Virtually all modern sound cards will handle simultaneous music and
voice.  Whether the built in card is what you need depends on its
use.  Integrated means it is actually a part of the mother board.  Built in
may mean this, but it can also mean that it is an add on card which has
been factory installed.  The one problem with most, if not all, laptop
sound cards is they do not provide you with appropriate inputs for
recording varying sources.  If you plan to plug in an external mixer, or
hook the PC to an outside audio source, the built in card is
inadequate.  To circumvent this problem myself, I purchased, for only $40
at a computer discounter, a sound blaster external USB sound card.  When
plugged into the USB port of the laptop, it immediately takes over all
functions of the audio handling.  This card allows you to plug in stereo
RCA connectors, digital (optical) connectors, mini plug
connectors,  etc.  If you instead want balanced inputs, you will need to
spend several hundred dollars to get a higher end sound card.  In my
opinion, unless you are doing high end professional work, the expensive
cards are not needed as the sound blaster sounds perfectly fine.  Since it
is outside the laptop, it doesn't use the laptop speakers.  you must use
headphones or external speakers.  However, it is much more flexible, and
can handle different types of input sources.  The best thing is, you can
just unplug it when your through with the complex stuff, and the laptop
reverts to its internal sound card for routine use.

I use a Compaq R3000 series laptop which has very good sound quality for a
laptop.  None of them are terrific using their own speakers.  If you want
truly studio grade sound, you'll still need to use external speakers.

As far as external keyboards:  there are many wireless USB keyboards and
mice available.  I use one, and it does make working with JAWS much easier
as it is a full sized 104 key keyboard. These keyboards have a small, mouse
sized, receiver unit which attaches to the laptop or docking station
through a USB connector.  The keyboard is loaded with double A batteries
and can be up to about 15 feet away from the laptop and still work.

My laptop, and many others, have docking stations or "media slices" which
is a newer type of limited docking station which can allow you to hook up
your wireless devices and external sound cards with out actually attaching
them to the laptop directly.  The laptop connects through one small
umbilical cord which carries AC power, and all the peripheral input.  The
advantage of this is you can unhook the docking station by disconnecting
one cable, and the laptop reverts to it stripped down portable self with no
problem muss or fuss.

I set my JAWS for Laptop configuration even when using the full sized
keyboard.  Setting it for laptop mode does not disable the standard
keyboard keystrokes, but adds the ability to use the laptop keys too.  I
find that by doing this, I can operate both ways without ever having to
reset JAWS.

Bill

At 08:31 PM 7/29/05 -0700, you wrote:
>To All,
>
>As many of you may know, I've been doing research about upgrading
>my entire computer system, including the software and the
>transition costs. I have spoken by phone with several of you for the past
>several months, and
>I've come across some interesting and informative differences of
>opinion.
>
>Now, I'm looking to resolve a few of the remaining questions for
>which there don't seem to be many strong opinions at all. And
>because I am being pressed to make my final hardware decisions
>early next week, the sooner you help me, the better.
>
>
>1. The Sound Card
>
>Typically, a laptop (don't know about a desktop) comes with a
>built-in sound card. When I ask about which brand I should
>purchase, the answers range from a few preferences for Audigy
>Platinum as the high-end sound card, to
>Sound Blaster or Turtle Beach.
>
>Others have said that the brand doesn't matter, just make sure it
>is a multi-channel card that can handle speech and audio
>simultaneously.
>(By the way, is an "Integrated" sound card the same thing as a
>"built-in" sound card?)
>
>I love great sound quality, and I plan on using my computer to
>record, edit and process audio. So this really matters to me.
>
>
>2. Which Laptop has the Best Sound System?
>
>This isn't something that is mentioned as often as I would hope
>or expect, especially on a list like this.
>
>
>3. What about the Video Card?
>
>Nobody has mentioned a brand for that, but a few sources have
>specified that it should have 32 megabytes.
>
>
>4. External and PORTABLE Keyboards and Number Pads
>
>Are there any opinions out there as to which brands and/or types
>are the best, especially with regard to convenient use of Jaws?
>
>
>Any and all feedback (not the audio type) will be appreciated.
>
>Thanks,
>Peter Seymour
>
>
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VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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 VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
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