Vinux (was: Re: Accessible Ubuntu Installation?)

[Georgina Joyce]

Hi

Linux is about choice and you've had choice.  Anything that makes linux
available to more VI people has my vote.  For new users to have access
to for screen readers that they can explore is an excellent opportunity
for promoting linux.  Just because I struggled in 1998 it doesn't mean
that everyone following has to do so too.

Furthermore, because of vinux.  Linux is going to be at Sight Village,
so that people can hav a hands on look at linux.  I'm hoping that I can
assist Tony in demonstrating linux.

There's nothing elitist about using linux.
 
Thanks.


On Mon, 2009-06-01 at 04:22 -0700, Tony Baechler wrote:
> 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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-- 
Gena

M0EBP

http://ready2golinux.com