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MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

This Product is NOT Good!

Written by TM

Dec 28, 2008

Whoever is writing these five-star reviews, they must work for the company-as someone said in another review. I have already had to manually correct the first sentence five times. Ten the little...? (times total!)
Originally an employee of mine bought this program. Being the fact that I'm the owner of a consumer advocate company, she gave it to me to try. Unless you do not have fingers that work relatively correctly, this program is more hassle than it is good. I do not believe under any circumstance that other than severely physically impaired users of this product are writing five-star reviews. It is that simple. And to be completely honest, some of the things this program types out makes me wonder if there is a wizard behind the curtain pulling the strings.
The reason this product was first purchase was because of physical limitations that the original owner has. I reimbursed her the money for it. If it made her job easier, to me it was worth the $200. She had to return the original headphones that came with the package and pay $55 for an upgrade. Along with the software update, the program works a little better. (It no longer types even after you quit talking.) But the moment it runs into one snag, it will continue to snag. It will erase entire paragraphs over and over again. It will decide to type over a sentence or delete a sentence somewhere in the middle of a paragraph, and for no apparent reason. You'll spend a lot of time using the undo option with this program. Only buy it if you truly have physical limitations that make it worth the effort. My employee has decided to just type through it.
I spoke to someone who purchased the Windows version for medical dictation. I can honestly tell you that this is one of the most laid-back individuals I have ever met. But I can also say that I heard anger in his voice and saw fire in his eyes when he spoke of having to use the words, "Scratch that... scratch that!" over and over again. And then I knew, I wasn't the only one. A lot of the time, the commands meant for correcting errors, do little if no good.
This review is the truth... It's what I do for a living. And the staple of my commitment to my job is, "Is it Fair?" Yes this is. When they do get this program to work well, what a wonderful thing it will be. It will sell like Elmo. And I will buy a new one... I hope it's a inexpensive upgrade. Note: By the end of this review, I have made 38 corrections.

111 of 128 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Gotta be kidding

Written by RB from Providence

Dec 25, 2008

The built in MacBook Pro Mic cannot be accessed by MacSpeech Dictate forcing the use of a ridiculous headset - pilot to co-pilot. Absurd decision- no doubt to up headset sales - very Microsoft.

37 of 48 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

AWSOME!

Written by RN from SAN JOSE

Dec 15, 2008

This program worked right of the box. I dictated 300 words and it didn't get one wrong. They got it right on this program. IT REALLY WORKS!

22 of 34 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

MacSpeech is a MacFlop

Written by SB from Oakville

Nov 17, 2008

This is truly the worst software that I have ever had the misfortune of using on the Mac.
It does not recognize even the most basic of my dictation. I have used Dragon Dictate and it is light years ahead of this poor excuse for a product.
Do yourself a favour and avoid this at all costs.

55 of 97 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Spend more time making corrections.

Written by KE

Nov 5, 2008

The reason why I bought MacSpeech Dictate was because I had back surgery and typing creates a knot in the center of my back - not to mention that I have arthritis. I do use this program when I know I'm going to be typing more than 300 words or until I get fed up. I spend a great deal of time going over everything I write and doing corrections. MacSpeech Dictate has a very hard time knowing when to capitalize at the beginning of the sentence, When you are doing corrections, and at the beginning of a new paragraph. you have to be extremely careful using this program. (as last two sentences clearly show.) Getting a hold of tech support is very difficult. A new version came out with a free upgrade and I had hoped it would take care of the errors. It did not. Sometimes it works fabulously and other times I think I'm speaking in a different language. Regardless you have to be very careful using this program. If you're using it to save time... Don't. If you're using it because you have physical limitations, then it could be of help. I think all the four and five star reviews were placed by employees of MacSpeech Dictate. Because I'm telling you, it is a constant fight. if what you are writing is important, I hope you have a secretary to proofread or you're very good at proofreading yourself. I won't put my secretary through that. she's got a lot more important things to do. the only reason I fixed the spelling errors in this review was simply to make it legible and to make sense. I had to make a lot of corrections to this review. However, he did not fix capitalization. And at the beginning of that last sentence, I said, "I", not, "he".... Just an example.

105 of 119 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

excellence

Written by AB

Nov 3, 2008

I'm rating MacSpeech Dictate a 4 out of 5 stars because some words it doesn't understand what I'm saying, but all in all it's the best program. I love it and would not send it back, it's a great investment especially for me being a university student, it types faster than I can type which is really cool, I am actually using it right now to type this review which is also fastly done. Great product I love it I would encourage others to buy it, personally I bought it because it's faster to speak into a mic than it is to type one at least in my case. to install this program it to under five minutes, it recognized my voice really fast which was amazing, because I had to write an essay. I can't say anything bad about this product, some people wrote battered reviews about it but I don't understand why they were having so much trouble with it. If you're looking for a product that types faster than you I suggest you go to Apple and buy the product it's great.

40 of 45 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Life saver

Written by MH from Sellersburg

Oct 19, 2008

I had an accident and my arm was incapacitated for 3 months. This package saved me. I would avoid the optional headset that they provide - difference in software performance between that and the Logitech Premium Notebook Headset is highly significant. Should note that I'm trilingual, my accent fluctuates a lot, and regardless it works great 99% of the time. The main weakness at this time is the inability to edit vocabulary (remove words) and do more voice training if needed. I would be willing to read 10 more documents to get the accuracy up, especially if they were docs that I had written. Ability to load docs that you have written is there but there is no reading them to the system. I'm amazed and tempted to get the French and Spanish dictionaries as well.

