Which one would you recommend?

[Kwanna Collins]

Thank you all for all your responses. I wasn't qute clear at first, but this should explain my situation much better. Recently i was told that it dose'nt really matter which writer you have its the software that's the biggy. I called Acculaw Inc. and they rent to own. The rep said he could give a professional writer, CaseCat 10 (student version), and labtop for 600 down and then $150 something a month. I am trying to get everything together from now because next semester i am taken CaseCat, which is my last elective. Now, my school only teaches us this program in one semester. You know and i know that's just not enough time. So i figured if i have my writer and software, i could go over some things while i am home and clean up my notes. I am not sure if if should rent, or should i purchase a 400srt and student software, or should i get a 400srt and professional software, or do i really just need to get a professional writer and software. Anyway, please give me your opinion and once again thanks a million :)

[Heather]

Hold off on any large purchases until you're close to working. If you buy your software or a professional machine now, you won't be able to write it off as a business expense when you start working. Plus, you only get one year of support/upgrades with your purchase, and you don't want to have to pay for another year of support while you're in school. Not only that, but you're not going to run into the limitations of the student software while you're in school. You won't need to print over 50 pages, and you won't need audiosync.

As for the machine.. when the rep said "professional machine," did they say what kind? An 8000 or 8000LX would be considered a professional machine. For that price, I think that might be what they're selling you. That's what I had in school and I loved it. But I got an amazing price, cheaper than a used 400SRT. Lucky find on Craigslist. If it's a Mira he's selling you, I go back to the tax write-off/support issue.

Pros of the 8000:
Can load your dictionary on the writer, so it's easy to check if you're writing something correctly while you're in class. This wouldn't matter if you're writing realtime and can see your writing that way.

Can save separate files for each test instead of having to dump your entire memory into your software and figure out where each one starts/stops.

Can be used when you start working since it has a backup. The 8000LX is better for work than the 8000 because you have a third memory and can turn off the floppy disc backup, which is an annoying grinding sound every five minutes or so.

Basically, if you plan on buying a new machine before you start working, I'd go with the 400srt unless the price difference isn't a big deal vs. the couple cool things the 8000 can do.

Veronica mentioned the Gemini Grand. I got one partially on her recommendation, and I LOVE it. They also have a stripped down/student machine, the Economy Evolution Grand. It doesn't have a battery, but I would assume they could add that for an additional cost if you wanted it. They do all kinds of custom setups, and you can upgrade it to a full professional setup when you're ready. The owner, Jason, is super awesome and helpful. I know he does financing with his professional machines, not sure about the economy version. But well worth checking out! http://www.geminiwriter.com/packages/name/EcoEvo

And I agree with Veronica on the laptop issue.

Whatever you choose, good luck in school!!

[Kwanna Collins]

Hi Heather. Thanks for taking the time to write me back.

Please bear with me on this topic but i am so clueless sometimes because my school dont really inform us on these things. Now, i would love to get the 400SRT, but will i be able to work with that machine? Will it have enough memory to hold at least a 200-300 page depostion? Like i said right now i am at 190, so i should be finish by October (keeping my fingers cross :) So whatever machine i get now, i need that machine to start off and later upgrade to something else. As far as the software, maybe i wont get the student version and i will just go ahead and get the professional version. But now i am back to square one with the write off issue. The laptop, iam not really worried about because they are pretty reasonable and i will take Veronica's advice.

I am really trying to gather as much information because the clock is ticking for me. By the end of this month i start my internship. My school requires that we do 90 hours of interning so i have to be prepared.

Let me know what you think about my plan, and if you would like to add any additional information it would be greatly appreciated...

[Heather]

Well, that changes things a bit. The student machines only hold 50 pages in RAM memory and don't have any other backup, so they are definitely not fit for a working reporter. So I go back to either the Gemini that you can upgrade later or the 8000LX. And as Glen mentioned, the Flash is also another option. BTW, Jason gave me an AWESOME student discount on my machine. He can set it up so it has everything you need to start working except for the UMPC and the backup software, which you could add without sending the machine in. I bought both my machine and my software after I had qualified, so I know what kind of stress you're under right now.

