Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium 11 Student Edition [Old Version]

When I purchased this product, it came without all of the information, meaning that I couldnt use the program. Neither Amazon, who sold the program, nor Nuance, who provides general support for the program saw fit to do anything about it. I was exceedingly dissatisfied with my purchase and ended up wasting a lot of money on a corporate wild goose chase.

I lost a whole weekend that I could have dedicated to setting up an accurate voice profile for the software and then using the software. The wrong serial number (for a different product altogether - Mac Dictate 2.0) was provided on Nuances automated website. I was literally stuck dead in the water with a worthless serial number. (I was getting the academic version) I tried to register my product on the website (the only way to contact Tech Support) but without a correct serial number, I was stopped in the middle of that process. All-and-all, this is frustrating process. Nuance needs to overhaul their web processes and make them usable for clients. No matter how good the Dragon product MAY be (I dont know since the company is incompetent in delivering a frustration-free install process), customers will not stick around. And trying to talk with customer service reps is like talking to robots who just repeat themselves- they are reading off a script that I could easily do on my own and find answers faster from just by searching key terms instead of waiting on their long automated responses. As the old cliche goes - not good for business. UPDATE (usability testing): This is a Dragon Naturally Speaking review actually done WITH Dragon NaturallySpeaking and done on a headset (with) a noise canceling microphone in the car on the way to work so (we) will see how well it can transcribe what I am actually saying ..... -ERRORS- (CORRECTIONS) 1- The main issue is -a not- (it does not have) very good -actor- (accuracy). -see a need to- (I know you have to) train Dragon. I (have) been very diligent about giving Dragon -aint- (a) digital voice profile -is- (because) you can have different voice profile(s) (based off) what youre using. And I got a digital voice recorder profile and the accuracy is still not where I -needed- (need it) even though Im pronouncing words like a broadcaster would pronounce (his) words. And Dragon actually expects you to be able to be a professional anchor and were not talking about hard words that Im trying to pronounce -a- (but) simple thing(s) and Dragon still gets it wrong because it simply cannot take any fluctuation in your voice. (If) you mumble or -bespeaking- (if you speak too) fast but -is- (it will get) something wrong. -cf. the list fits- (So you have to be almost pitch) perfect in everything -he said- (you say). So unless youre extremely motivated to use the software and (then) go back and try to -takes- (fix) the accuracy issues in your user profile, -within- (then) this speech to text software may not be what youre looking for. Yes I am motivated to use the software which is why Ive done a bit of usability tests and -down- (found that) the accuracy in transcription is horrible. For brainstorming purposes, Im trying to put down the best ideas I can while in the car. But literally when I brainstorm theres no accuracy in the transcription (and I) have to go back -active- (and I have to) repeat complete thoughts all over again or change (them) in the transcription after-the-fact and that leads to the second point ..... OK...Im motivated to use the software but not motivated to continue writing the corrections from this audio that Dragon couldnt do correctly in the first place. You get the point though. 2- Going back to make corrections - this is supposed increase your accuracy for your user profile which I would be fine in continuing to do but there is a big gap for the user to actually understand if the corrections are being applied to your user profile. What makes the corrections in Dragon? I open up the transcription in Dragonpad but then it doesnt tell me when Im typing the corrections from the transcription that the software is actually recording my corrections. Dragon does a very poor job of telling you the one-two-three-step process of how to improve your accuracy. Sure it does look at documents and e-mail to improved your accuracy (for writing style, jargon, etc.) but it doesnt tell you for the transcription process itself when your typing corrections from what the software just transcribed if it is recording those corrections into the profile. In short, when youre fixing all the transcription errors, theres no thank you or we got it prompt from Dragon that it is recording the actual words you wanted transcribed in the many spots it messed up. Its worth noting I actually have Dragon for Windows 11.5 Premium/Pro running on a virtual machine on Mac (its the same thing as having a full Windows 7 OS on the Mac). The Professional Edition, which you have to have if you want to take a digital voice recording and have it transcribed, is preferable to paying more than double for the Mac version, which is actually two software products that are needed to do the same thing. Dragon Dictate for Mac and Mac Speech both have to be purchased (again at more than twice the costs of Dragon Naturally Speaking) in order to do the same thing as the Dragon Naturally Speaking software. For Mac users, I highly recommend the Virtual Machine route (with 6 Gb of Memory) because you can use your one copy of Dragon Naturally speaking on five machines. Its not really a good business model to try and rip Mac users off like that. The limitations of the Dragon software allow me to only do outlines for different projects and notes to myself (that I could easily transcribe with my smart phone). Basically I cannot do any real original brainstorming or have a flow of original ideas or generate creative marketing ideas (they dont resemble anything that they should in the transcription). I just want to speak my free-flowing ideas when I get really inspired and really go for it. Thats just not possible. The company, Nuance, should really look into their user interface overall because that and their lack of customer service - which is a severely crippling issue b/c they are just so incredibly horrible - make this software just not worth the effort unless youre really motivated. And my motivation is becoming very selective with Dragon.

