TREAL WRITER

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Does anyone have any comments on this writer?

[Deborah L. Willoughby]

I got one not too long ago. I love/hate it.

I love it because it's so small and lightweight and I can use it in my lap. I can use it pretty much anywhere. It's good for practicing when I'm not hooked up to the computer, more or less just practicing finger movement and exercises. It will fit on a tripod also if you want to use it that way.

I hate it because the keys are so sensitive that if I barely even bump the thing, some of the keys start to register. The keys aren't like those on a regular steno machine, they're more like the keys on a computer keyboard. You can take them off. There's no adjustment to them, so it kind of is what it is. If I could find a way to make the keys stop registering without me striking them, then I'd really love this thing. Also, the keys do make a little noise when you strike them, just like a keyboard does.

I got mine from e-bay fairly cheap. Even though it's not the greatest, I don't regret spending the few bucks for it because, like I said, it's so small and portable, I can take it with me and practice just about anywhere.

Hope this helps!

[Deborah L. Willoughby]

Oh. I forgot to mention. This is NOT a professional writer. This thing is a toy compared to a professional writer. It's nothing more than a keyboard. No paper, no internal memory, no removable cards. It's just a keyboard. It's okay for students to practice on while they're learning theory, but it's not for a working reporter.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

That is really what I wanted to know. Thanks for responding.

[Glen Warner]

Hi, Mary Jo.

I have been trying for quite some time to get someone to write a review of the Treal for my (cheap and sleazy) website, but I can't find *anyone* that has anything good to say about it ... and reading the replies you've received so far ... well, I think the folks at Word Technologies really ought to consider updating their technology to compete with the new writers that are using optical technology.

From Deborah's description, even the Millennium Writer (go to the Web Archive page and have it search for http://www.fastext2000.com if you've never heard of this writer) used better technology than the Treal ... and that was back in 2000 or so.

Disappointing, to say the least.

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

[Mary Ann Payonk]

Hi, Mary Jo. I haven't heard about the Treal for a while now. If you can access THIS PAGE, it's Advantage Software's public forum, comments from 2006 and 2007. From what I can remember, it was a strange little machine.

M.A.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

If any of you have one and want to sell it to me for a cheap price, let me know. It can't be much different from that Gemeni writer thing.

[Janet]

It is different from the Gemini writer. I bought a Treal a couple of years ago at a convention. It was so difficult to write, couldn't get any speed, and I gladly paid the restocking fee to return it. There are so many used machines out there, Mary Jo, that would be better.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I really don't want a Treal. I was being impulsive at the moment.

I've got some good stuff happening. Since April of 2008 I was getting paid the wrong rate for substitute teaching -$1.68 an hour LESS than what I should have been getting. The school district is paying me the money - about $1,600. I paid for twelve weeks of speedbuilders.com (only $30.00) - and I'm doing 210 Q&A. I now have access to DigitalCat Student, so I need to get busy on that. I will have to retake the RPR test, along with the written part.

And this morning it is 66 degrees in Tampa - it feels to great. Things will be much better next year.

[Janet]

Hey, you're on your way already. It's already better. Enjoy that weather. We've got 52 degrees today in Boston. Time to pull out the winter clothes.