If you are installing Vinux, be sure to go to the web
site at http://vinuxproject.org and download the latest
installation disk. I know for a fact, having installed it a few
months ago that they now do encourage you to update. Just don't
accidentally upgrade to Trusty. That version of ubuntu is not
ready to work with Vinux yet. Honestly, if your computer will
work on the installation media for the latest Vinux or the
latest ubuntu, you will be doing fine.
	I also got Debian wheezy to install with speech on a
couple of systems. You boot the installation disk and then type
s after hearing a beep to make it come up talking.

Bob Tinney writes:
> Hi Christoph,
> 
> I just installed Ubuntu 14.4 about a week ago and I had no sighted
> help.  All you have to do is burn the iso file on to a dvd or usb flash
> drive and boot from that drive.  When you hear the bongo drums, hold
> down the windows or super key and the letter S and that will start the
> orca speech that comes with Ubuntu.  I was going to install Vlinux, but
> its based on Ubuntu 12.4 and they don't want you to update it, so I went
> with the current version of Ubuntu which is 14.4.