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Voice Recognition Software: Ratings of Sources
Total of 27 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. The New York Times
July 20, 2006
Like Having a Secretary in Your PC
by David Pogue
Our Assessment

Technology writer David Pogue had an extremely productive experience with Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9.0. He read preexisting copy aloud and the software accurately typed 98.9 percent of it before training and 99.4 percent after training. Pogue compares version 8 with version 9. He commends the software's manufacturer for "making careful and selective improvements," rather than "piling on features and complexity." Yet, he concludes, "Most people will find the changes to be too few and too subtle." Pogue also mentions that Windows Vista will offer an alternative. He favorably compares Dragon with iListen for the Macintosh, having successfully run NaturallySpeaking in Windows XP on a Macintosh. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by The New York Times Company, but is not affiliated editorially.)

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2. The New York Times
Mar. 1, 2007
Telling Your Computer What to Do
by David Pogue
Our Assessment

Times technology columnist David Pogue has long been a fan of voice-recognition software. He details how Windows Speech Recognition works in this article, which is excerpted from his book, Windows Vista: The Missing Manual. Pogue is very enthusiastic about the software, but doesn't find it as accurate as Dragon NaturallySpeaking. More than 60 readers add questions and comments to the article. Mac users bemoan the lack of anything as good as Vista or Dragon for the Mac OS. One reader thinks that with enough training, Vista's speech recognition is as good as Dragon. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by The New York Times Company, but is not affiliated editorially.)

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3. Amazon.com
As of May 2008
Voice Recognition Software Reviews
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our Assessment

The customer reviews of various editions of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9, IBM ViaVoice 10 and Dictate on Amazon.com are detailed and insightful. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 Preferred is by far the most popular product, but it earns mainly mixed reviews, with polarized opinions. ViaVoice and Dictate aren't as well liked. Many reviewers give all the products either the best possible or worst possible rating.

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4. CBSNews.com
Sept. 30, 2006
Voice Recognition Software Put To Test
by Larry Magid
Our Assessment

San Jose Mercury News reporter Larry Magid tests and uses Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 and the voice-recognition feature in the beta version of Vista while temporarily injured. He achieves close to 99 percent accuracy with both products, but implies that he prefers typing because of contextual errors made by software. He does say that both programs are easy to train and use. Magid concludes that Dragon is more sophisticated and more versatile than Windows Speech Recognition, yet he expresses no preference for either program. This is an interesting, practical article based on a real-life application, which makes it compelling to read.

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5. TrustedReviews.com
Aug. 15, 2006
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 Preferred Wireless
by Simon Williams
Our Assessment

TrustedReviews.com provides a very favorable, but very well-balanced, review of Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 Preferred. Simon Williams compares it with the previous version, citing specific improvements. Williams achieves about 96 percent accuracy in testing. He says NaturallySpeaking 9 Preferred requires more training than Nuance wants you to believe. The review explains the different editions of the program and describes usage.

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6. Bright Hub.com
Mar. 11, 2008
Microsoft Windows Vista - Speech Recognition Features Make the Upgrade
by Glen Salzman
Our Assessment

This review is exclusively devoted to Vista Speech Recognition. It's good in that regard and it's exceptionally informative. The shortcoming is the absence of a needed comparison with Dragon. Vague references to "the competition" are inadequate. Salzman reports the system resource usage of Vista's application and advises, "Without good hardware, the response time for Speech Recognition can become unbearable." With that caveat, he endorses the software. Excellent screenshots will help you find and get started with the software.

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MacSpeech Dictate Review
by Victor J. Medina
Our Assessment

This sophisticated blog user rating would be terrific with more testing and depth. Victor Medina, a lawyer, buys MacSpeech Dictate for his own professional use. After a few hours of use, he writes an enthusiastic but objective review. He compares the program with an old version of the legal edition of Dragon and with MacSpeech's iListen program. The latter is a previous-generation product that is not based on Dragon.

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8. Lifehacker.com
Not Dated
Speech Recognition: Using Windows Vista speech recognition
by Gina Trapani (moderator)
Our Assessment

Lifehacker.com "recommends the software downloads and web sites that actually save time." In this forum, site users describe their experiences with Windows Speech Recognition, Dragon and other voice-recognition programs. One user thinks the capability is little more than a novelty, but most users -- including a couple of lawyers who use it professionally -- report increases in productivity. One person successfully wrote half a book using Windows XP's cursory speech recognition. A longtime Dragon user is trying Vista after discovering Dragon 8 won't run under Vista. His early reaction is that >Vista is better.

