Customer Reviews

ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred Upgrade from Versions 6/7

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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!

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.

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.

Search Amazon on "NaturallySpeaking" and you will find version 9 is now available. Why buy version 8?