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| Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 Standard [OLD VERSION] | ![Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 Standard [OLD VERSION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5169PHNG7HL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | From: Nuance Communications, Inc.
Category: Software
List Price: $99.99
Buy New: $37.90
You Save: $62.09 (62%)
New (28) Used (7) from $34.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  162 reviews
Sales Rank: 226
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows 2000, Windows Xp, Windows Vista
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Standard
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0.1 x 0.1
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: A309A-GG4-9.0
Model: A309A-G01-9.0
UPC: 780420115187
EAN: 0780420115187
ASIN: B000GUDDXA
Release Date: July 25, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: SEALED. In original retail packaging. UPC intact.
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| Customer Reviews:
 The longer you use it, the worse it gets January 26, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I originally posted a review of this product which disappeared into the Amazon ether. Just as well, because it was a more or less positive review and now, even though I have fibromyalgia and typing hurts, I'd rather be in pain than use Dragon Naturally Speaking. First of all, while it will run on all but the oldest computers, it slows everything way down. Try running it while you've got anti-virus software running and the lag time after you dictate is really annoying, especially when you realize it's garbled what you said quite badly, or made strange choices among homophones. It has a particularly bad time with a standard American accent. It does much better if you speak with an exaggerated New York accent (think Mike Meyers doing "Coffee Talk" on SNL). Otherwise, if you pronounce "dawn" and "Don" the same, it will choose Don everytime, even if the context doesn't make sense. It's probably great for dictating things like book reports using simple, common words and not too many names or capitalized terms, but if you are dictating something complex or with a lot of specialized terms or abbreviations, or defined terms that are capitalized, it leaves a lot to be desired. And you've got to get it right the first time, because moving around within a document to edit is downright irritating, especially if you want to correct a word that appears multiple times. It's supposed to get better the longer you use the program and the more it gets "trained," but honestly it just gets worse. The program also has an annoying habit of thinking ordinary dictation is a command word and opening up a pull-down menu when you least expect or want it to.
If you really can't type, it's better than nothing, but unless you also use a headset for voice over internet applications, you'll probably want to get a desktop microphone for use with this -- the headset that comes with the software isn't comfortable for extended periods of time and the standard software doesn't work with BlueTooth headsets. I haven't used this program in a really long time. It's just too frustrating, so unless I am writing something really long, I'd rather hurt a little. It would be great for a more phonetic language, but for English it leaves a lot to be desired.
 Great tool January 24, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
It takes some practice, and it's not the best for small applications, but when used to write (or speak as the case may be) long essays and reports, it's a Godsend. For those not good at putting pen to paper and are more able to express themselves verbally, this is the tool for you or your struggling student. With a little practice the reports just roll off the tongue.
 Accurate, unstable January 16, 2007
201 out of 202 found this review helpful
UNCORRECTED VERSION
I dictated this review using Dragon NaturallySpeaking number nine. The first half of the review is the raw version, just as Dragon NaturallySpeaking transcribed it. Then I will correct the review so you can judge how well the program performs.
I will admit my expectations were low. I had previously owned an earlier version of a Dragon NaturallySpeaking, but it performed so poorly I removed it from the computer. I also seem to remember that Windows came with a version of the speech recognition that also did not work well enough to be worth the bother. I quit using it as well. The problem with each of these programs was that, although they did transcribe many words correctly, they made so many mistakes it turned out just to be easier to type myself more, since I generate a lot of letters for my business, to hire a transcription service.
I bought a Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 9, standard version, on only among on a whim. Magazine reviews of the program had been a favorable, and the price was only $99. Still, I expected poor results. As you have seen however, the program does a remarkably good job of transcribing my speech. This is with very little training -- no more than a few minutes. I now find that it is quicker to take dictate into Dragon NaturallySpeaking and later go back and correct the errors than it is to just type myself.
Still, the product does have a few drawbacks.
Number one: the user license is for only one person. Even if you install the software on only one computer, you must still pay in nuance separate licensing fee for each person who uses the program. Imagine having to pay a separate licensing fee for each person who uses Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat elements. That's crazy, and it just passes me off.
Number two: although I have a 3.2 GHz computer, Dragon NaturallySpeaking does seem to noticeably slow down the machine's performance.
