She's correct, folks, most newer computers DO NOT come with serial ports
Posted By: Devil's Advocate on 2008-07-18
In Reply to: Sadly, most newer computers do not have the 9-pin port. - Gettinganewjob
You can order a computer with one, but in general they do not come as a standard item on non-custom-built computers any longer. The USB port is standard now, but not the DB9/COM/serial port she is referring to.
You can purchase a PCI card (which is what the COM/serial port is part of) from Amazon for about $20 though and install it yourself, thus giving you a COM/serial/DB9 port for the 9-pin foot pedal.
So....she is correct...MOST (not all) of the computers newer than about 4-5 years old DO NOT come with a serial/COM/DB9 port standard -- not on the back on the computer or anywhere else for that matter. I
n fact, when I was looking for a PCI card to so that I could install it on my own computer (which is 3 years old), the guys at the computer store wanted to know why I wanted to go backwards (as far as technology) instead of foreward (to upgrade) -- stating that people just don't use serial ports anymore. They said that the USB port had pretty much eliminated the need for a serial/COM/DB9 port in most instances.
Too bad that isn't true when it comes to some MT platforms and wavplayers.
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I realize this also, but MOST newer computers..sm
do not even have the 15 pin serial ports (game ports) any longer. I had purchased a 15 pin game port pedal and used it less than 6 months because my sound card went out and I had to get a new one. I could not find ANY that had a 15 pin game port any longer and ended up having to buy a whole new pedal (usb) in order to work. USB is what is mostly used these days. If she needs a 15 pin footpedal I will gladly sell her mine... been there and did that.
Sadly, most newer computers do not have the 9-pin port.
I have had to buy USB adapter to which some do and do not work correctly with this footpedal. Is this by chance an Escription account? Thus far, this is the only software that I have found which requires such an obsolete port. I bought a laptop assuming it would have the 9-pin port but it did not so I tried at least four adapter until I found one that works.
LOL. And to make it worse, most coffee comes through New Orlean ports,
nm
what is 9-pin serial port?
A recruiter asked if I had this on my computer. I do not even know what this is. How can I tell if my computer has this.
Thanks
Serial foot pedal OK for SoftScript?
I have applied for SoftScript and have my interview 8/5/09. I have a Serial Foot pedal that I got from TranscriptionGear.com in Ohio. It says it is an IN-DB9 foot pedal. There are no other connections to this foot pedal other than the serial 9-pin.
They have not told me yet whether this would be OK. They just said Start-Stop type. I thought this would be OK, so I went through the resume, application, and testing process.
Brenda
I'm newer TT
but I don't see a problem making line count. You only need 11,000 in a pay period. I think most do at least that and probably more.
Volume fluctuates, as it does at every place that I have worked, especially in the summer and the last couple weeks of the year. I'm flexible and thankful that my supervisor is also. It comes in handy when an emergency comes up with one of the kids or I lose power during a storm, as they allow you to make up time (lines) lost if you want.
TKU very much. I had seen the newer discussion,
but hit server errors when I tried to go back to May, so had not seen the older link. Now that one has me reconsidering.
Probably best to contact some of the new/newer MTs over there
d
Make 8 and 9 as a newer MT with no CMT.
I graduated Career Step just over a year ago. I was making 7 cpl for the past year, but just switched companies and now make 8 cpl for a clinic account and 9 cpl for an acute care account.
There is definitely newer information and ALL IS BAD.
She is so desperate to find someone who hasn't heard....I agree with other poster...RUN.
sign me Been there, done that. Learned my lesson to listen!
Not true. All desktops have it...newer ones too.
It's on the back.
It is the attitude of newer MTs (not all) such as yourself that cause these problems. sm
Companies do not treat us like sweatshops, hounding us for production. They expect us to be professionals and perform the work at the times we are scheduled, without exception, and produce a certain amount of work. Those production standards have actually gone down over the past 20 years, and our tools to produce more have gone up substantially.
