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Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate

  
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Author Message
Mark Conrad

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Since: Jan 31, 2007
Posts: 524



(Msg. 1) Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:04 pm
Post subject: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate
Archived from groups: comp>sys>mac>system (more info?)
The MacWorld forum website lists some possible down-sides
pertaining to the new forthcoming speech recognition
software for the Mac.

The new speech software is named "MacSpeech Dictate", which
supposedly will start shipping on Feb 15, 2008.

It requires an Intel based Mac, with Leopard OS 10.5.1
or better.

MacSpeech says it will also run on Tiger OS 10.4.11
or better, however it still requires an Intel based Mac.




I only include this website for your information, I am not
in a position to verify the accuracy of the comments.

The comments may be a case of "sour grapes".

READ IT CAREFULLY, and read Chuck Roger's replies to the
accusations posted there.

The macworld website is:

http://forums.macworld.com/message/609649


One of the critics of the new software made the charge that
the all-important correction code for correcting mistakes
was not in place yet, that MacSpeech Dictate will continue
making the same mistakes, even after they have been corrected.

Chuck Rogers did not specifically deny that charge, which
worries me somewhat.

It may be prudent to wait until the first users of the new
software report their actual experiences, after all the sales
hype dies down.

One other confusing thing needs to be sorted out, namely the
sales hype that claims "several headsets" are available.

I could find no brand names or technical details concerning
that general remark by MacSpeech.

Headsets differ greatly in their performance, so MacSpeech
is going to have to do better that that, in order to assist
Mac users in deciding which headset they should order when
they purchase MacSpeech Dictate.

Mark-

--
Everything considered, I am still going to be
one of the first guys in line to buy the new
software, a week from now.

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Michelle Steiner

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Since: Jul 15, 2003
Posts: 6223



(Msg. 2) Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:25 pm
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Lewis

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Since: Jan 19, 2008
Posts: 637



(Msg. 3) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:21 am
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Jolly Roger

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Since: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 2935



(Msg. 4) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:04 am
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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In article
<noneof-CBE50E.20042108022008.RemoveThis@earthlink.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
Mark Conrad <noneof.RemoveThis@urbusiness.invalid> wrote:

> One other confusing thing needs to be sorted out, namely the
> sales hype that claims "several headsets" are available.
>
> I could find no brand names or technical details concerning
> that general remark by MacSpeech.
>
> Headsets differ greatly in their performance, so MacSpeech
> is going to have to do better that that, in order to assist
> Mac users in deciding which headset they should order when
> they purchase MacSpeech Dictate.

I recently received a Logitech ClearChat Pro USB headset:

<http://preview.tinyurl.com/2fkwds>

The microphone reception on it is top-notch. It does a fantastic job of
cutting out most background noise. I would imagine a headset like this
would work very well with most any speech recognition application.

I'll probably purchase Dictate once it's out and I've read some positive
reviews of it. When that time comes, I'll have to test this headset with
it and post about my experience.

--
Note: Please send all responses to the relevant news group. If you
must contact me through e-mail, let me know when you send email to
this address so that your email doesn't get eaten by my SPAM filter.

JR
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Jolly Roger

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Since: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 2935



(Msg. 5) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:07 am
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
In article <michelle-02A818.22255208022008.DeleteThis@news.west.cox.net>,
Michelle Steiner <michelle.DeleteThis@michelle.org> wrote:

> In article
> <noneof-CBE50E.20042108022008.DeleteThis@earthlink.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
> Mark Conrad <noneof.DeleteThis@urbusiness.invalid> wrote:
>
> > It may be prudent to wait until the first users of the new software
> > report their actual experiences, after all the sales hype dies down.
>
> Of course, the people on this newsgroup who are actually interested in
> the product probably can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Really?

I bet a lot of Mac users would love to be able to control their Macs by
voice alone. I imagine anyone with a relative that is disabled in such a
way that they might benefit from such a dictation/automation type of
speech application would be interested as well.

I find myself in in both of these groups. I'm definitely interested.

--
Note: Please send all responses to the relevant news group. If you
must contact me through e-mail, let me know when you send email to
this address so that your email doesn't get eaten by my SPAM filter.

