Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium 12, English (Old Version)

I will dictate this complete review using Dragon NaturallySpeaking premium 12. I purchased Dragon natural speaking premium 12 for two reasons. First, I wanted a product that would transcribe material from a digital recorder. Much of what I do is first recorded on a tape or digital recorder. I would then spend as much as an hour and a half to two hours transcribing the material. My keyboard skills are medium to good but I am in no way a 100 word per minute typist. Dragon natural speaking will transcribe an 1800 word document in less than four minutes, although the result is an 1800 word long. Once transcribed it now takes only 10 to 15 minutes to punctuate and format into paragraphs and sentences. The accuracy of the transcription is very good and is getting better as I train Dragon Natural Speaking. Secondly, I wanted a product that I could use for dictation purposes which is the hallmark of Dragon Natural Speaking. I have several volumes of handwritten material that I want to publish and with Dragon I can now transcribe that material with ease. I rated this product with four stars for one simple reason. The Viacom microphone included in the package did not work with my computer soundcard. I contacted tech support and was told that Nuance knew there was a compatibility problem with Realtec soundcards and that I needed a USB adapter. My research led me to finally purchase a Viacom adapter from the Nuance website which ended up costing me an additional $25 ($15 for the adapter, and $10 for shipping). If Nuance knew there was a problem with certain sound cards the adapter should have been included in the package with the headset as it is with the upgraded professional version. For those users with compatible gaming headsets or existing adapters you can add the final star to the rating. Overall, I am satisfied with this product and use it regularly to dictate new material and to transcribe recorded material. I have only scratched the surface of this products capability and anticipate continued satisfaction as I learn to use its many features.

Im still learning it and its still learning my voice but already it relieves a major headache for me transcribing my notes or just plain dictating. I do have to go back and fix errors but its still faster than typing myself from scratch. Although there are tutorials, I wish there was live tech support on specific issues. For example, how to teach it the difference between spelling out paragraph or period and performing the function. Its a tremendous time-saver, I can dictate in about 3-5 minutes what would take me 15 minutes to transcribe. I love this product.

Cut my writing down by 50% because I dont have to go back and correct everything I write. Only thing I had to get used to ,was thinking in complete sentences, which when youre typing, you tend not to do. Do always go through the training exercises it suggests, and learn how to use it by reading what it is capable of, and how to do it. That way, you get full benefit from the software. Be warned it is VERY resource hungry, so throw the fastest processor and at LEAST 4GB of memory at it, otherwise it will frustrate you.

I had several issues with this product, When I finally got it to install it wont open on my laptop. I get an error that I dont have enough memory to operate it and I have over 50% of memory available. So I can tell you how well it works just that it wont. Not happy that it gives specs that it will work on my machine and now that I have it I cant use it...

I just purchased Dragon 12 and was trying to install it on my company provided computer. It wont install without .NET Frameworks 4.0. I contacted Nuance support which the confirmed, that Dragon 12 requires .NET Framework 4.0. This is not documented anywhere on the box, or online product requirements. Because my company IT policies are controlled and are not up to this version of .NET I cannot install Dragon 12. Of course I ran into this when I tried to install the software and had opened all the seals on the packaging, so just a straight return is not available. Im waiting for word from Nuance if I can return 12 for a version of Dragon 11.5 and if 11.5 will work on my older version of .NET Frameworks. Also to confirm other reviewers comments the headset provided is crap, and crushes your head. So if there is a package that is cheaper without headsets purchase it and buy a better headset separately.

I have spent the last three days trying to download Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium 12, English by Nuance Communications, Inc. to no avail. At the time Isaw nothing in the description indicatingfor 32bit windows only. I happen to have 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium . Please note I am not editing the text of this review to display just one aspect of the Essential Tremor, since Iam nolonger 9able write cursive or print anymore. The computer is my communication life line in spite of the fact that that I can no longer type and can only 2 finger type (one finger on each hand). LOL! This is very time consuming! I was expecting that Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium 12, English by Nuance Communications, Inc.enable me to improve this one aspect of my life. To me this was a commmunication life line. But if you cant SET IT UP than you cant use it. So it becomes USELESS ! I saw my husbands doctor using it and was impressed that it enabled him to better serve his patients. This is what prompted me to make the purchase. It seemed to be the Ideal solution for my issues. WRONG!!! Made Right!!! I mentioned to the doctor that I was so impressed with his using the Dragon Program, that I had ordered the dragon for home use. He told me that there is a learning process involved but you wont be sorry you bought it. Needless to say this conversation took place after I vented my frustration in the above review. However, I took to heart what he had said and really did not want to send the program back to Amazon so I contacted the Nuance Communications, Inc. I have to say that their service people are outstanding. They worked very patiently and diligently with me until we were able to identify the problem. It was a manufacturing fluke and they are replacing the Dragon Program. I just had to confirm the purchase. I have since learned of an acquaintance who who had also purchased the Dragon Program from Amazon and she raves about it. So I am sure I will be praising my experiences as well.

This is a good way to talk and compose a report or book. It does take some extra effort to educate the program to the persons speech pattern and to find ways to correct the errors that find their way into the document. At times it is a slow process, but as the program and the writer continue to practice it gets better and manageable.

All the advertising and videos in this made it seem like this was a easy to use, user-friendly product. Its not overly technical, but its not as easy as they make it seem. Also, so far it has been terribly inefficient and inaccurate. I bought this product with the hope of improving my efficiency. However it seems a lot of work is needed upfront to get this working, and at the moment its time I dont have. So it is currently sitting in the box. Waste of money.

I found the Dragon NaturallySpeaking software easy to use. But it takes much patience to wait for it to type. You have to speak slowly so that it understands you. I feel like I can type much faster than the speed at which they system types. I use it when my carpal tunnel gets to be too painful. It is a good program to fall back on when my hands become too tire. I have to learn to be more patient with the slower speed at which the softwaret types.

I received this as a Christmas gift and installed it the next day. I was not able to get the mike and headset to work and kept receiving error messages of incompatability with my computer. I have Windows 7 and have had no other compatability issues with other software. After multiple calls to Tech Support, they were never able to resove this. I was told they were aware of incompatability issues with some sound cards. Over all,I spent about 6 hours on the phone with them. Although I was told a supervisor would review all my calls to make appropriate recomendations to resolve this, it was never done. I was told I would receive a new headphone/mike set in 3 to 4 days but that never happend. As a result I returnd this product. FYI, as a further insult, althougth they have a toll free number for Customer Support, the Tech Support line is not toll free. Also, Tech Support is only free for 90 days. If you call the Customer Support line and ask to be connected to Tech Support , some of the time they will, but at others they will tell you they do not have the ability to do so. Very poor cumstomer relations. I would never recomend this product or company.