[orca-list] the inevitable newby questions

["Rusty Perez" <rustys lists gmail com>]

Hi folks,
I'm sure these questions come up pretty often so please excuse my newness.

I'm just taking my first tentative steps with linux. My friends all
suggested I try ubuntu because it's cool. It also seems to have the
best integration with gnome and orca and speech and stuff. I need that
'cause, well, I can't see the screen.

Anyway, that out of the way. I've got gutsy running on a little old
machine about 450 mhz, not sure how much ram.

First off, espeak seems to studder sometimes. Is that just my slow
machine or can something be done about this?

Also, is there any way to use a speech synth which is a little easier
on the ears. Of course I'm use to eloquence. Is there anything free,
such as the l&h synths or the MS synths or eloquence which will work?
I've heard festival and am not too crazy about it either.

Thanks so much. I'm sure I'll have more questions, but I've only had
it running for two hours or so.

Rusty