Selecting a laptop when you experience vision loss involves careful consideration of several factors. This post shares my personal laptop selection process, explaining my choices and their impact. Remember, this is my experience, and your needs may differ.

Size Matters

Laptop size is a common consideration for everyone, regardless of vision. Many factors influence this decision. My own preferences have evolved over time. During my school years, a 15-inch laptop with a number pad was essential. After graduating, I transitioned to a smaller 13 or 14-inch model as the number pad became less important.

Mac, Windows, or Chromebook?

My operating system preferences have also changed. In school, I favored a MacBook due to its excellent built-in screen reader software (VoiceOver) and seamless iPhone integration. I briefly used a Windows laptop during that time and found it less suitable for my needs. Currently, I primarily use a Chromebook for about 90% of my daily computing tasks. In fact, this entire blog post, along with website modifications, was created on a Chromebook.

Screen Reader Compatibility

Screen reader compatibility is crucial for visually impaired users. My laptop choices have always been influenced by this. While using Apple products, VoiceOver was my go-to screen reader. When I switched to Windows, I initially used JAWS, but later discovered and preferred NVDA, an open-source, lightweight, and flexible screen reader. NVDA’s lower resource requirements made choosing a Windows laptop easier and more affordable. My Chromebook uses ChromeVox, a lightweight, functional, and accessible built-in screen reader.

RAM Considerations

RAM requirements differ depending on the operating system and screen reader. With macOS and VoiceOver, the base RAM configuration was sufficient for my needs (excluding intensive video or photo editing). For Windows, at least 12GB of RAM was recommended when using JAWS due to its resource-intensive nature. With NVDA, 8GB of RAM was generally adequate, though more is always preferable on Windows. For Chrome OS and ChromeVox, 4GB of RAM is usually sufficient; while I’ve used 8GB, I haven’t noticed a significant performance difference.

Brand Recommendations

Over the years, I’ve developed preferences for certain brands. I consistently recommend Lenovo, Samsung, and Asus. Within Lenovo, the ThinkPad line stands out. I’ve also been impressed with Samsung’s slim, lightweight, and powerful Windows laptops. Asus offers excellent gaming PCs, and my recent experience with their Chromebooks has been positive.

Final Thoughts

I’ve used a wide variety of laptops and have learned from each experience. Every laptop I’ve owned served its purpose at the time. As my needs evolve, so will my choice of computer.