Vinux (was: Re: Accessible Ubuntu Installation?)

Mon Jun 1 16:45:23 EDT 2009

I couldn't agree more!  As it happens, I maintain a version of Fedora that 
we call "Speakup Modified Fedora".  I do this only because, IMPO, Fedora 
isn't doing what it should be doing.  I rebuild the kernel to include our 
favorite screen review system, add espeak, which is in the distro, but, 
amazingly, not on the installation media.  I also add python-brlapi and 
speech-dispatcher, again both in the distro but missing from the disks.  I 
remove absolutely nothing!  Therefore, SMF can be handed out at LUG 
meetings in the knowledge that any user can install it and use whatever 
features, whether in the original Fedora, or added in SMF.  Another 
advantage to using SMF is that every time The Fedora Project updates any 
package, no matter how small, SMF is re spun with the updated packages.

-- 
           Bill in Denver

On Mon, 1 Jun 2009, 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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