Hi Turtlepower.
I don't think there's a way to change how it shows the number of icons or say blank lines. But I'll do a search of the nvda menu to try and find somethings like that. Myself I've always found the blank line thing in jaws really disturbing.
But to answer your third question you might just use the nvda review cursor to move back and forth between messages. It takes a little longer but that's all I can think of. I don't use aim so as far as I know there's no nvda add-on for it sorry.

Yeah, I guess the blank lines thing is a personal preference. To me, it makes everything look less cluttered. It's kind of like taking a breath in a conversation. Without it, I feel like someone with ADD is yapping away in my ear nonstop or something, lol. But, as I said, I'm sure I can get used to that.

I looked in the preferences menu too but didn't see anything, sadly. But it's possible I missed something, since I'm still pretty new to NVDA in general. The thing about lists is that I don't want to hear such and such, 1 of 100 every time I scroll down. If I want to know that information, I hit insert up arrow. Hearing it announced every time I scroll up or down is very tedious.

As for the review cursor, this is the one sticking point with me. I really hope I can get used to the different commands, because it seems a hell of a lot more complicated than activating the JAWS or PC cursors. We'll see how that goes.

Oh, I discovered another minor annoyance while messing around. When I'm reading by word using control and left or right arrows, NVDA will read the first word or two, and then stop. I have to release the keys and do it again. With JAWS, this worked seamlessly, I could read a whole document by word if I wanted to, although I don't know why anyone would. Does anyone know why this is happening?

I'll say one thing, though. It is so totally convenient not to have to unload my screen reader just to play an audio game. That's one thing that's keeping me hopeful through all this.

Edit:

Nocturnus, you and I must have posted at the same time.

Thanks for the tip about object presentation. It worked, which is a relief.

That would be great if you could upload the Miranda configuration for me. I remember trying to configure it myself a long time ago and not having any luck with it. Thank you.

glad your enjoying nvda and all the things it offers turtle power. i too love all the addons as well. people have had some good suggestions here already so i won't really add anything.
if you have any suggestions for the ventrilo addon let me know. its going to a bit of a code rewrite at the moment, but i'm very open to adding things in.

@afrim,
I have yet to experience any issues using a portable copy of NVDA, other than the fact that it is not installed, which is just that.  It's not an issue, it's a blessing in some regards given I can take my configuration with me to any computer wherever I go. Also, have you tried messing around with the brows mode settings?  Hit insert, control b the next time you decide to use NVDA and uncheck both boxes concerning automatic focus mode changes.  I assure you that if you are still having the issue you discussed above with edit fields I would be exceptionally interested to hear about it, since this is an issue I myself would report, given I don't like such behavior either.
@turtlepower17
Unfortunately, one of the things that turns people off about Miranda and a couple of other programs I use, foobar being another example, is that they are so customizable that the compendium of options is something one can easily get lost in.  Both bits of software have tons of plugins which add even more flexibility and functionality, but most of these are not well described nor do they have detailed help files written for them.  This is why I have no problem offering whatever assistance I can regarding this issue.  I will work on configuring myself for configurating this preconfiguration of a configuration, or whatever this thing is as soon as I can.  I'm currently involved in setting up a couple of PC's and some sound equipment I just had shipped in from my old home which I haven't seen in a few months and am absolutely thrilled to be reunited with.  If, as is possible, I do tend to forget, feel free to send me a private message on here, but more than likely you'll have that thing within 24 hours.  Methinks I just happen to have one of the worst short attention spans ever and... Why am I still awake at 5 in the morning?

hi
@afrim

NVDA still have screen refresh in browser, press insert plus f5...
I mean when you browsing the internet.

hi.

That is really strange with the word thing. It works completely fine for me.

That shouldn't be the issue, since I use Auto Sizer. My IE, Firefox, and several other program windows are set to maximize automatically, so I'm not sure what the problem is.

If I release the control key each time I want to move left or right, it works. It's just that I never had to do that with Jaws. I could keep the control key held down and scroll left and right as much as I wanted to.
Ah well, maybe I just have to get used to another new way of doing things.

I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate, 32 bit. I doubt that makes a difference, but it will be interesting to see if the problem persists once I upgrade to Windows 10, which I intend to do soon.

Hi.

Hmm. I'd say no, since they both  can be used depending on what you're doing.

The mouse features, found under nvda menu/preferences/mouse settings allow you to use your actual mouse or trackpad and NVDA will speak the items under the mouse.

You can use pitch beeps and other settings too but I don't mess with those settings much.
The mouse feature does come in handy when using tricky websites.

For example; I use a site called justeat which is a takeaway site, meaning a place where you can order food that is delivered to your door. IF you order an item with extra items inside that item, for example; fries with a dip,, at the bottom of the page is a dialog where you choose your other items. Now you can either use your NVDA flat review and other numpad modes, there are three I believe. or, you could use the mouse to click on things. I find the numbpad mode, flat review I think it's called; a lot easier to use but the  mouse works fine and can be used with no problem once you are used to the way it works.

Oh yeah, I heard of that. I just may look at it.

so I figured out what the issue is with my inability to move by words, and I'm really not happy. I was talking to a friend on Skype, and he suggested that I try using a different keyboard and see if the issue went away. Lo and behold, he was right. Using the HP keyboard that originally came with my machine, it works fine.
This really sucks, though. The keyboard I'm using now is a mechanical one, and I don't want to have to stop using it just because of this. And I probably won't, it's just really odd that NVDA has this issue when JAWS never did.

Hi.

If the keyboard you like using has a function key, try pressing function control right arrow and see what happens.

Hi.

No problem.
I hope you enjoy using NVDA and all the great addons that come with it.