Zoom-Text Magnification-ScreenReader - Version 9.1

by AiSquared

Product Features

• Magnifies your entire desktop!
• Reads your webpages, emails, and documents to you!
• Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7 compatible
• Easy to use and configure!
• Completely customizable. Change the screen color, voice, and pointer.

Product Description

ZoomText is the premier screen magnification software. It allows people with low vision to use their Windows computer system for everyday purposes like reading emails, viewing web pages, and typing / reading documents. It also uses synthesized voice to read emails, websites, and documents to you so you can reduce eye strain.

Product Details

• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• ASIN: B00014VWWK
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #257,449 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lot's of features but would prefer less bugs and more features., July 5, 2010

By 

kenneth spencer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zoom-Text Magnification-ScreenReader - Version 9.1 (Health and Beauty)

This product works well for the most part but it suffers from numerous bugs that require me to restart ZoomText several times a day. This product has many features, but I never use most of them. Would certainly prefer a product with fewer features and also fewer bugs.
Here are a few of the bugs that drive me crazy with this product.

Windows XP
Seems to disable the start menu after a few hours of use. Restarting the application will restore your start menu.

Windows 7
Disables task bar, alt tab etc (the only way to switch between applications is to minimize, but as you can't maximize this only works one way). Only way to get around this is to turn off magnification with the hot key (computer will crash if you don't) bring up the windows task manager and then kill Zoom Text from there.

Another common difficulty is attempting to use the app reader to read long web pages. It has to process the entire page before it can start so this will either take a long time (sometimes several minutes) or crash the computer depending on how long the web page is. There seems to be no way to cancel once you realize it is going to take a long time.

Another problem the App reader seems to develop after a few hours of use is that it will begin reading froma random part of the document and not allow you to direct it to the portion of the document you want it to read. This can be resolved by restarting the application but it is very annoying.
It also disables aero under windows 7, something the windows magnifier seems to operate just dandily without having to do.

This product goes a long way to make the computer more accessible for those with visual impairments, but the bugs, of which I have only mentioned a few drive me crazy. Hopefully the next release will focus on fixes and performance instead of features.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Live Without It - intuitive, Easy, Versatile, Superb Product!, July 2, 2009

By 

javajunki "javajunki" - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Zoom-Text Magnification-ScreenReader - Version 9.1 (Health and Beauty)

For those with a visual impairment or low vision, this is one of the 'must have' products! Unlike JAWS - which is costly and best suited for someone without any vision or totally blind - those that have low vision are likely to find this a much less intrusive product. Because Jaws speaks all the time, it is difficult to use especially when on the phone or in a regular office environment (even a home office).

ZoomText can be used with a reader/voice or simply by englarging aka 'zooming'. The voice is clear, easy to understand and has several selection to choose from. You can switch between magnification and reading with just a quick adjustment or have the program speak/read at specific times then use magnification at other times (such as on the phone etc). You can also use both speech and magnification at the same time making this a great product for those with other disabilities besides low vision.

Navigation is simple, there are several ways to use the magnification or highlighting product and it has been improved to the point where it rartely interferes with other software. As a long time user, that was a problem especially when using some programs that required other voice or video...thankfully that has been fixed in this recent version and it seems to run very well on Windows XP. Integrates tightly with Microsoft programs as well as Adobe - in fact, I'd say better than average with Adobe.

Can read webpages, email, pdf documents, word documents and even software installation programs. Color and contrast adjustments make it simple to adjust to your own vision while maginifaction or speech is in place. Zoom can be minor to huge with anything in between.

Strongly prefer to Jaws. Upgrades are generously discounted. Tech support is EXCELLENT! Jaws reads well but doesn't provide the flexibility for those wishing to use remaining vision....this does both screen reading and magnification so is very beneficial to those with remaining vision and/or a progressive eye disorder - the software expands as your vision deteriorates without having to change the way you work.

Truly superb product!