[orca-list] Getting started using orca under ubuntu

[Jacob Kruger <jacob blindza co za>]

I am busy setting up a second machine, which might become my primary 
development platform, since I am primarily a web developer, who works 
with PHP, etc..


Anyway, my primary platform up to now has been windows, working with the 
NVDA screen reader, but, I have already got a desktop PC, with a 275Gb 
solid-state drive, which has ubuntu 16.04 installed on it, with orca up 
and running, and, I am pretty comfortable with the object 
navigation/screen review commands, since they are relatively similar to 
NVDA on the windows platform's object navigation, and, also since I have 
played around with raspberry pi mini computers in the past, running the 
raspbian version of debian linux - there worked with a version of 
speakUp, working primarily command line.


However, my introductory question actually relates to the use of Ubuntu, 
and/or the configuration thereof.


This is since neither the gnome menu/search box, brought up using left 
alt+F1, and the unity launcher, brought up using the super/windows key 
on the keyboard seem to offer much in conjunction with orca - not with 
current configuration, in any case?


This is since both of them seem to, at various points, just not read out 
focus items to me, or, under unity launcher, it will just tell me 
something like "push button", without reading any form of description 
beyond that out to me.


In other words, should I consider a prior version of ubuntu, or a 
completely different instance of linux, or is there some additional 
setting, or form of configuration I should look into?


Lastly, the reason I am asking these questions is since I would want to 
use the machine as a complete PC, working on it as a coding platform, as 
well as my work machine, and for leisure activities like reading eBooks, 
playing music, audio editing, etc. etc.


TIA

Jacob Kruger
Blind Biker
Skype: BlindZA
"Resistance is futile, but, acceptance is versatile..."