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Dragon Dictate For Mac.

Dragon Dictate For Mac.

I have an idea of writing a book of fiction and possibly a play.  When I write any fiction, my typing can not keep up with my mind and I loose the flow of what I wish to convey due to the writing delay.  It occurred to me to get a voice to text computer software and try that out as a solution.  The only software that came up with good reviews was Dragon.

I purchased Dragon Dictate for Mac version 3, September 2013.  The box came with a USB microphone.  Software license process was a bit involved.  Following the start up directions I hit a snag right away.  I could not get the Dragon microphone to work into the program.  I went into Dragon’s Profiles and made sure I selected Dragon Remote Microphone as the Dragon Profile and also for the Audio Source.  I went into the Apple System Preferences and then Sound and chose one at a time Output and Input selecting “USB Ear-Microphone”.  When I chose Sound Input, and spoke into the microphone I could see the microphone worked perfectly on the volume meter desktop display.  But, when I then went into the Dragon Vocabulary Training a window was displayed with large letters notifying me that the microphone was not connected.   I went to the Dragon Internet support pages but could not find a solution.  I had to call technical support.  I was told to create a new profile.  I was then to mouse click on the + plus sign.  I was then instructed to NOT choose the Dragon Remote Microphone but instead choose USB Ear-Microphone that now shows up as an option.  That trick made the Dragon microphone work perfectly.  I then plowed through the vocabulary training.  I was quite impressed with the very large command features beyond inserting punctuation.

Right after getting the microphone connected I upgraded my Mac system software to 10.9.  When I opened Dragon again, I got a warning message that the Dragon software had problems and was unstable.  I found that Dragon worked for a short while but then lock up.

The Dragon web site claims that Dragon Dictate 3 will be supported in the future with the Mac operating system 10.9.

Before I got Dragon to work I was annoyed at the product verification process.  It seemed that I had to wade through way too many steps, verification and setup, to get this product running.   I was seriously thinking of returning it and getting my money back.   I think I have buyers remorse especially now that the software is not ready for Mac OS 10.9.

Apple Repairs Computer That Is Out Of Warantee

Apple Repairs Computer That Is Out Of Warantee

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We have a iMac 20 inch computer that was purchased September 2004.  Beginning the summer of 2008 it began to exhibit some disturbing symptoms.  It would not wake up from sleep mode.  The fans would race at high speed for hours.  Some times the computer would begin to shut itself off.  We took the computer in to the Genius Bar, at an Apple store, September 2008.  The technician looked the computer over and told us they would repair the unit for free even though we did not have any Apple insurance.  It seems that this computer had a serial number that fell within a range of computers with a known problem.  In about a week we got the computer back.  The receipt showed that the logic board and power supply ambient light sensor was replaced for no charge.  We have had the computer running for months now and the repair did solve the problem.   I wonder how many other computer manufacturers would repair a computer 4 years old.

Apple On Line Store Has Problems.

Apple On Line Store Has Problems.

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I ordered a new Mac Book Pro for my self with apple care and a iTouch for my daughter.  My E-mail notifications for this order came to be a bit weird.  The order was cut into two. The iTouch was on one order while the laptop was on the second.  The iTouch arrived extremely fast, with gift wrapping that I do not remember ordering, and was charged $5.  The iTouch qualified for a rebate but I never was notified how to get the rebate.  I called customer service and was told to got to a web site and that process went really smooth.

I thought I had paid for expedited shipping for the laptop but the iTouch came extremely fast while the laptop took way too long to arrive.  It appeared to me that they applied the expedite shipping, $18, to a $100 iTouch and NOT a $2,487.00 laptop.   That made my daughter real happy but I am paying the bill, they did not know that, and I had to wait.

I never got any E-mail or snail mail or package for the Apple protection plan.  I finally called two months later and was told that indeed the tech support computers did show that I had paid for the plan.  I was told that a package should have been send with a certificate and a CD inside.  Their records showed the package was sent.  Well, I am still waiting for it for over two months.  I had to call another number and was told that they would send a certificate but no CD!  I would have to go to a web site and download the software and burn my own CD!  Incredible.  I went to the web site and it did not work.  I called Apple technical support again and they approved sending me a CD.  That was cool.  I was given another web site address, a longer one to try out and it did not work either using Firefox or Safari.  Funny thing, tech support told me the hypertext transfer protocol was “HTTPS” but I found I could only get response using “HTTP”.  Tech support told me the address they gave me worked on their machine.  Https indicates a secure site and a number of issues need to be set correctly and working correctly with your browser as follows: SSL settings, proxy settings, security software such as firewalls.

Boston University offers a wonderful test to see if your web browser is set correctly for proper SSL operation:  http://weblogin.bu.edu/troubleshooting?cmd=ssl

All my testing revealed nothing wrong, so my assumption was there was a problem with the Apple web site.