Decent wage? While our pay has not gone up in the past 10 years, $45,000 - $50,000 per year is still more than decent.
Time to get up to speed? Court reporter are required to be at certain speeds to progress to the next level when they are in school and when they take their state boards to be certified, they are required to be a certain speed. FYI: That speed is the equivalent of 125 wpm with 100% accuracy required. There is no time to increase; this is their starting point.
I teach at a local business school part time that also teaches court reporting. More than 75% of the ones who start court reporting cannot get up to speed or cannot take the pressure, so they either quit entirely or TRANSFER TO MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION because the standards are not as high. For those that make it through the court reporting program, it can take 3 or 4 times to pass the state boards and only 50% actually do so.
So, we need to look at what we complain about. The standards to be a medical transcriptionist, a professional responsible for a direct line of patient care, are quite low compared to other fields.
Part of this is due to new MTs who come into the field to make a quick buck and to work at home while acting like stay-at-home moms.
an upgrade? mean newer version?
This should not be an end of the year thingee seems to me. I would ask what exactly an upgrade means. No reason not to ask for the facts. Does it mean an upgraded version of MedRite or upgrade to a newer type platform or just what does it mean.
Anyone using the newer software with Transolutions, not the DOS stuff? How
s
I did get double; I'm talking about newer hires.
nm
any new/newer hires who didn't get extra holiday pay will now get...
nm
We will be adding that feature back, we are just in transition of migrating over to our newer
version of the forum software. We appreciate your patience. 
Did search on Futurenet and got mostly 2004 and 2005 stuff. Anybody with newer info? nm
Computers
Try calling the Corporate office for Foxboro and see what you get. I worked in New Jersey and the site closed and corporate there is where you have to call for things. Hope this helps.
Computers
What type of computers do most of you prefer to do transcription? Laptops or desktops? And if you do use laptops do any of you travel and take your work?
Some of us use our own computers, though.
TT computers
They will lease one for a pretty reasonable fee, $9.00 a pay period. Plus, they are go out of their way to help their MTs, speaking from personal experience.
I know just about enough about computers
to be dangerous. Mostly when things go squirrely I just close down everything I can, reboot and cross my fingers. Amazing how many problems are solved that way. But I guess I should not even own the computer at all, by some people's reasoning.
I had a courier job once, briefly. I used my personal car to deliver packages from point A to point B. To me a car is a thing with four wheels on the ground and one in my hands. I don't really know much about the internal combustion engine, don't really want to know much. (I do know how to open the hood and stare at the engine - which is all most guys know too - then jiggle a wire or two, shake my head, close the hood and call AAA.) I can do a jump start. I know what to do if it's flooded. I know where the various fluids go. End of my automotive expertise.
If I were really stranded somewhere, I might try the bent-hairpin trick, but there are people whose sole area of expertise is diagnosing and fixing cars! Others whose duty is to haul you there. There are people whose area of expertise is to fix computer problems. If I think my efforts might mess things up worse, you bet I'm calling tech support! Don't get between me and the phone.
Computers
Doubt they'll remove any software but they will quit paying for the antivirus so you won't be able to get the updates anymore once the switch to Triton has taken place.
Get a KVM switch and you can tie your computers together with (sm)
one keyboard, one monitor and one mouse. Try Circuit City they have them. Good luck.
Yes they do lease computers
nm
spheris computers
When I worked for them the computer crashed enough on its own...it didn't need any help. The screen would go blue and it would say something like beginning dump of physical memory. I was told it wasn't a problem until it did it several times per shift..then they would replace it.
Spheris computers
I have had several lemons too. It is not the computers that are lemons, it is the management and the company who are lemons.
those new spheris computers
Has anyone noticed how they log on to your computer and rearrange your desktop if they don't like how it looks? Or how they block you from using normal, everyday websites on the brand new computers? LOL We are trusted with private medical information but the company has nothing better to do than to spy on everyone and make them feel belittled. I don't think that is very good for morale.
