I also transcribe with my keyboard in my lap and....sm

• best position and board for typing - getting old
  • I use a pillow that I prop against either my desk or my - me
  • I also transcribe with my keyboard in my lap and....sm - oldtimer
  • Getting Old? So am I - babe
  • Get a keyboard tray for under your desk to keep it low. - Top of monitor should be even with eyeball level.
    • ... to prevent neck strain. Lift it up on something if it's - too low. NM
  • Getting old. - GoGranny
    • I tried a split keyboard once . . . - Ouch!
    • I disagree. To each his own. I have rheumatoid arthritis and....sm - oldtimer
      • Yes to each his own. sm - Anon
        • I demonstrated to my rheumatologist how I transcribe and...sm - oldtimer
  • sore back - mandiemt
    • Sore back - CB
    • Not that expensive - Patti
      • I found one for $5 on ebay-sm - mls
        • I have the MS 6000 wireless laser keyboard...sm - Jus' another MT
        • I use the microsoft wave keyboard - tnmt
          • Yes, that one looks exactly like mine - tnmt

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That key printing never wear down because the letters are part of the key itself.  They just don't make them that way anymore because it is too expensive to make.  Some of the mechanical keyboards like Cherry have what they double shot key imprinting and the letters are part of the key itself and don't wear off. That IBM keyboard is very noisy from the type of keyswitch it has so you may not like that.  Logitech and Belkin make some membrane switch keyboards that are supposed to have longer lasting key imprints.  I have a logitech that has the longer lasting key imprints and it is pretty good.  You have to look on the specs to find out if has the longer lasting key printing.

I have experimented so much with keyboards and have done a lot of research.  Way too much info.  

Okay, any lefties use this keyboard? How long did it take to get used to? I use my left thumb for the space bar and I notice on a diagram of the keys that I would always be hitting the backspace key.

I'm really interested in getting a better keyboard. I destroyed my left hand and wrist the other week when I fell because I'm becoming a real klutz.

I bought the Soft Flex gloves, but they only help a little bit. My production is down because of it and it's driving me crazy. I can only type an hour without stopping and then have to rest the hand for some time.

I did buy a Microsoft 2000 keyboard but have yet to recieve it. Is this a good one?

Do you use a keyboard tray with it or just set it on the desk? Do you think a kayboard tray would be the least expensive item right now that would help with a straight keyboard?

Any info you can provide to help me in making any decision would be greatfully appreciated.

'Scuse me for being old school, but I've only ever used a straight keyboard.

For longtime comfort which is best - split keyboard mounted on chair arms or split keyboard to be used on the desk?

Also, why the preference over split keyboards that come totally apart versus split keyboards that are permanently connected at the top?

I want to revamp my office and there are so many different options.

*mask* things once (and ONLY once).  What a crock!  It's like trying to transcribe an auctioneer.  I always wondered how the accuracy couldn't suffer with this method.  (I guess I was right, considering the government is now using it.)  They make less money because there isn't much skill involved in doing it that way.  Legitimate court reporters go to school for quite some time and have to learn what's basically another form of shorthand.  (It's been years, and I might be wrong, but I believe, for example, the letters PB=N (or something like that.  LOL). 

I was around when the court reporters in my area went from straight dictation to *the computer.*  In fact, I did editing/scoping work for one court reporter who bought the new system, way back when the technology first became available.  (She also bought my computer for me to do her work and anything else I wanted to do on it, and part of her *offer* was that after two years, I would own the computer outright!)  It's a whole different world than transcribing.  I didn't like it then, and I don't like it now.  It's easier for the court reporter, who can pull his or her notes right up on the screen when something doesn't make sense and see where the *typo* was and figure out what it actually should have been.  So in order to be an Editor for a court reporter today, you basically not only have to know how to read their notes, but knowing how to read their TYPOS is the important thing.  This particular court reporter had the wisdom to know when her notes weren't that good, and rather than give me a very sloppy transcript to edit, she'd dictate it instead.  She was a great person, and I miss her a lot.

