Anyone here have experience with Dragon Naturally Speaking Software?

I have always wondered if this software could make things a lot easier for us folks who write a lot.

Being somewhat hesitant when it comes to stuff I don't consider essential, I always held out for a great deal to give it a try. Well, here's an offer even I couldn't refuse: FREE! (after $40 MIR)

I figured some of you prolific writers might be interested in this as well. And if anyone has used it, I'd be very interested to hear your opinion/tips. Is it more trouble to "train your dragon" than it's worth? Or does it really work as touted?

Here's a direct link to the offer: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=1813

Thanks for the information much appreciated.  I was left with paralysis on my right side.  It is still none functioning.  While talking with many of my writer friends one did mention she had bought it and liked it.  She suggested it to me and yet my physical therapist wanted me to continue trying to get my hand to work.  She encouraged me to wait.  Since therapy is now over and I have not regained the full function of my right hand this would be useful.  It's very frustrating typing with one hand.  I anxiously await more feed back.  I might have to buy it regardless and be the test dummy. 

Temptation, temptation...

Hi Nightowl, I've used this software and it's truly the best out there, it does the job. No voice recognition software is without a few blunders, so you MUST double check what it types. What I do is have it type into word and I flow out my article. I then go back an read it over to check for errors. Usually there are a few but far less than any other program like this... 

It's also an amazing computer control program- you can be sitting on your desktop, turn the mic on and say "google wizzley" and the browser will launch and enter the search phrase "wizzley" and give you the results. You can open and close the browser, switch windows and all that- it take a bit of time to learn the software and train your voice but its WELL worth it.

Great program.

- Jerrico

p.s. whats MIR?

Just following the topic. Heard of it a couple of times but not from known people. 

I wrote a quick review of transcription software history and some of the great features of 12.0...

Dragon Naturally Speaking Dictation Software - The Best Voice To Text Software Available

Right after you posted this I did some homework on the history of this type of software and write up a bit on it- and explained some things new in version 12.0... read this then come back here to use Owl's link (better price than my ads)... I use this software and love it.

Jerrico

I've had this software on my 'to get' list for some time - waiting for a good deal.

The price has been higher in the UK, and I am hoping that your deal link will be usable for me to buy it. I want the US version (for obvious reasons) but I have a feeling that I will only be able to obtain the UK English version.

I have seen excellent comments about this s/w.

Off to see if I (in the UK) can take advantage of the offer.

Time ticks by..........................

Just back from the order page....

Unfortunately there is a $60.85 shipping charge to the UK. That means the s/w is pretty much the same price as I would normally pay. With an MIR (mail-in rebate) of $40, if paid by cheque, I would have to pay a  £5 bank handling fee - so, assuming the rebate arrived I would save £20 - not to be sniffed at but, considering the s/w would be shipped 2nd class, I think I shall look for a discount on the UK version - off to Amazon.co.uk to see what I can find.

Oh why can't they deliver it electronically ????

Time passes.................

Just found out they do deliver electronically from the nuance site itself. Version 12 = £64.95 there, Version 11.5 = £59.99 at Amazon UK.

There is a version available for the iPhone for all you iphoniacs out there. That version is also free :)

They had television commercials/infomercials running for 3 months straight, I kept seeing it over and over- the tv offer was giving it away at 80.00 full package... 

Thanks for sharing your experiences and opinions. 

I ordered it already and can't wait to give it a try. I can imagine it will take some learning to get comfortable enough to really be useful. Worst case scenario, I will be out the $2.29 for shipping.

If all works well we should make it standard equipment for Wizzlers... 

Humagaia, don't you know someone in the US who can get it for you and then mail it over without the box?

I'm sure you can order it online and have it shipped to you, I can't see why they'd not let you buy a USA version to use over there?

Owl, there is a bit of a steep learning curve and training time. You will need to give it clues at times of what your saying (if it just doesn't get it) there's a manual way to speak the word then type in what you said to "teach" it. The software matures as you use it because it actually learns form you on the fly and when you teach it manually. 

There is a suite of great tools in this software beyond text to speech etc... it took me 6 months to wrap my head around the whole thing but one day everything started working perfectly.

It's fun once it's going good, but give it time to mature, in training mode don't try to enunciate everything, it needs to learn your dialect, your slurs where they occur i.e. ss's and such... many people mess up by trying to enunciate words too much and because they don't do this during normal recording the two don't match up!

Good Luck!

J-

Thanks for the info Jerrico, I also want the driod version, just searched it...

This will be great for books