Product Description

NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Wireless gives small business andadvanced PC users the power to create documents reports and emailsthree times faster than most people type. All with up to 99%accuracy. Surf the Web by voice or dictate and edit in Micr

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141 in Software
• Brand: Nuance Communications, Inc.
• Released on: 2008-08-26
• Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2003 Server
• Format: DVD-ROM
• Dimensions: .53 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
Create documents, reports and emails three times faster than most people type with up to 99% accuracy, perfect for business and advanced PC users.

Plantronics Calisto Wireless Bluetooth Headset delivers great dictation results - without the wires. Adjustable to right or left ear, up to 33ft range from headset to USB Bluetooth Adapter, Up to 8 hours Battery Life / Talk Time, Convenient USB Headset Charging Cable

Continued accuracy: Every time an individual uses Dragon and corrects their recognition errors, the software updates their user profile to enable better recognition accuracy over time.

Works With the Applications Users Already Have. Users can dictate directly into Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook Express and most other Microsoft Office applications running on Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows-Vista. Dragon also supports popular programs such as Corel WordPerfect, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and AOL. Users can even control menus and dialog boxes in these applications. Navigate the desktop by voice: launch or switch applications, save or print documents, and more - all by voice.

Add Custom Words and Voice Commands. Quickly add custom words, such as names, to the system's vocabulary. Create your own commands, such as "insert signature," and pre-set text and images will automatically appear in email and documents.

Easy Correction and Proofing. With "play back" feature, users can listen to their dictation while Dragon highlights the corresponding text on the screen for easy proofreading.

NEW Quick Voice Formatting commands allow users to issue a single voice command, such as "Bold Quick Voice Formatting" to make editing and formatting text faster than ever. Unique Natural Language Commands mean users don't have to memorize complex instructions. In Word, for example, a user can say, "make that bigger," and the font size increases instantly.

Punctuation. Select the "Nothing but Speech" natural punctuation feature so that punctuation is automatically entered into documents and messages.

NEW Dragon Voice Shortcuts for Web Search make searching for information on the Web faster and easier. Just say "Search the Web for financial management resources," and Dragon will use the default search engine and default Web browser to enter the term in the search field and return the results. A user may also search specific sites using commands such as "Search Wikipedia for George Washington Carver," "Search eBay for Bluetooth headsets." Sites supported by Dragon Voice Shortcuts include Google, Yahoo, eBay, Wikipedia and more.

NEW Dragon Voice Shortcuts for Desktop Search allow users to quickly locate information on the PC -all by voice. For example, say "Search email for launch plans" and Dragon will complete the desktop search using Google desktop search or Windows Vista desktop search. Or command, "Find an email about the Robinson report," to open the top email.

Be Productive on the Go. Dictate into any Nuance-certified digital recorder for automatic transcription when it is synched with a PC.

Easy to Use. Quick installation and no special script reading required. New on-screen help and tutorials help users become experts in no time.

Avoid Repetitive Strain Injuries by using your voice to control the PC and create documents.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Pleasantly surprised so far...
I began using Dragon 9.5 due to a worsening wrist problem aggravated by typing. From the first, I found the experience generally frustrating due to the number of mistakes made in nearly every sentence, which slowed my work down considerably. After approximately a year, version 9.5 became corrupt, and while I was loathe to spend any more money on what I considered to be an essentially faulty product, I reluctantly upgraded to version 10, which I have just installed today. (Note: I am not using Windows Vista, but generally, I had no problems with the installation).

I discovered from reading several reviews, that it was possible to upgrade to version 10 Preferred (non-wireless) and still use my wireless headset that came with version 9.5. Those reviewers said that the headset that comes with version 10 is not as good as the one that came with version 9.5. On this, I cannot comment, however, I have added this review to the version 10 Preferred (Wireless) section, so that others interested in wireless dictation will know that the former version headset does work just fine.

So, with admittedly low expectations, I have begun using version 10. I did take the prompts to upload my previous user files, however I did not do any of the other customisation this time.

And I have to say, so far I am very pleasantly surprised. This version does seem to be considerably faster and more accurate than version 9.5. I managed to dictate several entire paragraphs (including this review) with very few errors that I had to correct. This is in marked contrast to my previous experience, where I found myself surprised every time a sentence appeared that was error-free.

While it is very early days, and I haven't tried to do anything fancy, I am feeling hopeful that this version might be a significant improvement on version 9.5. With that caveat, I am awarding this version four stars.

The leading package for voice to text - but also checkout the 'wired' & educational versions
Now that IBM ViaVoice is no longer being developed, Nuance's Dragon Naturally Speaking pretty much has the mainstream PC voice recognition market to itself. This Dragon 10 'wireless' box includes both the PC software and an expensive Plantronics wireless headphone/mic that slips over the ear so that you can use it effectively - great, well unless you wear glasses. The USB adapter for blue-tooth is included. You can also buy the identical software with a cheaper wired headphone/mic, as 'Dragon naturally Preferred 10' [which you could later upgrade to wireless using say Creative's X-Fi HS-1200 Headset].

