Hewlet Packard and Linux

Sun Aug 26 16:05:48 EDT 2001

On Sat, 25 Aug 2001, Gregory Nowak wrote:

> I don't think we'll see what
> you describe until there is an
> x speech server.

Well, if you're in San Francisco over the next few days, stop by the Sun
Booth at LinuxWorld and see a prototype for GNOME. And/Or, join the
Tuesday evening BOFA session at the downtown SF Marriott. Or just take a
look at what's up at:

	http://www.gnome.org/projects/gap/

My expectation is that the GNOME access elements will be the first out of
the gate for actual users next year. But, it's increasingly looking like
GNOME will not be the only choice.

That's good of course. Choice is good.

				Janina

> This would of course give us the ease of use of windows
> (no more commands, just menus), and it would give us
> access to staroffice and other things.
> When that happens, Linux will be on an equal footing with windows
> (if not farther) in terms of speech access.
> Greg
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 25, 2001 at 11:28:36PM +1000, Shaun Oliver wrote:
> > I've been following this thread for a while. and haven't decided to say
> > something until now.
> > I'm of the oppinion that linux as an operating system accessable to the
> > blind, is streets ahead of it's comercial counterparts.
> > I say this because as a user of both operating systems, I can see the place
> > for both of them. I find that windows in a normal office environment is a
> > very powerful tool indeed. However, if I could have the power of linux and
> > the ease of use of windows all rolled into one, I'd be a very happy camper.
> > I mean I'd like the nice frilly bits of microsoft word and excell and all
> > that but right at the moment, I haven't seen gpl console versions of either.
> > Linux is a great workhorse especially if you want to run it as a server box
> > or as a firewall, but I want the durrability of linux with the ease of use
> > of windows but I guess for now I'll just have to learn how to use linux to
> > it's full potential.
> > Don't get me wrong here, I'm not complaining, just stating how I feel on the
> > whole issue.
> > Shaun..
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> > Make Unlimited phone calls from your PC to ANY phone in the World!
> > http://www.eboom.com/free/
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Charles Hallenbeck" <chuckh at mhonline.net>
> > To: <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
> > Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2001 10:59 PM
> > Subject: Re: Hewlet Packard and Linux
> >
> >
> > > Charlie and all -
> > >
> > > Your remarks about DOS are interesting - I was a DOS fan too and actually
> > > never moved to Windows, except to support my Arkenstone Open Book Unbound
> > > software. My machine is presently a dual boot machine so I can se Linux to
> > > get work done or else at boot time select DOS (I use the Caldera
> > > OpenDOS) to use my scanner software and one or two other legacy apps.
> > >
> > > If you remember when DOS was introduced in the early 80s, version 1.X was
> > > a lot like CP/M; as it was revised to 2.X and then 3.X, it gradually
> > > became a lot more like Unix than CP/M, with a hierarchical file system,
> > > batch files, and then later versions even had online help.
> > >
> > > Now that should tell you something: namely, that Unix was a mature
> > > standard for text consoles even in the early 80s when DOS was being forged
> > > in Redmond. Linux of course is an Open Source and contemporary
> > > implementation of Unix, and is therefore a decade ahead of the game
> > > compared to DOS.
> > >
> > > Linux is also a fundamentally dual personality system, with its GUI being
> > > a robust add-on to the underlying text based console system.
> > >
> > > Linux was created as Open Source on the internet and is maintained and
> > > developed there. It is a fundamental mistake to think of it in the same
> > > market terms as the other major OS. Of course there is no market for Linux
> > > accessibility solutions. But there are users and there is need, and that
> > > need is being met by and large without benefit of market concepts.
> > >
> > > How do people make a living in the Open Source world? By selling services,
> > > not products. Products in the Open Source world are organic things. They
> > > take root, they grow, they live or die on their merits, and they both give
> > > to and take from their users. There would be no Speakup if it were
> > > conceived on a marketing model of accessibility solutions,  trust me on
> > > that one.
> > >
> > > So - don't worry about Linux, it is in there for the long haul.
> > >
> > > I was recently tempted to spring for a preinstalled Linux system when I
> > > last upgraded, but opted for the "rolling my own" solution. I am convinced
> > > that if I had plunked down for a package deal I would have ended up
> > > overhauling it anyway.
> > >
> > > Will Linux ever be a mass market product suitable for the people who check
> > > their email once a week and want their machine to do what they want, and
> > > not what they say? Probably not. There may always be a niche for a
> > > Windows-type OS with its closely guarded secrets and predatory practices,
> > > with all the insides protected from meddling users and all the decision
> > > details already made for them.
> > >
> > > Best regards - and welcome to the list!
> > >
> > > Chuck
> > >
> > >
> > > Visit me at http://www.mhonline.net/~chuckh
> > > The Moon is Waxing Crescent (46% of Full)
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Speakup mailing list
> > > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> > > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Speakup mailing list
> > Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> > http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
>

-- 

				Janina Sajka, Director
				Technology Research and Development
				Governmental Relations Group
				American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

Email: janina at afb.net		Phone: (202) 408-8175

Chair, Accessibility SIG
Open Electronic Book Forum (OEBF)
http://www.openebook.org

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