Let your Mac take dictation

I just got this update (somewhat reluctantly, given the price for what looks like a minor upgrade), but I must say that I'm amazed by the performance. I'm not a native speaker, and my pronunciation probably does not fit any of the standard models very well. The prior program, iListen, was completely unusable for me. Dictate version 1.3 worked reasonably, but required correction every other sentence at least. The new version of Dictate seems to perform MUCH better. For me it is definitely worth the cost of the upgrade, even before having played with adding words to the vocabulary. In my case, recognition accuracy has gone up from (guessing) 98% to at least 99 1/2%. In absolute percentage points this looks very small, but it basically is the difference between having to interrupt your workflow again and again, or dictating somewhat normally.
In comparison with Dragon naturally speaking under Parallels, this update of Dictate finally reaches (or surpasses) the Windows version.

10% off with coupon DICTATE10

Me too on the frustrations with the earlier version and the indignation about the hefty upgrade fee. Basically, they released a beta version of the thing at full price, and now they want to charge us for a version that 1) is less buggy and 2) does some but not all of what the software should have been able to do when first released. It's better than iListen, but that ain't sayin much. The problem for me isn't even really with the recognition part -- it's with the strange and baffling malfunctions of the software itself, like the fact that it has to "warm up" for about 15 minutes of use, before which there's a lag of minutes between dictation and the time when words actually appear on the screen.

Dragon Naturally Speaking works so well that for most of my dictation needs it's actually easier for me to reboot in a Windows partition and use DNS instead. I'm lucky in that I don't need Dictate to actually operate my Mac, and feel great sympathy for people who have access issues and no better alternative than this not-ready-for-prime-time product.

Seems like a good uppgrade.

Hi -I'd like to add my voice to the chorus of complaints about this egregious rip off. We are really being charged for a bug fix for a program that worked well for very few people. Not only that, but those of us outside the United States will have to pay outrageous S&H charges by the company, as they are not making the update downloadable.
I'm now torn. Send more money to these rip-off artists? My answer would be no, except, (and they know and are taking advantage of the fact), that they are the only game in town.
This is like a hostage taking situation.

I just dictated my earlier post into 1.5 below. If this is acceptable to you then 1.5 is for you...

I just got my "new" 1.5 copy -- the interface is a little slacker, the recognition? Not that much better [20% better is a stretch] -- and the fact that you have to train it's [3 final sessions for best accuracy] is a nightmare for someone like me uses dictation software to try to save time. I am using a very expensive Logitech USB handset and it's pretty we heard some of the things looks "things" I'm saying on. Let's just say when it does not understand you, its interpretation is gibberish. To me there is nothing worse than this because it derails any train of thought to annoying Holt. Also the launch times with the recent 2.6 GHz, 7200 RPM HD, low heat of RAM MBP are surprisingly, painfully slow. On that note I did get an e-mail from customer service talking exceptional customer service and that was a nice tutor your own hormone -- but as a user from the iListen days I about the marketing hype and upgraded each new version [3 purchases so far]. Each upgrade promises basically looked the last one did in the new version. The most recent 55.upgrade was a hard pill. I guess MacSpeech just counsel customers like me when I purchased three versions but basically the same product, to keep buying the hope in the "this is the one that works" marketing. That online is you can add all the bells and whistles to the software like this but it's a recognition that is so key to the end-user. Otherwise it turns into a slow load love -- where. It pains me to say this because I really wish this software will perform up to watermarking planes if I'm a MacSpeech either handle on existing customer base before hitting them up for another paid upgrade. But and please no one e-mails guys telling me how great your customer service is.

Please also add that this is not a download upgrade. The upgrade has to be sent to you on disk, and you have to pay postage! Seriously archaic. Also, it would be better to make a video of your dictation using the 1.5 upgrade to show how it's has or has not improved.

I have been using Macspeech for over 12 months almost daily and prior used Dragon on PC. Macspeech is not up to speed with the PC equivalent. Notwithstanding it is an extremely serviceable program that has significantly increased the quality and volume of my written work.

I have found the company to be supportive, diligent and honest. I have no hesitation recommending the program on the basis that it is the best available for Mac.

The shortcomings are not significant and do not hinder the speed and usablity to the extent that, in my opinion the shortcomings do not warrant the effort or electricty required to fire up my PC.

I have ordered and paid almost $200 Australian ( with postage) for the upgrade and am confident that I will receive a superior product and that my purchase will contribute to encouraging those at the company to continue their efforts in improving the product.

I agree that it's pretty ridiculous to charge $55 for this upgrade. They are not taking care of their customers!

I just upgraded my father's MacBook to Leopard so that he can partake of this upgrade. He purchased Dictate back in January, and the application has just been a frustrating nightmare. We are on a first name basis with just about all the technical support people working at MacSpeech because support calls are almost on a weekly basis. I've installed it, including on a new user account, five times. When we heard of the upgrade, and the issues it supposedly fixes, we were hopeful. But that hope was soon dashed when we learned that it was paid upgrade.

My father dictated an email to MacSpeech outlining all the trouble we've been though, and stated that he thought that he shouldn't have to pay for the upgrade. He dictated it without correcting it. And, as paul turner said, when Dictate doesn't understand you, it produces absolute gibberish, and this email had shining examples of this. But one apropos mistake that was included was when Dictate turned the sentence "I called MacSpeech Dictate's technical support and asked them why that is." to "I called MacSpeech Dictate's debacle support and asked them why it is.". With all due respect to all the tech support people at MacSpeech, changing "technical support" to "debacle support" is just a perfect and apt piece of comedy.

But it's sad, too, because the frustration of Dictate is that it's so close, but it's just not there. My father purchased Dictate because he had a stroke that effected his typing abilities, but not his speech. He writes professionally, so dictate seemed to be a godsend. I hope it will turn into one sooner than later.