Here are my issues with Apple:

  • If the customer pays for expedited shipping, pun intended, deliver!  This issue is not just a problem for Apple but I experience this problem with most Internet businesses.  You pay for expedited shipping but for some cockamamie reason, you don’t get it.
  • I should have been sent an e-mail telling me how to complete the rebate process for the iTouch.
  • I should have been sent an e-mail telling me that I should expect to receive, in the mail, a package offering the  Apple Protection Plan certificate and CD.
  • When I was directed to a secure web site as a backup option for me to get a copy of the software, make the site work.

Here are the positive aspects of these problems:

  • Apple does have a wonderful support infrastructure that seems to come to the rescue when problems need to be resolved.
  • I had to put Windows XP into my Apple laptop for ham radio and astronomy applications using Boot Camp .  The frustrations arising from the Windows operating system are so apparent and significant, in comparison to the Macintosh operating system.  This validates, in my mind, the huge cost I paid for the Mac laptop.  If you like to tinker, get a Windows machine.  If you like to get work done, get a Mac.

Summary: I recommend that you buy from an Apple Super Store instead of through the Internet store.  It seems to me that almost all these issues and dissapointments, I had,  would not have happened if I had walked into a store and dealt with Apple sales people.  Next, if you buy on line and want expidited shipping you will naturaly pay more, just make sure you will get the item(s) the exact day you expect or sooner.  My recommendation is to not pay for any expidited shipping.

3 Day is 1 and 3 Day is 5?

3 Day is 1 and 3 Day is 5?

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I placed an order for Apple laptop, iTouch for my daughter and Apple protection for the laptop.

I added 3 day shipping so I could get my laptop in the hope it might arrive before the weekend.  Here is what went right and wrong with Apple’s shipping.

June 17, Tuesday, order was placed late in the evening so statistical purposes the order should start on the 18th.
June 18, Wednesday, The clock starts.  Credit card company called to authorize large charge against credit card by leaving a message on our answering machine.  We did not spot the message until later that day, which delayed the transaction from proceeding.
June 19, Thursday, iTouch  shipped from China.
June 20, Friday,  iTouch arrived in California (before 10AM) – simply incredible speed by FedEx!  This item was shipped 3 day, which was not my intent.  I really wanted the laptop to arrive in 3 days.

Note:  Later I contacted Apple and their representative took a screen shot of the iTouch  FedEx tracking screen.  The iTouch reaching me in one day from China.  The Apple representative had never seen that before.  We were both impressed.  I fantasized that FedEx had developed a cannon and shot the order over the Pacific Ocean.

Next we are to see that Apple screws up the 3 day shipping completely for the laptop.  I can only figure that they took it upon themselves to ship the iTouch as a 3 day and NOT the laptop.  The Apple representative told me that ALL items should have been shipped 3 days.    From my point of view, if I were to choose which item to ship within 3 days, the laptop  should be the 3 day shipping item and NOT the iTouch.  When you are paying $15 for 3 day shipping does it make sense to apply that to a much lower cost item?  I think not, unless you specify otherwise.  Apple representative said all items were paid for to be received in 3 days.

June 20, Friday it would appear that Apple has finally put my laptop together and it is ready to ship, two days later from when the order went in.
8:28 AM Package data transmitted to FedEx
3:12 PM Picked up. Package received after FedEx cutoff.
3:35 PM Left FedEx origin facility

June 21, Saturday,
10:00 PM, In transit; “Location Shanghai CN”.  Called Apple to find out why laptop showed still being in Shanghai.  I was told that once a day FedEx will scan any item still at their facility.  Apple drops 3 day shipping charges for this mistake.
June 21, Saturday,
3:46 PM Int’l shipment release, location Anchorage Alaska!  Looks like Apple never intended shipping the laptop within 3 days.
June 21, Saturday,
7:49 PM, Departed FedEx location, Anchorage Alaska.

I am still waiting to receive laptop.  This story will be updated as I find out more.

Here is what I think might have happened but I can not prove it.  I paid for 3 day shipping.  They provided 1 day on an item that comprises way lower weight and size.  Apple might hope that the larger item, the laptop, because it has to be built to specifications, allows them the argument that it will arrive later.  If the customer does not track the shipping, but only relies on the Apple notifications, they might not be any wiser.

Customer support is just wonderful.  The Apple product is wonderful.  Too bad that the Apple octopus has some arms that are working at hay seed level.

Our recommendations:
Buy your items from the Apple store.  I was told that the 4 gig memory would be put into a new machine in one day.  That was the only item that the Apple store needed to change for my purchase.  I feel so stupid ordering on line.

From our experience from Apple and other companies, 3 day shipping is a dice roll.  Each time we encountered a problem the fault lay with the vendor, not the shipper.

Our experience is that enhanced shipping methods do not work.  The fault lies with the vendors and not the shippers.

Watch out when you order any item using the Internet and you specify any enhanced shipping modes.  Take screen shots of what you pick at each stage of the ordering process so you can review and prove what you purchased.  Shipping charges typically come toward the end of the on line buying process and thus it is very hard for you to go back later to figure out what the process was that you and the vendor agreed to.

Good luck ordering on line with some vendors.