I use linux exclusively and for several reasons. 1. I worked in Unix and SunOS since 1986. So Linux was a familiar environment to transition into. 2. Because once I get it to work, it works. That keyboard configuration I mentioned occurred years ago and I haven't touched it since not even when I switched to a different machine. Not even when I switched to different keyboards. Not even when I switched to different versions of Linux. 3. Linux does what I want without backtalk, second guessing, ads, unwanted upgrading, or mysterious crashes. 4. Linux trades learning for power and flexibility. The few times I tried learning Windows I quickly grew frustrated at just how limited the software was and how it forced the user to do things its way instead of letting me do them MY way. I spent more time fighting with windows than getting things done. 5. Everyone I know who uses Windows, spends far too much time complaining about windows, fixing the many problems windows causes by its quirks, arcane mysteries, shortcomings, and built in faults, so I see no reason to give it yet another try. On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 09:19:09PM -0500, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > Okay then, > This illustrates another point which got touched on in a different thread > as well. > The, you must be prepared to do programming if you are going to use Linux > fluidly, if at all. > On an entirely different list I am on, folks were complaining about windows > 10 and windows 11, because of the changes. > Computers are increasingly such critical parts of our lives, banking > shopping, even voting, that many on the list spoke of just wanting to sit > down at their computer and have things work...so they still use older > editions of things like Windows XP? and Windows 7. > I admit that is part of why the out of the box concept discussed here where > Access is concerned seems a bit, speaking personally, like a misconception. > Few on the list I referenced above are using adaptive tools, and some of > them are scientists, with many not wanting configuring to be a part of their > computer lives. > So, why do you use Linux? > what makes it worth the time the training and the trial / error? > Oh, and is it your only operating system? > Want to ask the latter because I know someone who indeed uses Linux > exclusively, vowing never to touch windows again. > Please feel free to express in detail, never mind my personal situation, > because the journalist in me is interested as well. > Karen > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > > > Fair point. > > > > As regards the keyboard, I agree with the main keyboard philosophy, and > > in fact speakup does allow you to customize it to use the main keyboard instead of the > > keypad. However, it took me a while to customize it to my liking and > > required quite a bit of study and generating of personal keymaps, so > > might not be of any interest to those who aren't comfortable making > > some low level modifications. > > > > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 08:16:08PM -0500, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > > > Which may illustrate my point. > > > I can use those without changing what I have now. > > > Speaking personally if Linux does not provide equal access to both hardware > > > and software speech, in both its command line and graphical platforms, I am > > > unsure just where the advantage is for me personally. > > > One thing I personally disliked with speakup, at least the times I tried it > > > years back was the need to remove my hands from the keyboard for many > > > things. > > > That may not hold true all the way around, but I am a solid typist and do > > > not like having to remove may hands, say use the number pad, if I want as I > > > work content. > > > That is me though, which is one magical thing about personal computers. > > > everyone brings their desires and usage goals to their machines. > > > Which to my mind again personally means Linux should, if it actually can, be > > > flexible enough for all choices to work in it command line and graphical. > > > Karen > > > > > > > > > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > > > > > > > I don't use Firefox. I use a text based browser, either lynx, w3m, or links (the chain) depending. > > > > > > > > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 07:48:42PM -0500, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > > > > > Rudy, > > > > > As an example, may I ask what edition of Firefox you are running with that > > > > > dectalk Express? > > > > > Karen > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Karen, > > > > > > I use Linux speakup with a Dectalk express speech synthesizer. And I believe speakup also handles the > > > > > > slot card version of dectalk though you'll need a desktop PC that supports it, so the software is there. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Rudy > > > > > > > > > > > > On Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 05:22:35PM -0500, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > > > > > > > Kyle, > > > > > > > i do not consider my hardware decktalk provided via my reading edge to be an > > > > > > > example of text to speech. > > > > > > > By definition, and there are many, the term, which refers to taking > > > > > > > information in text format and rendering it aloud does not, speaking > > > > > > > personally, equal pronunciation ease. > > > > > > > In fact one theory about this has to do with preserving the audiobook > > > > > > > market. > > > > > > > granted, as was pointed out in a thread some time ago, I am not likely to > > > > > > > learn about Linux screen readers, no driver exists for my hardware speech, > > > > > > > and software synthesizer sources currently do a number on my brain. > > > > > > > Karen > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Wed, 26 Jan 2022, Linux for blind general discussion wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > That being said, the audiophile in me cannot resist pointing out that > > > > > > > > pronunciation abilities of tts are of far less quality than those > > > > > > > > provided by many actual screen readers, at least the ones I have > > > > > > > > used...which???? does not include any for Linux. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > That being said, the technofile in me cannot resist pointing out the > > > > > > > > fact that every screen reader for every OS uses nothing but TTS > > > > > > > > technology to read the screen. Well, I guess BeMyEyes doesn't, but it's > > > > > > > > not exactly a screen reader, unless you need the volunteer to read a > > > > > > > > screen for you. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ~ Kyle > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list > > > > > > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list > > > > > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > Rudy Vener > > > > > > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com > > > > > > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt > > > > > > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains constant no matter which political party holds the majority. > > > > > > - A. R. Vener > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list > > > > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list > > > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Rudy Vener > > > > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com > > > > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt > > > > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains constant no matter which political party holds the majority. > > > > - A. R. Vener > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Blinux-list mailing list > > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Blinux-list mailing list > > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > -- > > Rudy Vener > > Website: http://www.rudyvener.com > > Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt > > The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains constant no matter which political party holds the majority. > > - A. R. Vener > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Blinux-list mailing list > > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Blinux-list mailing list > Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list -- Rudy Vener Website: http://www.rudyvener.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/RudySalt The difference between truth and falsehood is that truth remains constant no matter which political party holds the majority. - A. R. Vener _______________________________________________ Blinux-list mailing list Blinux-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list