Diamante

[Linda Cantrell]

I recently ordered the new Diamante writer from Stenograph. I have found that my forearms are so sore after a day of use that I can't use it. I have to take a break for a few days to a week, and then I try again. I've adjusted it and tried again, but I still end up so fatigued after writing on it. I am an official in a busy criminal division, so I'm on it all day. My old writer is a Mira G2 and don't have this problem.

Has anyone else had this problem or is it just me?

[Janet]

Hi Linda,

I've been using the Diamante for a few months and have had no pain at all. Are you using the tilt mechanism? Where do you have the wheels adjusted to for depth and tension? It sounds like you might have the tension too tight. I use a shallow stroke, which is the wheel all the way forward, and I use a light touch.

I took the tilting mechanism off of mine so that I could use it with my tilting tripod.

I hope you figure out what's going on. Did you call Stenograph?

Janet

[Linda Cantrell]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I am using the tilt mechanism. I have been in contact with Stenograph. I guess I need to do a little more adjusting. Especially since it seems to be just me with the problem!

Thanks so much.

Linda

[Mary Ann Payonk]

Hello, Linda. Here's my two bits. Compared to the Diamante, I would call the Mira a workhorse machine comparable to a SmartWriter ... meaning that it's big, and heavy. You know by experience that in comparison, the Diamante is a featherweight. That's not to say it's not a workhorse too -- it is! But maybe you've had to change your stroke technique on the Diamante and that is what's so tiring for you. Just guessing, but if you really hit the keys hard (a pounder) on the Mira, you're not going to want to do that on the Diamante, and that may be why you're so tired. I've always had a very light stroke, never a pounder, and now I'm so calm writing it's sometimes all I can do to stay awake. (That's a joke, but you get it). I think there is a learning curve with any writer, and hopefully that's all it is. I started out with the keys not quite to the max on each adjustment, but over the past 3 months, I now am writing on the lowest stroke and the lightest touch, and my writing's never been better. I sure hope you figure out what's going on!

M.A.

[Linda Cantrell]

Well, I have never considered myself a pounder, but maybe I should be more conscious of exactly how I'm writing. Everything actually felt fine until after a few hours of writing and I had soreness and fatigue in my forearms. Thought maybe I just had to build different muscles for this writer, but it just got to where I couldn't handle it.

That's so nice to hear that your writing is better than ever. I sure don't want to give up on the writer -- it's just so pretty and, as you said, a featherweight. I just love so much about it. Thanks so much for your input.

Linda