2017-04-13 11:32:54

This is something I've been wondering about....

Accessible, out of the box Linux distros. I got frustrated with Win 10 and if I can find a Linux disttro that works for me I'll be more than happy to make the switch over.

So, I know about VInux and the Sonar GNU one, I got an image of both and VMWare.....and this is where my problems start.

1. Sonar will not, regardless of what I do, boot up in a VMWare machine at all so I can't test it out regardless, it locks up VMWare and I have to reset my actual machine. Or wait, literally 20 minutes for it to load the CD ISO and VMWare to detect anything.

2. Vinux on the other and boots up fine, but will not install. As in, I can either do the live CD at which point everything is a snail's pace, or.....reaalllllllllllly slow and ives GTK errors when loading the try Ubuntu live CD option (and yes I got the latest Vinux download off their site). If I do install, I can set it to install and go through the screens, but...the guides I've read have said I get to picking a username and a password, then....nothing, no continue button and I hear the install say 100%, which means I SHOULD be done with it, ut VMWare being VMWare...it's not working completely right.

So, any other accessible Linux distros out there out of the box that come with stuff enabled by default, I love the list of stuff that comes with Vinux by default frankly, (Yes, I know it's Ubuntu), and the idea behind Sonar is nice but....are there any other accessible Linux versions out there?

Also, should I try booting up both ISO images in Virtualbox too or not, or is there a preconfigured Vinux HD image I can get floating around to test it out, I don't want to install it on my actual laptop then run into the same issue of not being able to finish installing and effectively brick my laptop, it's one thing to wrck a VM, but my laptop....nope. (I could just put it on a partition which is what I'm thinking about doing but dual booting scares me...and I may just move over to Vinux full time)~

Lastly. Is the slow reaction in VMWare the result of, well, VMWare being a resource hog?

Warning: Grumpy post above
Also on Linux natively

2017-04-13 19:45:38

It ultimitly depends on the type of synth your using, but a vm can add sluggishness to it as well. Festival for instance, has a history of being notoriously sluggish and laggy. The last time I used linux full time, orca with espeak was quite responsive, though my personal favorite to use is via voice with voxin, which you can get for only 5 dollars at voxin.oralux.net I think is the correct address, its been forever since i've used linux full time to get it. On the subject of distros. Most distros, I say most because their's a select few that don't, most distros that have the gnome desktop environment will already have orca by default. I'd not suggest vinux at least, mainly for the simple reason that it tends to be a few versions behind ubuntu. Not to mention, all vinux is is a standard ubuntu live cd patched together with a few programs that you therefore don't have to install. If your gonna use linux, and not on just an well, I need to exparament basis, then your better off just going with out that extra stuff and installing it when you need it. Normally, i'd suggest arch linux, as their's a talking arch linux install that comes built in with speakup, allowing you to get everything set up, but for beginners i'd suggest ubuntu mate remix. Its still the same platform vinux uses, with out the extra stuff you can easily get, and uses the mate desktop, a fork of the gnome desktop with the older gnome 2 look and feel, which will feel a lot better than the current gnome or unity desktops provided with ubuntu by default.

Check out the new reality software site. http://realitysoftware.noip.us

2017-04-13 21:28:21

Distros I'd check out include:


https://www.ubuntu.com/

https://ubuntugnome.org

Notice:
As of the 13th of April 2017, Ubuntu GNOME 17.04 is its "final" version, as Ubuntu's "Unity" desktop will be replaced with "GnOME," as it was back in the day before 2011.
For more info see:

https://ubuntugnome.org/ubuntu-gnome-17-04-released/

https://ubuntu-mate.org/

https://talkingarch.tk/

2017-04-13 22:01:04

Well...Vinux uses Orca for desktop and Speakup for console, I don't need the latest version, and it is still 16.04 LTS so it is on the same LTS version as Ubuntu.

Her££e's my criteria for a linux distro for me, and I may well jump over full time to Linux for my laptop.
1. Fully spoken. As in, start with a liv Cd/ISO/USB drive/etc, and have it reading the screen by default.

2. Idiot proof/Linux for beginners install. I've  looked into Wubi and I like the fact that at least seems to set everything up, not actually tried it yet but it appears to be a good solution.

3. Secure. Yes, I can encrypt the disk (and I may end up doing so) but I want one I can be confident people won't screw it up.

So, suggest away, I shall play around with Talking Arch in a VM at some point, but I like the all in one and simplicity of Vinux, the fact it's all there and on by default. Yes, I COULD spend time making a custom .iso but if I don't know what packages are recommended or what I need I may just get lost in the maze of do I really need this or did I copy that into the .iso right?

Warning: Grumpy post above
Also on Linux natively

2017-04-16 13:11:13

So, two questions...

1. Can I install directly from a .iso on my HDD?

2. I have a list of programs that are must haves, a screeenreader (Orca works for that), Kodi (I can install and get the screenreader for that working) but the big one is Skype. Given I run the 64 bit Win10 currently....am I able to actually install skype or can I set up Pidgin to use Skype's stuff for messaging and voice alls over Mangler?

Warning: Grumpy post above
Also on Linux natively