Vinux (was: Re: Accessible Ubuntu Installation?)

[John G. Heim]

The main reason for something like vinux is that a lot of people have a hard 
time just getting started with linux. Over on a list for blind sysadmins, 
the question comes up just about every time someone mentions live CDs -- is 
there one that comes up talking without my having to just the right key at 
just the right time.

People are already struggling with linux, they don't want to have to 
struggle to get speech started too.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tony Baechler" <tony at baechler.net>
To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 6:22 AM
Subject: Vinux (was: Re: Accessible Ubuntu Installation?)


> Hi,
>
> I'm not trying to pick on this particular post or the person posting it. 
> Is it just me, or do others here have a real problem with the idea of 
> using a specialized distro for the blind?  Let me explain what I mean.  I 
> am a very happy Debian user, although I've looked at Slackware, Red Hat, 
> Gentoo and the Ubuntu live CD.  All of those are mainstream distributions 
> that happen to have accessibility support.  Is it just my attitude or do 
> others find using a special distro for the blind demeaning and insultive? 
> Instead of expecting people to use a blind-friendly distro, why not use an 
> already accessible distro such as Debian or Ubuntu in the first place? 
> Besides generally getting a lot better support and a larger user base, 
> there is no guarantee that a single developer will continue releasing new 
> versions of the specialist distro in a timely manner.  That happens with 
> mainstream distros already.  Also, granted I refuse to use the Vinux CD 
> for the simple reason that I feel that I shouldn't have to use a 
> specialist distro, but what does it offer that Ubuntu doesn't already? 
> From what I've read, it has deleted graphics packages but still comes with 
> the same accessibility features and packages.
>
> A good example of what I'm talking about is Oralux.  It's now abandoned 
> and apparently used its own packaging system.  I was helping someone 
> switch to grml because Oralux wasn't really working anymore and was 
> abandoned.  Why not just use Debian or grml in the first place?  If 
> someone could please explain why Vinux is so much better than a mainstream 
> distro and why one should lower their standards to using a special distro 
> primarily for the blind, I would be very interested.  To me, this is like 
> being required to use sighted help for something that the blind can do 
> independently.  Note that I'm not talking about using a screen reader or 
> software to help the blind do a task easier, I'm only talking about 
> locking oneself into a special distro that might not have long term 
> support and is not designed for the general population.
>
> Georgina Joyce wrote:
>> But just having caught up I noticed that no-one seemed to mention vinux.
>>
>
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