Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred User Reviews
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"Waste of money and time - in my experience"
Version: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 10.1
Pros
Can not answer, I have never been able to install.
Cons
I have never been able to install. See the bottom-line summary for more information.
Summary
David Pogue was wrong (in my experience with DNS). I have never been able to install. After countless attempts to run the installer and many hours on the telephone with the Nuance representative and absolutely nothing of value from them via my "escalated" status for service, the disk might as well be a coaster. Should my experience change, I will post an update and would be happy to post a positive update.
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"Excellent Program -- much improved over earlier version"
Version: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 10.1
Pros
I'm surprised by the low reviews. I have this software to be great and much better than earlier versions. You have to have a good microphone and sound card though. This version works with minimal training. Very accurate.
Cons
Seems to take a lot of memory during use.
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"Like the program, but be patient at first"
Version: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 10.1
Pros
Really works well if you speak clearly, in fact, sometimes, if you speak normally it works better than if you try and go slow.
Cons
Takes a long time to get it to normal speaking stages. I've done all of the reading aloud possible and quite a few documents. It's finally gotten used to my voice and the way I speak
Summary
A great program, but you have to have a little patience in the beginning to use it. Follow all the reading aloud letters and excerpts and you'll notice a significant difference.
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"Incompatible"
Version: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 10.1
Pros
Does provide a sort of nifty way to open programs and dictation seems easy, as long as you're not shifting back and forth between Word and voice recordings played back through WMP
.Cons
Incompatible with Windows 7 though the product is certified to work with Vista. No right click command for pop up windows. Feedback from the headset travels through the microphone (headset and microphone combo supplied with preferred edition).
Summary
Tech support costs $9.95 per incident and you have to keep after the lackadaisical support team until they finally tell you that they have no resolution for the problem (the program was certified to work with Vista) -- but we'll keep your $9.95 anyway, even though we couldn't offer the slightest clue about resolving your problem.
Knowledge base and FAQs are patheticlly narrow and uniformative, compelling you to shell out for paid tech supportd.
I would definitely place this near the top of my list of MUST NOT BUY software -
"This program is a total rip-off."
Version: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 10.1
Pros
This program has no redeeming features.
Cons
This program simply doesn't work. It locked up my PC and wouldn't uninstall, reboot, repair, or reinstall. It's a piece of @#$%. I thought it might have been the configuration on my home PC so I tried it on my office PC with the exact same results.
Summary
If you enjoy spending hours restoring your computer back to the way it was previously then get this program. It will provide untold hours of frustration and encourage you to use all of your favorite Anglo-Saxon four letter words. However, if you're smart and like to have productive computer time DON'T USE THIS PROGRAM. Save your money.
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"2 star barely"
Version: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 10.1
Pros
it does learn and adjust SOME as it goes (maybe EVENTUALLY it might be able to get a paragraph down... maybe a year from now or something)
Cons
it doesn't work well enough to really do the job in the end... VERY time consuming and frustrating to not even do what it's suppose to!
Summary
I did buy it as I had heard it was the best voice recognition software out there. I am sure there is much worse out there, so that's why I gave it two stars instead of one. I bought into all the hype. I spent countless hours after hours, and this dang software STILL can't dictate what I say. I have tried doing all the things to help make it recognize my voice and words better because it's suppose to learn as it goes and get better, but it's so far from where I need it still that I cannot give a full 40 hours a week to trying to get this to "save me time". I could have typed everything by pausing my own sound files that I'd recorded weeks before getting this program to do it! I tried and tried and after a couple months of making a full blown effort, it's still a useless program to me. Uggggh
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"''Wonderful software without trial version"
Version: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 10.1
Pros
Easy interface with much support.
Cons
No trial version for evaluation.
Summary
Needs to support a trial version for testing. After all, it is a great software.
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"No Trial Version???"
Version: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 10.1
Pros
The video demo sure looks great.
Cons
After much pain, agony, suffering, etc., etc., etc., with voice recognition programs in the past I want a trial version before I shell out that kind of money.
Summary
For all we know it took them 20 takes on the video to get it that accurate. I want to download a trial, if it works I am more than happy to buy it.
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