Re: [Blind-Computing] Survey for DOS Users
Actually, the 486 was just the lowest speed in which the program could work as a true multitasker instead of a task switcher. There are people today who use modern versions of DOS on extremely fast machines and who use all sorts of modern formats etc. I just wanted to know how accessible all of this newer technology is to the blind. Check out the 37 DOS Fallacies http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/DOS/DOS-Fal.html and the page on Enhanced DR-DOS, which was just updated last year http://drdosprojects.de/ for an idea of what DOS users are doing today. There is, in fact, a list, called Blind-L, for users of DOS. It's still active and I'm on it. Here's a page with a bit about it. For some reason, when a friend and I tried to subscribe to it, we could not do so without the mod doing it for us because of some kind of error message. Their archive doesn't seem to work either, but I've been receiving and sending messages from them so the list itself is fine. http://www.hicom.net/~oedipus/blind-l.html In any case, I've been a computer user for 14 years, have used a variety of Windows, from 95 to XP, as well as Leopard and Snow Leopard, and still prefer DOS. I like it's command line as well as the clean (nongraphical) menus which exist in several programs. Since it's obviously still a viable option, and since I've always enjoyed the old MicroSoft variety, I'd like to try the modern ones and see how they work. I wanted to know the most accessible software to use in order to make things easier for me. I will not attempt to use Linux or Unix, so please don't suggest them. Far too many people have said that when I say that I like the TUI and CLI and it drives me crazy! *smile* Talk soon, Eleni On 10/11/10, Russell J. Thomas, Jr wrote: > > I don't know what you are trying to accomplish here. I haven't used dos > since 1998. When JAWS version 3 was issued, it was possible to use windows > 95 and the Microsoft office programs. The 486 machine you mention has been > out of date for ten years. All of this technology has been significantly > updated, and is much easier to use. At this point, dos is of little more > than historical interest. > > > > > > Respectfully, > > > > Russell J. Thomas, Jr. > > Law Office of Russell J. Thomas, Jr. > > 4121 Westerly Place, Suite 101 > > Newport Beach, California 92660 > > T: (949) 752-0101 > > F: (949) 257-4756 > > M: (949) 466-7238 > > www.emplmnattorney.com > > Follow me on Twitter: EmplmntAttorney > > > > PLEASE NOTE MY NEW EMAIL ADDRESS, EFF. 6/1/2010: > rtho...@emplmntattorney.com > > > -Original Message- > From: blind-computing-boun...@jaws-users.com > [mailto:blind-computing-boun...@jaws-users.com] On Behalf Of Eleni Vamvakari > Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 4:57 PM > To: blind-computing@jaws-users.com > Subject: [Blind-Computing] Survey for DOS Users > > Geia sas/hello! > > I've been posting this to various places. So I'm sorry if you've seen > it somewhere else. Please forgive me if I've asked some of these in > other posts here but I'm trying to gain an overall understanding and > to be as detailed as possible. If you no longer use DOS but have done > so in the past, just answer to the best of your ability. Since this > will be long, you may cut out my original post when responding. > > Survey for DOS Users > > This is a survey that I'm conducting for my own sake, in order to > learn about the use of DOS among the blind in the past and in the > present in order to help me in my own transition to this operating > system. Answer to the best of your ability and just skip whatever > doesn't apply. > > Basics > > What version of DOS are you using? I'm referring to number as well as > variety, example, MS-DOS 6.21, Enhanced DR-DOS 7.02 etc. > > On what type of machine are you running DOS? Please include, if > possible, specifications on ram, processor speed and hard drive size. > > For how long have you been a DOS user? > > Blind-specific > > Do you have any usable vision? This might affect what software you > can use, which may work with magnification but which may not be > accessible with screenreaders. > > What screen access software are you using? Please include version > number if possible. > > What kind of synthesizer are you using? Is it hardware or software? > If software, how did you enable it to work with DOS? > > Software > > I'm interested in learning what types of the following software you > use. Please include version along with name and whether or not it is > considered adaptive tech as some of these might be a bit obscure. If > you find that
Re: [Blind-Computing] Survey for DOS Users
I don't know what you are trying to accomplish here. I haven't used dos since 1998. When JAWS version 3 was issued, it was possible to use windows 95 and the Microsoft office programs. The 486 machine you mention has been out of date for ten years. All of this technology has been significantly updated, and is much easier to use. At this point, dos is of little more than historical interest. Respectfully, Russell J. Thomas, Jr. Law Office of Russell J. Thomas, Jr. 4121 Westerly Place, Suite 101 Newport Beach, California 92660 T: (949) 752-0101 F: (949) 257-4756 M: (949) 466-7238 www.emplmnattorney.com Follow me on Twitter: EmplmntAttorney PLEASE NOTE MY NEW EMAIL ADDRESS, EFF. 6/1/2010: rtho...@emplmntattorney.com -Original Message- From: blind-computing-boun...@jaws-users.com [mailto:blind-computing-boun...@jaws-users.com] On Behalf Of Eleni Vamvakari Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 4:57 PM To: blind-computing@jaws-users.com Subject: [Blind-Computing] Survey for DOS Users Geia sas/hello! I've been posting this to various places. So I'm sorry if you've seen it somewhere else. Please forgive me if I've asked some of these in other posts here but I'm trying to gain an overall understanding and to be as detailed as possible. If you no longer use DOS but have done so in the past, just answer to the best of your ability. Since this will be long, you may cut out my original post when responding. Survey for DOS Users This is a survey that I'm conducting for my own sake, in order to learn about the use of DOS among the blind in the past and in the present in order to help me in my own transition to this operating system. Answer to the best of your ability and just skip whatever doesn't apply. Basics What version of DOS are you using? I'm referring to number as well as variety, example, MS-DOS 6.21, Enhanced DR-DOS 7.02 etc. On what type of machine are you running DOS? Please include, if possible, specifications on ram, processor speed and hard drive size. For how long have you been a DOS user? Blind-specific Do you have any usable vision? This might affect what software you can use, which may work with magnification but which may not be accessible with screenreaders. What screen access software are you