ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred Upgrade from Versions 6/7

by Nuance Communications, Inc.

Product Features

• Speech recognition software for dictating, editing, and controlling applications
• Dictate directly into a PC or any ScanSoft-approved handheld digital recorder
• Listen to incoming e-mail read aloud; search the Web by speaking URLs and links
• Use dictation shortcuts to insert text or bitmaps with a single voice command
• Works with Corel WordPerfect and virtually all Windows-based applications

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0006I5EZ2
• Item model number: A189A-K00-8.0
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 5, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,460 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 is the most accurate speech recognition product ScanSoft has ever developed--delivering up to 99-percent accuracy! No other product delivers the power, accuracy, and ease-of-use that make Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred the ideal solution for the PC enthusiast or home office user!

Talk to your computer and your words instantly and accurately appear in Microsoft Word and Excel, Corel WordPerfect, and virtually all Windows-based applications. Listen to incoming e-mail and documents read aloud. Search the Web by speaking URLs and links. Use dictation shortcuts that enable you to insert blocks of texts or bitmaps--such as your name, title, and signature--with a single voice command. Dictate directly into a PC or any ScanSoft-approved handheld digital recorder. A noise canceling microphone is even included.

Now is the time to use the power of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred, and forever improve the way you work with your PC!

Key Benefits:

When you use Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred, it will change the way you think about PCs. You'll be faster, and you'll have more fun as you create letters, reports, and e-mails all by speaking. Just talk, and you can surf the Web, open and close applications, even control your mouse and the entire desktop!

• Works with all of your favorite programs!
  Dictate, edit, and control applications all by voice with programs like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook Express, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Internet Explorer, America Online, and Corel WordPerfect.
• Faster than typing!
  Most people speak faster than 160 words per minute, but type less fewer than 40 words a minute. That means you can create letters and e-mails about three times faster using Dragon NaturallySpeaking!
• More accurate than ever before!
  With a 25-percent increase in accuracy, Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 is up to 99-percent accurate and frequently more accurate than typing. Dragon Naturally Speaking never makes a spelling mistake, and it actually gets smarter the more you use it!
• Easy to use!
  Simply install the Dragon NaturallySpeaking CD, and in just a few minutes, you'll be dictating letters, e-mails, and surfing the Web by voice! We even include a free noise-canceling microphone.
• Mobile
  Be productive on-the-go! Import recordings from any ScanSoft-certified hand held device for automatic transcription.

Product Description

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 is the most accurate speech recognition product ScanSoft has ever developed - delivering up to 99% accuracy! No other product delivers the power, accuracy and ease-of-use that make Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred the ideal solution for the PC enthusiast or home office user! Talk to your computer and your words instantly and accurately appear in Microsoft Word and Excel, Corel WordPerfect, and virtually all Windows-based applications. Listen to incoming e-mail and documents read aloud. Search the Web by speaking URLs and links. Use dictation shortcuts that enable you to insert blocks of texts or bitmaps-such as your name, title, and signature-with a single voice command. Dictate directly into a PC or any Scansoft-approved handheld digital recorder.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great program perfect for the disabled - enjoy handsfree, March 21, 2005

By 

Charles Bittner "Disabled comedian & gamer!" (New England USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred Upgrade from Versions 6/7 (CD-ROM)

If you're reading this. You are interested in buying Dragon NaturallySpeaking version eight if you are. 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 heads 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). The software is leaps and bounds above previous versions go for it! Enjoy!

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dragon listens, August 1, 2005

By 

R. Rosen (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred Upgrade from Versions 6/7 (CD-ROM)

Voice recognition software has come a long way. I began by trying the voice recognition engine in XP Professional, but was not pleased with the accuracy. Dragon has it together. It works. This version has definitely improved upon previous ones. They obviously have the engineering staff to do the job.

The most important aspect of accuracy is careful pronunciation. You do not realize how imprecise your words are in the everyday conversation until you use voice recognition software.

Dragons can be fearsome, but not this one.

2.0 out of 5 stars Naturally Speaking 8, December 14, 2008

By 

Wolfgang Priebe (Olympia WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred Upgrade from Versions 6/7 (CD-ROM)

I have a slight German accent and therefore encountered problems. If you have a foreign accent you might not be happy with this program.
I ordered the improved version "10" this year. Unfortunately I had to return it as it will not work on a 64 bit PC. The company informed me that this might be fixed in the next version which should be offered in 2009.