Abbyy USA ScanTo Office Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'd recommend this software to anyone.
It is very, very easy to use, with a wizard-like interface that takes you through the steps very quickly. Scan directly, or open a file previously scanned, indicate an output file or it can open a new MS Word file. Its only outputs seem to be MS Word or MS Excel. Inputs all major scanned-image formats e.g. jpeg, gif, etc. (This review shouldn't be your source for tech details such as that.)
If the text is scanned at too low a resolution, for example 30 dots per inch scans of small text, then you simply won't be able to convert it to text, no matter what -- there simply isn't enough detail in the scan. But for 10-point text, scanned at 100 dots per inch or more, I've found the software to do an excellent job. (Mostly, I scan things at 300 or 600 dpi, and I have seen almost no typos at all.)
The software works fast enough that I can't imagine anyone complaining about the speed. I'd have no hesitation at scanning and converting an entire book. If you wish, you can open multiple scanned pages at once, and it will convert them to a single multi-page document with each page corresponding to one scanned input page.
It is possible to let the text highlight in red anything it wasn't 100% certain about; an excellent feature. For 300 dpi scans of 10 point text, I simply have not found any typos at all, and very rarely will I see anything red. In other words, it's extremely reliable.
I've scanned new and old books; books with fancy old-style drawings in them; books with very strange text formats, and the software does a very good job of it. I find it amazing, and impressive, that the book will create an MS Word document that looks almost exactly like the scanned page; for example, columns and their positions, the positions of photos, etc. The software will cut photos out of the scan and imbed them into the resulting page, so that you truly get a document that could pass for the original scan! (In fact, sometimes it does odd things, like if it finds text within the picture, it will chop up the picture and include converted text right smack in the middle of the picture... a bit odd, but technically quite correct.) Note, that from column to column the precisely placement of each word in the column might be slightly different, but the overall size of the column will be done right.
One POTENTIAL problem is with words that are hyphenated across column boundaries -- this software can retain those hyphens / word splits, so if you then grab the text and re-format it, you'll have to delete the hyphens. But this is easily remedied -- if you choose the advanced feature that says not to retain formatting, it will put those hyphenated words back together! How smart is that!
The software seems to have no problem converting several different font styles and sizes on the same page, even some fonts like western broadside fonts that I imagine would have been too unusual to analyze.
The software clearly corrects for scans that are not truly orthogonal. That is, if the page is crooked in the scan, it will still read it correctly. I've tried giving it pages that were upside down, at right angles, at 45 degree angles, at a 5 degree angle, and it correctly scanned each and re-oriented it properly.
The only problem I ever encountered in scans were lines that had lots and lots of dashes in them, which occured in a 100-year old text that included lines like: "water ---- wet; land ---- dry; fire ---- hot" etc etc. for several paragraphs. The software got confused, and dropped a few words.
In summary, I am absolutely confident that this software will work well for you, and that you'll be quite pleased; will be easy to work, easy to use. I'm decidedly pleased I purchased it.

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PaperPort Professional V12.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)How can you rate a program you don't have and apparently have no intention of buying? While their comments reflect my experience with Nuance (Not Much) Support, they were not a review of this software.
Unlike the first two "reviewers" I actually purchased and installed PP12 Pro.
My original title for this post was going to be, "A Giant Step Backwards." In my review of PP11 Pro I summed up by saying I hoped Ver 12 would be better. It isn't.
The first thing you will notice is the new tabbed ribbon interface. Unlike MS and others who have adopted this interface, this one is not too bad. The desktop is nice looking, too. These are about the only things good I have to say about the improvements to the program.
By default, PP saves documents in pdf format, as it has since at least V.9.
First problem: the new PDF Viewer Plus. This is the default viewer when you view a document in PP. Though the "About" screen says copyright 1995-2009 this seems very much like V.1.0 software, as it is very buggy. It, BTW, still uses the old style interface.
Nuance says, "A more extensive annotation set includes notes, text boxes, highlights, straight lines and free-form lines, making it easy to add comments to documents." Well, that's partially true. Most of the annotations were available in previous versions..and they worked.
Most annotations seem to work o.k, such as lines, stamp, sticky notes, etc. The "select text" toolbar button doesn't do anything unless you chose "Select Text" first from the drop-down menu. Then the button will sometimes work. The "Crop" button doesn't work and there is no "crop" choice from the drop-down. There is also a bug that causes the program to close if you chose "text box" from either the drop-down or the button.
O.K. You can change default to "ImageView within PP." Now you have all the features you love in PP...and they work still...mostly. The "Stamp" button says "Prompt for File" when clicked on, but does nothing, and all options on the "Configure" section of the tab remain greyed out.
Nuance claims, "PaperPort Professional 12 delivers a 42% increase in accuracy over the previous version. It even allows you to apply language settings to OCR for improved accuracy in all supported languages." Apparently English is not one of those languages.
The OCR is not improved since 11.2. (I'm not sure why they changed it between 11.0 and 11.2 but that's a whole other rant.) It still does not OCR properly to Excel. Instead of putting Col A in Col A, Col B in Col B, etc, it still insists in putting them all in Col A. Read my review of Ver. 11 Pro for the gory details. It still does not OCR accurately when it is a pdf document.
Over all, IMO, the "improvements" to PaperPort 12 aren't. The pretty new face is nice, but that's not enough of a reason to get the program. PDF Viewer Plus is too buggy to use, especially when there are other more stable programs out there. The OCR engine is still a bust. Save your $99 or $149 (depending on which "Upgrade" option you choose) or your $163.99 and up for the non-upgrade version.
Tho I have a support ticket into Nuance I don't expect much. I availed myself to the 30 day money back guarantee and reverted back to PP11.0, bugs and all.
UPDATE 10/16/09: I (finally) received the following reply to my OCR problem with PP 12:
>>>
Thank you for contacting Nuance Technical Support.

This is regarding the issue that you were encountering with PaperPort.
Sorry for the late reply.
Unfortunately it is a limitation of PaperPort 12 to perform an OCR with no borders or column file when sending it to Excel. We also recreated your issue here on our lab pc and we are also have the same output. But if you do have Omnipage it will help your PaperPort to perform more accurately in OCR-ing your file.


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PaperPort Professional 12 offers a powerful combination of features you just don't get with scanning software or other PC document management solutions. It provides superior scanning, advanced PDF creation, assembly, and search, automatic form filling, network document management and the ability to move or scan files from individual desktops to shared document repositories such as Microsoft SharePoint--all in one easy-to-use application. PaperPort Professional 12 can help you boost productivity, improve customer service and cut costs for bottom-line results.

What makes PaperPort the ultimate document desktop?
Scanning to PDF is so easy--get it done with the press of a button so documents are never lost and can be more easily retrieved
Get the most out of networked MFPs--automatically route scanned documents from MFPs to individual desktops
Fast PDF viewing and editing--create and combine documents into industry-standard PDF files from application files and annotate them with comments and stamps
Find anything and everything--search and view PDF files quickly
Improve business processes--automatically convert forms into fillable PDF forms
Collaborate more efficiently--quickly move or scan files from individual desktops to document management repositories such as Microsoft SharePoint

Time is your most valuable asset. For about the cost of one lost document you can get the fastest, most powerful and easy-to-use PaperPort Professional EVER.

