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ankysbookbubble's review against another edition
4.0
Informative
I learned a few tips and tricks through this book and also what works and how much I should expect from Dragon. It was short and to the point.
I learned a few tips and tricks through this book and also what works and how much I should expect from Dragon. It was short and to the point.
stanwj's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that sets out to do one thing, in this case guide you through using voice dictation with Nuance's Dragon software to improve your writing output. And author Scott Baker succeeds in providing a concise, clear and confident set of advice, covering everything from set up to hardware recommendations, the common pitfalls to avoid and more.
A lot of the advice also applies in general terms to using any kind of voice dictation, though Baker as much admits that Dragon is the only credible option for the best results (and is more expensive now that the Premium version has been discontinued in favor of the pricier Professional version). Dictation has the potential to dramatically improve your writing speed on first drafts--Baker advises against using it for editing, as do other authors I've read who are otherwise strong advocates of dictation--and Baker encourages the reader/writer to use it whenever they can.
He also addresses a problem people generally have with voice technology, whether it's dictating or just speaking a command to your smart phone--it can feel somewhat embarrassing to do in public. Baker gamely insists people won't care and my transit rides suggest he may be right, but he provides solutions ranging from dictating in your car on the ride in to work, to dictating as you leave the train and head to the office. With the increased speed of dictation over writing, even 10 or 15 minutes can yield great results.
Baker's website also includes video tutorials for buyers of the book, as well as a blog where he regularly reviews microphones and other hardware, as well as provides a useful bunch of links to resources ranging from books, microphones, software and other accessories.
In all, this slim volume is an excellent way to acquaint yourself with Dragon dictation software, but more than that, it's a good primer on why dictation is worthwhile to begin with, full of practical advice and good tips.
Recommended.
A lot of the advice also applies in general terms to using any kind of voice dictation, though Baker as much admits that Dragon is the only credible option for the best results (and is more expensive now that the Premium version has been discontinued in favor of the pricier Professional version). Dictation has the potential to dramatically improve your writing speed on first drafts--Baker advises against using it for editing, as do other authors I've read who are otherwise strong advocates of dictation--and Baker encourages the reader/writer to use it whenever they can.
He also addresses a problem people generally have with voice technology, whether it's dictating or just speaking a command to your smart phone--it can feel somewhat embarrassing to do in public. Baker gamely insists people won't care and my transit rides suggest he may be right, but he provides solutions ranging from dictating in your car on the ride in to work, to dictating as you leave the train and head to the office. With the increased speed of dictation over writing, even 10 or 15 minutes can yield great results.
Baker's website also includes video tutorials for buyers of the book, as well as a blog where he regularly reviews microphones and other hardware, as well as provides a useful bunch of links to resources ranging from books, microphones, software and other accessories.
In all, this slim volume is an excellent way to acquaint yourself with Dragon dictation software, but more than that, it's a good primer on why dictation is worthwhile to begin with, full of practical advice and good tips.
Recommended.
migrex's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
Really useful, as well as his Quick Cheats book. Not sure if there are other, more updated versions, but this one will get you started on what you need to know, and what you should and should not expect. Bottom line: get your first draft out of your head so you can get to revising.
scott_a_gardner's review
3.0
Helpful, but basic
I'm not sold on the pro/premier versions of Dragon like Baker is. I get stuff transcribed through another service. His free follow-up was more helpful to me. But if you've never done any audio work with your computer before, this will help a lot.
I'm not sold on the pro/premier versions of Dragon like Baker is. I get stuff transcribed through another service. His free follow-up was more helpful to me. But if you've never done any audio work with your computer before, this will help a lot.
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