Customer Reviews

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 5.0 Preferred - Old Version

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I have used this program for several weeks now say that I find it much better than any other one I have used before. The recognition is much better and the training period is considerably less than any other comparable program that I have experimented with, in fact the training period for this program was about 15 minutes compared to IBM's ViaVoice which took over 45 minutes. I would highly recommend this product for those who need highly accurate voice dictation software for either home or business. This program so far has been the best one I have found anywhere. The only thing I did not like much was the fact that the program costs much more than others such as IBM's ViaVoice. This is the only reason I did not give the program five stars. Other than the fact that it's considerably more expensive others, it is a great program and if you really need an accurate voice dictation program I would highly recommended it. In addition, if your company is buying the program for you then it is even better.

...really it does. I have been using this product for the past two weeks. I trained the application for 45 minutes, using the training software provided. I'm dictating this review using the software.
The training application had easy to use instructions. Previous voice recognition products always had problems with my voice (it could be my accent). The feature that I most appreciate on this product is the training the application to write per your voice. You can even customize the vocabulary to match the words that you frequently use.
Another good thing about this product is that it will recognize the various users voices of your computer. You can have the voice of your children, spouse and if you're working between your home and office it could understand the voice of your secretary.
Have fun speaking!

This review is written using the program. Easy to use and solves a lot of problems for a dyslexic person. I feel that a whole New World has opened up. I will take full advantage of the wonderful opportunity now open to me.

Until we can understand each other I am sure we will have small problems.

I have only been using this program for thirty minutes, already I am totally impressed!

Work with it that it will work with you.

I can now write longer e-mails and perhaps even a novel.

Thank you Dragon

Like several other reviews, I have used previous version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking. I found this version to be superior in recognition to the others directly out of the box! You need to be diligent in correcting it, but if you are, it will improve. I find that most of the time when I have to correct something, the correct text is in the first 4 items in the correction box.
I find it is best to use it at times when you need to deal with a whole load of text; it is indeed too much work to use to dictate a word here and there. I find it easier to use it for dictation only and mostly operate the computer using my mouse.
Here are some tips:
- Dictate a phrase at a time, between 4 and 10 words, then pause for recognition.
- Check your words as they are recognized in the little floating window, so you know whether or not you need to correct as you go.
- Correcting something other than the last thing you said is problematic in applications other than the "supported" ones listed... but correcting the last thing you said works in most applications.
- If you're getting a lot of stray a's and the's in your documents, you may be breathing on the microphone. Move it to the side of your mouth and make sure your lips don't touch it when you talk.
- If you have a regional or ethnic accent, you may want to try a different base engine than the standard one. With this version, you have several to choose from. The standard version is very good for folks whose pronunciation doesn't differ much from the "evening news" type of American accent. Remember, this product was developed in Newton, Massachusetts.
- Don't believe that you will never need a keyboard or mouse again. What this product will do is to free your hands from bulk data entry, not from ALL keyboard use. It's pretty unpleasant to try to make corrections where it didn't offer you the correct one without using the keyboard.
- Make sure you have a fast processor and lots of RAM. The minimum system requirements don't give you a good user experience. I recommend at least a 500mhz Pentium II (or equivalent) and 256meg of RAM.
- It works VERY well in Microsoft Word, doing almost everything that it does in DragonPad. It's not bad in most places in America Online, unless you're using PowerTools. (It gets very slow in the chat window in that case.)

To sum up: with this version, I belive that NaturallySpeaking is good enough for folks who just don't like to type to use. It is a godsend for those of use with Repetitive Stress Injuries. It is WONDERFUL to use when transcribing notes or working from items I want to hold in my hands as I type. I hope that it will continue to improve, even in the light of all the recent mergers and aquisitions. It would be a shame for this fine product to disappear from the world.

I'd just got NaturallySpeaking USB edition (which incidentally I bought for [$] from a different vendor). I started using it yesterday. I've also just dictating and not correcting so you can see how accurate it is. It is supposed to become more accurate to the more you use it. But I have to say it is very slow and cumbersome to use the software and it makes an awful lot of errors. My feeling is it probably works best as a backup tool for people who have computer-related problems with their wrists and arms. That's what I'm using it for. When my wrist flare up I will use it otherwise it's too annoying. But when I need it I need it so I guess it's worth it. Also, it crashes periodically. It doesn't work so well in your door on or her Word. It works best in its own to word processor. Today I tried to copy something From DragonPad Word Processor to Word. Both programs crashed and I lost all my work. Of course I should have saved. Still... and it slows your computer and weighty way down. So if you are getting this product with the hope that you can throw away your keyboard forget it. If you are getting it because you have no other choice it's a good product. If you're getting it as a backup it's a good product. The headset is relatively comfortable to. I should also add that I am an excellent typist so perhaps I find this particularly frustrating. Oh, also I didn't really use punctuation as I dictated this. I am supposed to say things like, out loud and either I forget where I'm too lazy.

Okay. Corrected version. Mistakes are capitalized.

