Customer Reviews

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 8 Mobile [Old Version]

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

 

 

The software that utilizes the headset/microphone directly into the computer works relatively well (in a totally silent room). However, this "mobile" version (where you dictate into a digital recorder then upload into your computer) did not work at all. I called SoftScan tech support and not only could they not help me, I was told if I called again, I would be charged for another tech session. I have since learned that Version 8 (Mobile) was marketed exclusively to AMAZON customers (and not the general public) and that the company has decided to drop this version because of problems with the digital recorder's software that cannot be fixed.

This is my review of version 8 preferred edition and its accuracy and dictation. I don't have the mobile recorder so I can review that at this time.

If you're reading this, You are interested in buying Dragon NaturallySpeaking version eight. I highly recommend it! I had versions of Dragon software, dating back to 1995. Let me tell you the software was clunky back then, being a quadriplegic, I used it to type and move the mouse. But as soon as I got a touchpad mouse. I dropped Dragon altogether. Step forward almost 10 years, I decided that I needed to send longer e-mails than two sentences (because that's all I could type, it gets tiring using only one hand and one knuckle on that hand). So I took the plunge drop the cash on Dragon, and after three days am totally satisfied.

I added up and running and dictating in less than 20 minutes. The accuracy is amazing I'm actually typing this by voice. Since I can use a touchpad, I do not use the Dragon NaturallySpeaking for mouse commands. But for dictating it is perfect and quick!!!

I'm using it with a 2 GHz processor, and it is fine. Getting it set up was a little quirky with my Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS. I'm actually using it with a tabletop condenser microphone, not the headset that they came with it (which I found to be quite uncomfortable). Since I'm unable to get the headset on my head, but a tabletop mike is working perfect.

So I recommend this product anyone who has a disability that makes typing difficult. Anybody who doesn't want to learn to type (though I think he would be lazy, just suck it up and learn) will find this are useful, actually quicker than typing. Almost hundred words a minute! The software is leaps and bounds above previous versions go for it! Enjoy!

After setting up and using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Mobile it seems to work okay. The Preferred portion on the program works very well. The recorder takes a some time to get working. The best thing I have found the that works, is to use the headset that is provided with the system it seems to work fairly well with accuracy target equality in your sensitivity on high if you are never record directly into the recorder you need to put it at the same distance as you with the headset microphone in order for it to a eleminate mistakes.

The instructions are not very clear and how to set it up, that is why I think there's so much difficulty getting the work recorder to work properly. I agree with others with the poor support issue.I have not yet used to but find valuable information on when website like Know-brainer. I'm currently use in the recorder to write this report hope this helps. Anybody else needs any further information on how to set up the recorder, I would be happy to help.

I am an avid Dragon user (had versions 6 and 7) and this is by far the best I have used. The accuracy is the best ever. Although, I dictate at my office using the headset, I am now using the handheld device to dictate notes on my ride to work (1 1/2 hours!). Hats off to this company for their best ever Dragon - I am getting almost 100% accuracy. In case you didn't know, the more you use it, the more accurate it becomes. This is an easy to use program and I would recommend it to anyone who does a lot of email and document creation.

Lenny P

I bought this product as a student who needed to EXCEL in school! This product helped me like no other! It is amazing! I have a small problem with the recorder being slightly below what I wanted but the product proved it's worth OVER AND OVER AGAIN! I was able to record lectures and have my computer do all the translation! What an amazing product! It helped me in ways that I cannot explain! I looked on Scansoft's website WWW.SCANSOFT.COM and upgrade to a compatible recorder that was much higher quality. This product is defintely worth the $200 I spent on it. The recorder is great for the first couple classes! It got me thru some serious lectures that I was able to download to my Mp3 and listen to while I worked out! Saves me more time than any other software program out there! Yeah, there is gliches in the verbage, but if you listen to you class AT ALL - you will be impressed with the mobility, the ease and the free use of this product! Highly recommend for STUDENTS in need of some extra time!

I bought this software not knowing what to expect. I read a lot of online reviews of the software and good thing I did not listen to most of them. Most people stated that the hand held recorder did not work, but after putting everything aside and reading the literature, I got it to work perfectly. The disk is so small that I thought it wouldn't fit into my disk drive, but it did! Some of the words that I say, it doesn't understand, but if I keep my head level and speak clearly it works fine. It doesn't want me to raise my head or lower my head, I guess it sounds like mumbling. Overall, I would recommend this software. I noticed also, that a lot of people don't know the difference between the professional and the prefered. The professional has all three versions, legal, medical and something else that escapes me right now. I purchased the prefered and I am satisfied with my purchase.

Avoid this package, stick with Dragon Dictate Perferred and buy a high qualiy Sony Digital Voice Recorder (DVR). The DVR crashed my system using Windows XP with SP2 (service pack 2 installed). The driver are not Microsoft certified and scansoft only gives this DVR a 2 out five on it's own web site. AVOID THIS PACKAGE

My wife gave me this software for a birthday gift and I really like it. I use it in the car to dictate when I am out of the office. I have found it to work well and it makes my previous wasted commute time of almost two hours a day productive now. I noticed that some people complained about the recorder being cheap, but I haven't had any problems with it at all. If it doesn't work, maybe the recorder itself is bad?

The recorder, described only as "high quality", is anything but. I purchased this as a package in hopes of minimizing the risks of incompatibity. I would have been far better off buying the software and a decent recorder separately. getting it to work required hours of digging through the tech support logs on the scansoft site and even then the supposedly simple "comversion" was cumbersome. upon identifying the "high quality recorder" as a SIMS, even scansoft rates it very low on accuracy in their compatibility charts. feel they pulled "a fast one" on a trusting consumer. would like my money back. fat chance.

What amazing technology! I tried this stuff about a year ago at a computer expo in Boston and it worked, but not well. The accuracy with this new version is pretty astounding.