Over the last several days, I have tried the ubuntu Live CD, the alternate ubuntu CD, ubuntu-server 32-bit version and a totally different distribution called grml. All were tested on a Dell laptop that is about 6 years old but ran Windows XP before. It is pretty powerful in that it is a 1-gig processor with 256 megs of RAM and the sound card does definitely work. So far, the only distributionthat ever worked with speech was the last oralux image. An old GRML which is speakup-based showed promise until I actually started to install it at which time that spelling bug due to kernel contingencies took over which ruled that out as far as I am concerned. The oralux distribution talks well until you connect a serial port to something and then it's that spelling thing again, probably due to the interrupts that occur as each serial character arrives. Again, not acceptable. It is also speakup-based. After listening to the very useful ubuntu demo on blindcooltech, I tried the minimum start with speech which is to wait until the disk slows down, Hit F5, 3, Enter, Enter. There is sound which, according to the demo, occurs when you log in and a longer chord which reminds me kind of of a Mac booting up that you hear when orca starts. After that, utter silence. The latest GRML is also mute. The cheatcodes.txt file in the grml directory on that CD tells you to type grml swspeak=speechd Again, dead silence after the booting completes. Is it just me or do these newer engines not run on Dell computers from around 2000? Actually, as I think of it, one of those desktops is a Gateway. I have tried 1 laptop and a couple of desktops that already run Debian Linux and sound and do so quite well. I figure if I get one of these to talk properly, I can get away from the old DOS, external synth and kermit method. That works even on old 8086 systems, but some of that stuff could vote and by beer now. I am not afraid to build kernels and hack (positively), but it's kind of hard to do that with no way in to a system one is working on. Any ideas? Yes, I know I could buy all new computers. These I have access to are what we might call middle-aged, not ready for the recycling center yet. Martin McCormick _______________________________________________ Blinux-list mailing list Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list