How long have I waited for this!
Although not VI myself, I deal with some young VI learners (students) very eager to use PC's etc. Of course to their deserved benefit. That happens at a school where I was able to provide Internet specially for them, the VI.
In Windows is available a great program (Jaws) but just as Windows this program is made for those that "have" (money). Most schools and students cannot afford. Its plain (too) expensive! Shameful expensive actually. That means that due to lack of budget the whole thing runs on minimal capacity. (They have to share PC).
A "free VI enabled Linux OS" is a long time dream of me. I knew about Orca and have tried (a non geek at that here) to get it going satisfactory on a Gnome distro of my choice but never was really successful. I tried the previous Oralux project but again ... it wasn't there yet imho.
Now here is Vibuntu by Anthony Sales and .... well this is by far the best alternative to Windows/Jaws I have ever seen. Is it perfect? Not yet I would say. I am just started to test it on the various machines we got on hands. Some don't run at all (video is the problem), others do have issues (apps crashing and "hangs") but then I got meanwhile also a machine that runs just fine aside of maybe one or two glitches. In short so far stability and HW detection is still a slight problem it seems to me be it a early call. One factor could be that some of these machines are already some older (donations) although they should easily meet the minimum requirements while I keep them "healthy". I got to select machines where on it runs best for now I guess.
Once up and running I am going to introduce the OS to the VI students and maybe, smart as some are, they can setup things even better then me while testing. The swap from Windows/Jaws to Linux/Orca will not be easy, I guess. So far I am the only Linux user here but at least I can explain how the OS works different here and there, when needed. But seen the advantages (free for all to use and finally free from the fights against virii etc.) this got to be a major and probably a only real alternative. Being mobile (Vibuntu on a mem-stick) will be one more great advantage. I will ask all that can to give feed back to Anthony and I sure hope he will move on perfecting his Vibuntu. He's so close! No need to say that I am thankful for his efforts and ... for Vibuntu!
One thing I changed already. There's a bit too many icons on the desktop to my taste and I put all not daily used icons simply in a folder named "More icons". I hope that will reduce eventual confusing the user(s).
So far.