What should I look for when buying a computer for a person with low vision or partial sight?

The Computer

There is not a significant difference among the myriad of computer brands. However, you will find that the more established brands often provide a higher level of support. You may also consider purchasing the computer from a local store; this way, should something go wrong with it, you should have easy access to support services. This may not always be the case if you purchase the computer from an on-line store. Of course, you may pay a bit more for this convenience and local servicing.

Memory

We suggest at least 256 megabytes of RAM or even 512. Screen readers and magnification programs take up memory, as do many other programs, such as, digital music editing, video and picture editing software programs. Memory prices have decreased significantly in recent years and keep in mind that it is always cheaper to "load" the computer at the time of initial purchase, instead of adding features and components later.

Hard Disk

Hard disk space is measured in gigabytes. These hard or fixed disks have gotten larger and larger, and now it is not unusual to find storage capacities of up to 160 gigabytes (GB) or higher. The larger the capacity the better, but you probably could do very well with something in the neighborhood of 50 to 100 GB. The more music, videos and pictures you plan to store, the larger the hard disk you will need to purchase. Digital media, as these items are usually called, take lots of space.

Processor Speed

Processor speed has gotten faster and faster. However, despite what you may be told by eager salespersons, unless you plan to manipulate large amounts of data and perform complex computations, speeds higher than 2 gigahertz (GHZ) are probably unnecessary.

Operating System

Windows Vista includes built-in accessibility settings and programs that make it easier to see, hear, and use the computer. The accessibility settings and programs in Windows Vista are particularly helpful to people with visual difficulties, hearing loss, discomfort in their hands or arms, or reasoning and cognitive issues. The Ease of Access Center [1] makes it easier to find and use accessibility settings.

Windows XP provides a great deal more accessibility features than previous versions. Typically, for personal use, you will not need the professional version (XP Pro), and will do fine with the Home edition. You will find that very few blind and visually impaired persons use an Apple Macintosh. Most magnification programs and screen readers are designed for the Windows operating systems.

However, with the more recent versions of the Macintosh, such as the MAC Leopard OS [2], Apple has introduced a built-in accessibility features called Universal Access including VoiceOver and customizable Braille display.

Video System

As with memory (RAM), you want as much as possible, especially if you have low vision and plan to use a magnification program. In most cases, a 17-inch monitor should meet your needs; of course, if you have no usable vision and plan to use a screen reader, we suggest you purchase the least expensive monitor. Even though you may not need a monitor at all, we would encourage you to have one, since it will enable you to share your computer with others and also to get assistance from a sighted person should you run into any difficulties.

Storage

In addition to the hard disk, you should make sure to get a CD and DVD re-writable drive. This will enable you to backup your data onto CDs and/or DVDs. Also, with these drives, you will be able to store music, pictures, etc. Most computers sold nowadays no longer include a floppy drive for the old 3.5" diskettes. However, in their place, there are a wide variety of other even smaller media you can use to transport data. These include flash cards, and thumb drives, etc. These devices can be extremely small and yet capable of storing large amounts of data.

Ports and Slots

The more USB ports you get the better. Also, make sure that some of them are located on the front of the computer for easier access. Most devices now use USB ports to connect to the computer, including storage devices, such as flash cards, and thumb drives.