still more on bug

[John Heim]

Al, practically everything you wrote below counters arguements I never made.

First, I didn't say blind people who want a machine with a serial port 
should go out there and build one. I offered that as one possible solution 
and, in fact, said it wasn't for everyone. It was the third option I listed.

Secondly, I never said people shouldn't be satisfied with software speech. 
I said hardware speech is necessary to some people for doing things like 
rescuing down servers.  If you never have to do something like that and are 
happy with software speech, obviously, its fine by me.

Third, I never said ordinary users of speakup shouldn't ask for new 
features.  In fact, that's exactly what I did myself when I said that 
speakup is going to have to support USB hardware synths someday.  I merely 
objected to someone elses suggestion that it wasn't likely to happen.  We 
weren't discussing whether supporting USB synths is a good idea or even 
whether its reasonable to ask for that feature. We were only disagreeing 
about how likely we are to ever see it.

From: "Albert Sten-Clanton" <albert.e.sten_clanton at verizon.net>
To: "'Speakup is a screen review system for Linux.'" 
<speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 6:41 PM
Subject: RE: still more on bug


> John, now much sight, if any, would you think is needed to build a PC with
> serial ports?
>
> Not a direct respons to you, but I suspect that, if a majroity of blind
> folks using Linux do indeed express a degree of satisfation iwhth software
> speech, it could gbe because they're stuck with it, much as most blind
> people use Windows because, as somebody said to me, "you can't fight the
> giant." Software speech does have its advantages, perhaps portability 
> being
> the most notable one I can think of, but, for those who like to know 
> hwat's
> kicking in as booting progresses, there's nothing like using Speakup with 
> a
> hardware synthesizer.  (Indeed, this is a key difference between using
> Speakup and a hardware synthesizer and dealing with a Windows machine--or
> DOS in the old days.) For those who would say either write the relevant 
> code
> or shut the hell up, I'd say this:  if ordinary users don't count, then we
> can forget Linux ever even remotely approaching Windows or any other
> much-uused operating system in popularity.  As a believer in freedom, I
> would regard it as an undermining of Linux'
> S mission to declare that only the elite among us have any business
> declaring--commanding--our destiny.  (Even Microshaft doesn't do that, I
> think.)
>
> I appreciate your own efforts, so wish to be clear that the comments in 
> the
> previous paragraph are aimed at a perspective that, as far as I can tell,
> does not seem to be yours at this pioint.  As a user who is unlikely to
> master the relevant code, I do not wish to be relegated to the status of 
> one
> who must accept whatever the alleged majority wishes to inflict and the
> programmers wish to comply with.  I will reluctantly but dutifully crawl
> back to Windows, or find something else, if software freedom is not
> accompanied with top-notch software quality, or if we mere user mortals 
> are
> commanded to take what we're given or wear muzzles.
>
> Al
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: speakup-bounces at braille.uwo.ca 
> [mailto:speakup-bounces at braille.uwo.ca]
> On Behalf Of John Heim
> Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 5:53 PM
> To: Speakup is a screen review system for Linux.
> Subject: Re: still more on bug
>
> From: "Deedra Waters" <deedra at the-brannons.com>
> To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." 
> <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 6:34 PM
>>
>> I'm saying i know several who have worked on speakup over the years
>> and the folks who've maintained it lately can't fix it/haven't been
>> able to is probably the better wording here. As for me, no i'm no
>> coder at all but saying i'd be willing to work on it if i could code
>> my way out of a wet paper bag.
>>
>
> Well, don't be so negative, okay? First of all, the current group of
> developers are smart guys. I'm not saying they'll have it tomorrow but 
> they
> may get around to it eventually. And if not, I'm sure someone will pick up
> the ball. Heck, it might even be me.
>
>> maybe you should tell del to start advertising the models with serial
>> ports?:P point is like i said the machines i've gotten which are
>> generally the shitmachines as i > call dells haven't had them:P
>
> It might be a good idea for you to ask on this list for recommendations 
> next
> time you need to buy a new PC. Its not difficult to get a PC with a serial
> port. Another suggestion I have is to check used computer stores. You 
> might
> be able to find a slightly older high-end model for cheap there. Of 
> course,
> there is also the option of building your own PC. I built my last two PCs
> myself. Admittedly, that is not for the faint of heart.
>
>
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