 "Frustrating." | 2008-09-15 |
| - Reviewed By User: A19D20DCMHZ8W7 |
I tried so hard to make this product work. I bought soundcards and headphones galore. I fiddled with the settings and training for hours. The frustrating thing is that it almost works. Sometimes, it can reasonably do the job. The real problem is that the program is so full of glitches and bugs, that what seems like a pretty good data engine is rendered largely useless. Nuance is of absolutely no help. They are the worst kind of software company. They seemingly spend all of their resources on hawking the product, endlessly hammering you for paid upgrades, and virtually nothing on support. Actually less than nothing, as they make you pay for everything, even for just simply calling them.
The main glitches and bugs, for me anyway, revolved around using the program with even the most basic applications such as Word. It would usually work for a while, and then start having an increasing series of problems integrating with the Word document, finally becoming virtually useless. Any time saved by dictating is spent by proofing, fixing problems, fiddling with the program, etc.
If one exclusively uses the Dragon Dictation Box, and then transfers the dictation into whatever your document is (an inexplicably tedious process) it's better.
My advice is, forget about this program if you are capable of typing faster than 20 words per minute.
Also, I would bet serious money that many of the glowing reviews here are plants.
|
| |
 "Not perfect, but amazing" | 2008-09-11 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2HYHFJJLWI5AA |
| I've been using Dragon Naturallyspeaking (Ver. 9.5)for over a month now to transcribe a type-written memoir with many spelling and grammar errors for possible publication. I started the process by scanning the pages and running them through an Optical Character Recognition program, but this program did not correct the errors (we all know the limitations of Spell-checkers). Then I decided to try Voice Recognition, and while there were errors (even after significant training of the program), they were much more manageable than trying to re-type the entire book. One of the major problems I had was the difference between "in" and "and", which may be my speech, but I still haven't been successful at correcting this so far. On the other side of the coin, I was fequently amazed at how often the program ran into fairly esoteric words (especially odd names) and got them correct! I feel it was certainly worth the money and time spent (I am not a touch-typist), as I was able to correct grammar errors as I spoke, and otherwise edit on the fly (for clarity, as an example). Plus, I've spent a little time having fun with having the program actually run the computer, not just transcribe dictation. When I've finished the current project I intend to develop this further - maybe someday I'll be able to stop using the keyboard and mouse almost entirely! |
| |
| "Dr. Bob" | 2008-09-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1UBDXH2QCAGVF |
| I go all the way back when Dragon Dictate was a research project, saw the engineers demo it at Rehab Institute of Michigan before it was ever on the market (was then a tool for people with paralysis.) I've been through version 4 on, now on 9, won't be getting 10. My version of 9 needed an update patch, it worked fine on first 2 installations, but never after that. I was told that after 2 installations, it won't allow another installation and registration, won't allow another service pack update, to prevent piracy of a copy. I complained to a sales rep who contacted me (trying to sell me V9, which I already had) that it should not require my credit card number just to contact tech support, the system should allow any number of installs as computers in such settings as mine (Univ of Florida Health Sci Center) change very often, etc. He said he'd call me back with answers but never did. I've presented to faculty groups here at UF on DNS and helped sell many copies of Preferred over the years, but no more. I suspect the purchase of the original company by Nuance has killed customer service. When DNS works, it works pretty well. If you have problems, you're on your own. And you better never move it after the first 2 computers you install it on, you could hit a wall after number 2. Thought you owned it? You pay to rent it. |
| |
| "PAID TOO MUCH EVEN WITH AMAZON!!!!" | 2008-09-02 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1EBPQPZLGD8JI |
NO ONE TOLD ME THAT THE NEW PREFERRED VERSION 10 WAS ABOUT TO COME OUT AND THAT LOCAL STORES WOULD OFFER THE PREFERRED VERSION 9 FOR $99.00!!! I PAID MUCH MORE THAN THAT!
BY THE TIME I FOUND OUT, I ALREADY OPENED THE BOX AND INSTALLED IN MY COMPUTER. I AM STILL TEACHING IT HOW TO UNDERSTAND MY SIMPLE LANGUAGE WITH ONLY A MARYLAND ACCENT!
