F1 through F12 keys is done in the BIOS, and a sighted individual can change this for you. Of late, it's become a trend for manufacturers to turn that FN key to a modifier key for the F keys, mostly because those keys, when used in conjunction with laptops, also have video and audio controls, as well as mouse and track pad controls that a great many people are using more and more frequently, so they've decided to leave it on, unwittingly making it harder for us blind folks to use. In essence, if you've got sighted assistance, as the computer is booting up, tap one of three possible keys, Delete, F1 or F10. Unfortunately, accessing a computer's BIOS does not have any standard keystroke, but instead of going through which models use which keys, you can try one of the above keys. In most computers, it's usually the delete key, followed by the next most used key of F1, and followed by the few who use F10. Try each key in succession to yield the most success. Suffice it to say, going into the BIOS will allow you to change that particular annoyance, and possibly making the use of the keyboard more enjoyable, or rather, as enjoyable as using a FN key on the right of a keyboard can be. LOL. Scorpio For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/ For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/ For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/ For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/