I dont understand why people are having such a problem with this product. In just the short time that Ive had it I have been very pleased with its performance! I received this product on Thursday, January 5, 2012. Inside the box were instructions on how to obtain the serial number that would enable me to install the product. I went to the listed website, completed the online form, and gave them my college e-mail address. I received an immediate response on my college e-mail address with the registration key. As others have mentioned, the headset included in the package is essentially worthless. They are extremely ill-fitting, and actually hurt to wear them. In fact, I cannot foresee this headset sitting comfortably on anyones head. This is one of the most disappointing aspects of the entire package. Once the program was loaded onto my computer, I completed my profile and I was very soon up and running with dictation. In fact, this entire review was dictated using the Dragon program. I find the program very easy to use, and so far the dictation has been pretty smooth. I dont know if my voice is such that the program finds it easy to recognize, but the accuracy so far has been very impressive. I enjoy the fact that I can not only dictate, but that I can also make manual corrections on the keyboard if necessary. There is a learning curve involved, but I believe that over time I will become even more comfortable with the program and I will be able to increase my speed. Overall I am very happy with this program, and I believe that it will become a great asset to me with my college courses this term, especially since I have two classes that I will have to do a great deal of writing for. I would give this program five stars, however the headset that was included with the program is of such low quality that I feel I have to let people know that they will likely have to purchase a better one. (Or at least one that doesnt hurt to wear!)

BUYER BEWARE- Sent in all the required information to register the product. The website says an email was sent with the serial number. No email was received. Called Customer No Service. They are of absolutely no help. They say they do not have access to the serial number. Told to use Live Chat. I tried. I wait in the queue a couple of times only to be cut off with a message someone would get back to me. Too bad I cant review the product, but it is not possible to activate it. VERY FRUSTRATING! Edit: After numerous tries to get on Live Chat, I was finally able to contact them. They emailed me the serial number. The original email had not been received. Now that I can actually try out the software I may revise my review.

I have used Dragon for years, this update was worth it and got rid of some buggy issues I had with the prior version

