Re: [orca-list] Benefits of Linux

["Jeanette C." <julien mail upb de>]

Sep 26 2018, Andy Borka via orca-list has written:

> Hi,
>
>
>
> I am bias in this subject from a technical point of view. Someone asked me
> what the benefits of using Linux with orca is over say Windows and OSX.
...
Hi Andy,
as you mentioned most - if not all - software is free, i.e. doesn't cost
anything.
Depending on your field of work, there will be - at least - one kind of
helpful online community. Most major applications even have their own
mailinglists or other forms of online group.
Mostly it is easy to contact development teams directly and with
courtesey and reason, you will find open ears, help and - if possible -
willingness to listen to the user-base.
In many fields one can find good documentation. In some cases so much
that it would need guidance to choose the best one to start with.
With initiative the Linux user experience is highly customiseable. This
extends from the look and feel of the desktop environment to the choice
of tools. In some areas there are very particular tools allowing to
support a lot of different workflows and points of view.
As long as there are enough engaged users of an application, there's a
built-in guarantee that this application will be updated and at least
be maintained to work on modern systems.
If a user is willing and by any means capable, Linux can be a very
educational experience, leading a user to understand the system and in
time (fully) maintain it and/or build once own highly specific work
environment.

There is the other side as well. Please note that I am not belittling or
criticing anyone. Linux does still appear to have a steeper learning
curve. I am not well-acquainted with windows myself, but with mac. The
the mac screenreader works, it is very consistent, easy to get and
powerful. Especially in a few areas of work (i.e. professional music
production) Linux cannot (yet) compete. To be fair: to be really
competitive with the other systems, does cost a pretty penny. The other
systems appear to require less initiative on the user's side to setup a
reasonable working environment and familiarise with it to a degree where
everyday work is possible.

As has been seen though, once a certain software becomes accessible,
doesn't mean that it will stay accessible. I have never encountered this
problem with opensource packages. This doesn't mean it doesn't happen,
but would be a rare occasion. Quite on the contrary, I have seen quite a
few packages been made accessible, sometimes for as little as one user
or simply as a general movement of inclusion and openness.

HTH.

Best wishes,

Jeanette

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