Fast, Perfect Scans Every time Take advantage of PaperPort Professional's superior scanning capabilities and free yourself from the inefficiencies of paper once and for all. You don't have to be a scanning expert, purchase special equipment, or change your familiar scanning practices. PaperPort seamlessly enhances the capabilities of your existing desktop scanner, mobile scanner, or multifunction printer to deliver perfect scans on your desktop with the click of a button. And it's fast--really fast.

Get the results you expect--automatically Tired of poor quality scans? PaperPort Professional uses unlimited Scanner Profiles with Scanner Enhancement Technology (SET) to achieve excellent results on most any kind of document. Newspaper articles, invoices, color photographs--it doesn't matter. PaperPort automatically straightens, crops, rotates, and enhances scanned documents to deliver high quality results every time. And PaperPort's ImageViewer lets you further enhance documents or even photos within a PDF document--without having to toggle between applications--and see the results immediately.
Scan-to-PDF Use your existing local or network scanner to turn paper documents directly into PDF files that can be easily organized and shared electronically. Or route scans from a network multifunction printer to individual desktops. Either way, PaperPort Professional makes it easier than ever to turn paper into PDF files that can be shared online. So you save time and money over traditional printing and mailing.
Scan to your favorite application PaperPort Professional works with any scanning device to quickly turn paper into PDF files. Save time and effort by scanning directly to specific applications like email,Microsoft Word, or Microsoft SharePoint, or even to digital fax using ScanDirect technology. Batch scanning capabilities support scanning several documents at once using an automatic document feeder to further boost your productivity.
Support for scanner buttons With PaperPort Professional, you can still use the scanner button on your All-in-One or other scanning device to scan directly to your computer. The difference is that PaperPort gives you more control over your scans--how they look and where they end up on your desktop. As a result, you always get the results you expect.No surprises. No hassles.
One easy-to-use interface for all your scanners Every scanning device comes with a unique interface or control panel for scanning documents. With all the different choices and options the task of scanning various types of documents can be overwhelming. PaperPort Professional simplifies things with one easy-to-understand scanning interface that will work exactly the same for all devices--whether you're using a desktop scanner, a mobile scanner, or an all-in-one unit. Plus, a new "Scan Now" button lets you scan documents with a single click. There's no need to switch to the scanner settings view.
Get scanning right in one step Different document types require different settings to get the results you expect. Some documents contain color and some are simple black-and-white and almost all your documents can use some enhancement or cleaning up along the way. PaperPort enables you to encapsulate all your settings, including color, format and SET corrections, into Scanner Profiles so you get the correct results with the push of one button.

A Better Way to Organize In all the buzz about enterprise-wide document management, the individual desktop has been largely overlooked. But as companies invest in document management solutions for the enterprise, they need to keep in mind that employees spend most of their time working with documents on their individual PCs rather than a network repository. It's easy to take for granted that Microsoft Windows provides all the features needed for handling documents, but that's just not the case. Only PaperPort Professional closes the gap between what Windows offers and the ability to manage scanned paper and PDF documents quickly, easily and effectively on a digital desktop. At the same time, it provides the perfect on-ramp to enterprise-wide document management systems. You simply won't find another PC document management application that can do all that.
The best thing to happen to your PC since Windows PaperPort is designed to work with Microsoft Windows in the most efficient way possible, leveraging what necessary features are already available for a complete desktop document management environment.PaperPort uses the existing folder structure in Windows while allowing you to customize what folders you want to see at any given time.PaperPort also creates searchable PDF files and provides a plug-in for Windows Desktop Search so these files can be indexed and searched. PaperPort is simply the ultimate document desktop for Windows.
Assemble custom PDF documents by dragging and dropping PaperPort Professional features a unique split desktop design that displays individual page thumbnails alongside document thumbnails. Just drag and drop entire documents within another document or selectively copy and paste individual pages from one PDF document to another. Quickly assemble custom PDF documents by combining scans and photos with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. And once your custom PDF document is assembled, you can simply email it to intended recipients. No need for costly printing, copying, faxing or mailing. It's like stacking, stapling and sending real paper--only a whole lot faster, easier and greener.
Safe and secure--compliance is mandatory Because of PaperPort's superior integration with Windows you can be assured that PaperPort will only allow access to folders on your computer to those who have the proper access rights.And you in-turn can only access those folders for which you have access rights.PaperPort utilizes in-place security developed and implemented through Windows so your IT staff won't have to reinvent the wheel and no additional investment is required. You will be prompted for passwords as necessary as if you were working directly in Windows.You also have complete control to change access to shared folders where you have administrative rights. In addition, PaperPort provides the ability to secure individual PDF files with advanced password control.
Intuitive thumbnail desktop PaperPort Professional provides a visual desktop with large, clear page and document thumbnails to improve the way you work with application files, digital photos, PDF files, scanned and electronic forms, saved Web pages and all your scanned paper documents. Quickly browse, organize and use all your files without having to open them to see what's inside.
Folder management Comprehensive folder management features allow you to organize documents for ease of information access. You can distinguish folders by choosing from 29 colors. Use folder directories to help you locate documents with ease. Attach folder notes and automatically add that information to files as you scan them. Even create multiple folders at once by importing a list of folder names from a text file.
Fast, easy electronic form filling Create neat, shareable and searchable forms that mirror paper originals in minutes. Extensive control over form elements ensures perfect forms every time. With PaperPort's FormTyper feature, you will never have to fill out another form by hand. FormTyper automatically recognizes check boxes and identifies the form fields so you can quickly tab to the next fillable field, type in the information, and print, save or e-mail the completed form. PaperPort's transparent stamps are perfect for adding scanned signatures. It's faster and cheaper then faxing or mailing. And you never have to worry about illegible handwriting!
Locate important folders immediately PaperPort Professional allows you to bookmark your commonly used folders so you can get to your documents right away. A "back" button makes it easy to revisit recently viewed folders eliminating wasted time navigating to information.
Find documents instantly using standard search engines Because PaperPort saves all your scanned documents and electronic files as fully searchable PDF files on your digital desktop, finding what you need is always fast and easy. All you have to do is enter keywords or phrases into WindowsDesktop Searchor Google to quickly locate a specific file on your computer or shared network.
Indexing on your schedule PaperPort Professional's flexible Index Manager allows you take advantage of non-peak processing times by scheduling when and how PaperPort will convert all your image files to searchable documents using the built-in OmniPage Search Indexer.