Number three: I'm a little worried about the programs stability and compatibility. It sometimes seems to freeze for 30 seconds or so. It will sometimes accept dictation into Microsoft Access, other times it accepts the dictation then immediately erases the result. I've also found that my mission-critical retrospect backup software isn't working.
[Typed adendum: I've also discovered (Win XP Pro, Office 2003): DNat.Speaking
1) damages MS Access so that quitting Access leaves an orphan instance of Access running--and you can't then reopen Access.
2) Damages MS Word so that you can no longer select text with the mouse.
3) Damages Adobe Acrobat Standard so that the only way to get it's OCR function to work is to restart the computer]
Number four: related to number three is Nuance software's policy of charging for technical assistance. I'm worried that the company puts out a product with obvious flaws [it's seeing number three above], then turns fixing those problems into a profit center.
Finally, I've discovered that dictating letters and reports results and of very different prose style then typing does. Part of the reason is that when you're dictating you must think carefully about each sentence, but once the sentence is a dictated there's no good way to go back to change it. Your output is a wordier. Your thoughts and paragraphs are much less tightly structured. That means that Dragon NaturallySpeaking is good for in a formal e-mails and job progress notes, and for highly structured, repetitive, business reports. It is much less useful for writing that requires careful thought and structure.
-------------------------
CORRECTED VERSION; I've ALL CAPSed corrections.
I dictated this review using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9.0. The first half of the review is the raw version, just as Dragon NaturallySpeaking transcribed it. Then I will correct the review so you can judge how well the program performs.
I will admit my expectations were low. I had previously owned an earlier version of XXaXX Dragon NaturallySpeaking, but it performed so poorly I removed it from the computer. I also seem to remember that Windows came with a version of the speech recognition that also did not work well enough to be worth the bother. I quit using it as well. The problem with each of these programs was that, although they did transcribe many words correctly, they made so many mistakes it turned out just to be easier to type myself, OR since I generate a lot of letters for my business, to hire a transcription service.
I bought XXaXX Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 9, standard version, on XX a whim. Magazine reviews of the program had been a favorable, and the price was only $99. Still, I expected poor results. As you have seen however, the program does a remarkably good job of transcribing my speech. This is with very little training -- no more than a few minutes. I now find that it is quicker to XXtakeXX dictate into Dragon NaturallySpeaking and later go back and correct the errors than it is to just type myself.
Still, the product does have a few drawbacks.
#1 The user license is for only one person. Even if you install the software on only one computer, you must still pay XXinXX Nuance A separate licensing fee for each person who uses the program. Imagine having to pay a separate licensing fee for each person who uses Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat Elements. That's crazy, and it just PISSES me off.
#2: Although I have a 3.2 GHz computer, Dragon NaturallySpeaking does seem to noticeably slow down the machine's performance.
#3: I'm a little worried about the programs stability and compatibility. It sometimes seems to freeze for 30 seconds or so. It will sometimes accept dictation into Microsoft Access, other times it accepts the dictation then immediately erases the result. I've also found that my mission-critical Retrospect backup software isn't working.
#4: Related to number three is Nuance Software's policy of charging for technical assistance. I'm worried that the company puts out a product with obvious flaws [SEE number three above], then turns fixing those problems into a profit center.
Finally, I've discovered that dictating letters and reports results XXand ofXX IN A very different prose style THAN typing does. Part of the reason is that when you're dictating you must think carefully about each sentence, but once the sentence is XXaXX dictated there's no good way to go back to change it. Your output is a wordier. Your thoughts and paragraphs are much less tightly structured. That means that Dragon NaturallySpeaking is good for XXin aXX INformal e-mails and job progress notes, and for highly structured, repetitive, business reports. It is much less useful for writing that requires careful thought and structurING.
 Great product January 11, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Easy to use right out of the box. But to really cutomize it it takes some time and effort - if you really want to use it often, you have to spend time getting to know the details so that you can do the same things you do when typing.
It is actually quite an amazing program.
Works great, just what I need January 9, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This software is worth the price. It was easy to install and not complicated at all. The only problem I have with it is getting it trained to recognize my southern drawl.....
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