This might be beyond what you're looking for, but I wouldn't mind helping out privately. I'm an intermediate JAWS user, (can't stand it for longer periods) and I'm more than familiar enough with both to be able to help out. But generally, navigation keys are the same, windows keys remain. The only things that are of much different, are the settings, cursors, and screen reader specific keys. But web browser for example, is more or less the same.

Well, one of the best things about it is that it's completely free and open source, as well as portable. So, you can do lot of the same things as you can with jaws. One more difference is that instead of jaws scripts, you'll be using NVDA addons, that are provided on official website. Some of them have a great functionality and they are trustworthy from official source, because they are all reviewed before publishing. NVDA has lessinstall time and puts less stress on system and when I last used jaws and compared it with NVDA, the latter worked faster.

Most of the things you'd want to check out are in the manual as well, which is pretty good for learning the basics. Can always look around for addons to add to the screenreader once you get comfortable with those :)

Allot less contextual help, some missing features like text analyzer, advanced skim reading, picture smart, Window Classes, Control Labeling, and also much less robust Microsoft Office support.

Aside from that and the much different cursor style, it's pretty comparable.


I'd still keep JAWS on there in demo mode just encase though. Always best to have at least two screen readers IMO.

Good news is that there''s a lot of command overlap between the two. Bad news is that cursor navigation is different. You'll be using the arrow keys a lot more since the numpad will now be used for document review. Also, instead of enabling or disabling the virtual cursor for web nav, you'll be switching between browse mode and focus mode.

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A lot of the commands are still the same. My personal favorite aspect is that I can use both numpad insert and caps lock as modifier keys simultaneously. With knowledge of jaws, the learning curve isn't nearly as high.

Like someone else said, as long as you’re not doing advanced stuff with Office you should be fine. For advanced Office work I would choose JAWS in a heartbeat.

Scripts VS add ons is a personal thing. Either one can be made to work with what you need it to work with. If it become necessary, take the time to learn python so you can write your own Ad ons.

Take the time to sit down with the NVDA manual and go through it from front to back. Skip the sections that you realize are obvious to you. As soon as you see it works the same as JAWS move on. When something looks different take the time to read it. You’ll be fine in no time. That’s how I learned JFW 3.0 using the tapes when I was in High School, and that’s how I made sure I knew the different commands for NVDA 6 or 7 years ago.

I've been using nvda for years and I strongly suggest you to check and learn it.

What is people don't like about office am not sure but I've been using word, excell for my school. I've even created vs basic macros/programs with excell in a time.

Speech History, resource monitor are two addons you should get. There are a lot more you may wanna use based on your requirements. For example I am using unspoken which is an addon supresses announcing

object types like button, link and puts a sounds for them.