My advice if you do buy your own is to get a laptop so you can be mobile. nm

• Question: How many of you use your own PC for work? - MTinSA5
  • The suggestion below with Dell is good - sm - XXX
  • My advice if you do buy your own is to get a laptop so you can be mobile. nm - vtmt
  • Dell will finance at a very reasonable rate, just bought one and my payment is $50 a month with no i - joan
  • Here's a very short list I've gathered of places - that provide a PC. Good luck! NM
    • Thanks very much! (NM) - MTinSA5
    • Another one is - countrymt
    • Sorry...that should be 'SM' to read what's - inside. SM up above...NM

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Anyone have an idea about using a desktop computer as a laptop?  I am wanting to take a roadtrip and I had a laptop that has a cracked monitor screen that I used a Belkin wireless internet PCI card in the side of it with WiFi internet connection.  Is there a way to use my physical harddrive and establish the same wireless internet connection with WiFi?  I do not have the same port that the laptop has on my harddrive that the Belkin wireless card fit into, but is there another card that plugs into the desktop harddrive that will have the same effect?  Thank you all.

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 just want to be able to move around the house with a laptop, which I am still looking for a good deal on.  I am looking for a 17 inch screen.  What is your laptop?  Give me the specs please.

Thanks

KC

Interesting question!  I own a small MTSO that is essentially a family business.  My Dad is retired, but does sales and bookkeeping for me.  My Mom is retiring August 1st, and she is planning on getting back into transcription, working for me.  They own a big RV and are planning on being "snowbirds" - living in Arizona for at least 3 months of the year.  The place they are going to is a big RV community which has WiFi internet, so they can both work remotely. I am also an avid camper, so we've been looking into remote internet options.

We explored the different satellite options, but it was very expensive initially for the equipment and the setup at each stop seemed kind of complicated.  The other problem was the upload/download speed - I can see why many services won't hire someone with satellite service.  We ended up going with Verizon Broadband access - anywhere I can get a cell phone signal I can get internet.  The speed isn't the greatest, but it works for us.

What I've found is if you work for a company that requires you to be logged on to the internet the whole time you are working, this option won't really work because of the connection speed.  However, we use a product called DocShuttle by Bytescribe that allows my staff to download the audio and disconnect, type the reports, and then connect and upload the documents.  It works great for that - I even have an employee who lives in the country where there is only dial-up available, and she works just fine like this.

It can be done - I've worked while camping several times this way.....

wireless internet through Verizon.  I currently have a Verizon cell and have no problem with reception in my home, so I'm hoping this is a go.  I also have a 30-day trial period, so I'll know for sure if I have any glitches. 

What I don't understand is this lingo about voice files, etc.  I'm on the Bayscribe platform, so any info would be greatly appreciated.  Please "dumb it down" for me, as I am not a PC person.  The lady that signed me up told me that the limit is 5 GB and that that generally means about 35,000 web pages a month.  How does this correlate to voice files?  Do I even use voice files on Bayscribe?  I'm assuming so since I have an audio player. 

At least I know if this doesn't work out, I can cancel and not lose anything.  Then I'll have to sign up for satellite, which is about $300 upfront and $60 to $90 per month for service.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Verizon will work for me.

Thanks for any info.

Shop around for repossessed homes. I have a double-wide Palm Harbor that we picked up for about 60% of book. Yes, they do depreciate like cars, and some brands hold value better than others. Palm Harbor and Patriot seem to have the slowest depreciation rate, and do have pretty good records for storm survival (always remember, they have earned the term Tornado Bait honestly!)  Our home was barely lived in, with very little evidence of wear, and a great price.  Try to look for a repo-only lot - they are usually run directly by the mortgage company and if you have good credit, a good deal can be made, especially if they have had the home back for a while. They can also show you homes alreay set up in parks, or on lots of 1/2 to 1 acre or even more, and if you like the location, won't even have to wait for moving and set-up. Make sure they are able to demonstrate that the heat and air work properly, even if they are lot-set in a temporary sales lot. Don't know about AZ, but in Texas they do have to have certain warranties for roofs, appliances, etc. for at least 90 days.  New home dealerships often have some repos, but they are usually dogs to make you want the new ones.  Shop around, take as much time as possible (we stayed in contact with the repo dealer we brought from for about a year, and he called when he got in what he knew we were looking for) and you can find a deal, especially if you have great credit. We are way more happy with the mobile home we bought when we remember how little we gave for it. Stay away from Fleetwood, Shulte and SOUTHERN ENERGY (run-don't walk-away), unless they just give you one, then be prepared for problems anyway.  I am running on, aren't I? I just wish someone had steered me this direction in the first place.   21st Century Mortgage Company is a good lender for mobile homes. There are not many companies out there who still do trailers, but you can find them if you look. Hope this helps. Contact me if you want more info. 

Be sure that you're using a secured wireless network/hot spot. Your laptop should have the wireless card already installed, unless you're using an old model. Try Google search for VPN to learn more.

Most importantly--make sure it is allowed by your company!!

here is the section on Cingular's web site.  Sprint also has one.

http://business.cingular.com/businesscenter/solutions/wireless-laptop/modem-cards.jsp

Hi ..

I need to set up to work away from home and am considering mobile broadband wireless. 

I would appreciate any information ya'll could give me - I know nothing about it, other than most service is 60.00/month ... specifically, what carriers and how much time does it get you? 

Thanks so much!  I have verified the major carriers provide coverage in the area I will need to be in. 

Merry Christmas!

another excerpt: 

It is no longer a question of whether medical transcription will survive. The move away from traditional, free-text medical transcription is inevitable, given the improvements in speech recognition technology and natural language processing; the development of standardized templates through HL7’s CDA (clinical document architecture), ASTM schema, and other similar efforts; XML-based communication; and point-of-care mobile devices that will ultimately facilitate real-time documentation. And it is very clear that real-time, point-of-care documentation by the practitioner will replace transcription! This can already be seen in countries outside the United States that are developing direct entry, interactive, structured text documentation without going through all the evolutionary steps from traditional, free text transcription.

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.