As for the software, you get that $500 for the student version credited toward the full version when you do buy it. So that might still be an option. If you're able to get financed through Stenograph, I would just wait on the professional until you're at least done with qualifiers.

I would stick with Case unless you're comfortable learning computer things on your own. I personally am an Eclipse user because I can't stand Microsoft -- err, I mean Stenograph. But I've had to teach myself everything I know because 99% of my school is on Case, and we didn't have software classes. But I have a LOT of computer experience. Even a one-semester class will be a HUGE help, especially since you have a short time to get comfortable with your software before you'll be working. I used DigitalCAT for a few months.. NOT impressed. It felt clunky and awkward, but that's just my opinion. I know there's a lot of people who use it, and it does have an awesome pricing plan. I think I remember you can even use it for a short time as a working reporter before you have to start paying for it. DC is kinda the basics of what you need to make a transcript, while Case and Eclipse are always competing for who has the coolest new feature to make life easier. But like Glen said, it's free to download and try out, so there's no risk if you want to try it.

[Glen Warner]

Hi, Kwanna.

My only worry about the writer you choose now is if it is a student writer (i.e., one with a 50 page memory limit) you will have to buy a professional writer in the future ... so why buy two writers when you can just buy one that will do the job for you when you're out in the real world?

Not a big fan of the 8000/8000LX writers -- mostly because of that floppy disk drive. If that drive dies (a high-failure item, according to the technicians), you have to send it in to get it fixed ... not to mention that floppy disks are getting harder and harder to find these days!

To that end, I recommend getting yourself a ProCAT Flash -- which Acculaw seems to be selling for about $100 cheaper than the 8000/8000LX.

The Flash uses a solid-state memory card instead of a floppy disk ... so that means there's no moving parts, and your writer won't make that annoyingly loud grinding noise that the 8000/8000LX writers make when saving to disk.

The smallest of the available memory cards for the Flash holds 750 pages, so that's a plus.

As for Case Catalyst, is there any way you can sit through the class before making the investment? You can download digitalCAT for FREE (as long as you're a student, that is) ... and it's pretty easy to use. If you find that you don't care for Case during the class, then you'll be able to use digitalCAT instead, without having spent the money for Case.

Good luck in your decision ...!

--gdw
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"For a Good (steno) Time ....."
http://www.cheapandsleazy.net

[Kwanna Collins]

Hey Veronica...Okay, i think i have come to a conclusion.....My plan is to purchase the ProCat Flash writer, finance CaseCat, and buy my own laptop. So what do you think? The ProCat Flash I've heard is a pretty good writer and have a lot of features. Believe me, i don't like anything that is too technical for me :) I saw it on Acculaw for $1350.00, i believe.

So that's my plan. Let me know if you agree with it or not.

Thanks :)

[Glen Warner]

Hi, Bobbie.

Just curious ... but how did you swing the quarterly payments? Was that directly through Stenograph, or was it through ... is it Marsh?

Thanks .....

By the way, Veronica, I had a chance to write on the Gemini Revolution Grand last week, when Jason Pardikes attended the WCRA Educational Seminar a couple weeks back. The touch was "whisper-light," I guess you could say. If I sneezed close enough, I *think* I could've got it to write "Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury"! :o)

--gdw
-----------------------
"For a Good (steno) Time ...."
http://www.cheapandsleazy.net

[Glen Warner]

Veronica --

I thought it was an interesting machine. I think, of course, that I would have to work with it a bit to get used to it, though.

Now then ... if they could just get the two halves of the keyboard to connect to each other wirelessly, then a little velcro and an easy chair, and eureka! Really happy captioner!

--gdw

P.S.:

Um, I really don't recommend sneezing on your writer.

--gdw
------------------------
"For a Good (steno) Time ...."
http://www.cheapandsleazy.net

[Heather]

The Gemini is extremely adjustable. I can make it (almost) as clunky as my 8000 if I wanted. Not that I would want to. At its lightest adjustment, it's waaaay too touchy for me coming from my 8000.