#Dragon dictate software for mac how to
#Dragon dictate software for mac manual

One of the deficits still lingering in the Mac version is it has fewer sets of application-specific commands than its Windows counterpart. You can say вЂњFile NewвЂќ to open a new document or вЂњJump to Wall Street JournalвЂќ to open the Web browser and go to the JournalвЂ™s Web site. The latter means controlling menus and commands either common to the whole operating system or specific to a program youвЂ™re using.

#Dragon dictate software for mac manual

The Dragon software has many, many functions (the user manual is 207 pages), but you can boil it down to two: dictation and computer control. You also canвЂ™t use AppleвЂ™s dictation feature unless youвЂ™re connected to the Internet, while Dragon works right on the computer.

But they donвЂ™t match DragonвЂ™s voice command set. Macs do have a feature that make a limited number of spoken computer commands available. First, AppleвЂ™s dictation doesnвЂ™t allow you to command the computer, or edit by voice. So why choose a $200 program? Especially since Apple recently added free built-in dictation to the Mac. The software would be a good choice for people who are disabled and canвЂ™t type, or even those prone to mild repetitive stress injuries. For example, you need to say вЂњFile OpenвЂќ as it wonвЂ™t respond to вЂњOpen File.вЂќ So youвЂ™d need a good reason to make that investment in money and time.

It could take weeks or months to remember and master the specific wording of each of the many commands.

#Dragon dictate software for mac how to

By that I mean itвЂ™s relatively costly, at $200, and requires time to learn how to use. Based on my tests, I can say that Dragon Dictate 3, and by extension Dragon NaturallySpeaking, are quite accurate. I chose to test the Mac version because it can finally do some things formerly limited to Windows, such as selecting a single word by voice for correction or deletion or formatting.

Dragon Dictate uses a small window to show its status and often displays two larger windows, one with available commands and one with alternate spellingsДespite some feature differences, the two versions use the same improved voice-recognition engine, so the company said my experience on the Mac would be a good indicator of its Windows productвЂ™s performance.