Easily Gather and Share Documents In today's business environment, you can't work in a vacuum. Email provides a fast and convenient way to review and approve documents within a workgroup, or with people outside your organization. PaperPort Professional 12 works with your current email system to enhance the digital review process by converting Word and other editable documents into more secure PDF files which can be read and annotated, but not edited. No more email bottlenecks, file compatibility issues, or confidentiality risks. At last you can share documents simply and securely, while making it easy for colleagues and customers to provide their feedback.
Scan efficient, small color PDF files for sharing Scanning and sharing color PDF files can be a daunting task. Each page of a typically scanned color PDF file can be over a megabyte in size. If you are scanning several color pages or more, the size can be too large to send that file through email. PaperPort Professional now uses PDF-MRC High Compression Technology to turn a 15MB color file into less that 2MB!
Capture review comments with a rich set of annotations For capturing review comments, PaperPort supports creating and viewing annotations within PDF files, including sticky notes and highlights, as well as straight and free-form lines. Text boxes provide full control over text and box attributes.
Dynamic and transparent stamps PaperPort's dynamic stamps automatically include author, date and time. Transparent stamps are ideal for adding scanned signatures to documents to indicate approval.
PDF security features Advanced security features like passwords and encryption, let you control who can access and/or modify specific documents. This way, you can share documents without risk of confidentiality breaches or unauthorized modifications.
Capture web pages as PDF Capture Web pages as PDF files, providing a full-color duplicate for use offline. This is a great way to store a permanent record of a Web site or speed up Web-based research. It's also ideal for sharing Web pages as PDF attachments instead of sending a link that requires connectivity to the Web. Captured Web pages look exactly like they would if you had sent them to your printer, so it's perfect for saving copies of receipts from web purchases without wasting paper.
Section 508 and Microsoft Windows XP certified PaperPort Professional meets Section 508 standards, established by the US government to make software accessible for people with disabilities. Plus, it's certified for use on the Microsoft Windows XP operating system.
SendTo document workflow You can e-mail, fax or send your documents to repositories on a networked file server with a simple drag-and-drop onto the PaperPort SendTo Bar. The PDF file format combined with the SendTo Bar makes it easy to distribute documents in a form that is viewable and printable on any computer around the world.
Seamless movement of files between PC and ECM systems PaperPort Professional lets you quickly move or scan files between individual desktops to document management repositories such as Microsoft SharePoint.

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Utlimate Employer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These tools are great. I had used the KnowledgePoint policy writing software years ago. Wrote an entire personnel policy handbook in an afternoon. And I knew nothing about HR or employment law!
So when I started a new company I looked for the latest version, I saw that they had bundled it into the Ultimate Employer suite. Now I have started writing job descriptions for my (4) employees and I plan to evaluate them using Performance Now. It's a great value and time saver.
These tools have helped me create a better work environment and, as we grow, it'll be easy to add new employees and make sure we're all moving in the right direction.
Five stars on quality of output, value and ease of use. Minus one star because the individual programs aren't fully integrated.

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Ultimate Employer enables your personnel management tasks to become more organized, efficient, and performance-driven. Whether you are an HR professional or a small business without any HR systems in place, the Ultimate Employer is everything you need to quickly and easily manage your workforce.
Ultimate Employer streamlines all your HR-related tasks and responsibilities. It gives you the solid advice you need to be knowledgeable and confident when handling all types of employee-related situations. It helps you comply with the many employment laws that could potentially put your business at risk. And it is highly flexible to meet your company's specific needs.
This suite features four software titles in one complete package. Use Descriptions Now to quickly and easily define jobs and hire right. Write, publish, and maintain customized employment policies with Policies Now. Performance Now lets you create fast, easy, and effective employee reviews. And, you can manage all your crucial personnel tasks with People Manager.

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Web Filing Cabinet Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love the program even with it quirks, but am very upset that it doesn't work on Vista 64! Vista 32 it works fine with.
The program installs a filing cabinet icon on the toolbar that you click and it opens a sidebar on your screen. You highlight the information you want to save on the screen and right click on it. You can then save it to a folder-file that you create/select. The graphics are there as well as text, but video, advertisements etc are all gone!
How I have used it? Copying recipes that look interesting to a recipe file, crafts for my son to try saved for later use, Information on gardening, composting, animals etc.. All saved to appropriately named files for easy access. One of the best things is saving different levels as well. If I start on an "index" page I can highlight each link and tell it to save 2 levels. It will save the index page, as well as what that page links to automatically! (this is the quirky part as it will sometimes wrk and sometimes NOT)

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Nuance PDF Converter v.6.0 Professional Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this product to create PDF's for my job as a sales professional: quotes, etc. I create PDF's every single day, sometimes a dozen or more per day.
I am also a pc enthusiast. I build my own systems, and tweak the hardware, CPU speeds, memory etc. Unbeknown to me, Nuance has put a positively awful copy protection scheme on this product that continually creates Activation requests and "false positive" readings as though the software has been installed on more than one machine. I am here to say I have never done that, and that this product is flawed and therefore terribly inconvenient to use.
If you need a free PDF Reader, get Adobe Acrobat.
If you need a real PDF maker, then get Adobe Acrobat.
Yes, you will pay anywhere from $50 - $90 more.
But if you create a lot of pdf's, and don't have time to waste with Nuance's POSITIVELY STUPID MACHINE FINGERPRINT HYPER-SENSITIVE ACTIVATION protection scheme, then don't waste your time. I have NEVER installed this product on another machine, and yet, every time I tweak the simplest setting on my pc or add some Ram, etc., the program will not run, demands to be activated and tells me I've exceeded my license. I truly regret spending even $1 on this pathetic product, I have wasted far too many hours of my life activating and reactivating this moronic product and emailing Nuance customer service to fix a problem they won't even acknowledge is a problem.


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PDF Converter Professional 5.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Scansoft products used to be decent products with strong support. That was before Nuance bought them out. Since capturing a basic monopoly on Voice to text, Text to Voice, scan to text, and PDF conversion, the company has grown arrogant, and less customer oriented than Microsoft at their worst. As one reviewer wrote, they charge you for customer support. The process goes something like this.
You visit the web page, and if you product is the current generation, or one prior, (it doesn't matter, current gen get treated no better)you have to enter in your license/product code, enter in your credit card number, and agree to be charged $9.95 for a totally useless email experience that only allows you access to their support page when you get a reply. My most recent experience involves Omnipage Pro, which has PDF converter and Creator built in. Omnipage Pro is such a slow and practicality useless program, that I uninstalled it after a week. However, a need came up where I needed a PDF converter, so I thought I'd load that part of the software.
I ran set up, used custom, had PDF creator and Converter installed leaving out the scanner software, entered in my key code, started the program, was asked if I wanted to activate the software, I did, however it wouldn't let me, telling me the license code was not valid. I attempted to find the problem/solution in their knowledge base, but don't bother, there is little if anything in there other than contact technical support.
So off to techincal support I went, only to discover that even for an installation problem, I had to pay. I did, after two days I got a response, telling me they needed my license code. As I'd had to enter it to get to the support page, this was irritating but I went to the webpage since they do no allow you to just hit respond. Entered in the key and two days later got another message telling me that my key code was for Omnipage Pro, not PDF converter. Gee, thanks for telling me that since I had to go to the Omnipage section to begin my initial inquiry.
I tried rewording my request, stating I have OmniPage pro, with comes with PDF creater and PDF Converter, and only wanted Converter to install, however it rejects my key code. Another two days pass, I get an emailed response telling me I don't have the proper code for PDF converter, mine is for Omnipage Pro. Again, I was grateful for the insight.
Back to the website, asked if there was anyway I could just install the portion of Omnipage that had the separate PDF. After more than a week passed, I get an email, telling me that I must install the entire program, register it, activate it, than I can uninstall the Omnipage pro leaving the PDF converter.
Following the instruction, I load the entire program, activate it, test PDF converter which works, go to add and remove, PDF creater and converter are listed separate from Omnipage,so I uninstall it per the directions of the last email. I go to use the PDF converter, it asks me if I want to activate it, (which I'd already done, but what the heck)it asks me for my key code, which I enter, only to get back a reply the key code I've entered is not valid.
Back to the website, explain the problem, and surprise, the response after two days is "your key code is not valid for PDF converter, only for Omnipage".
I give up, decide I'll just load the entire program and live with Omnipage taking up room. I install the entire program, enter the key code, asked to activate, which I do, only to get a message the key code is not valid as I've already installed Omnipage previously. Back to the webpage. set out the problem. A week goes by, I get a response asking me for the key code, and a screen shot, and a copy of the receipt. I supplied all, and am still waiting for a response.
My advice, stay away from all nuance programs. I've spent close to two hundred dollars for a Pro version of a product, received no free customer support, and after wasting more than two weeks, still have no product to run.


