replacing Windows w/ Linux

[Eric Oyen]

Now, if RDesktop supported screenreader functionality or ported the audio over to the linux side, then there would be something useful for me. I have tried virtually every Remote Desktop package out there at some point. If they cannot port the sound to a local speaker, then the screen reader is useless to me under those conditions. Now, running a virtual machine on the desktop with all the devices setup and ported is a different critter. If I have sound inside the VM and it’s connected to an external audio device, no problem!

So, this is one area where access by a blind computer user or even a blind system admin needs a substantial amount of improvement Believe me, this is important because the last time I tried to get hired on at a place like Ebay, I was told that due to technical difficulties, some of my job accommodations could not be accomplished. Now, if it were windows with jaws (installed on both windows sessions), then there wouldn’t be much of a problem. However, using anything else with a Remote Desktop, forget it. Even Apple fails here as there is no remote linkup to allow voiceover on the remote session to be forwarded to the actual desktop of the user. 

Now, Linux does have some tools that might work around this, partially. Using ESD as a network sound device, one could connect to that at the same time as connecting to the Desktop session and it might work. BTW, I actually attempted this some time ago and it was hit or miss. Some of the screen reader packages wouldn’t support connecting to a network sound device.

So, in the area of accessibility for the blind, remote desktops and virtual machines need a lot of work. Until this happens, some viable talent won’t get hired that could be working, AND CONTRIBUTING!

-Eric
From the Central Offices of the Technomage Guild, Equal access for all Dept.


> On Apr 30, 2019, at 4:04 PM, Kevin Fries <kevin at fries-biro.com> wrote:
> 
> One thing every Linux user knows is that not all software is created equal.  While I find some of the standard tools we use (like InkScape, and Gimp) to be actually better than most paid options in Windows (sure some of the expensive graphical tools will exceed the Linux tools, but the mid-range and low cost ones are often better in Linux).
> 
> However there are some tools that really have no replacement.  Visio is one of the best known ones.  One trick I have used with great success is RDesktop with SeamlessRDP.  Rather than running windows as a VirtualBox and trying to move back and forth.  You can actually have windows programs (running in a VM in the background) appear on your desktop like first class Linux apps.
> 
> Works really, really well if you take the time to set it up right, and freaks out your windows friends when you show them the new Linux port of Adobe Photoshop.  Watch them Google the heck out of it.  LOL.
> 
> Kevin
> 
> Sent from BlueMail <http://www.bluemail.me/r?b=14874>
> On Apr 30, 2019, at 4:06 PM, David Schwartz <newsletters at thetoolwiz.com <mailto:newsletters at thetoolwiz.com>> wrote:
> I have an odd question … suppose I wanted to take a fairly vanilla Windows computer with Win 7 … 10 on it, like your typical Dell or Lenovo or Asus laptop or desktop; suck that OS install with all the apps into a VirtualBox VM; copy that VM off to a backup drive; fully reformat the HDD and install some friendly version of Linux; and finally load up VirtualBox and then the VM and make the VM work so it looked and acted virtually identical to how it did before.
> 
> So, I’m not asking HOW to do this … I wouldn’t have much trouble doing it myself.
> 
> What I’m wondering is if there are any resources around that would explain how an average person could do it without much trouble? Videos, books, eBooks, tutorials, whatever.
> 
> Also, for anybody who’s been through this process, how long did it take? Or how long would you expect it to take based on similar experiences?
> 
> -David Schwartz
> 
> 
> 
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