Why do you use Linux? expanded from Converting text to mp3

Thu Jan 27 03:21:57 UTC 2022

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 at redhat.com
> > > > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
> > > > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > > > Blinux-list mailing list
> > > > > > > Blinux-list at redhat.com
> > > > > > > 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 at redhat.com
> > > > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > Blinux-list mailing list
> > > > > Blinux-list at redhat.com
> > > > > 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 at redhat.com
> > > > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Blinux-list mailing list
> > > Blinux-list at redhat.com
> > > 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 at redhat.com
> > https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
> > 
> > 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> Blinux-list at redhat.com
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-- 
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