Re: what operating system to use?

[Travis Siegel <tsiegel@softcon.com>]

> 1. what operating system is prefered by the blind ? (linux , msdos , win95,
> mac    etc..)

I think the answer to this one is dos, as linux isn't really main stream
enough to make it usable by a large number of people.

> 2. what is the most developed enviorment for the blind ? under what
>    operating system does it operate ?

I'm not sure what you mean here, but I've found nothing spacifically
developed for the blind.  I just used all dos apps (until I got linux
operating properly) After that, I'm almost entirely linux, with forays
back into dos as needed.

> 3. what is the popularity of linux , and should hardware / software developers
>    work under this operating systrem ?

Personal opinion here.  I think that developers should work under linux,
but I don't think it'll be profitable for them, simply because at first,
there won't be enough people using it to make it worthwhile for them.  I
like linux, and every other blind person I know who has started using it
also liked it, it's just not very accessable, unless you have two
computers, (so you can use one as a terminal) or one of the very few
devices that linux supports directly.  I would have mad the switch 2-3
years ago if I'd known there was support for blind users.  As for
commercial companies supporting things, it doesn't seem like that
developers will, simply because the linux community is used to free.
That's a powerful word, and changing that will take some killer apps to
accomplish it.  That's why I say, developers probably ignore linux,
because it's not profitable enough.  But then again, dos isn't all that
profitable anymore either.
Just my thoughts.



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