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Item #: Q45230. PDF Converter Professional 5, the only complete PDF solution designed specifically for business users, delivers everything you need to create, convert, and edit PDF files. Now you can create 100% industry-standard PDF files from any PC application, or convert PDFs into fully-formatted MicrosoftWord, Excel, PowerPoint, XPS, and Corel WordPerfect files.Additionally, you can fill and save online PDF forms with one click, or secure your PDF files by applying digital signatures or using drag and drop security settings. Using the intuitive interface, which places commonly-used functionality at your fingertips, you'll be a PDF expert in no time. PDF Converter Professional 5 truly delivers better PDF for your business. Product Description: ScanSoft PDF Converter Professional - ( v. 5 ) - complete packageCategory: UtilitiesSubcategory: Utilities - encoders / format convertersVersion: 5License Type: Complete packageLicense Qty: 1 userLicense Pricing: StandardLanguage(s): EnglishLocalization: United StatesPlatform: WindowsDistribution Media: CD-ROMPackage Type: RetailOS Required: Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista (64-bit versions) Customers also search for: Discount ScanSoft PDF Converter Professional - ( V. 5 ) - Complete Package, Buy ScanSoft PDF Converter Professional - ( V. 5 ) - Complete Package, Wholesale ScanSoft PDF Converter Professional - ( V. 5 ) - Complete Package, 0780420118034, M109A-G00-5.0, Data Management Software

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OmniPage Professional 17 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought Omnipage 17 Pro a few days ago. The program appeared to install properly. However when I launch the software I get a "Server Busy Error" which prevents usage of the program. Apparently Nuance also had the same problem with it's PaperPort program and concluded that it is related to a problem with the software handling drivers for the scanner.
I called Tech Support. Level 1 support had no idea what to do. Level 2 support suggested a fix but it did not work. I was then told that the issue would be elevated to the next tech support level.
Since then I've exchanged several emails with tech support trying to resolve the issue. To date nothing works.
After reading user comments about previous versions of Omnipage as well as user comments of their Dragon Naturally Speaking program, it appears that Nuance does not properly test it's software before release.
As of the writing of this review Tech Support has not responded to my last email. Perhaps they are hoping that I just go away, or, that the issue miraculously resolves itself. Next step: I will be asking for a refund.
Update after writing this review several days ago.
I've since had about 2+ hours of conversations with a senior tech at Nuance. He was great. We finally resolved this issue which appears to be a conflict with the automatic update service. It's now running perfectly and the OCR is excellent. If I could alter the "stars" given in my review I would adjust them from 1 star to 4+!!
Michael

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OmniPage Professional 17 is the fastest, most precise way to convert paper, PDF files and forms with 99%+ accuracy into files you can edit in your favorite PC applications or archive in a document repository.OmniPage can recreate a 20 page paper document as a fully editable digital document in your favorite word processor in less than 2 minutes.It would take a person with normal typing skills about 2 1/2 hours to recreate that same document.Don't waste your time and let OmniPage do all the work for you.

OmniPage Professional does so much more than scanning and recognizing text.Superior accuracy and formatting combine with easy-to-use workflow technology to automate all your conversion needs. Whether you want to make paper digital, create batches of PDF files, or collect data from filled electronic forms, OmniPage is up to the task.It can even scan, convert and send documents directly to your Amazon Kindle through email with the push of a single button.

OmniPage Professional also includes PaperPort desktop document management software and PDF Create software.PaperPort is seamlessly integrated with OmniPage Professional and makes Microsoft Windows better by allowing you to visually organize and manage all your documents. PDF Create allows you to create 100% industry-standard PDF file from any application.

Why use OmniPage?
Save time by automatically recreating documents without retyping them
Scan and send documents to your Amazon Kindle
Always find your documents by turning paper documents into searchable PDF electronic archives
Share documents broadly and quickly via email, Web, SharePoint or FTP
Create PDF files in batch
Use your connected network multi-function printer as a high speed scanner
Automate the collection and conversion of forms and data

What problems does OmniPage solve? The continued use of paper slows organizations down and frequently leads to "knowledge re-creation." This wasted time, where workers have to re-create information from existing paper documents or search for misplaced documents, is a drain on both productivity and profits:
Editing or updating information requires the time consuming task of retyping the paper document--filling out forms and then collecting the data can be the most time consuming component
Filing information and retrieving it requires time spent searching through paper files, manila folders and file cabinets
Sharing information is limited to inefficient and costly processes such as postal mail, courier or fax machines--keeping information confidential is often a deterrent to sharing information digitally
Critical documents are not backed up electronically for effective disaster recovery.
Currently available OCR software included with a scanner, All-in-One or MFP device does not produce the quality required
Re-formatting or re-editing of converted documents may be as time consuming as re-typing especially for documents with images, columns and tables

It all comes down to a single question for paper or electronic documents--"How do I get the document into the format I want without having to do extensive re-typing or re-editing?"
OmniPage eliminates paper and digital inefficiency by improving productivity, enhancing responsiveness and reducing storage and material costs. Organizations save significant time and money by leveraging the superior OCR and document formatting accuracy of OmniPage to instantly convert documents into the format of their choice. Retyping is eliminated, tasks are automated, information is easily accessed and productivity soars.
What's New in OmniPage Professional 17?
New Send paper & PDF to Amazon Kindle with optimized formatting for reading and navigation
New Hyper-Binary Conversion delivers 42% accuracy increase for scanned documents
23% overall accuracy increase for PDF and digital documents
200% faster launch speed
21% faster processing and support for quad-core computers
New OmniPage One-Click Toolbar in Microsoft Office puts conversion at your fingertips
Dramatic improvements in document layout retention to reduce or eliminate corrections
Easy Loader allows you to quickly view, find and open multiple documents at a time
New support for Chinese, Japanese and Korean documents added to over 120 other languages
New support for iPhone and 2-Megapixel phone cameras
12% accuracy improvement for 3D-Capture using digital and mobile phone cameras
Improved OmniPage Batch Processing with new unattendedprocessing option
New direct connection to Microsoft SharePoint 2007 web-repositories
New direct connection to OpenText Hummingbird and Interwoven iManage ECM systems
PDF/A compliance, and PDF 1.7 support

Key Features
Superior OCR accuracy Improved OCR engines deliver 99%+ accuracy for document conversion and archiving business critical documents.
Maintain perfect formatting Converted documents look exactly like the original and are easier to edit than ever before, complete with columns, tables, bullets and graphics.
Send to Amazon Kindle Scan a document, automatically convert into a readable format and send it to the Kindle electronic book reader in one easy step.
Mobile document capture Capture text with a digital camera or iPhone. Quickly convert your pictures to text documents with the most accurate 3D Correction technology available.
Works with any scanner If your device can scan then it can work with OmniPage.Mobile scanners, desktop scanners, All-in-one and Multi-function printers all work more productively and with better accuracy using OmniPage
Supports all your favorite applications Supports the widest range of output formats including PDF, HTML, Corel WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint 2007 plus many more formats.
Batch processing, amazing value Schedule large volumes of files for batch processing from folders or email with unattended automation for real time processing of documents.
Complete forms processing Convert paper forms to fillable and distribute electronically. OmniPage can collect data from PDF or paper forms and export to a spreadsheet or database.
Built-in automatic redaction and highlight Redact or black out confidential text or quickly locate information with highlights. OmniPage can recognize and automatically mark up your text based on a list of key words.
Recognizes over 120 languages Process, edit and store documents from anywhere in the world. Now includes Chinese, Japanese and Korean recognition.

