Intro, and the dreaded basic question

Wed Jan 14 13:31:07 UTC 2009

Ubuntu and most other linux distributions, are free of cost.
You can download an iso image which you then burn onto a cd and boot up 
with that.
It is about a 700 megabyte download.
If you do not have a good internet connection, you can look on the ubuntu 
web site for alternative ways of getting hold of ubuntu.
Regards, Willem

On Wed, 14 Jan 2009, Larry Higgins wrote:

> Willem, thanks very much for your quick and helpful response. I've got plenty
> of information to work from.
> 
> One thing I forgot to ask about is the cost for a copy of  Ubuntu. And no, I
> don't expect for you to tell me that it is free <g>. But hopefully, it will be
> reasonably priced, especially since this venture is more or less an
> experimental one at this stage of the going. I don't know how long it will
> even take me to even get started, but when I do, you and the list will be
> hearing plenty from me I'm sure.
> 
> Take care, and thanks again,
> 
> Larry
> 
> At 06:00 AM 1/14/2009, you wrote:
> >Good to hear you are finally ready to give linux a go.
> >IMHO, one of the most painless ways to get a running, talking linux iwith
> >most options included, is to go for Ubuntu.
> >These days, Linux can speak from the console/command-line as it could do
> >for a long time, as well as speak from the gnome gui.
> >I use speakup for speech from the command line and use orca, the gui gnome
> >screen-reader when I have to.
> >Many people these days only use orca, and they are still alive.
> >Go for the latest version of ubuntu called intrepid.
> >This is not only because you will have better hardware support on most
> >machines, but also because it makes the installation of speakup a lot
> >easier.
> >Google for audio tutorial ubuntu orca to find the mail archive on the
> >orca-list where you can find the links to audio tutorials prepared by
> >blind people from the community on installing ubuntu using its own
> >software speech and orca from the live cd.
> >If you go for Ubuntu, make sure that you get the matching tutorial for the
> >intrepid 8.10 version, as there were some changes over time regarding the
> >exact installation procedures.
> >After a standard Ubuntu installation, you will have orca installed, but
> >not speakup yet.
> >Another popular linx these days is called grml, giving you a talking
> >command-line linux.
> >I have not personally worked with that, but by the sound of it, it works
> >well.
> >Linux, at any rate from the command-line, can be made quite
> >speech-friendly.
> >Orca, the gui screen-reader is moving forward quickly and I am sure with
> >time will also be speech-friendly with most applications.
> >For now, it works very well with some apps and less so with others.
> >In short, things did get a lot easier over the last number of years with
> >regards to linux in general.
> >Hope this give you enough to start off with.
> >There is a speakup mailing list and an orca one, both archived, so you
> >should be able to find info there.
> >Because of a lot of changes in the last year, I would suggest that you do
> >not look at emails regarding any of these things where the post is older
> >than about six months.
> >Regards, Willem
> >
> >
> >On Wed, 14 Jan 2009, Larry Higgins wrote:
> >
> > > Hello listers,
> > >
> > > My name is Larry Higgins from Sycamore, IL. I am a first time 
> > poster to this
> > > list, although I have been subscribed to this list for God knows how long,
> > > anywhere from 8 to 10 years probably, and have taken only  a 
> > passing interest
> > > in possibly installing Linux of some variety on one of the many 
> > computers that
> > > have past through my life over these many years, but could never 
> > find the time
> > > or drive space to do so. My reason for getting at least serious enough to
> > > inquire is as follows.
> > >
> > > A neighbor of mine took it upon himself to buy for me for Christmas a Dell
> > > Inspiron 530 computer that I really didn't need. This thing came 
> > with Vista,
> > > and I thought that after playing around with Vista for the first 
> > time over the
> > > next few days, I might get brave and tackle installing a version 
> > of Linux on
> > > that computer, either running a dual boot, or just removing Vista 
> > and starting
> > > from scratch.
> > >
> > > Of course, my questions are the usual ones that might come from 
> > the greenest
> > > novice.Which version of Linux is best and most popular among Blinux list
> > > members, and what would I need to make installation 
> > as        convenient, if not as
> > > easy as possible? I do not have a refreshable Braille display, 
> > only speech in
> > > the form of Window-Eyes, which I know from the outset will do me 
> > absolutely no
> > > good <g>.
> > >
> > > Will I need lots of sighted help in order to get Linux installed, 
> > or is there
> > > anything like a hands off installation routine, or am I dreaming?  After
> > > getting Linux installed, how speech friendly can it be made to be 
> > these days?
> > > Also, is there any way to make a GUI speak in Linux, one similar 
> > to Windows?
> > >
> > > With that, I think I'll wait for your answers. I must say, I have 
> > heard some
> > > nightmarish stories about these kinds of installations, so just hope I'm
> > > really ready for this. Heck, if I really want to attempt this, I 
> > made need a
> > > mentor or two <g>.
> > >
> > > Any help with these issues will be greatly appreciated,
> > >
> > > Larry
> > >
> > > PS I'm sure you might ask if I have been reading this list over these many
> > > years, and the answer is no, I am ashamed to say, and I haven't kept an
> > > archive of my own either. I will proceed to slap myself on the 
> > hand real hard
> > > <g>.
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Blinux-list mailing list
> > > Blinux-list at redhat.com
> > > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
> > >
> > >
> >
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