Software : Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred |
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 Talk to the computer and watch the spoken words instantly appear in documents, email and instant messages. Click to enlarge. |
 Quick Voice Formatting makes deleting and formatting text faster than ever. Click to enlarge. |
 New on-screen help and tutorials help users become experts in no time. Click to enlarge. |
 Users can easily create spreadsheets, or edit existing ones, simply by speaking. Click to enlarge. |
Key Feature Differences Between Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Professional and Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred | Dragon 10 Professional | Dragon 10 Preferred |
| Create documents, emails, reports and spreadsheets simply by speaking; surf the Web by voice |
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| Up to 99% accuracy--right out of the box | • | • |
| Words appear on the screen faster than ever | • | • |
| No enrollment required--get started instantly | • | • |
| New on-screen help and tutorials--be an expert user right away | • | • |
| Dictate directly into virtually any Microsoft Windows application and control menus and dialog boxes by voice | • | • |
| Dragon Voice Shortcuts to speed Web and desktop search | • | • |
| Automatically transcribe recordings from Nuance-approved handheld recorders or Pocket PCs | • | • |
| Wireless microphone support, including Bluetooth | • | • |
| Play back your dictation for easier correction and proofing | • | • |
| Natural commands for Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Excel | • | |
| Dragon Voice Shortcuts to speed email and calendar entries | • | |
| Create custom voice commands to automate complex or repetitive document creation tasks | • | |
| Fully network compatible for multiple users | • | |
| Central network administration tools for installation and user profile management | • | |
| Security features for enterprise deployments | • | |
| Support for Citrix environments | • | |
| Section 508 certified to give people with disabilities complete hands-free use of the PC | • | |
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Rating:  - * Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 ... I was excited to recieve the product however, even though it stated that it works with Windows Vista it does not if your computer is a 64 bit computer. If the program works it works very well but you may sometimes have to reset the speaking mode. It is though a program worth having once you work out all the bugs. Rating:  - * Do not buy this!!!! It will not install on Vista and you must pay for technical support. ... I had used Dragon 6.0 and liked it. My computer died and I had to get a new one. Unfortunatly, they only come with Microsoft Vista now. So I had to buy a new version of Dragon for my new computer. I could not install it because if gave me Error 1330. I looked up the solution to error 1330, which is Tech Note 6042 and followed both solutions, but they did not work. It seemed to work until I tried to use the program and it had me install a vocabulary file when I created a user profile, but the vocabulary file never installed and again I got error 1330. I tried to contact technical support, but I would have to pay $20 per incident. They do give you one free technical support call, but I didn't feel like using that up just to install the program. I looked at many technical support discussion websites about error 1330 and there are lots of angry people out there who have gotten this very same error and have Vista. It seems like Nuance, the makers of Dragon, do not stand behind their product and have made one heck of a lemon with version 10. I recommend looking else where for voice to text program, unless you still have Windows XP or lower. I tried out the speach recognition program that comes with Microsoft Vista and it works fine, I am sticking with that, it is already installed and its free. Just go to "start" "settings" "control panel" "speech recognition" open it, take the tutorial and train it once or twice and your off. Don't bother with Dragon NS. Rating: - * Thanks for the Warnings ... Thanks to everyone here who has given us feedback about Nuance and its products. I was very interested in buying the program but after hearing the horror-stories, I'll be avoiding it. It seems like the company has a death-wish by releasing a crippled application, not providing adequate on-line support and making themselves nearly untouchable by the customer. I, for one, will never pay for tech support again from ANY company. That's a shame because it gives the impression (at least to me) that they do not value the customer OR the product they are trying to sell. It's not just bad customer service, it's bad business and they will fail eventually. I'd rather not be a part of that dysfunction. Again, thanks for the reviews. Rating:  - * Love it ... Product is excellent, works right out of the box with minimim training. Much improved from previous products. Magic! Rating: - * I don't own one, but... ... P.S. I accidentally hit three stars and the review form would not let me change it to two stars. Last year I bought Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 Preferred for my son. He had no trouble installing it, did mention that the program was "scary smart," and now says it makes his job easier and he uses it constantly. For many months I have been toying with the idea of getting one for myself as it is getting difficult for me to type because of pain in my hands; however, I have been using computers for about 20 years now so am very familiar with the ups and downs of software support - who provides it and how good it is. I always check a product's support pages before purchasing their product(s) - sometimes I DO learn from experience. And that is the one thing that scares me about Nuance. I have been on their site several times trying to find answers to simple questions like, will it work with Open Office. No answer on their site, no easy way to contact them. I have written several emails to what I thought might be the sales office over the last eight months, no replies. They send me coupons and half-price deals and call me to offer great deals, but no answers to my questions. So, apparently the software works maybe a majority of the time and that is good. But when something doesn't work AND you can't get any help from the people who made it, what good is it really? Only good until that first call to support. I'll wait - maybe after the economy sinks for awhile and they find out they actually need customers, they'll decide to do something about their very bad web site and virtually nonexistent customer support. |
In Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, devotees of the dram can peruse the latest revised edition of the 1989 work. In 336 pages brimming with maps, photos, and informed overview of factors such as geography and flavor components--even proximity to the sea--Jackson sketches the evolution of Scotch whisky, from the prebottling days, when shopkeepers like Johnnie Walker and the Chivas Brothers would create their own blends for sale, to the late-1960s and 1970s' surge of individual distilleries marketing their own bottlings. Lamentably labeling the former as a time when "orchestrations drowned out the soloists," Jackson provides some sweet sheet music of his own: 294 pages are devoted to an A-to-Z review (including full-color labels and tasting notes) of more than 800 singles from "every Scottish malt distillery that has ever witnessed its product in a bottle." It's the perfect book to take to your local liquor store next time you're trying to navigate the high shelf of Scotland's highlands, lowlands, and islands. You may laugh at Jackson's description of Auchentoshan Select's "oily" nose with "hints of citrus zest" or Aberlour 10-year-old's "mint-toffee" bouquet. But you'll be laughing out of the other side of your haggis when you actually smell them. All the notes are well researched and designed to appeal to Cardhu-carrying connoisseurs, as well as those who'd just like to know more about Bowmore. In his introduction, the author describes a whisky's finish as "a crescendo, followed by a series of echoes. When I leave the bottle, I like to be whistling the tune." Scotch drinkers will find plenty to wet that whistle in Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch. --Tony Mason
 Compact and easy, to use the MyFi offers 150 XM satellite channels. |
The MyFi comes with a densely packed carton of accessories, including everything from headphones and antennas to a remote control, belt clips, and separate docking apparatus for integrating the receiver with your home and car stereos.
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An illuminated six-line LCD is your gateway to browsing XM's programming. You can browse by station, by category, or (our favorite) by currently playing artist. Thirty channel presets simplify access to your favorites, and a handy memo button stores artist and song data for up to 20 performances you'd like to look into later (or find again on XM).
Any satellite radio system requires a fairly heavy-duty antenna. Accordingly, the MyFi comes with four: one for the home (place it in a south-facing window), one for the car (mount it on the roof or trunk), a clip-on antenna for when you're hoofing it, and a built-in antenna. Our home reception was perfect--we never experienced a single drop out. Car reception was spottier, though still excellent. You just have to get used to the fact that where analog radio gets noisier in areas with poor reception, satellite radio drops out altogether; it's either all there, crystal clear, or all absent. And that's where My XM, MyFi's recording feature, comes in handy.
 The MyFi mounts easily in most vehicles. |
My XM lets you record XM programming to MyFi's onboard memory--perfect for time shifting your listening (as with a news program or a scheduled performance on XM Live) or for tuning in when you'll be someplace lacking XM reception (in a canyon, on a subway, in a windowless cubicle, etc.). You can schedule a recording or start and stop recording at any time you wish, and new recordings pick up where you last stopped. But you can't erase anything unless you clear the memory--which means you can't whittle away songs you don't like to retain your favorites. It's also important to remember that when you've filled the unit's memory (128 MB, or 5+ hours of full bitrate XM radio), it'll record over earlier material, starting from the top. During playback, however, My XM lets you skip easily from track to track and even pick from a list of all tracks.
You can configure the MyFi's LCD to scroll stock and sports-score tickers, a great way to keep an eye on important stats. The receiver also features a built-in sleep timer (15 minutes to 1 hour) and an alarm clock (wake to a beep or to XM programming).
What's in the BoxFor car use, you have a choice of mounting options for the vehicle cradle: flush mount, vent mount, or swivel mount. The cradle houses a power jack for a DC vehicle power adapter (included), an antenna input, and an audio output for use with the provided cassette-shell audio adapter. You can use the cassette adapter or the MyFi's built-in wireless FM transmitter, which turns any FM radio into an XM radio. (Audio quality is better using the supplied cassette audio adapter, however. You may also purchase a wired FM adapter, though XM asserts that the cassette adapter sounds better than that, too.)
 The Delphi XM MyFi comes complete with all of the accessories needed to enjoy XM anywhere. |
Positioning the car antenna can be inelegant, despite its heavy-duty magnet. You can have it professionally installed or live with an exposed antenna cord, though XM recommends using "existing holes, body grommets, and other wiring channels" rather than closing a door over the cord on a daily basis. The receiver's battery pack proved good for about five hours between charges. The included earbud headphones are neither comfortable nor particularly well made; a nicer set would represent XM's strong sound quality. --Michael Mikesell
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MyFi receiver with a clip-on antenna, an integrated rechargeable battery, a complete home accessory kit (with antenna and audio cable), a complete vehicle accessory kit (with antenna), stereo earbud headphones, a remote control, a remote battery, a belt clip/stand, a protective carrying case, and quick-start guides and user's manuals in English and Spanish.