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9. The New York Times
Jan. 24, 2008
New Tools to Bolster Mac's World
by David Pogue
Our Assessment

The first half of this article is devoted to the new Mac version of Microsoft Office; the second half covers MacSpeech Dictate, which Pogue says is based on Dragon NaturallySpeaking. MacSpeech Dictate is extremely accurate in his sole test of the beta version. He is very impressed with it and confident Mac users will appreciate it. Still, he concedes it isn't quite as good as Dragon. One of the differences is that Dictate lacks voice correction. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by The New York Times Company, but is not affiliated editorially.)

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10. TechRepublic.com
Mar. 08, 2007
Speech recognition in Windows Vista
by Deb Shinder
Our Assessment This excellent article is more of a how-to guide than a review. While primarily informational, it includes some evaluation. Deb Shinder describes her experience testing the software. It requires minimal training, a good microphone and ample computing power. Shinder says the software is easy to use and accurate.
11. Arstechnica.com
Sept. 25, 2006
Computing By Mouth
by Nate Anderson
Our Assessment This multipage article tests Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 over about two weeks. Nate Anderson covers the Professional version, but notes that other versions use the same voice-recognition engines. The last couple of pages delve more deeply into its performance in transcribing voice recordings and of macros. This review doesn't compare Dragon NaturallySpeaking to any other voice-recognition software.
12. CNet.com
Aug. 16, 2006
Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 9
by Elsa Wenzel
Our Assessment

CNet.com's Elsa Wenzel tests Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 for accuracy and ease of use. Interestingly, Wenzel achieves a lower level of accuracy than what's been reported in other reviews, so presumably CNet's "Excellent" rating refers to best-in-class more than overall value. Most importantly for current users, Wenzel finds only subtle interface improvements over version 8. She emphasizes heavy system demands and cost of use as buying considerations.

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13. OnComputers.com
Aug. 2006
Talking to Your Computer
by Bob and Joy Schwabach
Our Assessment

In this brief review, syndicated computer columnists Bob and Joy Schwabach say that each version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking "gets a little better." They find that the program works better -- and works well -- if you train it. They mention that Nuance only includes one free tech support call, thereafter charging for phone calls ($20 per incident) and e-mail support ($10 per incident). The columnists conclude that VR software isn't quite as useful as it could be.

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14. PCMag.com
July 31, 2006
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9.0 Professional
by Cade Metz
Our Assessment

Cade Metz previously reviewed Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Professional for PC Magazine, which he described as the best speech-recognition product ever tested by PC Magazine Labs. Metz does not compare the two versions, other than to say the new one is more powerful and to discuss the benefit of training the program (which no longer has to be done). Metz reports his accuracy rate achieved after training, and notes Dragon's effect on his system's resources. He tested the product on a laptop.

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15. PC World
Aug. 8, 2006
First Look: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 Voice-Recognition Software
by Jennifer Berger
Our Assessment PC World's cursory review focuses mainly on accuracy and on whether or not NaturallySpeaking 9 is enough of an improvement to merit an upgrade from version 8. Reviewer Jennifer Berger compares the two versions, but doesn't get into comparing Dragon with other VR software or cover Vista's speech-recognition capabilities in this article.
16. The Washington Post
Sept. 10, 2006
Speak and Spell, Slowly Growing Up
by Rob Pegoraro
Our Assessment

The Post's technology columnist implies, but does not specify, past experience with speech-recognition programs. Here, he reviews the Preferred version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking. He also compares the Dragon product with MacSpeech's iListen, the only up-to-date Macintosh dictation program. In his sole test, Pegoraro finds that he can type and edit a previously written article faster than he can recite and edit it with Dragon.

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17. ExtremeTech.com
Apr. 2, 2007
Vista's Speech Recognition
by Jason Cross
Our Assessment

Jason Cross thoroughly describes his experience testing Windows Speech Recognition. He does not compare it with any alternative other than typing. Cross evaluates the software for accuracy, efficiency and usefulness for web navigation. A few readers also leave comments after the article, but most don't add much insight. For example, one person says Dragon NaturallySpeaking is better, but he's only tried Vista for 20 minutes.