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PDF Converter Professional 6.0 Student Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Although the product seemed workable for a while, after my Vista upgrade to SP2, the PDF converter pro kept asking for a key. The Nuance web site did give a key, but it was never accepted by the software. Thus, a product that I paid good money for became entirely useless. Support is non-existent. No wonder many write, I would never buy from Nuance again.

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OrganizeMy Electronic Filing Cabinet For Dummies Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I considered this product head-to-head with "Neat Receipts" as an attempt to tame the paper clutter that rules my home office. My needs were simple: When something comes in the mail, etc., pop it onto my sheet-fed duplexing scanner, open up the program, and file it within a couple clicks. Thought it would be easy.
If everything I ever had was a single page, this may come a lot closer. However, how many bills or statements do you get in the mail that are only one page?? Not too many. OrganizeMy doesn't handle this too well. It only recognizes the last page scanned. Not too useful. I also emailed tech support 2+ weeks ago (they graciously give you '30 free days' of tech support) and have yet to hear anything from them.
That aside, I'm not overly impressed by their layout. They strive to make every folder the same, but this is a classic case of 'one size does not fit all'. For instance, it's designed to plop every category into one folder, further subdivided by months. But it would be more useful for further subdivision of categories: Instead of just "bills", I want 'electric bill', 'water bill', 'cable bill', etc., so I don't have to rely so much on intelligently naming each file as it is saved. I'd prefer to predefine my needs, and click on 'electric bill', maybe 'december 2007', then click 'scan'. Wait for the scanner to finish, then feed the originals into the shredder. They way it is set up now, it's too much of a task- much easier to open up the file cabinet, and just file the original away. Which is what I was trying to get away from.
Maybe someday this will develop into something cool...in the meantime, I'm going to try to figure out how to get my money back. There's a 'no returns' policy on software (for good reason, I know), but I've got to find a way to recoup an investment I'll never use.

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PDF Converter 6.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this product on a promotion price offered by another software product I own. It was very, very difficult to install. The CD would not auto run; the autorun.exe file on the CD would not execute nor would it run after I copied the entire CD to my hard drive. The Setup.exe program (which I finally located on the CD) seemed to install, but then when I tried to run the program it would not start at all. After much research on the vendor's website, I found a variety of other software that had to be installed first in order to get it run.
After hours of frustration over 2 days (and I'm a computer professional by the way), installing, uninstalling, getting and reporting error messages, I was finally about to get the product to install and activate.
OK, so far so good. It did a decent job of converting a couple PDF files to Word 2000 format so I tried something more difficult. A PDF file that I had created myself from Excel using Adobe Acrobat Pro version 6 with nicely formatted pages and very colorful. When I ran it through PDF Converter 6, it did convert to Excel 2000, however, it did not retain any of the color or text formatting or even much of the layout of the 8 pages of the file. It would have taken me major work if I had really needed this type of conversion to make it into a usable format.
All in all, I'm not overly thrilled with this product, so my suggestion is to check out other products first before buying this one. The marketing hype sounds much better than it is in my opinion. And, the installation nightmare is totally uncalled for. An average user should not be expected to have an IT professional with them just to install a software product - any software product.
I'm glad I didn't pay a lot for it and didn't go for the "pro" version, which is quite expensive. I have not looked at alternative software to see what else might be available.

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Release Information Trapped in PDF Files! PDF Converter is the world's most accurate and best selling method for turning existing PDF files into fully-formatted documents, forms and spreadsheets--complete with text, columns, tables and graphics. Precise conversion technology allows you to access the information trapped within PDF files, without the hassle of cutting and pasting. There is no easier way to access text, charts, and even graphics from within PDF files. Save time and money by turning your PDF and XPS files into fully-formatted, editable Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Corel WordPerfect and Rich Text Format documents with PDF Converter.


The # 1 Tool for Turning PDF Files Into Fully-formatted, Editable PC Documents.
Precise Conversion to Editable, Formatted Documents Convert PDF and XPS documents into all of the Microsoft Office formats, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, or into Corel WordPerfect with just one click. Unmatched conversion accuracy turns PDF files into fully-formatted documents, complete with column layout, formatting, charts, and graphics. Never again struggle with cutting and pasting or content trapped in text boxes.
Unrivaled Speed PDF Converter makes it easy to convert PDF files one at a time or batch convert multiple files all at once. The built-in preview window lets you view and select which pages you want to convert--and the entire process takes only seconds! And with one touch conversion, you'll never need to cut and paste from a PDF again.
Repurpose Content with Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Conversion Need to transfer that table from PDF to an Excel worksheet or workbook? It's no problem at all with this high-quality PDF file Converter. You can quickly turn tables and spreadsheets into fully editable Excel files, without tedious copying or reformatting.
Easier to Use than Ever Before! Improved usability makes PDF Converter easier to use than ever before. Save time and eliminate the hassle of retyping documents with the #1 tool used to convert PDF files into fully-formatted, editable files.

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Never retype a PDF document again Convert PDF files into fully-formatted Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, RTF and Corel WordPerfect files for perfect document recreation.
Get accurate "flowing column" conversion Eliminate the hassle of trying to edit content trapped in text boxes. Converted documents are complete with flowing text and columns.
Customize your conversion settings Further improve accuracy by tailoring your conversion to the type of document you are converting. Settings include: Standard, Legal Pleadings, Spreadsheets, and Form conversion.
Save time with batch conversion There's no need to waste time opening and converting each individual document. Drag and drop all of the files you need into PDF Converter and, with one click, process multiple files at once to maximize time savings.
Access and repurpose charts and graphics PDF Converter separates individual graphics in the converted document, letting you save them or integrate them into Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and other desktop applications with copy-and paste ease.
Recognize and convert PDF forms Unique Logical Form Recognition (LFR) technology delivers the accuracy needed to convert static PDF forms into editable Microsoft Word documents.
Convert directly from your desktop Just right-click on a PDF file and select your conversion format to instantly create editable documents.

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OmniPage Professional 17 Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've used OmniPage for years and this is the best yet. Definitely worth the upgrade! I've not found a task it can't handle. I can take photos of documents and this software will OCR it or PDF it or anything else I ask. It is great for genealogists in a hurry as well as anyone doing research. Don't think it is just for big business. I can create PDF's from OmniPage from multiple documents. I can take pieces of multiple documents, too. It is easy to use right out of the box but it's worth working through the documentation so you don't miss some of the really powerful things it can do.