Scoping/editing for a court reporter is a great field to get into if that's your cup of tea.  If you're a typist, it's real difficult to get the "rhythm" that you can get when transcribing, and that's what I don't like about it.  (Very same thing with VR in medical transcription today.)  However, after doing this kind of work for 20 years, I might wake up tomorrow with carpal tunnel and might be forced to pursue it.

One thing about court reporters, from my own personal experience in my area:  They are the most generous, easy-going, NICEST people I've ever encountered, considering the enormous amount of stress they're always exposed to.  Back in the 1980s, I remember reading stats on suicide rates, and court reporters and DENTISTS were right at the top of the list!!

Is there a way to transcribe a church audio lecture from CD?  It is a .cda file.  I have "associated" the .cda with Start/Stop and ExpressScribe, but I still have no control with my foot pedal.  any suggestions? 

Thanks, Debbie

a minimum of 2000 lines per day x5 days a week for 8 hours a day, making 9 cpl which equals out to $180 per day. That comes out to $900 per week or $46,800 per year. That is just at 2000 lines per day. This is w/o shift differential and line differential added in. We get a bonus for going over a certain number of lines per pay period and we get a shift differential for working 2nd and 3rd shifts, which then works out to over 10 cpl. Transcribing 2000 lines per day works out to 250 lines per hour. W/o using an expander, I probably type about 100 words per minute and with my Expander it is a lot more. My pay stub shows how many lines per hour I average each paycheck. This week it was over 300 lph. I use my expander to its fullest. I have macros for everything and anything you can think of. I do radiology, oncology, and ER transcription - lots of phrases said over and over. I do not cherrypick. I cannot see what report or doctor I am going to get, the chart just pops up and I type it. Some days are all good docs, lots of days they are horrible but in this profession you take the good with the bad.

Everybody's work habit is different. Focus on what you can do instead of what person A or person B can do. When I first started I set goals for myself. I wanted to be typing 1000 lines by so and so date in 8 hours. When I reached that goal I made the goal higher by 100, 250 and then 500 lines. To me, it's all in the attitude you have for work. I look forward to work each day because every day there is something new to be learned.

Can someone please tell me the correct way to transcribe 10 to the fifth E. coli.

Thank you very much for your help.

I found great, low-cost software that allows you to convert tapes to digital files (MP3, WAV, WMA, etc.).  Check out www.dak.com !  Your PC needs a sound card and a line-in connection (usually next to your line out to plug in your headset or speakers), as well as a tape player and an actual line that plugs from your PC line-in to your tape player.  Think they call that line a male-to-male or male-to-female or something like that (got my line from www.martelelectronics.com).  Use Dak to convert your music cassettes, too.  Hope this helps!

P.S., I'm an MT, not from DAK

doctors once and may never hear again!!  Every day is like a new day on the job.  Just really sucks!!  Just sayin' that even though you are seemingly having it tough where you are now, it could be a LOT worse.  Whatever you do, for your own sake, do not quit where you are now to take a national job.  There are so many variables that you can't even imagine with these places.  It is more like slavery in your own home than a real job. Worked for one national where I averaged 150 lines an hour for 8 cpl, that's only 12 dollars an hour, before taxes!  Who can live on that? Most of my time was spent on looking crap up, demographics and such!  Had to buy own spell checker and abbreviation Expander and other crap, and it's just a big racket!  Well, as I said before, just my humble opinion, but wish I was in your shoes!  Good luck, but don't do anything with the job you have now....

I truly wish I was in your position than mine  (that's green with envy ;) lol  

community and try to do something about healthcare for these people.  I cannot stand these judgemental attitudes from people like you, who are making a living off of what you claim to despise.

stethoscope type.  Just wondered if anyone else has this or just lucky me?

I thought that was the definition of verbatim account. What is a verbatim account definition, pls?

because they mispronounce the same thing consistently.  Once you have it, you have it!  IMHO and experience, some MTs don't do well with ESLs or accents in general everyday.  If you grew up where I did - extremely diverse area - you would understand ESLs as well as American-born docs

So, having issues with accents, make an effort to get to know people with accents every day, and it will pay off in MT!  It has for me $$$$$