JR
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Lewis

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Since: Jan 19, 2008
Posts: 637



(Msg. 6) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:13 am
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Mark Conrad

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Since: Jan 31, 2007
Posts: 524



(Msg. 7) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:29 am
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
In article
<jollyroger-B914ED.03043109022008.TakeThisOut@70-3-168-216.area5.spcsdns.net>,
Jolly Roger <jollyroger.TakeThisOut@pobox.com> wrote:

> > Headsets differ greatly in their performance, so MacSpeech
> > is going to have to do better that that, in order to assist
> > Mac users in deciding which headset they should order when
> > they purchase MacSpeech Dictate.
>
> I recently received a Logitech ClearChat Pro USB headset:
>
> <http://preview.tinyurl.com/2fkwds>
>
> The microphone reception on it is top-notch. It does a fantastic job of
> cutting out most background noise. I would imagine a headset like this
> would work very well with most any speech recognition application.
>
> I'll probably purchase Dictate once it's out and I've read some positive
> reviews of it. When that time comes, I'll have to test this headset with
> it and post about my experience.

Looking forward to your post, if you decide to buy
the new MacSpeech Dictate.

I can't get anything out of MacSpeech regarding the
practical details of the "several optional headsets"
that they crow about in their sales hype.

Dragon seems to favor the Andrea NC-91 headset, however
headset vendors believe other headsets are better.

Doctors hate the NC-91, it is uncomfortable to wear,
and makes them look like Darth Vader to their patients.

They prefer the unobtrusive lapel-clip mic's, however
those mic's do not work well at all in noisy environments.

Most all (expensive) versions of Dragon ship with the
Andrea NC-91, which I use; I have not seriously
tested any other possibly better headsets.

Mark-
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Mark Conrad

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Since: Jan 31, 2007
Posts: 524



(Msg. 8) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:29 am
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
In article <michelle-02A818.22255208022008.DeleteThis@news.west.cox.net>,
Michelle Steiner <michelle.DeleteThis@michelle.org> wrote:

> Of course, the people on this newsgroup who are actually interested in
> the product probably can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Wow! - as many as 4 people!

I thought I was the only one.


I will be the first guy to agree that present day
speech recognition technology has limited value
for personal computer users.

The technology is just plain not good enough yet
for trivial use by the ordinary person.

Will not be good enough for decades yet.


Niche business uses are another story.

I copied this use of Dragon by a small medical group,
from a medical forum that I monitor.

The post is about Dragon medical.

(cost me $1,200, doctors can get it for a mere
$1,000 provided they make bulk purchases)


This post copied from a medical forum recently -
*****************************************************
Affording it is the easiest part, we spend over
$100,000 annually for transcription services
for 25 users. ($4,000 per year, per each user)

Switching to using Dragon, 25 Dragon licenses
cost $25,000 25 new laptops $25,000.

First year total cost after switching to Dragon $50,000.

First year savings, $100,000 minus $50,000 = $50,000.

Every year thereafter saved $100,000.
******************************************************


Even that poster does not realize he could save even more,
if he had switched to using Macs instead of PCs to run his
Dragon app's.

The added savings are realized by the much lower cost
of IT department support for Macs, as compared to PCs.



Any one of us concerned about medical costs can appreciate
the savings to the average person by medical groups using
present day speech technology, imperfect as it is.

Mark-
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Mike Rosenberg

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Since: Oct 28, 2007
Posts: 2705



(Msg. 9) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:53 am
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
Michelle Steiner <michelle RemoveThis @michelle.org> wrote:

> Of course, the people on this newsgroup who are actually interested in
> the product probably can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

I think that's unfair and you're reacting to the fact that Mark Conrad
made the post more than to the subject. OTOH, it's about an
application, not the Mac OS itself, and belongs in comp.sys.mac.apps.