37 of 42 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Kept me on the job

Written by RW from Champaign

Oct 19, 2008

I had a serious tablesaw accident -- two fingers lost and reattached on my dominant hand. A long rehab period meant I couldn't type for months. I purchased and installed Dictate. After a very short training session and loading some examples of my written work on day one, I was dictating e-mails, letters, and manuscripts with approximately 95% accuracy. I could even use technical terms and proper names. I cannot say enough about this product.

37 of 44 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Just got it and I love it

Written by RJ from North Las Vegas

Oct 13, 2008

This product is phenomenal, it works right out of the box it took about five minutes to set up and I'm dictating and it recognizes my voice it's just phenomenal. I recommend this product to anyone, I am truly amazed that it is working to swell clearly just five minutes I installed it and I am writing this message to you right now I'm amazed. I'm never going to have to type ever again I highly recommend this product. Thank you

24 of 33 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Not ready for serious users!

Written by DW from Spokane

Oct 12, 2008

I cannot recommend this product until they finish fulfilling their obligation to create a COMPLETE application. As it stands, it is very accurate, but the correction features are almost completely missing... it's supposedly currently in beta testing, but if you check the website forum, it's a common frustration, and tech support is notoriously bad. Too bad, I could really use this product and paid for the upgrade from iListen, which was slow to train and very inaccurate. This technology is almost there, and this may be a struggling company trying to make good on their claim to fame, but it is not, at this point, a tool for the power user, or anyone who needs to do a lot of training with the use of technical/medical terms.

Do not buy it yet... someday, it may be a wonderful app, but right now, it's like buying a Porsche without a reverse gear. Lots of fun until you have to actually make a correction.

43 of 51 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Not Good.

Written by KE from Greensburg

Oct 10, 2008

This product was a waste of $200. I don't know how it got such high reviews. I have to constantly reach rain at to understand my speech.( I said we train it) reach trying at, retrying it, read train it... retrain it! I spend more time making corrections than I would if I just typed what I have to say. I have excellent verbal skills and speech. It shouldn't be so hard.

38 of 47 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!

Written by BF from Austin

Oct 7, 2008

I work in an email support environment, so I am constructing and responding to emails for over 40 hours a week. This software is a god-send! I was blown away by how accurately it dictates what I say. Not only does it type what you dictate, but you can also give it commands, such as open program, close program, copy & paste.

This is the next step in computer innovation. It really takes interacting with your computer to another level.

I am so so glad that I bought this software. It is making my life so much easier, and giving my poor hands a break. Anyone who types a lot and has access to a quiet environment to do their work will find this software to be as amazing as I have.

5 Stars!!

29 of 37 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Outstanding Program (from previous Dragon user)!!

Written by TH from Fennville

Sep 9, 2008

To qualify myself here, I have been using the PC version of Dragon Naturally Speaking Medical for 7 years, doing all my work dictations with that software. Recently switching to Mac, I heard enough concerns about previous dictation software made for the Mac. Skeptical, I tried this one, and I writing my first review to inform others who may be in similar shoes that they DID get it right this time. Appropriate expectations of voice activated dictation are needed, but I will verify that this program seems outstanding!! The training is seriously NO BIG DEAL, unlike the misconceptions many people I talk to seem to have. I speak clearly, but not with "obnoxious clarity" when dictating, and at a pace equal to my conversational pace and this program transcribes with HIGH accuracy. It does truly work!

68 of 77 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

MacSpeech Dictate -- great program!!

Written by BG from Old Greenwich

Sep 5, 2008

I have been dealing with back and neck problems for a couple of years. I knew there must be a good dictation software out there and MacSpeech is it! As I am on the computer almost 8 hours a day, this is a lifesaver. It is much more accurate and faster than I expected. I recommend it highly, my back seems fine, and after two days of using it, I am more efficient than ever.

PS: I dictated this note in less than a minute on MacSpeech

54 of 61 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Very Good!

Written by EL

Aug 18, 2008

Compared to previous versions of macspeech voice recognition programs this is very good and works well.This may very well be the best voice recognition program so far. It learned my voice in about 5 minutes in one training session, Its not 100% perfect buts its well up there. I would recommend this program to anyone who needs voice recognition software for whatever reason.

69 of 78 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Finally, good dictation software.

Written by KS from DANVILLE

Aug 9, 2008

I have used dictation software from time-to-time, but always seemed it always seemed like it never got over the hump. Within the first day of using this, I was sliding down the other side of said hump. The training for it to learn your voice patterns takes no time. I find myself using it for email, taking quick notes, penning letters. I have not found a program that it does not work seamlessly in. Great program.

105 of 112 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

ALMOST 5 STARS

Written by JF from LOS ANGELES

Aug 5, 2008

It's not perfect, but pretty darn close. In fact, I'm writing this review with it. I find that the more naturally I speak, the better it does. The people who've written reviews totally trashing it must be doing something wrong. Teaching it new words is a pain in the nether regions, but if they improve that along with teaching it to recognize e-mail addresses and so on, it will be a five-star product. I'm very satisfied, and it's helping me through an arm injury more than I can tell you.

168 of 180 people found this useful

MacSpeech Dictate v1.5

Inaccurate

Written by AM from Conroe

Aug 2, 2008

Mostly inaccurate.

40 of 295 people found this useful