by Charles Lott
Henter-Joyce’s recent release of JAWS for Windows, version 3.5, is indeed a significant event in the history of developing screen readers. While, beginning with version 3.3, JFW has really come to the fore with exciting innovations and enhancements, version 3.5 has outdone them all.
Features
All the new features in JFW-3.5 are outlined in the What’s New file, found on the JFW Help menu. The file contains a number of hyperlinks which can lead you to even more-detailed information on various features. In addition, Henter-Joyce has produced an excellent CD, playable either on your computer or audio CD player, in which Eric Damery takes you through actual demonstrations of many of the new features.
A few highlights include support for a significant number of new applications; e.g., Microsoft FrontPage 2000, WinFax Pro 9.0 and Corel Quattro Pro 9. In addition, JFW 3.5 can be configured to detect various languages in multi-language documents, and read the texts, each in its proper language. Also, the JFW cursor now has three modes, including an unrestricted mode which allows it to go anywhere on the screen.
Installation
The task of installing JAWS continues to be essentially the complicated procedure it has always been. For example, when I attempted to install version 3.5 on a computer with a previous version already installed, instead of simply asking if I had an update disk for authorization (as JFW did the last time I installed an upgrade), it told me that I had a demonstration copy and required me to reboot to start the application. This did not frighten me, but I can well imagine it putting a scare into a novice user. At any rate, when I rebooted and started JFW, I got the more appropriate message, “Your serial number was not found ... insert your update disk.”
When I complied, and clicked “Continue,” JFW updated and ran as expected. It’s apparent that the annoying authorization complexities are still with us, but I have been assured that Henter-Joyce is looking at CD-based methods of authorization, such as those used by Microsoft and Adobe.
Conclusion
Current JFW users who have not yet upgraded to version 3.5 should do so without delay. Professional and power users who have not yet selected a screen reader should get hold of a JFW-3.5 demo and put it through its paces. Having said all this, however, I want to conclude by suggesting that my examination of both JAWS and GW Micro’s Window-Eyes 3.1 has led me to believe that casual, home-based personal-computer users may prefer Window-Eyes, while power-users may prefer the more sophisticated Henter-Joyce product.
I expect to complete my review of the latest version of Window-Eyes in the near future, and to prepare a comparison of the two products for a future issue of “The Braille Forum.”