Notice of DoubleTalk Hardware Changes
=====================================

DoubleTalk PC

As of September 27, 2000, the DoubleTalk PC is no longer being shipped with
the LPC synthesizer. The LPC synthesizer was originally included in order
to support certain educational software programs which utilized LPC voice
technology. These programs are no longer in existence today, rendering the
LPC synthesizer virtually obsolete. Eventually, the LPC chip itself became
obsolete and unavailable. The cost savings from removing the LPC synthesizer
has been passed on to you.

DoubleTalk LT

Effective June 18, 2001, the DoubleTalk LT began shipping with a completely
new hardware design based on RC Systems' RC8650 chipset. This change gives
the DoubleTalk LT a number of new features, including reduced power
consumption, faster voice speeds, better responsiveness, and simplified
on-site upgradability. At the same time, the LPC synthesizer was removed for
the reasons cited above. For more information about the RC8650 chipset and
its capabilities, visit our website at http://www.rcsys.com.

The spanish.exa and spanish.exs dictionary files provided on the DoubleTalk
utilities disk are not compatible with the new DoubleTalk LT, due to
dictionary format differences in the RC8650 chipset. An RC8650 compatible
dictionary, spanish.dix, is provided for this purpose. Likewise, a newer
version of the source file, spanish.dic - which includes extended ASCII
character support for foreign characters - is also provided with the
DoubleTalk Developer's Tools.


Software Utilities
==================
The programs on the utilities disk were written in ancient times when there
was only DOS and Windows 95. If you attempt to run these programs using a
version of Windows later than Windows Me, you will inevitably get an error
stating that DoubleTalk cannot be found, or that it is not working. There is
nothing wrong with your DoubleTalk; newer flavors of Windows simply do not
allow the utility programs to access the PC's serial ports in the manner
Windows 9x and Windows Me do.

An entirely new set of Windows-based tools have been developed for the
RC8650 chipset, which the DoubleTalk LT is based upon. If you plan to
develop applications for the DoubleTalk LT, it is recommended that you
download the RCStudio software from http://www.rcsys.com/dnlds.htm (it's
free!).