If you want to scan in books, you should have the Hewett Packard 4C flatbed color scanner and OmniPage Professional optical character recognition program, Version 6. Scanning and CD ROM downloading, as well as modem transfers can be done on IBM computers just as easily as on Macintosh computers. This is a good use for existing IBM hardware. The 4C scanner will work on either Macintosh or IBM hardware, depending on accompanying software. A joint platform software purchase for OmniPage is available.
Actual Proportional Reading on a computer needs to be done on MacIntosh computers. To play at the higher speeds and to Proportionalize text quickly, as well as to scan quickly and have the text read aloud in real human voice, you really need the speed of the Power PC. The faster the cpu, the quicker you can read, scan and Proportionalize text.
If you do not have the best equipment, it will take too long to do the different steps and they just won't get done. Trying to cheap out the hardware requirements by using slower, older equipment just does not work out. With the right setup, preparing and reading Proportionalized text is extremely quick and easy. From a great deal of experience the following advise is offered in your best interest: Either get the right equipment or don't do PR at all.
However, if all you are doing is playing back pr files without reading aloud, and these files have already been prepared, you can use an LC 111 for the slower and middle range of speeds (up to about 300 words per minute). This way you can make use of existing older computers.
Note: One PowerPC computer and scanner and related software can produce video tapes of text read out loud or of silent reading. These tapes can be viewed on any school or home TV and VCR.