I have central vision loss due to Stargardt's. I absolutely love the built-in screen zoom on the Mac, but unfortunately for my job I am forced to use Windows 10. The built-in Windows magnifier isn't that great. Is there better screen magnification software for Windows? Is ZoomText the best option or are there better alternatives?
SqornshellousZ2 points2y ago
Zoomtext is the only option. It tskes up a lot of system resources and often crashes in corporate enviromants when run in conjunction with screen monitoring siftware. If the UI laggs artifacts, or freezes, request to have ITs spy software disabled.
arana11 points10m ago
there are even AHK scripts that do better work than the windows included magnifier plus you get the sourcecode.
Ned2Ken1 points10m ago
Thank you!! I would never have thought of or found this if you hadn't mentioned it.
arana11 points10m ago
yw I also have vision problems (CSCR) so I know the struggle to find good magnifier fuctionality, lucky for me I am a developer and got my hands on many sourcode projects (googlei-ing) and there are some really nice ones that one only need to compile, or already compiled, I took one of those and added/adjusted it for my needs.
arana11 points10m ago
here are some links to magnifiers or sourceode for them not all of them are good, but some of them have unique features that you might like
Also, I recently bought a gaming keyboard with backlight. Gamechanger! ...for a non-gamer :)
macadamia_owl1 points2y ago
Although build in zoom magnification is free and has anti aliasing it's really weak compared to Zoomtext and Supernova. I was beta tester to both of them for half year, privately have acient license to Zoomtext that doesn't work since Win7. In school for the blind and rehabilitation courses we used Zoomtext, Jaws or Supernova. Julie in zoom from Win is ok for low vision non commercial use not serious work it's too few customization too few options low quality still compared to available solutions for years. Try a demo trial of other programs check the options for free you will see a difference.
To my surprise Supernova greatly improved in performance (much more stable on smart old 7 yo Win10 laptop than Zoomtext), programs compatibility, great inteligent color inversion which ZT or standard win magnification doesn't have - it leaves photos in web and docs untouched if you want to, much less resource hog in RAM and CPU than ZT. Extreme price tag especially for speech + magnification+ braille, bit less for other variants but you can save a lot by buying from someone old license CD and upgrading to newest version. Zoomtext upped their prices too but they didn't improving much.
CloudyRefrigerator [OP]2 points2y ago
Thank you for telling me about Supernova, I've never heard of it! It's so unfortunate how pricey these pieces of software are. I believe I can get funding from the Government for this, but it's a massive pain to access it. I think I will get Windows 10 installed on my home computer and test out the free trials of ZoomText and Supernova, and then make a decision on which one I will apply for funding for.
bellybella881 points2y ago
I have RP. Windows 10 is excellent. Go into settings and there's a lot to play with. I use CTL + mouse wheel up to zoom in. Wheel down to zoom out. It's so easy!
CloudyRefrigerator [OP]1 points2y ago
Yep this is what I've been doing. I have to hold down Ctrl and Alt + mouse wheel. Is there a way to just have to hold Ctrl?
poochbrah1 points2y ago
Yes you can change it in the settings. Try to find it, if you can't let me know and I'll check for you. Which version of zoomtext do you have? I'm using the 2020 version. Just want to make sure so I can tell you exactly where to look.
dunktheball1 points2y ago
I haven't tried any still (other than the windows one temporarily somewhere else), but that windows one and zoomtext are the only two I see mentioned here often.
Winnmark0 points2y ago
Built in Windows one is good enough for most cases.
SimonSeekerOfSecrets1 points8m ago
>"Built in Windows one is good enough for most cases."
It is definitely not. I am in a situation right now where I'm forced to use my television as a Monitor. But if I could zoom OUT lower than 100% this would be a perfect solution. The geniuses at Microsoft must not have that it was necessary to have a Zoom Out below 100% for some reason. Very obnoxious considering how difficult they've made this because of some Boomer's take on usability/accessibility I bet.
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