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. It was therefore decided to remove what
had become "excess baggage," and pass the cost savings on to you, the
customer.

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 deleted for
the reasons stated 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 Likewise, a newer
version of the source file, spanish.dic - which includes extended ASCII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
==================
Most of 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 under Windows XP, 2K, or NT, you will inevitably get an error
stating that DoubleTalk LT 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, upon which the DoubleTalk LT is based. 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!).