HELP -- advice/info please. My son sat on my new laptop.

• HELP -- advice/info please. My son sat on my new laptop. - MSMT

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I saw the laptop post below, and it inspired me to get one.  I have never owned a laptop computer, just a desktop.  I need a good one at a fair price.  I don't want it to be really heavy.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I already have my Microsoft Natural 4000 keyboard (which I love).  I need to know a great place to buy one, too. 

I have a painful sprain on my ankle and need to sit in my recliner with my feet up while I transcribe for the next few days. 

I have MQ's computer that I rent but I have downloaded DQS onto my laptop so I can sit in the recliner (MQ system in my bedroom). 

Any advice about how to use the footpedal in this awkward position? 

Appreciate any response.

I have been an MT for over 10 years.  I also am getting burnt out, tired of my job, day in day.  However, I do love transcription and make excellent money at it, have grossed over $50,000 per year the last 5 years.  I decided to go back to nursing school and am very happy with my choice.  However, over these 10 years of transcription I have had my ups and downs.  My biggest issue with being at home working is lack of socialization, being home day in and day out with just the kids and the animals really gets to a person, sure hubby is home at night and thinks working from home is the easy life, thus the return to school and boy has my overall enjoyment of life changed once I realized I was the problem, not everyone else and I needed to find myself again.

Anyway, my biggest advice to you three-fold:

1.  Get into counseling for yourself, find out who you are and what your needs are, whether or not you think you need to, I sense you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone other than your family to talk to that can be nonjudgmental to your feelings and needs.

2.  If you're only making $100 after you pay preschool you can either keep doing it and be miserable, or quit because you are lucky enough to have a husband who can support the family without your income. (See how fast his mind changes just by losing the income you do have as to whether your job means anything.)  Or look for a different company or office that you like more and are more productive if you really want to do transcription (lots of fish in the sea as far as companies).

3.  Find a local "mom's" group where you can get out and socialize.  MOPS (mother's of preschoolers) is an excellent one that is nationwide, they have a website.  Also Mom2Mom is in a lot of areas.  They provide a once a week time for moms with kids the same age to get together, socialize, (some offer spirtual guidance some don't) and each week a different mom takes a turn watching everyone else's children at the facility that hosts it so the other moms can talk about things they have in common.  Every stay-at-home and work-from-home mom needs to socialize with adults, without their kids, or they will have a nervous breakdown eventually no matter how much they love their kids.

Sorry so long but it does get better but you have to take the first step at making yourself happy.

I WOULD USE A LAPTOP. THIS CONDITION HAS TAKEN MY WHOLE LIFE FROM ME. MY JOB , MY INDEPENDENCE, BUT I REFUSE TO LET IT GET ME DOWN ALL THE WAY. AT HOME YOU ARE ABLE TO CHANGE POSITIONS OFTEN, GET UP AND WALK AROUND, SIT IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, LAY DOWN IF NEED BE. MY DAUGHTERS ARE NOT USED TO DOING WITHOUT AND I DO NOT INTEND FOR THEM TO START NOW.  ANY POSITIVE HELP IS MUCH NEEDED, BUT I GUESS YOU CAN KEEP THE BAD TO YOURSELF. MAYBE I JUST DONT WANT TO FEEL LIKE THERES NOTHING I CAN DO. MAYBE I DONT WANT TO GIVE UP AND FILE FOR DISABILTY JUST YET. ANY HELPFUL ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANGELA LEE LPN

I would never have a big computer again!  I have worked on DocQScribe and other internet platforms and never had any problems. Also have BellSouth DSL. My computer is a Dell Inspiron. If any disasters strike here that I can see coming will load the pets some clothes and the Dell and take off.  Good luck getting put back together!

Am in the market for a laptop and looking for suggestions.  Thanks.

an HP Pavilion and I love it -  one thing to be sure of is that you get one with a good big screen or a port where you can connect our monitor, and be sure it has a port for your keyboard (USB if you have that kind of keyboard).  You'll never be able to do any good at MTing with the tiny keyboard that a laptop has.  I made a big mistake by buying one without a floppy drive, but it's not hard to get an exernal floppy drive (ask me how I know) and costs about $50.  As for the internal stuff ie RAM, hard drive, that's in pretty much the same ballpark as a desk top, get as much as you can possibly afford. 

I also would be curious as to how this would be done.  How do you get your voice files?  How do you use a foot pedal?  My husband drives semi and this sure would be nice for going with him on long runs. 

Anybody use a laptop for MT work?  Is is pretty reliable when you are using wireless?  I assume you have to have an electrical output for the foot pedal.  Any info would be appreciated.  Thanks!

I use a laptop for work and had only had a few times whem my wireless network card has gone out for one reason or another.  It's a little slow, I would say somewhere between dial-up and the slowest DSL/cable connection.  The only electrical outlet that I use is the one to plug mjy laptop into. I have a USB foot pedal and that just plugs into the USB port at the side of the computer.

One thing that I would DEFIINITELY check on first though is making sure that the software that you use supports a wireless connection.  One of the companies that I work for, I have no problems using my wireless.  However, with the other company, I still have to use my dial up connection to download my files as their particular software does not work with a wireless connection.

Hope this helps.

I don't know everything about computers, but I will just throw out a suggestion to you...do you have an (I think its called) an ethernet card in your lap top, and the place that you took you laptop to...did they have a wireless router so that your computer could get the signal from the router in order to get online.....A lot of people think that just because they have a laptop, that they can get online anywhere...I'm sure you know this, but your laptop has to have the card and the place you are at has to be giving out a signal in order for you to get on, other than that I don't understand why it would not work...it should have?  Let me know what you find out if you don't mind becasue I am considering getting a laptop so that I can take my work with me when I want to be away from my home for a few days!

Thanks!

Is there anyplace selling new laptop/notebooks with XP instead of Vista?

Thanks

There may be some adjustment, but it really isn't difficult.   You might have to move the pedal around to find where it is most comfortable.  If you're short like me you might need to put something under the pedal to get good enough pressure on the pedal.  The hardest part for me working in the car is that because I'm so short I don't have much lap to hold by laptop.   Some SUVs/trucks have armrests and they may a kidney-shaped desk that you can lap on top of the arms and work, which is nice.  It folds in half when not in use, so you don't have this huge thing to deal with. 

I went to Las Vegas two weeks ago. I was able to get internet service. The hotel where we stayed gave me a 1-800 number and it only cost me $30.00 for five days of interenet service. 

I have thought about getting a laptop for working also on short trips.  Is it easy to download our transcription service functions, E-time, DQS onto the laptop or do we have support from MQ help with this.  Any ideas? THanks