I ordered this Student/Teacher version because Im a college instructor. Obtaining the serial number was not a problem. However, the DVD I received is warped, emits a loud clicking noise in my computers DVD drive (the same noise is audible on two other systems so the problem is clearly a defective disk), and it is unable to read the disk to install the program. Thats when I had the misfortune of contacting Benjamin in customer service. He is semi-literate in English and apparently located somewhere in India. He asked for all my order data from Amazon (order number, etc.). He even listened to the loud clicking of the disk in the drive, and agreed it sounded like there was clearly something wrong with the disk. Then some additional hoops to jump through: 1. E-mail him screenshots of the Windows Explorer interface to prove that my computer cant fully read all the files on the warped disk. 2. E-mail him digital photographs of the disk itself (top and edge) to prove that I have an authentic disk and prove that it is warped. Okay, this was a strange request, but using my digital camera not too much of a problem if it would have satisfied Nuance and gotten me on the road to receiving a new disk. Were these thoughts ever naive. 3. Ben replies. He now wants the POP proof of purchased of the Dragon 12 that came from Amazon. Huh? What exactly does POP proof of purchased mean, and why wasnt it requested during the original phone call? I send him a screen shot of my order record from my Amazon account and the scanned barcode label from the box. (Maybe the latter is what he meant by proof of purchased [sic]?) 4. Ben replies again. This time he wants the email from amazon indicated the the payment you made from them if there is please attached it with this email as you reply. LOL. This reads like work from one of my grade-F students. Again, if this is what was required, why wasnt it clearly requested in the original phone call? I forwarded him the original invoice e-mail. I made a little wager with myself that this would magically prove insufficient as well. Sure enough, it did. 5. Sorry its me again, as i can see in your screenshot [sic] of the email you got from amazon one last favor, can you please take a screenshot also of that the same email but open the VIEW INVOICE option. Take a screenshot of an e-mail he already has right in front of him and at the same time click some link. Boy, that sure makes sense. Sorry, but Im now done with this: from the bizarre request for photographs of the defective disk, to one illiterate and cryptic request after the other. Anyway, Ben made clear on the original call (after we had spent about 5 minutes entering my Amazon order information into his system) that the system screenshots showing the disk as unreadable along with the disk photos would be sufficient. Now theres another new and nebulous obstacle course to run every day. I am a very busy college instructor who doesnt have time for this. If I dont receive a response from this review within a week from a literate adult at Nuance, I will immediately initiate a chargeback on my credit card and look at other options, particularly Windows Speech Recognition. Not only is it free, but its been reported to be a decent program with even more improvements expected on the forthcoming Windows 8. Ive been a solid Dragon customer since version 9, but after this experience Im done with Nuance.

I bought the Dragon NaturallySpeaking software about a month ago. I was very hesitant because I was concerned about the accuracy but I needed something because I have severe arthritis. But to my surprise it was amazing right out of the box. It only took a few minutes to set up and verify that I was a student. I have used this for writing several technical papers and it has done awesome picking up on chemical compound names and engineering terms. I have been very amazed with this product and I am using it to write this review and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Dont Buy until verification process is changed. This is speech recognition software that we buy and want to use not a top secret or covert spy stuff give me a break amd yourself one dont buy until changes are made. I bought product on 01/02/2012 and 1st had to buy more ram. 2nd tried to activate as directed as a charity only to find that only charities in UK can activate (the email We are unable to determine that your charity meets the publishers requirements for this program. Therefore, we are not able to approve your request for serial number(s). Please direct any questions about this policy to Nuance.) Ok I am also a full-time student and tried to use student email as instructed by Nuance only to be told that by the 3rd party my that my code was rejected because of prior use. The program itself may be the best thing since sliced bread but I may never know. Twenty something days later, I now have the serial number, I like the product, it will take awhile for me to learn to use it but it will be a help in my studies.

This product could hold the secrets of the ages but it is worthless if you cannot access it! My Mother and I are both teachers and our workloads are piling up exponentially. We were so excited when we heard about this product because it seemed to be the answer to a prayer. It is not. It is the beginning of a new nightmare wrapped in a gift box of red tape and corporate misdirection. My Mother works with a PC and I use a Mac. I was waiting for her to install hers before I threw down the cash for the Mac version (at twice the price). It has been unbelievably complicated once the product was obtained the hoops one had to jump through had only just begun. There are games afoot such as the search for the serial code but wait...lo and behold the serial code is not on the box as one would expect. The serial code must be open sesamed through endless e-mails to determine Dragon Premium Speaking customer worthiness. The frustration is unimaginable. It has even frustrated me and I havent purchased the product. Apparently the $99 one pays for this product is for entry into a lottery to see if you can use this product. Customer service is completely rude at the worse and at the least uninformed. I will not be purchasing this product for Mac because I dont have weeks to waste on the hope that someone somewhere could give me access to a product that I would pay for. Dragon is the perfect name for this product, as there seems to be a virtual dragon that prevents anyone from accessing what is no doubt a golden product.

The software is great from what Ive seen of others using it at school. The verification process is completely lame. Seriously, two days for verification even with a school email address and school id that you have to scan and send to them. I have used many educational versions of software, they have all been reasonable to validate. Even $1500 CAD software was usable within minutes. Almost worth paying full price.