We bought this package for my son's PC, as he is quite badly dyslexic [unlike his older sister who shines at school and reads a book every few days]. Now my son is in year 8 at secondary school he is finding it hard keeping up with all the written homework, and his phonetic spelling and dictionary ability is so poor he can't even find the correct word to see if he's spelt it right. So we are trying him with this Dragon Naturally Speaking [Preferred] version 10. Dragon NS is recommended by many SENCO professionals as 'the' PC voice recognition software for dyslexics - and given the cost of raising kids and poor GCSE results, the money spent for this Dragon 10.0 is almost insignificant.

Plus, if you are a good speller and want this software because of mobility problems [e.g. RSI] or simply you work better with spoken English rather than typed, Dragon 10 is well worth a try. Don't expect it work out of the box though, you still need to modify your approach to 'speak typing' and have to train the software to recognise your voice [although this is far easier than it was with earlier versions]. Dragon 10 apparently runs faster and is easier to use than even old version 9, and 10 is now compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows Vista [not 64-bit XP though]. Dragon Preferred runs well on our 32-bit XP PCs, and works with the XP/Vista/2000 32-bit OS. For Apple fans there's different software: Nuance's MacSpeech Dictate. Plus the software naturally needs a soundcard and speakers [no doubt on-board sound is more than adequate, although we have Creative XiFi cards]. You also need internet access to activate the software, and naturally owning Microsoft Office Word is pretty useful. Supported languages are: English as either UK, US, Australian, S Asian, Indian, or Teen English, plus Dutch, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Dragon make a more expensive version of Naturally Speaking 10, called 'Professional', and this adds in extra support for email shortcuts, voice macros for repetitive tasks, and better administrative tools for networking. Dragon NS 10 Professional also controls even more PC functions [e.g. to dictate, edit and control most Windows software, and in fact it's US "Section 508 certified to give people with disabilities complete hands-free use of the PC". However this 'Preferred' version does include simple control of PC things like the internet as well as text input [like 'search the web for', or 'search eBay for']. This additional menu control is the extra over the cheaper basic Dragon 10 NS Standard offering - all versions have full text editing and basic Windows voice commands. Like this package they also all come with a headset and microphone unit [wired in the case of the cheaper Preferred and the Standard editions]. If you fancy snazzy wireless on-ear headphone/mic input & control, check out this 'wireless' version.

By the way, if you are a schoolkid, student or work in the educational sector, Nuance have just introduced an educational [discounted] version. You can buy direct from Nuance UK, although often this educational version [and the others] are far cheaper via resellers such as Amazon. Order the educational version and you get the software but no licence code. Email proof of your child's enrolment at school/college and Nuance send you the activation code within 24 hours. The educational version is the cheaper `wired headset' retail one though [no wireless].

As Nuance point out though, you have to be motivated to get this software to work well, and speak 'slowly and precisely after the tone' - i.e. in a southern UK accent - the only other accents supported are say Australian and US ones - although there is also 'teen' English. Voice input may be a sticking point with my son, as it has to be less effort than typing or writing or he'll lose interest eventually [he doesn't want to do either anyway] - I suppose time will tell. For committed adults the learning curve will be a lot easier, particularly as you need a quiet room and have to overcome the talking to yourself embarrassment [so it's not easy in a crowded office or in my sons room with the TV/HiFi on]. That said Dragon 10 works virtually straight out of the box, making few errors in transcription. Any problems and just say 'Spell' and spell the word. It is however very clunky to edit text using your voice compared to using a mouse [you have to say things like 'go back three words', 'move up two lines']. You can even move the mouse cursor with your voice though, using a grid base. Whether all this suites you depends on your needs and whether you can cope with sitting in relative silence while talking fairly loudly to your PC.

At the moment my son thinks voice text input via headset is cool. The headset stays on his ear OK, although he is big for his age. The headset won over my son and he is trying hard with the software, but it's not easy going as his spelling is too poor to know if the transcribed word is correctly spelt anyway. However it's certainly no worse than his unreadable scribbled phonetically spelt words. Given that dyslexic support from his 'beacon-status' secondary school is non-existent, we feel it's well worth persisting with dragon 10.

I do have a second licence for Dragon Preferred 10.0 [the 'wired headset' version] for our laptop, and I have to say it's a bit nicer with this more expensive wireless headset version if you can afford it, although the far cheaper 'wired headset' Dragon NS 10 Preferred is perfectly adequate and so good value [and it's even a tad more comfortable to wear, although snagging the cable can be really irritating and it's build quality is suspect for teenage boys]. Overall Dragon ND Preferred is easily a 4* offering from Nuance, which-ever headset you choose.

Much improved over old version
I last used Naturally Speaking about 5 years ago, for taking dictation. The version back then wasn't uite quick enough to keep up with my speech, so I ended up typing things out to save time.

This latest version is much more impressive, and I can now dictate faster than I can type, which is the whole pint of the software (for most users anywaY).

Now, the program is linked to almost all applictions on my PC, from the WWW to mail, and it can huge mounts of time due to advanced macro features.

The ability to insert blocks of text or signatures with a single keyword is just...well, magic. It makes letter writing so easy it's like having a secretary working for you.

The headset is excellent and just works the way you would expect. I don't know if he extra moeny for this wireless version is worth it, so it's a matter of personal choice.

Overall a massive improvement over what was available a few years ago, and well worth the price in my opinion.