OSi used to supply computers - not sure if they still do
N/M
3 computers 1 connection
Does anybody work on 3 computers at the same time with only 1 DSL connection? Could you tell me how to do it so each is secure from the other and compliant? Thanks in advance for any information.
They do provide computers, but there is a
charge per pay period, I think about $9 or so. You cannot use the new Window Vista. Everything else they will download if you use your own computer. I took a pay cut to go there but am very happy, and they do have bonus incentives. The accounts are pretty decent. Staff is extremely friendly and cooperative.
I also know a QA with 3 computers for 3 companies
Also on salary not paid by the line.
Focus Computers
I believe that you have to own your own computer. I work as an IC so I do use my own equipment and write it off at the end of the year for tax purposes. They supply the software that you need to complete the dictations (EditScript).
do they supply computers?
nm
Actually, with computers, it's a standard to only
Two spaces were used with typewriters to make a document easier to read, but computers have proportional fonts, so the extra spacing after punctuation is no longer necessary. One space has been rule in desktop publishing and it's actually easier to read, IMO, than 2 spaces. It's definitely hard to get used to at first, but it's actually easier once you do and saves keystrokes. Of course, if you've been using 2 and getting paid for the extra space, you'll lose out, but most places seem to prefer one space now. You can sometimes set grammar checks to watch for 2 spaces and alert you so you can change it to only 1. I know Word has that option and it does help when you are transitioning.
Bad folks
BReitner totally sucks! Very unprofessional people that have not paid other MTs in the past. Beware!
IC folks
Okay all of you IC folks quick question. Do you like the flexibility of IC work? Do you think being an employee is better or about the same? Do you think you can make more money being IC as they are smaller companies than the big corporate giants we all know too well. Just wanted some fast feed back on the life of being an IC.
That's all, Folks!
Only a card and they send the same card every year. Go figure!!!!!
To all you TT folks
Sounds like your management has been reading the MQ posts and they have decided why not? If MQ can get away with it....
MDI folks
I am so jealous of all you MDI employees. You are so fortunate to be working for what is obviously one of the few good apples left in the bunch. It sounds like they truly care about their employees and I'm sure it will pay off for them in the long run. Sounds like some smart management! Wish some of these other companies would get wise to that kind of thinking. Taking care of the backbone of the company, the MTs is only going to be more profitable in the long run, but too many of them are short-sighted these days. I'm betting it wouldn't do much good to apply to MDI right now!
mdi folks
I see at least 6 different MDI posters here; anyone want to share FB pages? It would be kind of nice to have a 'network' to ask direct questions to...
she is just trying to tell folks of her sm
experience so that any potential MTs wanting to work for them can keep their eyes open! I adn a lot of other MTs are glad folks post their experiences. That is what this board is for.
I agree working for MQ has nothing to do with it. Many of us made our living at MQ for many years before they got really bad.
Landmark has always had a good reputation, but they could be beginning to start getting bad too. Don't flame somebody just trying to post their experiences.
These folks are probably from another sm
country. I have heard folks from alot of the European countries talk like this. When you see ads like that it is a good indication that the person is not from America originally.
Uh huh, and there it is, folks....
Found what I was looking for:
The Company’s income before income taxes has improved in 2006, 2007 and 2008 due in large part to improved customer retention combined with new sales, increased use of speech recognition technology and INCREASED USE OF OFFSHORE TRANSCRIPTION PARTNERS.
I'm with that other poster. Transcend will either merge with or be purchased by CBay within the next 18-24 months.
I'm outta here.
MDI - Kiss my backside.
KVM switch is used to connect 2 computers....sm
your home computer and the computer from a company so that you can use use 1 keyboard and 1 monitor.
any companies supply computers for ICs? - nm
nm
I've had 2 computers in 5+ years and SM
The only reason I got the new one was because they were sending them out to every one - no problems with the old one.
It's like cars - sometimes you get a lemon. LOL!
which companies provide computers?
Needing to know which companies provide computer equipment
What kind of computers does Precyse use?
Thanks!
Do they supply/lease computers? NM
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