On Sat, 21 Jun 2003, Guy Abandon. wrote: > Ok, I'll be getting a new(ish) computer at the > end of next. I need to order my Linux thing > pretty fast. I would prefer to make a single > purchase rather than trawl all over the net. I > need:- a suitable version of Linux, software > speech engine/screen reader (please distinguish > if different), user interface (latest Emaxspeak > springs to mind) and all necessary instruction > to get it to work on the first shot. In the top directory of the Red Hat install disks there is a generally written README-Accessibility file that gives pointers to most of the info you want; you should also read the blinux faq. Using those resources, you should be able to get very cheap or free (downloadable) install CD's. > imagine getting a Creative Labs sound card would > be preferable to A-Open's on-board device? Not necessarily: your builtin card may have all you need, assuming it is a 16 bit card (likely, for any recent motherboard, I would think). To get what you have working with Red Hat 9, if it was not already autoconfigured, you would first run redhat-config-soundcard (not sure if that works in textmode (some of the Red Hat admin front ends have *-tui suffix version, for the "text user interface"). Failing that, you would install the old legacy textmode sndconfig package (but that would likely only help with old ISA bus cards that are not already recognized). Then look at the alsa drivers; get the binary module, util and library packages at http://ftp.freshrpms.net/pub/freshrpms/redhat/ You may want alsa drivers anyway, because of their advantages, such as full duplex operation, more soundcards and their features supported, etc. The RedHat manuals also have info on how to directly hand edit the text mode config files (these are available on their web site). And there are very large, high traffic usenet groups, such as comp.os.linux.setup and comp.os.linux.hardware, where some user likely has experience with your specific hardware. > The base unit involved is a 2nd hand P3-400Mhz > afaik. I think it's only 128Mb so I'll have to > try find more of that before I start too... 256 > sounds a lot better or am I still thinking in > Windows terms? Yes, those are indeed windoze terms: that is more than enough speed and memory, for the usual sorts of things. LCR -- L. C. Robinson reply to no_spam+munged_lcr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx People buy MicroShaft for compatibility, but get incompatibility and instability instead. This is award winning "innovation". Find out how MS holds your data hostage with "The *Lens*"; see "CyberSnare" at http://www.netaction.org/msoft/cybersnare.html _______________________________________________ Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list