Software Review: MacSpeech Dictate

I’m not actually typing right now, I am using MacSpeech Dictate. I purchased this program to use at work. I thought it would be a way that I can quickly and efficiently write my daily progress notes for my patients. In testing this program out at home however I discover that is actually a good way to write blog entries.

So far very happy with this program. It was very easy to install, and it came with a USB headset and microphone. There was a short training session that took less than five minutes. The installation process and the use of the software is very intuitive and easy to use. I am also very pleased with the accuracy of the dictation. I did not expect perfection, and there are some mistakes. But I am very pleased to say that these are much less than I had expected.

Just for the sake of example I am going to post this as it was dictated with only very minimal cosmetic editing. You can be the judge of how well it works. I’ve not tested other products, but I think that for Apple users this is a very good product.

Mobile Me

Here’s a follow up to my post about my new MacBook in which I complained about my frustrations with Mobile Me.

Mobile Me is the Apple product that offers synchronization of multiple different devices via the internet. Also included is 20gb of online storage space. After some tinkering, I’ve finally gotten it to sync! I now have my laptop, desktop and two iPhones all playing well together.

It has really come in handy. Whenever an entry is made on any calendar, it automatically shows up on all of the calendars. Now my wife and I are tuned in to what each other are doing. The same goes for our contact book.

Mobile Me also provides storage space on the internet, which has come in handy for sharing pictures and files for work. This has also allowed me to experiment some with iWeb. You’ll notice that I have a spot on the left to click for the Loose Associations Podcast. It doesn’t work yet, and I may not follow through with it. But you never know!

So, now I can say that Mobile Me was a good purchase, even if it was somewhat impulsive. The problems with the set up process were annoying.  The ease of set up and day to day use are the main reasons that I prefer Apple over PC/Windows. I don’t like having to tinker with settings and download patch files etc. Setting up Mobile Me had a PC/Windows feel.

Hopefully this is not the way that Apple is headed.

New MacBook

So I got a new laptop today, an Apple MacBook. Our other older iBook was broken this summer when my daughter yanked out the power cord. After Hemming and Hawing about getting it fixed vs buying new, we went with the latter.

The computer is great, but I felt like I might have made a mistake in purchasing MobileMe. After my initial fussing, I can only get it to work in my iPhone. I was lured by the 30% off when you buy a new computer and made an impulse buy.