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Upgrade from OmniPage 15 or 16 to OmniPage Professional 17, the fastest, most precise way to convert paper, PDF files and forms with 99%+ accuracy into files you can edit in your favorite PC applications or archive in a document repository.OmniPage can recreate a 20 page paper document as a fully editable digital document in your favorite word processor in less than 2 minutes.It would take a person with normal typing skills about 2 1/2 hours to recreate that same document.Don't waste your time and let OmniPage do all the work for you.

OmniPage Professional does so much more than scanning and recognizing text.Superior accuracy and formatting combine with easy-to-use workflow technology to automate all your conversion needs. Whether you want to make paper digital, create batches of PDF files, or collect data from filled electronic forms, OmniPage is up to the task.It can even scan, convert and send documents directly to your Amazon Kindle through email with the push of a single button.

OmniPage Professional also includes PaperPort desktop document management software and PDF Create software.PaperPort is seamlessly integrated with OmniPage Professional and makes Microsoft Windows better by allowing you to visually organize and manage all your documents. PDF Create allows you to create 100% industry-standard PDF file from any application.

OmniPage 17--It's Not an Upgrade, It's a Breakthrough The latest version of the world's number 1 scanning and OCR software represents far more than just an upgrade--it sets unparalleled new standards in accuracy, speed and performance! The improvements Nuance have made and the functionality they've added combine to make OmniPage 17 a truly revolutionary application that will save your business time and money. Whether you're an existing OmniPage user or choose another product, OmniPage 17 can help you do more and save more than ever before!
Upgrade requires version 15 or 16. Click here to download an OmniPage 17 Professional vs. OmniPage 16 Professional vs. OmniPage 15 Professional comparison chart (PDF Format).
Why use OmniPage?
Save time by automatically recreating documents without retyping them
Scan and send documents to your Amazon Kindle
Always find your documents by turning paper documents into searchable PDF electronic archives
Share documents broadly and quickly via email, Web, SharePoint or FTP
Create PDF files in batch
Use your connected network multi-function printer as a high speed scanner
Automate the collection and conversion of forms and data

What problems does OmniPage solve? The continued use of paper slows organizations down and frequently leads to "knowledge re-creation." This wasted time, where workers have to re-create information from existing paper documents or search for misplaced documents, is a drain on both productivity and profits:
Editing or updating information requires the time consuming task of retyping the paper document--filling out forms and then collecting the data can be the most time consuming component
Filing information and retrieving it requires time spent searching through paper files, manila folders and file cabinets
Sharing information is limited to inefficient and costly processes such as postal mail, courier or fax machines--keeping information confidential is often a deterrent to sharing information digitally
Critical documents are not backed up electronically for effective disaster recovery.
Currently available OCR software included with a scanner, All-in-One or MFP device does not produce the quality required
Re-formatting or re-editing of converted documents may be as time consuming as re-typing especially for documents with images, columns and tables

It all comes down to a single question for paper or electronic documents--"How do I get the document into the format I want without having to do extensive re-typing or re-editing?"
OmniPage eliminates paper and digital inefficiency by improving productivity, enhancing responsiveness and reducing storage and material costs. Organizations save significant time and money by leveraging the superior OCR and document formatting accuracy of OmniPage to instantly convert documents into the format of their choice. Retyping is eliminated, tasks are automated, information is easily accessed and productivity soars.
What's New in OmniPage Professional 17?
New Send paper & PDF to Amazon Kindle with optimized formatting for reading and navigation
New Hyper-Binary Conversion delivers 42% accuracy increase for scanned documents
23% overall accuracy increase for PDF and digital documents
200% faster launch speed
21% faster processing and support for quad-core computers
New OmniPage One-Click Toolbar in Microsoft Office puts conversion at your fingertips
Dramatic improvements in document layout retention to reduce or eliminate corrections
Easy Loader allows you to quickly view, find and open multiple documents at a time
New support for Chinese, Japanese and Korean documents added to over 120 other languages
New support for iPhone and 2-Megapixel phone cameras
12% accuracy improvement for 3D-Capture using digital and mobile phone cameras
Improved OmniPage Batch Processing with new unattendedprocessing option
New direct connection to Microsoft SharePoint 2007 web-repositories
New direct connection to OpenText Hummingbird and Interwoven iManage ECM systems
PDF/A compliance, and PDF 1.7 support

Key Features
Superior OCR accuracy Improved OCR engines deliver 99%+ accuracy for document conversion and archiving business critical documents.
Maintain perfect formatting Converted documents look exactly like the original and are easier to edit than ever before, complete with columns, tables, bullets and graphics.
Send to Amazon Kindle Scan a document, automatically convert into a readable format and send it to the Kindle electronic book reader in one easy step.
Mobile document capture Capture text with a digital camera or iPhone. Quickly convert your pictures to text documents with the most accurate 3D Correction technology available.
Works with any scanner If your device can scan then it can work with OmniPage.Mobile scanners, desktop scanners, All-in-one and Multi-function printers all work more productively and with better accuracy using OmniPage
Supports all your favorite applications Supports the widest range of output formats including PDF, HTML, Corel WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint 2007 plus many more formats.
Batch processing, amazing value Schedule large volumes of files for batch processing from folders or email with unattended automation for real time processing of documents.
Complete forms processing Convert paper forms to fillable and distribute electronically. OmniPage can collect data from PDF or paper forms and export to a spreadsheet or database.
Built-in automatic redaction and highlight Redact or black out confidential text or quickly locate information with highlights. OmniPage can recognize and automatically mark up your text based on a list of key words.
Recognizes over 120 languages Process, edit and store documents from anywhere in the world. Now includes Chinese, Japanese and Korean recognition.

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Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Student Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This appears to be a good product, but the installation process is positively EVIL.
First of all, despite the way it is shown on the Amazon page, you do NOT need to purchase a headset; it comes with one in the box. The suggested Plantronics unit may or may not be better, but you do not NEED it.
Installation is a many, many step process. Enclosed in the box is a slip of paper with a relatively short "product ID" that is required for the first step of many.
The first step is "Eligibility Verification", and the instructions say this can be done online. Perhaps **someone** could do this online; I certainly could not, despite many attempts. Perhaps this would have worked better if the my son's school email address ended in .edu, or if their list of schools included high schools. Perhaps. I do not know.
Further confusing the issue is that the box says Nuance, and so does the website - but the emails come back from ScanSoft or custserv-uk@myidentit-e.com
I would **HIGHLY** recommend skipping the online method entirely, and going straight to the phone. The Tech Support phone number is not included in the box anywhere that I noticed, so I will leak the secret:
call 800-654-1187 during Eastern Time Zone business hours.
Once you have them on the phone, they can generate and give you the much longer (17 characters) Serial number. You will need that just to install the software.
You might want to keep them on the phone while you run the installation from the disk; you will need to talk to them AGAIN.
Once the software is installed and started, it generates a 16 character "Machine Fingerprint" which is tied not merely to your current computer, but the current configuration of the computer. You will need to give this code to Tech Support for the NEXT step.
They should now be able to give you the (are you ready for this?) SIXTY character activation key. I made no attempt to do this online; based on my efforts trying to get a serial number, it hardly seemed worthwhile.
Once THAT has been entered properly, the program will run. It will then walk you through a series of tutorials and training exercises, all of which I skipped because I want the software setup for my son, not for me.
Despite the lack of training, after a minute or two of talking, it worked surprisingly well.
I need to test this with my son for a while to see how useful it will be. For now, I would give it an F- for pain of installation and time required. If I had simply had this sent to him at school, I do not think there is any way he would have successfully installed it.
Using the above notes, it should be possible to complete the installation process about an hour.
Keep in mind that the installation is apparently tied to the exact configuration of your computer. If you do something that Nuance interprets as "evil", like add memory or delete the recovery partition (thus changing the apparent size of your hard disk) you will have to go through the activation process AGAIN. If you purchase a new computer, you have to go through the entire process again - if they let you.
I would rank Nuance on a par with PTC (Paranoid Technology Company), the publishers of MathCAD for unspeakably evil installation procedures. They expect us to trust them that the product is useful (despite the usual shrinkwrap license that says it is probably NOT), but they clearly do not trust us at ALL.


