Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium 12, English (Old Version)

Installed Dragon after using it several year ago. I never really got the hang of version 10, but took the time to learn this version and it seems to be a little easier. I do a lot of writing for my business, and this program makes long documents go smoother, at least to get the ideas on the page. I have not yet mastered it and find myself making the final edits by hand, but its a great program. NOTE - this version will NOT WORK with Medical Records; there is a special Dragon for medical records.

For any of you that hates to type papers well cut your time in half. I mean cut the time of you paper down to were you have more time to focus on other things in class not the time for spelling or grammar once you learn this easy to use program. For me 15 min., and I cant believe the amount of time I saved. I now can focus on getting good time in on the material not the worry of how to or when I can write a multi thousand word paper! I just turn on mic and talk away and even if I get stumped on words to say I can just yell at myself and laugh that I just wrote a paper of me yelling at myself. Just say a few words and the program can wipe out the yelling and your back on track. Love this program everyone needs this program its the greatest thing to toast.

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 Like the product ...BUT...couldnt update the software from version 11.5 to 12. After many tries and many hours of frustration I contacted Nuances so called Technical Support to solve my problem. The support I received from one of their technicans was for me to troubleshoot it myself following their on-line Do it yourself trouble shooting links. This might have been OK for a computer wiz...BUT...I am not one. I spent 4 hours trying to fix using serveral different links but had no sucess. In frustration, I decided to keep using the software version I have and return the Premium 12 software to Amazon. I immediatly apprised Nuance of what I did and 2 days later I received the following message Since you already returned the solfware, we will not be able to continue to trouble shoot this error. In this case, we will close this incident The bottom line, if you plan to update and arent a computer wiz...DONT until Nuance implements a first class support agency with a live person directing you what to do on your computer screen or to take over your screen to troubleshoot and fix your problem.

If you skip all of the promotional and advertising copy and search the very fine print (it should be more prominently displayed), you will find out that Dragon Naturally Speaking v.12 is not compatible with electronic medical records (EMR). Nuance wants to force those in healthcare to pay up to $2000 for the so-called medical version. If you purchase Dragon v.12 and try to use it with an EMR, the Dragon program will eventually detect that you are using an EMR and will cease working. This is a deliberate incompatibility that was engineered into the program. Nuance designed Dragon to actively look for an EMR, and to disable the Dragon program if an EMR is detected. This is discrimination, pure and simple. It also raises the question of whether the Dragon program violates the privacy of the owner of the computer on which it has been installed. I believe that this policy of crippling the software will end up hurting Nuance in the long run. If so, the company would deserve it.

When I first installed the software, there were a couple of significant glitches that upon searching the internet, were common and should not have still existed. Further, Nuance replied that my installation question, might require a fee to answer, which is a poor customer service response. Ultimately, they supplied a solution, without charge, which took two days. Then, I ran into a compatibility problem with Word 2010, which I also found was a regular problem on the internet, also took two days to get customer service response. Overall, I very much like the product, with one ongoing glitch. The dictation box, on a somewhat regular basis does not transfer to the intended application, like open word document and the dictation is loss. I find, to be comfortable, you must transfer one sentence at a time to document, so as to not lose your work. This needs to be fixed. You must insure that you place the cursor in the document, prior to dictating, but then it still happens on a regular basis.

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 tried numerous versions of Dragon NaturallySpeaking over the years. While in the past, the program has been interesting, but failed to meet the level of accuracy that made it a productive tool for me. I would use it for a while and then discard it. It had been a few years since I had used the program and I decided to give it another shot with version 12. I give Nuance tremendous credit because this time they got it right. I can literally speak into the microphone/headset to at a normal pace using a normal voice and it doesnt miss! Because of the outstanding accuracy, this time I will not be putting the software and headset into a drawer never to be used again. I very rarely review products as I feel the likes and dislikes of a product and its applications are subject to personal preferences and approaches. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who feels that dictating is a more efficient and preferable approach to completing their written work and correspondences then typing. I have written this entire review using Dragon Naturally Speaking, and while my language and syntax may be lacking, the software picked up every word exactly as I said it. I believe that this product has truly arrived.

This seems like an unbelievable product but it does seem to work. Were having some problems getting it to recognize a voice with a decided Southern accent but am sure it will do well after we complete the process of training the cd to recognize Sarahs voice.

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.