Questions about DOS (sorry if off-topic)

[Glenn Ervin]

My speech program has always been Jaws, because it is the only one to which 
I felt the keyboard commands with the number pad made sense, and that is one 
of the reasons which I still prefer Windows to Linux, that is, all of the 
screenreaders for Linux use that weird keyboard command structure, IMHO.
But when I was using DOS, to which I did virtually all of the commands 
either in batch files, or individually, I always wanted a good software 
synth solution.
I used a SoundBlaster card, and there was a software driver for use with a 
screenreader, and it sounded quite good, but computers back then could not 
handle the overhead of the synthesizer.
I wonder if it was called SbTalker?
I'll bet it would work with a sound blaster card much better with Jaws for 
DOS, which has been free now for some time.
I wish I could use my Artic215 card now, as I would still use it if I had an 
ISA slot on my computers.
HTH.
Glenn

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eleni Vamvakari" <magkisa83 at gmail.com>
To: <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 2:44 PM
Subject: Questions about DOS (sorry if off-topic)


Geia sas/hello,

I'm a totally blind 25-year-old college graduate who adores DOS.  I've
been into it for 11 years now, beginning in 1996, when it was already
considered obsolete by most people.  I tried to teach myself all that
I could, but eventually got dragged into the world of windows and then
got a Macbook..   Well, 13 computers and several operating systems
later, I'm returning to my first tech love, DOS.  For the record, I've
never used unix or Linux.  I recently found FreeDOS but it seems that
it hasn't been updated in awhile.  Then, I discovered Enhanced DR-DOS
(EDRD) and was amazed.  Here's a system that's still being updated and
whose developers want to make it a truly modern os.  I downloaded the
latest stable version and am planning on installing it as the only os
on my Compaq Armada.  I know that there's at least one other blind
person on the EDRD forms so will also pass these questions onto them.
But I found a thread here about using an open source screenreader on
DOS.  So I'm hoping I can get answers for the following questions.
Feel free to email me if you think it'll cause a problem.
1. Which screenreader works best with EDRD?  I have Vocaleyes, JAWS,
Provox and Tinitalk.  I also know there are one or two leser-known
readers out there, though I haven't got them yet.  I'm mostly a
VocalEyes user in DOS and have used JAWS in Windows so am familiar
with it through that os.  But are there any compatability issues
between MS-DOS and EDRD that would make one screenreader work better
than another?
2.Is it possible to use a software synthesizer with EDRD?  I recently
heard of a program called Interface that works with the MBROLA
synthesizer, JAWS and MS-DOS but am not sure if it's compatible.  If
not, can I use the standard synths that work in MS-DOS?  I heard here
that ESpeak is compatible with DOS too.  Is this true?  If so, what
program does it use and what versions of DOS can handle it?
3. What's the most accessible web browser?  I've heard Nettamer and
Lynx are pretty good but can they handle the web today?  Is there a
more modern one that we can use?  What are some of the most accessible
DOS programs in general?
4. Can DOS screenreaders handle the multitasking capabilities in EDRD?
 They sound great but how are the menus in the task manager read?
5. What's the best ocr program and scanner to use?  Do drivers and
software exist for more modern scanners or should I stick with an
older one like the Pagescan and Omnipage or Recognita and whetever it
supports?  Does anyone know where I can find OSCAR?
6. Is there a way to create a backup disk once the os is installed so
that I can install it on my own with speech?  I highly doubt it but
figured I'd ask.
7. How do I create a bootdisk for EDRD?  they say you're supposed to
use a disk formatted to work with Enhanced DR-DOS but how do I do that
when I haven't even installed the os yet?  Alternatively, has anyone
done an install purefly off a cd rom?
9.  What's the best wireless card to use?  I've got Verizon Fios if it
makes a difference.
10. I have a 10 gb hard disk.  Will this cause a problem with the os
because it's larger than 7 gb?

Thanks,
Eleni
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