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Staff Files 7.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought Staff Files for my small business of 30 employees. It has been an incredible time saver. I no longer have to search for paper files or documents, everything is right at my finger tips. I use it for managing benefits, vacation/sick time, training, employee reviews, and even for creating HR letters. I highly recommend Staff Files!

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PDF Create 7.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had PDF Converter Professional 4.0 for years. I needed to upgrade. So I bought the 'Create'. Just beware that the "Create" version is completely different from the convert version, even though the Nuance website has them appear as very similar in their comparision charts. All this soft ware does is combine files to make them PDFs. you can't actually edit pdfs, move around pages, edit text, etc. By the converter pro version.....

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Creating 100% industrystandard PDF files from your electronic documents has never been faster or easier! PDF Create 7 enables you to create and secure PDF files--up to three times faster than other PDF software--all with a single click. So you can share information and archive important documents safely and confidently using the PDF format.
Create and secure PDF files up to three times faster than other PDF software.

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Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium 11 Bluetooth Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The progress in speech recognition over the years has been mind boggling. 1995 was when I first started using IBM Via Voice and you had to speak each word distinctly. Original Dragon product was called Dragon Dictate and then they changed it to Dragon Naturally Speaking in 1997 and I have been using it ever since, faithfully upgrading to each new version. At that time when you called technical support you could even talk to Dr. Janet Baker, the inventor of the speech recognition and founder of Dragon.
With version 4 they started Dragon Naturally Speaking Medical and that helped in that medical terminology was already included albeit several folds the cost of the regular professional Dragon Naturally Speaking.
Each version has improved the accuracy and they have not made the product unduly complicated or cluttered, as is the usual tendency with software upgrades. Version 11 of Dragon is slower and needs more resources, I could not run it in Windows 7 under Fusion and have to use it in Windows 7 under Bootcamp on Mac. The speech recognition accuracy is almost 97% in this version: it still stumbles on small words like two, to, too, 2; of, off; and, on; for, per etc. But upgrading from Dragon version 10, the improvement is accuracy is noticeable enough to make this upgrade worthwhile. Although program gives you the option of adding punctuation automatically, in my experience it does not work well and you are better off dictating punctuation. Tutorial videos that come with the program and on their Nuance web site are very helpful. In the past it really helped that you could print the commands and pin the sheet on the wall so you could reference them while dictating: not in this version, they do not give you the option of printing commands. But at least it was a pleasant surprise to see that Nuance has not ruined Dragon 11 like their other product Paperport 12.
Sitting in front of your computer screen you say "Search Hardware Compatibility on Nuance" - and out pop the results of your search in front of your eyes. The program will open your browser, search Google and bring the results on Nuance web site on your screen. For sure, you will be wowed!
Since it is going to be a while before the Dragon medical comes out, I decided to buy Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium 11 Bluetooth which comes with PLANTRONIC Calisto Headset with USB Dongle - 81493-02. For general dictation the accuracy is fantastic. By letting the program scan my previous documents, I have been able to add a lot of medical terminology and save money by finding no need to purchase medical version when it comes out.
Previously they did not allow the option of using different accents in Dragon Medical but in this basic premium version you can and that has also helped improve the accuracy of speech recognition. So by selecting the Indian accent and adding medical vocabulary manually by scanning my documents, I have not only improved the accuracy but also saved money.
I purchased Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium 11 Bluetooth and the Calisto headset that came with it works really well. Although Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium 11 with Digital Recorder comes with Philips LFH0662/00 Digital Voice Tracer 0662 , if you look at Nuance web site for accuracy of different recorders under "Hardware Compatibility" Sony ICD-MX20 Memory Stick Pro Duo Digital Voice Recorder is the only recorder that gets 6 stars and I have been using it with Dragon.
Nuance's marketing department is very lazy and they use the same cookie cutter boilerplate text for all the different Dragon Naturally Speaking product lines without differentiating them but if you search "Feature Matrix" on their web site you can find the differences in different lines. The very basic Dragon Naturally Speaking Home 11 cannot be used with a recorder, has limited correction playback ability, and does not share vocabulary with different audio input sources. Then they also describe Dragon Naturally "Professional" version which does not show up on Amazon, as of September 2010, but has the ability to record macros and programming VBA scripts. Most users will need Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium 11. The premium version has text expanding commands, for example you can add a command to insert your full address when you say "home address". I still cannot figure out whether Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium 11 Student Edition has any less features or just a cheaper version of Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium 11. Looks like anyone can order it and you do not have to be a student. Nuance does not even give you the specifics of Digital Voice Recorder and Bluetooth versions in the product descriptions. What sluggard's?
The technical support from Nuance stinks - almost non-existent. If you run into any technical problems, you are much better off searching it on Google and using the expertise of other users in different forums. Don't expect any technical support from Nuance. Even their web site is disorganized and cluttered. They have all the information available on their web site, but just not obvious. Sometimes you have to search Google to find information on Nuance web site. Thankfully they appear to have some wiser voices in Dragon product development which are keeping their eye on the ball and have prevented Nuance from messing up the speech recognition accuracy and user interface of Dragon, so far. Another annoying thing they have started in this version is the pop up ads from software updater hounding you to buy their program Paperport 12.
For getting speech into the software, you have lot of different options that include corded and cordless headsets and microphones and recorders including PDA's. The whole list of voice capturing products is on Nuance's web site under "Hardware Compatibility" and they rate each one of them for voice recognition accuracy by number of Dragon's. Sony ICD-MX20DR9 32MB Flash-Based Digital Voice Recorder has the highest number of six Dragons. But following are what they sell and recommend and have good voice recognition fidelity:
A). Calisto Pro Bluetooth headset which comes with this version of Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium 11 Bluetooth. But you can also buy it separately. In my experience it has the best speech recognition fidelity of all the microphones I have used, including Andrea. Purchasing Calisto Bluetooth as a part of this Dragon 11 Bluetooth version is a lot better deal that buying the two separately.
B). Philips SpeechMike - SpeechMike Air 3010 which is a wireless microphone but more expensive or Philips SpeechMike Pro Plus 5276 USB which has a cord. Advantage is the programmable buttons. I used it in QuickBooks Pro 2009 because the buttons could be customized for commands like next field, tab, correct, delete line, etc. But voice recognition accuracy is not as good as Calisto.
C). Dictaphone PowerMic II Nuance-Dictaphone that works with Dragon and they sold it previously only with their Medical and Legal versions. SpeechMike and Dictaphone recorders give you the ability to pause, play, fast forward and customize buttons for different commands. SpeechMike (and Dictaphone) are useful if you are going to use speech recognition in programs other than word processing or plain documents.
D). Voice recorders like Sony ICD-MX20, Philips Digital Tracer and numerous others which you can find by searching "Hardware Compatibility" on Nuance web site.
In last 10 years I have mostly dictated on recorders and then done the corrections at the end of the day in Dragon software. Real time correction can be time consuming and interrupt the flow of work; depending upon your line of work and accent too. Until now, I used SpeechMike 5276 for Dragon speech recognition in specialized software like Quickbooks, Quicken etc. mainly because it has programmable buttons - for example you can program a button to insert Ctrl-Delete at the same time. I am not sure if Philips SpeechMike makes you more efficient and productive than Bluetooth headset but it certainly is lot more expensive. Now that speech accuracy has improved with the Calisto Bluetooth headset included in this version and the corrections do not take as much time, I have been dictating real time instead of using a recorder.
If you need to write a lot in your work e.g. journalist, lawyers, doctors, students, or for other projects, then you will not go wrong with this Dragon 11 Bluetooth version. It has the best speech recognition accuracy of all the microphones and will save you a lot of keyboard input and time.