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18. Digital Bits Technology Column
Oct. 29, 2005
Voice Recognition Software Review: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8.0 and IBM ViaVoice 10
by Andy Kaiser
Our Assessment Kaiser, a computer consultant and technology columnist, compares and contrasts the current version of IBM ViaVoice with the then-new version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking. He speculates that ScanSoft (now Nuance) is continuing to improve Dragon, but won't update ViaVoice. The review is very good, but old enough that its primary value is now placing ViaVoice in context.
19. MacApper.com
Mar. 16, 2008
MacSpeech Dictate: Solid Voice Recognition
by Jacob Schulman
Our Assessment This very short review isn't bad; it's just not very detailed. However, many people post comments and considerably add to the understanding of the product and its relative usefulness. Jacob Schulman's testing isn't really fair to MacSpeech Dictate because he uses the microphone built into his laptop instead of the one provided by MacSpeech. A comparison of the two would be useful.
20. Information Week
June 23, 2007
Review: Dragon NaturallySpeaking Lets You Talk Instead Of Type
by Michael Greene
Our Assessment Michael Greene anecdotally describes his experience testing Dragon 9 Preferred. The review is annoyingly inconclusive, and Greene's only comparison is with a primitive early Mac program. He appears to be unaware that Vista includes voice-recognition software. Greene says input is easier than editing, but doesn't indicate how successful his efforts were.
21. Forbes
Feb. 26, 2007
Dim Vista
by Stephen Manes
Our Assessment

This article is a review of Vista as a whole, with a paragraph devoted to speech recognition. Manes previously reviewed Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 for PC World and Forbes, but he does not compare the two programs here. However, his past praise for Dragon stands in stark contrast to his conclusion about Windows Speech Recognition. Manes doesn't reveal his computer's system configuration, which is essential information for evaluating his experience in context.

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22. Dallas Morning News
Mar. 7, 2008
Tech review: Speech recognition software improves but isn't flawless
by Andrew D. Smith
Our Assessment

This short review of Dragon raises as many questions as it resolves. For instance, Andrew Smith doesn't specify which edition of Dragon he tested. He says the program takes weeks to train, but does recommend it. Like Michael Greene (above), Smith doesn't acknowledge the existence of Vista voice-recognition software. He does say that there is no decent voice-recognition software for the Mac platform (while acknowledging that the new MacSpeech program could be) and that Dragon demands a powerful computer.

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23. Scott Hanselman's Computer Zen
Nov. 21, 2006
Speech Recognition in Windows Vista - I'm listening
by Scott Hanselman
Our Assessment

This blog entry has some value, but the writer doesn't express his thoughts and opinions clearly enough to help others reach a conclusion about whether Vista is worth trying if they haven't already purchased the program. Like too many reviewers, Scott Hanselman isn't clear about whether he thinks speech-recognition software is just useful for people who are temporarily or permanently unable to type, or if it's an advantage for all users. Hanselman has previously used Dragon NaturallySpeaking, but he inexplicably neglects to compare it with Vista. However, he does conclude that if you use speech-recognition software, the capability in Vista is strong enough to warrant an upgrade.

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Windows Vista Review
by Paul Thurrott
Our Assessment

Technology author Paul Thurrott devotes a section to Windows Speech Recognition as part of a very lengthy review of Vista. Testing is not described, although Thurrott explains how the software works. He doesn't compare Windows Speech Recognition with third-party programs, but does say it is better than anything previously included in any operating system. Thurrott barely mentions the feature in his lengthy rundown of Vista's strengths and weaknesses.

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25. About.com
Aug. 20, 2006
Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 Professional
by Shane McGlaun
Our Assessment

About.com's computer peripherals columnist gives Dragon a thorough test and very favorable review. Dragon couldn't keep up with his speaking, but was still faster than typing. McGlaun estimates that Dragon progressed from 90 percent accurate to nearly perfect over several weeks. He finds that the program is well suited for word processing, but not versatile enough to enable him to abandon his keyboard. Although he concludes "You will be hard pressed to find a better voice recognition application available," he offers no comparisons to past or current products. (Note that ConsumerSearch and About.com are owned by the same parent company, but are not affiliated editorially.)

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26. Globe and Mail
July 21, 2006
Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9
by Brian Bergstein (Associated Press)
Our Assessment

AP reporter Bergstein tries both the Preferred and Professional versions of Dragon NaturallySpeaking. He does not offer comparisons between them, other than mentioning a few of the feature differences, nor does he mention alternative programs. Bergstein likes the programs, but concludes, "I wouldn't go so far as to say I was more productive with Dragon." He essentially sees it as a specialty product for people with disabilities.

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27. Network World.com
Aug. 30, 2005
ScanSoft voice recognition software improves efficiency
by Deni Connor
Our Assessment

This article is essentially a testimonial about Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Medical from a medical director. Dr. Jeffrey Pearson reports increased efficiency and labor cost savings, since many documents don't have to be transcribed. Dragon supplies lexicons for 13 different medical specialties. It also allows for setting up macros, so that a doctor can use the same wording for a diagnosis repeatedly.

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