A comparison of Dragon Naturally Speaking and Windows 7 Speech Recognition software
Let's start with the differences between these two pieces of software.
Dragon Naturally Speaking has been around for many years and works best with the use of a headset for its operation. Dragon Naturally Speaking also costs about 40 to 99 dollars as a separate piece of computer software. Dragon Naturally Speaking also requires major time invested in speaking to the computer to train it to understand the nuances of the speaker's voice. But it does a good job around 95% of the time.
Dragon Naturally Speaking has had some difficulties from the start of their software development. It is memory intensive and Dragon's software requires most other software programs not be running at the same time on many RAM limited computers. Also if you let it, the dictionaries for Dragon software grow in size and eat up your available resources. To verify this, simply right click on your task bar and bring up your Task Manager program then look under the Processes tab and look at the column called Memory. If it sounds like there are some continuing difficulties with this software you are observant.
Now there is a major competitor for Dragon Naturally Speaking. As part of the common items installed with OS Windows 7, a little software program called speech recognition should compete for every tech user's attentions. Find it through the Start button, then through the Control Panel and use the Icon view. Windows 7 speech recognition software is built in and works very effectively. It is more intuitive and easier to use. Training time is very minimal. It works well with the built-in microphone most common in net books and laptops. It never locks up my screen. It is free. For spelling and general corrections it simply operates faster. Add that to its use of fewer computer resources and it becomes obvious that this is a great little piece of software.
Now there is a major competitor for Dragon Naturally Speaking. As part of the common items installed with OS Windows 7, a little software program called speech recognition should compete for every tech user's attentions. Find it through the Start button, then through the Control Panel and use the Icon view. Windows 7 speech recognition software is built in and works very effectively. It is more intuitive and easier to use. Training time is very minimal. It works well with the built-in microphone most common in net books and laptops. It never locks up my screen. It is free. For spelling and general corrections it simply operates faster. Add that to its use of fewer computer resources and it becomes obvious that this is a great little piece of software.
I really hate to say goodbye to Dragon Naturally Speaking software. It has been with me as a constant companion throughout the years of working on a master's degree. Without this piece of software I would've never accomplished the volume of writing necessary.
But times change and good technology improvements will always win out. Both these two pieces of software seek to accomplish the same technical goal. Any user comparing them will discover that one software program is clearly better.
I now prefer Windows 7 speech recognition software for my creative writing and dictating needs. Move over Dragon Naturally Speaking, Windows 7 speech recognition software is better overall. I loved you for years Dragon Naturally Speaking but the party's over.