I PAID TOO DARN MUCH!!!!! |
| |
 "DNS is awesome!" | 2008-08-28 |
| - Reviewed By ajmolica |
The product works great. I installed the same license on both my laptop and my desktop. Right now I'm using DNS 9 to write this review.
Key things to know:
1. Two installs will work with the same license (laptop and desktop).
2. You must let the software be trained with your voice!
3. You must go through the training so that you know how to use the software properly. Then consider re-training from time to time.
4. This is not a replacement for typing - It is a compliment to typing. In other words this will make your typing go faster because you can "say" most of what you intend to write and type some of it. As you understand how to use the software properly, you will decide whether making small edits is faster using DNS or using your your own typing. I use both.
5. it works with Firefox, Microsoft Office 2003, Office 2007, Notepad, etc.
6. The more you use it the more accurate it becomes.
7. Special words such as those used at work or in your industry must be trained individually, but I'M surprised at how much it knows already,
8. Get a good mic. I use a $30 Logitech USB headset microphone from RadioShack works awesome. I use this mic with Skype is well.
9. background noise such as air conditioners or airplanes did not affect performance.
I install it twice on a windows XP workstation and both instances did not have a problem at all with the installation. I don't know what everyone is complaining about. |
| |
 "Why a rate it a 3" | 2008-08-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2VJ7KV6FL3R34 |
While the product works sufficiently, the rebate is not applicable to this version. Very irritating to be told you bought a full product with an upgrade serial number.
It does work fine with Vista and the box made no mention of being an older version.
Who is at fault? I do not know.
I do know I am out $50.00
Be prepared to have your rebate denied. |
| |
| "This thing is awesome!" | 2008-08-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A37UVRMBOPQYD4 |
| I have carpal tunnel syndrome in both of my wrists and I wouldn't be able to work if it weren't for this thing! The dragon is easy to train and learns quickly. I especially like that the dragon has the capability to read your sent e-mail to become familiar with names and phrases that you use often. I typed this review with the dragon. What do you think? |
| |
| "testing testing" | 2008-08-04 |
| - Reviewed By gnossie |
The review here reading of Dragon's NaturallySpeaking 9.01 is made using a product I am speaking using my normal voice after having adjusted the program and gone to the training and I'm simply going to post a review on Amazon knocks the correcting errors just so you can get an idea of what the program will do again I'm speaking at my normal speed here
this program has received a lot of praise but to tell the truth I really don't think that it's ready for prime time as the saying goes if you are reasonably fast type SAE 80 to 90 words per minute you'll you're simply better off typing yourself and forgoing the use of this program I can only imagine that this program be useful for people who only type 10 to 20 words per minute or perhaps not at all
out also like to say to this program has a lot of bugs related to its interface with Windows even if you have all the latest patches and updates so for example where interfacing with the Internet Explorer or Mozilla or even Microsoft office documents and there is always a some command or something us can go a little funny Wendy on dictating programs on they also say that you need of a great deal of computing power to operate this program and I would agree you have to have a lot of RAM and a very fast processor apparently because otherwise the thing will get held up and the results will be less than ideal
I think you can tell by reading this is that there is a huge problem you actually have to go back through each paragraph and edit your errors the problem is that this can take them probably longer than simply just writing the paragraphs normally
the product is certainly promising but as it stands I really don't see any cause for amazement |
| |
| "Product = Ten; Customer Service/Tech Aid = One" | 2008-08-02 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3TQAQ8U7QPUYO |
| The product seems to be fine, but I inquired before I purshased about creating macros, and was told it was explained in the instruction manual. Well, it isn't, or at least I can't find it. You get one phone call for free, but thereafter calls are $6.99, and on line help, I think, is $16.99. I contacted tech aid two or three times on line, and never got a response (this was before I knew about the fee) and finally had to go back to the sales rep to explain my situation. He responded and explained the system to me, but should it be this difficult? |
| |
| "Wonderful...makes my day so much easier" | 2008-07-24 |
| - Reviewed By User: AWVKKHHADSA0H |
| I type A LOT as an MT and have bad carpal tunnel syndrome. Now, I can do most of my work hands free and it did not take long to get it going. Once in awhile there are errors, but it is much better than ANY voice recognition software I have tried. |
| |
Expedited Available