I just got NaturallySpeaking USB edition. (which incidentally I bought for [$] from a different vendor). I started using it yesterday. I'M also just dictating and not correcting so you can see how accurate it is. It is supposed to become more accurate THE more you use it. But I have to say it is very slow and cumbersome to use the software and it makes an awful lot of errors. My feeling is it probably works best as a backup tool for people who have computer-related problems with their wrists and arms. That's what I'm using it for. When my WRISTS flare up I will use it otherwise it's too annoying. But when I need it I need it so I guess it's worth it. Also, it crashes periodically. It doesn't work so well IN EUDORA OR Word. It works best in its own WORD processor. Today I tried to copy something FROM THE DragonPad Word Processor to Word. Both programs crashed and I lost all my work. Of course I should have saved. Still... and it slows your computer and WAY way down. So if you are getting this product with the hope that you can throw away your keyboard forget it. If you are getting it because you have no other choice it's a good product. If you're getting it as a backup it's a good product. The headset is relatively comfortable TOO. I should also add that I am an excellent typist so perhaps I find this particularly frustrating.Oh, also I didn't really use punctuation as I dictated this. I am supposed to say things like COMMA out loud and either I forget OR I'm too lazy.

Pros:
- for the most part, very accurate (for me the accuracy is about 90% initially, but the mistakes are usually close to the words I say)
- allows me to get my ideas down quickly
- Fun
- Improves speaking and thinking skills considerably

Cons:
-With my 300mHz processor/190megs RAM, I can only run a few applications with this program without the VR speed/accuracy decreasing considerably
-If I have the program running too long, the accuracy decreases
- Integration with MSWord is a little questionable; when you use the "correct that" command in MSWord to edit a block of text, sometimes it recognizes your command as "correct "that"" - in other words, understanding how commands function takes getting used to

Overall I am quite satisfied. The program takes getting used to, but when my hand problems make typing difficult for me, it makes an excellent substitute, and I know several people who type exclusively using this program.

I am preparing this review with version 6.0 of the product. In other words, I am dictating the review straight into the computer. I was skeptical about the product, even after reading excellent reviews. However, after working with the software for just a couple of hours I began to achieve excellent results. I recommend this software for anyone looking to dictate directly into the computer. Make sure you have configured your computer with a fast processor and sophisticated RAM. Based on the many reviews I have read and on my own experience I believe this is critical.

I saw other previews of NaturallySpeaking, some of which said left pap this review was written using the program." When I saw that, I wondered how much time was spent correcting dictation. So, I thought, I would write a review using the program, and not make any corrections, so that those reading the review could see what the program really did.

So this was the results. With the exception of one of point where I knew I had made a mistake in my use of the dictation commands, this review is being written not only with the program, but without making any corrections, and indeed, without even looking at the screen as I speak.

Of course, in fact, but corrections are made, just do is it is necessary to check for title graphical errors after having written something with the keyboard. However, so that you can get an idea of the job that the program does before corrections, this is my review.

By the way, I am actually using an older version of NaturallySpeaking, one which shipped up as part of the WordPerfect legal additions several years ago. I believe it is version 2. 02, horse. I am thinking of upgrading to the new version, but have not yet use it.

----- (The remaining portion is written with the keyboard.)

First paragraph: "previews" was dictated as "reviews;" "left pap" was dictated as "left quote" [which may be an error in dictation command, and should have been dictated "open quote"].

Second paragraph: "results" was dictated as "result".

Third paragraph: "but corrections" was dictated as "corrections" [the "but" is a junk word that sometimes shows up as a result of noise, clearing throat, etc.]; "just do it is necessary" was dictated "just as it is necessary;" "title graphical" was dictated "typographical".

Fourth paragraph: "shipped up as part of" was dictated "shipped as part of" [another junk word]; "legal additions" was dictated "legal edition;" "version 2. 02, horse" was dictated "version two period zero two comma or so" [the gap in 2.02 was probably a dictation error, and I should have said "two period no space zero two;" "use it" was dictated "used it."

I've been using it for around a year. It's (...) not a cheap package.

It works well if you do the hours and hours of reading supplied, to train the speech engine to your voice.

The more you invest in terms of time taken to make and record corrections, and read the supplied texts, the better it is.

Over time, you will invest HOURS AND HOURS of time, to tailor the files to YOUR voice!

NOW HERE'S THE KICKER, BE WARNED!

I upgraded my machine, and found to my horror, that my personal speech files, which were extensive and built up over many months, could not be transferred to my new machine.

I tried some 'dodges' like replacing the user files on the new installation with my old ones, but the program will not allow this, its too clever for me!

Oh well. Off I went again, hours of reading & corrections! Two months later, and I've just about got it all configured so that we work well together, and the program returns an error, and 'locks' me out!

Using the disks, I ran the repair program. No luck. There is a facility to wipe the program & save the speech files (But not transfer them to another machine!!) and this I did, and again, there was a problem.

I set about contacting technical support. All of the UK phone numbers are discontinued. I phoned Spain, the only other number evident, Left a message and had no reply.

I then E-mailed support, and with over a week passed, I have given up.

Look at their website before you buy this product. It is a typically corporate website that sings its own praises, but offers nothing to the end user. No support, no upgrades.

I will never buy another Lernout & Hauspie product after this experience.

I ordered this program for one of my children that has trouble doing writing assignments. Within 30 minutes he was producing passable work. I set myself up as a user and had a blast. Not only does it type , you can also navigate programs with it! I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking for dictation software.