using? Please include version number if possible. What kind of synthesizer are you using? Is it hardware or software? If software, how did you enable it to work with DOS? Software I'm interested in learning what types of the following software you use. Please include version along with name and whether or not it is considered adaptive tech as some of these might be a bit obscure. If you find that the software is not fully accessible, please let me know. OCR (for scanning printed documents): Please include the brand and model of scanner used. Wordprocessor or text editor: Calculator: Compact flash card reader: Please post it's file size limit if applicable and it's general speed if possible. Bar code scanner and software: Internet access software: Pplease include what kind of internet connection you use, your provider or at least type of service i.e. shell accounht, ppp, cable etc., your browser and any drivers or special software needed to actually connect to the internet itself using your method. Mp3 player and/or recorder Cd player and/or burner: Spreadsheet: Accounting software: Any other general business software that I've overlooked: Antivirus: Security: (firewall etc.) Memory manager: Multitasker or task switcher: Shell or other directory utilities: Battery checker (if using laptop): Webpage creator: Any other useful software for general opperations within the operating system: Modern DOS These questions refer to those who either use a modern version of DOS or who use newer software to enhance the capability of older versions. Since I know the most about Enhanced DR-DOS (from here on referred to as EDRD), in this regard, some will be specific to that variety. But if you use another version with something equivalent, please let me know. I've heard that EDRD has a program that can serve as a multitasker in machines with a processor higher than a 486 and as a task switcher in machines with slower speeds. But how accessible is it with a screenreader? Is one reader better than another for this purpose? I'd like to know the same thing about it's memory manager. I have a program for reading pdfs but haven't tried it yet. Has anyone had success with a DOS pdf reader? Which is currently more accesible, EDRD or FreeDOS? Is there a large difference between the 16 and 32-bit versions of DOS? For those who use the MicroSoft variety, what software do you use to allow it to deal with modern formats? Is there an accessible internet browser that can work with modern pages containing forms
[Blind-Computing] Survey for DOS Users
Geia sas/hello! I've been posting this to various places. So I'm sorry if you've seen it somewhere else. Please forgive me if I've asked some of these in other posts here but I'm trying to gain an overall understanding and to be as detailed as possible. If you no longer use DOS but have done so in the past, just answer to the best of your ability. Since this will be long, you may cut out my original post when responding. Survey for DOS Users This is a survey that I'm conducting for my own sake, in order to learn about the use of DOS among the blind in the past and in the present in order to help me in my own transition to this operating system. Answer to the best of your ability and just skip whatever doesn't apply. Basics What version of DOS are you using? I'm referring to number as well as variety, example, MS-DOS 6.21, Enhanced DR-DOS 7.02 etc. On what type of machine are you running DOS? Please include, if possible, specifications on ram, processor speed and hard drive size. For how long have you been a DOS user? Blind-specific Do you have any usable vision? This might affect what software you can use, which may work with magnification but which may not be accessible with screenreaders. What screen access software are you using? Please include version number if possible. What kind of synthesizer are you using? Is it hardware or software? If software, how did you enable it to work with DOS? Software I'm interested in learning what types of the following software you use. Please include version along with name and whether or not it is considered adaptive tech as some of these might be a bit obscure. If you find that the software is not fully accessible, please let me know. OCR (for scanning printed documents): Please include the brand and model of scanner used. Wordprocessor or text editor: Calculator: Compact flash card reader: Please post it's file size limit if applicable and it's general speed if possible. Bar code scanner and software: Internet access software: Pplease include what kind of internet connection you use, your provider or at least type of service i.e. shell accounht, ppp, cable etc., your browser and any drivers or special software needed to actually connect to the internet itself using your method. Mp3 player and/or recorder Cd player and/or burner: Spreadsheet: Accounting software: Any other general business software that I've overlooked: Antivirus: Security: (firewall etc.) Memory manager: Multitasker or task switcher: Shell or other directory utilities: Battery checker (if using laptop): Webpage creator: Any other useful software for general opperations within the operating system: Modern DOS These questions refer to those who either use a modern version of DOS or who use newer software to enhance the capability of older versions. Since I know the most about Enhanced DR-DOS (from here on referred to as EDRD), in this regard, some will be specific to that variety. But if you use another version with something equivalent, please let me know. I've heard that EDRD has a program that can serve as a multitasker in machines with a processor higher than a 486 and as a task switcher in machines with slower speeds. But how accessible is it with a screenreader? Is one reader better than another for this purpose? I'd like to know the same thing about it's memory manager. I have a program for reading pdfs but haven't tried it yet. Has anyone had success with a DOS pdf reader? Which is currently more accesible, EDRD or FreeDOS? Is there a large difference between the 16 and 32-bit versions of DOS? For those who use the MicroSoft variety, what software do you use to allow it to deal with modern formats? Is there an accessible internet browser that can work with modern pages containing forms, java, html etc? Which screenreader is the most adaptable or seems to work the best with the modern software? Can DOS be installed as a stand-alone system on any machine or must said machine have certain core drivers, like BIOS, to allow for it? If so, what are the other drivers? What, in your opinion, are appropriate specs for a strictly DOS machine, using the types of software above? Please include ram, processor speed and hard disk size. Extra If you wish to add anything, please do so. Thank you for taking the time to fill this out. Well wishes, Eleni For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/
