Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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ZoomText and Supernova. What's the difference? (self.Blind)
submitted by RottenPartyGirl
Hi
I'm visually impaired with about 8%. I'm starting university in September and as part of their help for disabled people, they are offering me a laptop with Supernova on it, which I will be given some time during the summer break. My problem is, that I've been using ZoomText since I got my own personal computer when it was called 9.0. Therefore, I'm both skeptical and very concerned about the change in screen magnifier that's about to come.
To ease my worries, I've consulted Google, but the furthest I got, was a post on this subreddit. So, now I have taken to here. What can you tell me about Supernova? How does it differ from ZoomText? I'm all ears.
Also, I'm from Denmark, so all aids are paid for by taxes. I do not have to pay anything, but that also means that I do not get a say in what program I'll get.
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This is my first time posting on reddit. If this is somehow inaccessible to someone, please let me know how to make it accessible. I would hate it if I accidentally excluded someone and didn't know about it.
I'm visually impaired with about 8%. I'm starting university in September and as part of their help for disabled people, they are offering me a laptop with Supernova on it, which I will be given some time during the summer break. My problem is, that I've been using ZoomText since I got my own personal computer when it was called 9.0. Therefore, I'm both skeptical and very concerned about the change in screen magnifier that's about to come.
To ease my worries, I've consulted Google, but the furthest I got, was a post on this subreddit. So, now I have taken to here. What can you tell me about Supernova? How does it differ from ZoomText? I'm all ears.
Also, I'm from Denmark, so all aids are paid for by taxes. I do not have to pay anything, but that also means that I do not get a say in what program I'll get.
​
This is my first time posting on reddit. If this is somehow inaccessible to someone, please let me know how to make it accessible. I would hate it if I accidentally excluded someone and didn't know about it.
Shadowwynd 2 points 2y ago
SuperNova is found more in Europe, ZoomText in the USA. They tend to be "major feature comparable" - it has been years since I found something one did and the other didn't (multiple sound cards for a blind radio DJ, if I recall correctly). That said, it is two different implementations of the same idea. I have seen both programs work better than the other with certain combinations of hardware and software. Some people say one worked on a system where the other crashed frequently, but I have had the same comment in both directions.
The windows magnifier in Win10 is fine if you *only* need magnification, but the advanced color filtering options of the bigger programs is a make-break feature for many of my clients.
The windows magnifier in Win10 is fine if you *only* need magnification, but the advanced color filtering options of the bigger programs is a make-break feature for many of my clients.
RottenPartyGirl [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thank you for the reply. Reading this was very helpful.
zersiax 2 points 2y ago
hejsa :)
So ... what I recommend you do is take a look at the website for Supernova, it's over here:
$1
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Supernova used to be a pretty well-known screenreader and magnifier back in the earlier 2000s, at least here in Europe. I will admit to having lost track of what they have been up to these days, but I do know Supernova is still being actively maintained. It is essentially a Zoomtext competitor. It will probably have similar features but will have its own way of doing things and may do some things better or worse to the Zoomtext you are used to.
I'm reasonably sure you can grab a demo version off that website, so you can at least play around with it a little and maybe leaf through the manual a bit to see if you'd be able to work with it properly.
If not, that might be a good thing to mention to the folks providing you with the laptop :)
“held og lykke med det :)
So ... what I recommend you do is take a look at the website for Supernova, it's over here:
$1
​
Supernova used to be a pretty well-known screenreader and magnifier back in the earlier 2000s, at least here in Europe. I will admit to having lost track of what they have been up to these days, but I do know Supernova is still being actively maintained. It is essentially a Zoomtext competitor. It will probably have similar features but will have its own way of doing things and may do some things better or worse to the Zoomtext you are used to.
I'm reasonably sure you can grab a demo version off that website, so you can at least play around with it a little and maybe leaf through the manual a bit to see if you'd be able to work with it properly.
If not, that might be a good thing to mention to the folks providing you with the laptop :)
“held og lykke med det :)
RottenPartyGirl [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Tusind tak!
I'll be sure to check out the link as soon as possible. This was very helpful.
I'll be sure to check out the link as soon as possible. This was very helpful.
zersiax 1 points 1y ago
selv tak :) I'm a screenreader user myself, so I don't know a huge deal about kkmagnification software I'm afraid. I did use the screenreader-only version of Supernova, so I do know a thing or two aabout that part of things :)
Winnmark 1 points 2y ago
They both suck and you should use the Windows magnifier instead.
ReflectionsYay 2 points 2y ago
I’ve never tried supernova, but I agree about zoomtext! I know some people who really like zoomtext, but i’m 100% against ever putting that one one of my own computers again.
Zoomtext made my computer run incredibly slow. Sure, the resolution is a bit better than the windows magnifier, but not enough to warrant the crappy performance
Zoomtext made my computer run incredibly slow. Sure, the resolution is a bit better than the windows magnifier, but not enough to warrant the crappy performance
RottenPartyGirl [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thank you for the reply.
Why do you think so? Please elaborate.
Why do you think so? Please elaborate.
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