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Michelle Steiner

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Since: Jul 15, 2003
Posts: 6223



(Msg. 10) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:38 am
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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Michelle Steiner

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Posts: 6223



(Msg. 11) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:44 am
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Mat Cvetic

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Since: Mar 21, 2006
Posts: 43



(Msg. 12) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:07 pm
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
In article
<jollyroger-CBFEDC.03072009022008.TakeThisOut@70-3-168-216.area5.spcsdns.net>,
Jolly Roger <jollyroger.TakeThisOut@pobox.com> wrote:

> In article <michelle-02A818.22255208022008.TakeThisOut@news.west.cox.net>,
> Michelle Steiner <michelle.TakeThisOut@michelle.org> wrote:
>
> > In article
> > <noneof-CBE50E.20042108022008.TakeThisOut@earthlink.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
> > Mark Conrad <noneof.TakeThisOut@urbusiness.invalid> wrote:
> >
> > > It may be prudent to wait until the first users of the new software
> > > report their actual experiences, after all the sales hype dies down.
> >
> > Of course, the people on this newsgroup who are actually interested in
> > the product probably can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
>
> Really?
>
> I bet a lot of Mac users would love to be able to control their Macs by
> voice alone. I imagine anyone with a relative that is disabled in such a
> way that they might benefit from such a dictation/automation type of
> speech application would be interested as well.
>
> I find myself in in both of these groups. I'm definitely interested.

I agree with Jolly Roger - I've been playing with speech recog since
System 7.5 and have been waiting for something usable to come along. So
far, Apple's implementation (of canned phrase recognition) hasn't been
good enough -- maybe something like Dictate will be more to my liking.
If not, I'll continue to wait with interest...
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Jolly Roger

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Since: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 2935



(Msg. 13) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:13 pm
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
In article <michelle-E821F9.11442609022008 RemoveThis @news.west.cox.net>,
Michelle Steiner <michelle RemoveThis @michelle.org> wrote:

> In article
> <jollyroger-CBFEDC.03072009022008 RemoveThis @70-3-168-216.area5.spcsdns.net>,
> Jolly Roger <jollyroger RemoveThis @pobox.com> wrote:
>
> > > > It may be prudent to wait until the first users of the new
> > > > software report their actual experiences, after all the sales
> > > > hype dies down.
> > >
> > > Of course, the people on this newsgroup who are actually interested
> > > in the product probably can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
> >
> > Really?
> >
> > I bet a lot of Mac users would love to be able to control their Macs
> > by voice alone.
>
> Can this software be used to control the computer? I have the
> impression that it is strictly for speech dictation into documents.

We won't know for sure until it's released, but I sure hopw there's a
way.

--
Note: Please send all responses to the relevant news group. If you
must contact me through e-mail, let me know when you send email to
this address so that your email doesn't get eaten by my SPAM filter.

JR
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Jolly Roger

External


Since: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 2935



(Msg. 14) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:20 pm
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
In article <gkreme-64CF50.04135409022008 DeleteThis @news.giganews.com>,
Lewis <gkreme DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:

> In article
> <jollyroger-CBFEDC.03072009022008 DeleteThis @70-3-168-216.area5.spcsdns.net>,
> Jolly Roger <jollyroger DeleteThis @pobox.com> wrote:
> > I bet a lot of Mac users would love to be able to control their Macs by
> > voice alone.
>
> You can already do that.

Yes, but there are areas where it is sorely lacking. My hope is that
Dictate will help in at least some of those areas.

> Dictate is for dictation, not control.

Are you claiming to know, for sure, that Dictate offers absolutely no
functionality that might be used for control?

> Besides, Dictate is $200, right?

That makes a difference to me why? I can easily afford to put down $200
for an application I consider useful. I'm sure many, many Mac users can
say the same thing.

> > I imagine anyone with a relative that is disabled in such a
> > way that they might benefit from such a dictation/automation type of
> > speech application would be interested as well.
>
> If one has trouble typing then voice to text software like Dictate could
> be invaluable, but it's still $200.

So what? Adobe CS3 is over $1000, but many Mac users buy it.

--
Note: Please send all responses to the relevant news group. If you
must contact me through e-mail, let me know when you send email to
this address so that your email doesn't get eaten by my SPAM filter.

JR
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Lewis

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Since: Jan 19, 2008
Posts: 637



(Msg. 15) Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:21 pm
Post subject: Re: Sour Grapes on MacWorld forum about MacSpeech Dictate [Login to view extended thread Info.]
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