DAISY is the way to go now-a-days. So, here is a link to the website where you can download
the Dorina Daisy Reader (DDR). This is a terrific - and free - DAISY reader that is an add-on
to the Web browser, Firefox. You can just download the add-on if you already use Firefox, or
you can get DDR bundled with Firefox (which I prefer because it has a separate icon for DDR);
the DDR also works with the portable version of Firefox.
:
Caracol
Here is the documentation for DDR in .pdf format DDR Docs
Balabolka
This little freeware program is just the neatest thing and it is constantly being updated. Balabolka which means "chatterer" in Russian allows the user to read (with speech) .doc files, .pdf files, epub books (just added), web pages, email, and .txt files. Balabolka also highlights the text as it is read. If you are using Windows XP, I'd recommend getting a "Premium voice" otherwise, the system voice will be used and we all know how dreadful Microsoft Sam is. If you're using Vista or Windows 7, the system voice is Anna, and is quite satisfactory.
Balabolka allows for bookmarking your reading material and also you can export the document to MP3 so that it can be listened to on an MP3 player. The latest version allows for the text of the book to scroll on the screen as the MP3 is played.