Laptop/notebook recommendations for transcription work?

I am going to get a laptop/notebook in about a month and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for one that seems to work well with transcription.  I need to know specifics like hard drive, RAM, memory, model number, etc.  Thanks in advance

• Laptop/notebook recommendations for transcription work? - IN MT
  • if have an HP 7000 - see message - Florida MT
  • This is asked so often; wish there was a way to have a - permanent FAQ section somewhere. :). nm
  • Plan on plugging in a regular keyboard and mouse to work on. Much more efficient than trying to use - nm
    • Laptop - notebook
    • than trying to use laptop keyboard and touch pad. - nm
      • Also plan on getting a cooling unit to park laptop on - tnmt
        • A newer computer with a dual core processor runs cool. No need for it. - Update

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I am an at-home MT and I have been using an Olympus Pearlcorder T1000 for the last several years. I am on my second one - the first one the hinge doesn't work correctly to insert/remove the microcassette tape but the machine still works (but I have to use something to flip/pry the lid open-lol) ! In fact, I am using it now because about a year or more ago I purchased another one (exact same model) as I felt it would be wise to have an extra machine). Anyway, the new one started pulling out the tape out of the microcassettes and won't backup/rewind like it should. It did this a couple months ago and I did the alcohol cleaning with a q-tip and that didn't work, so tried some silicone spray and finally it started working properly again but now I have run into the same problem. I tried all the above mentioned tactics but it didn't work this time. :( I hardly feel it is worth taking it in to have it repaired since they are not a costly machine, and BTW, I have an older Sony business quality transcription machine (around $500 over 10 years ago!) that I had so many problems with and had it in/out of the business machine repair shop several times (so additional $ spent) and still ended up with problems, so that is why I lean now more toward the cheaper models and if I get a couple years use out of them I am happy.

I am just wondering if there are any other machines that you might recommend around the $200 price range that you have had good luck with or should I just buy another Pearlcorder.

TIA. 

I was thinking about getting a 10.2" screen "netbook" or laptop for use with basically Word and the internet concurrently.  I wondered if it was feasible to use as a backup for doing transcription.  And, I'm not sure what the difference is between a netbook and a laptop.  Basically I'm wondering if a "netbook" could handle the applications necessary to do transcription, i.e., needing to have Word open, internet open, wavplayer open, and abbreviation open all at the same time.  Anyone have experience with this?  Thanks.

i just got a very nice, widescreen laptop for work. I have medical issues and could not withstand working at my desk any longer. People are telling me that it won't last for MT work becuase the keyboard is not durable enough. Well, i still use my ergo keyboard hooked up and i only use the laptop keyboard for work when I am completing my work for about 2 to 3 hours at night. My question is, has any of you ever had a laptop keyboard go bad with MT work?

I hope not, took me years to even afford this one. :)

Yes, the keypad in the laptop is not designed for typing work and it is VERY costly if need to be changed.  So, you can hook up an USB keyboard and optical mouse with your laptop's USB port.

I am not real computer literate but am wondering if I couldn't get unlimited Internet with a cell phone plan and use that for my on-line job/Internet connection exclusively. I have found plans for around $70/month.

If so, I was thinking too I could possibly give up my land line phone, Callwave, my dial-up ISP (as that is all we have available where live) and actually save a little money by doing so. I don't make/receive a lot of land line calls and I have a TracFone cell phone that I don't use much now. I get excellent reception with that where I live. We have a huge tower within walking distance of where I live but we live out in the "sticks". :D I know my connection would be dependent on the reception where I live and the cell phone service I would use. I am not sure which one truly has the best coverage and/or who may be using the tower by our home but TracFone apparently does. :)

TIA. 

please e-mail me with more info if you can.  thx

I am 60 years old and neither need the $ nor the bennies, I just love doing transcription (of course with the caveat of having all the appropriate demographics provided as well as clearly enunciated dictation).  Doubt, though, that you can understand this.

ughhh

Do you think this is adequate for a notebook for what we do? Thanks!

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF25a/321957-321957-64295-321838-3329741-1839150.html

I really know nothing about these sort of things and would like a second opinion, so thank you for your patience in answering these questions for me!!

I looked at Sam's and basically saw nothing that was decent in memory and still high prices. I've been looking at Dell's website and saw they have a new line out for businesses. There are 3 here I am looking at. Each looks the same for memory. I really do not see what the difference is on each one or if one would be better than the other for my needs. Could someone please take a look at these 3 and give me their opinion.

For the money and with the amount of memory being offered, it seems that Dell is the way I need to go.

I appreciate the help! :o)

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/odg/latitude_refresh?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

Divide it by accounts.  Print samples and client profiles if possible.  Put some spare paper in there to make notes when you've done a Google search for a drug, city, street name, referring doc, etc.  Write it down.  Then when you get that account again, you slap open your notebook and it all starts coming back to you. 

Gone are the days of the same dictator over and over again.  They can only dictate so much in a day, so most of us have to expand our horizons. 

This notebook has been my lifesaver! 

P/S:  I do not use an expander.  I only use Word autocorrect.  I am old school, so to me Expanders seem like they would confuse me as I can type pretty quick after 20 years. 

Pros, cons, any other info welcome.  Thank you!

We both teared up.  He told me that he loved me like that, and that I was his Allie.  My birthday was shortly thereafter and on my envelope he wrote "To My Allie."  What a guy I'm married to.  After 23 years of marriage, our love is still growing strong!