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Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 Premium provides a whole new way to interact with a PC--using speech instead of a keyboard and mouse--to help you work faster and more efficiently. Dragon turns ideas into text at the speed of thought so you can communicate more freely and persuasively. Just say words and watch them appear on the computer screen--three times faster than typing--with no typos! Tell your PC what to do, and it obeys your commands.
Create and manage unique user profiles. View larger.

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File Office Document Management Software Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The process of scanning and filing documents with this software is pretty tedious and cumbersome if you have a lot of single page documents to scan.
It makes more sense to use this system if you have large, multipage docs like contracts etc.
You have to pre-create the file name and location for the file you intend to scan.
Then you have to create a "reservation" and print a bar code either on a Dymo label or on a cover page that you must print out.
Then you can scan the document with the pre-printed barcode page and Dymo knows where you want it filed.
It would be easier if you could just scan directly into a central file folder and then assign the scanned doc to a specific subfolder if you wanted to, without all the prep work on each document you want to scan and file.

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PaperPort 12 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm a long-time PaperPort user, and I made the mistake of upgrading the the newest professional version last weekend. Like so many others, I'm now unable to scan to PDF format without the DocuCom Trial watermark appearing on all scans, which is flatly unacceptable. Nuance has a couple of lame "work-arounds" on the Web site, but they DON'T WORK -- at least, they've not worked for me. Even worse: their Technical Support doesn't seem to exist -- I reported the problem and requested a real fix a week ago, and I've still not heard from them. As an experienced user, I have a pretty high tolerance for technical problems and working through solutions; but I have ZERO tolerance for a company that's known for over a month the program has a fatal flaw yet continues to sell that product.

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PaperPort 12 the world's favorite document management software for the PC, is the fastest and easiest way for home users to scan, organize, find and share documents and photos. It combines the power of document scanning services, the efficiency of digital desktop organization and search, and the convenience of high-quality PDF document creation, assembly and sharing in one easy-to-use application. Eliminate paper clutter, go green and organize your home office once and for all with PaperPort 12. You'll wonder how you ever managed without.

Scan, organize, search and share documents and photos quickly and easily from your home PC With your PC, a scanner and PaperPort 12, you're on way to achieving new levels of personal efficiency:
Scan paper documents with a single click--works with any scanner or all-in-one
Turn paper, photos, and digital files into high-quality searchable PDFs
Store documents as PDFs so they'll never be lost, damaged or accidentally thrown away
Use Windows or Google Desktop Search to find any document on your computer instantly
Assemble multiple PDFs into a single document by dragging and dropping
Fill out forms automatically
Clean up and enhance digital photos
Break the costly, wasteful cycle of printing, copying and mailing paper documents

Time is your most valuable asset. For about the cost of one lost document you can get the fastest, most powerful and easy-to-use PaperPort ever.
The Personal Organizer in a Box Getting and staying organized doesn't have to be a chore. PaperPort 12 is a combination file cabinet and digital document desktop that organizes scanned paper and PDF documents better, faster, and more easily than Microsoft Windows alone. Even more incredible, PaperPort 12 brings all these files together in one convenient place on your PC desktop. It provides large, clear thumbnails for everything already on your computer--with support for over 150 file formats--so you don't need to open files to figure out what's inside. Choose from 29 folder colors for organizing files and see only those file folders where important documents or pictures are stored. No more wading through every folder on your computer to find what you're looking for. PaperPort 12 combines power with ease of use, making it the perfect document management solution for home-based businesses, personal finances, school work, photo collections, hobbies, and more.
Scan Your Way Out of the Clutter Use your scanner or all-in-one printer with PaperPort 12 to quickly produce high-quality digital files of all your paper documents and photos. With the simple push of a button you get perfect scans on your desktop or directly into the included PDF Viewer or another specific application--email, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and more. PaperPort 12 is so smart it will straighten, crop, rotate, and enhance your documents automatically to improve document quality. And you can take advantage of PaperPort's ImageViewer for further enhancements to scanned documents or photos.
Create and Fill Out Forms Often times the documents you need to share must be accompanied by some sort of form, or in many cases, lots of forms. With PaperPort 12, you never have to fill out another form by hand. The FormTyper feature accurately converts scanned paper forms into neat, searchable electronic forms you can fill out on your computer. It even recognizes check boxes automatically. You can quickly tab to a fillable form field and type the information. Add your scanned signature using the transparent stamp feature. Then save your completed PDF form and email it along with your other documents. It's faster and cheaper than faxing or mailing. And you don't have to worry if your handwriting is legible!
Gather and Share Documents Quickly Need to gather up a bunch of different documents for a school assignment, a tax consultation, an insurance claim, or another pressing matter? Maybe finding your files isn't a big problem because you're already organized. But collecting and sharing them with the right people can be a real chore. You could print what's on your computer and make copies, but faxing, mailing or lugging around folders stuffed with information is inefficient, costly, and insecure. Why take chances? Avoid the hassle by using your computer and the power of PDF documents to gather, assemble and quickly share information by email. PaperPort 12 lets you create PDF files from your digital documents and combine multiple scanned documents into a single file. Add, delete or rearrange the pages within any PDF file. Extract editable text from scanned documents and put it into a word processor or an email message. No more tedious retyping or overloading clipboards. Just drag, drop ... and voila!
Find What You Need Fast Stop wasting your time looking for documents. With PaperPort 12, you can create searchable PDF files from any scanned paper documents so you can find them quickly whenever you need them. Digital documents stored in PaperPort 12 are there to stay. No more lost receipts, misplaced records, or recycled assignments. Need something fast? Just enter keywords or phrases into Windows or Google Desktop Search to quickly locate a specific file.

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