Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium 11 [Old Version]

After researching which version of Dragon for my teenage son to use, we chose Version 11 (Old Version) and are very happy with it. It isnt perfect all the time, but its paired up well with the Plantronics 628 Stereo USB headset with noise-canceling microphone and works fine for his school work. It develops more accuracy with use, so as it learns to follow the users voice, it continues to improve. I wish that we had purchased Dragon sooner.

I took the advice of the folks who advised picking up version 11.5, and not only did I save a pocket full of cash but I got a good product to boot. After installation on my Windows 7 laptop (shut off your antivirus/spyware protection first!) all it took was about 20 minutes of reading to the software for training and it was surprisingly really super accurate and fast during dictation. Another plus was that it pointed me toward a free app for my iPhone that allows me to dictate text messages (Dragon Dictation). Sweet. Follow the advice of those telling you to pickup version 11.5 and get a good product for a lot less money.

This is the best money I have ever spent for a program. I had read all the reviews and researched prices and this was such a deal I could not pass it up. I review and type medical records, so this was a huge time saver for me. Now instead of me typing, the dragon does all the work. You do have to train your dragon, but that has been half the fun of this program. To give an example, I was using a medical word parenthesis (numbness) and the dragon translated it to a pair of thieves in Paris!! Actually cracked me up trying to figure out what I said!! But then you just click on the word (or words in this case) and spell the word you wanted, and then train the dragon by saying that word. The next time, no matter how badly I said the word, the dragon got it right. You find yourself learning to enunciate words better. Another example was, syncope and the dragon typed, sticky feet. It is well worth letting the dragon search your files of word documents and emails to find words which it saves. Each time you add new words, he remembers it! I find myself asking, what took me so long to buy a program like this. Seriously, I do not know of other programs like this but when I searched voice activated programs on Google this one jumped off the page. I am thrilled with the results. Since purchasing it, I found a lot of my friends and family had either used it in college, or are using it today. Go for it, you will be glad you did. Watch for the sale though, because this program was $99.99 one night and $199.99 another. I got it for the $99.99 and it included the microphone and headset.

Im still trying to learn to use the software but became extremely frustrated when the included headphone and microphone broke after 2 days (headphones worked, mic did not - on 2 different computers). I bought a different headphone and mic set, so recommend that future buyers buy a different headphone/mic set rather than count on the one included with the product from Amazon. The software is adequate for what I need (dictating into word documents).

Im impressed with this software. I use it for dictating interviews and reports. You have set it up at the start. It means reading around 20 minute worth of a known story. Once done, you get about 90 percent correct dictation out of the box. If you take the time to correct errors using the software, most of the common errors dissappear.

Ive used the family of Dragon products going back to Dragon Dictate and version 11 seems to be the best so far but it is certainly not perfect. It is also the only third-party speech recognition program for windows that I am aware of. Some things never seem to change: if you say $5000 it does not insert a comma after the five. It does if you say $10,000. While the four digit number without the comma is not incorrect it is not the way I would prefer to insert the number in my documents. Unfortunately, I know of no way to change it. And its been that way for every Dragon product that I have used. Also, if you say new-paragraph the program inserts two carriage returns. You can change this (which I always do) in, of all places, the Vocabulary Editor. Find the command in the list, double-click and you can change the before and after behavior. You can edit many other commands as well but be careful. For those who have had problems with the speed of the recognition you can try turning off the recording in the Dragon options/corrections menu and also reduce the quality of the microphone in Windows to dictation quality. I am using a Logitech USB headset and the microphone was initially set up to record at a much higher bit rate which slowed things down considerably. Lastly, you can adjust the speed versus accuracy slider in the options menu. Move the slider to the left until your recognition accuracy deteriorates. Youll gain speed but you may also lose accuracy. It also helps to have a fast computer with lots of memory if youre going to be using Dragon, Word for Windows, Excel, and other programs at the same time since they all demand processor speed and memory. By the way, I dictated this review using Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 11 but did have to make a few corrections.

I have been using the Dragon software since its first version. Accuracy has improved dramatically. However, one still needs to complete the training and correct errors in order to improve recognition. The ability to launch programs using the microphone and perform other tasks like search the Internet are handy, but the dictation feature is undoubtedly the raison dêtre of this software. I had been dictating this review and used the phrase raison dêtre for the first time and the program got it right. I wish that I had had this program and todays computing power when I was practicing law. I know it would have increased my work productivity and relieved me of my poor typing skills.

The product is inexpensive and works well if you are willing to spend the time training it and correcting every grammatical error every time they occur and use a spell checker. If you are not willing to do that you will be frustrated. I use this product for medical transcription and once you add commonly used medical words into the vocabulary it works OK after continual training. It works best using templates. However, if you are viewing images in one window while dictating a report in another this is not the product for you. Only Dragon Medical works in hidden mode and this version cannot be upgraded for that function, so I have to rate this product as only above average. Technical support is painfully slow and not always accurate by email.

If you lose your CD you are done for. I am told by thier online store (they issue the dowload version for replacement) also general customer support ..that they offer no download for those who do not buy directly from them. I consider lack download service to ALL customers stealing in 2013. They wanted me to buy another CD. I am not kidding. Ive got the Amazon reciept in front of me. I dont like it but have to use it. I am forced to download an unaltered .ISO (illegal? hahaha!) to install it. I need it because I am a developemntally disabled adult who has trouble communicating day to day and staying on track. My mother is in an terrible situation requiring me to write Adult Protactive Services in Oklahoma; a conservative Right To Work state with social service job-soakers. Ive got to fight for my mother by writing officals and authorities. Thanks Nuance?? I will PIRATE your softwares from now on if I have to make the crack myself and there is no better help available.

this is harder to use than they lead you to believe on the TV ads. I find it doesnt work great for most of the programs I use. it seems okay for just dictating.I find it a little slow, and end up using the mouse for most commands. I think as I learn the voice commands it will get faster for me, but not for the program.