Using one for 6 years, do use an external
Posted By: me too on 2006-01-26
In Reply to: Laptop - latebloomer
keyboard. I don't have an external mouse, though am going to get a wireless one.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
- Laptop - latebloomer
- Using one for 6 years, do use an external - me too
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
I've been using one FT for 6 years. I do use an external
keyboard 99.99% of the time though.
All you have to do is get an external
x
You definitely want to use an external keyboard. I think the
bigger the monitor the better, but I have a 14" one and have been using it for 6 years. Absolutely get as much RAM as you can, no less than 512. You don't need a supersize hard drive unless you want to store music/pictures, but you should have a backup of them because computers have been known to crash and you wouldn't want to lose them. Most everything now is USB and I would say get a minimum of 2 ports. You can buy a hub for under $30.00 (saw a 4 port hub today on sale for $10.00) to add USB ports. I would get one that had wireless capability. I would also get one that has at least a DVD player if not a recorder. Usually if they have DVD they have a CD recorder so you can burn songs/pictures. I suggest the DVD in case you need some down time from caretaking and you want to watch a movie.
I have a Dell and an HP. My Dell has been a piece of junk from day one. I've had my HP for 3-1/2 years without any problems other than a software glitch, which wasn't an equipment problem.
When buying a computer consider repair issues. With my Dell I had to send the computer to them so I was without a computer for approximately 2 weeks, plus shipping charges of about $30.00. You can buy an in-home repair policy though. With my HP I bought it from a local electronics store and I could get in-store service.
I also would not get a Celeron processor - get either a Pentium or a Centrino (which is supposed to be really good). The Celeron is not as good of quality and is usually found in the lower end computers.
I got a catalog from Dell today and I just glimpsed at it, but they had a laptop on the cover for $649 (I think).
only if you have an external modem
Most modems are internal and you have to plug the phone line directly into it. If you have an external modem, it is possible but troublesome.
I also have external antenna & amp sm
I ended up paying about $425 for the modem/air card, external antenna, and amplifier. Plus there is a rebate on the card, I think $50. The amp was the most expensive thing, about $280. I have to use them to get my signal, but even with being on the edge of service, I would not trade it for dial-up ever.
Good ideas, maybe I will look into getting an external - sm
backup hard drive as well that would certainly take care of losing any data, and seeing it every day would remind me to backup my important files! I bet there will be a run of people today backing up their work! I do keep written notes on my work, though not the line counts. I only lost about 15 files, about 2000 lines (it's a small account), just hope they have it all handy, they tend to lose/misplace files. Hate to have to retype them so I can bill them (of course I happened to delete all the sound files off the server I use yesterday for last weeks work, so I would have to have them resend all the sound files as well), but I will do what I have to do in order to do so!
Problem with external keyboard that is new
what to do about an external computer keyboard that the keys stick sometimes, but not all the time?
Just connect your external keyboard and you won't know the difference.
You may want to attach an external monitor (I don't) or use a box of some kind to elevate the computer. They have boxes at the office supply store in the computer area that have trays for storage or a place to put your keyboard and that is about the right height. I would also suggest an external mouse. If you need a new keyboard/mouse I'd go wireless. If you want to be somewhat mobile, like sitting in the backyard in the shade unhooking and hooking everything up gets to be a pain and if you just want to diddle and not work you can use the laptop keyboard and not have to take the other keyboard and mouse.
If you are used to a large monitor that is probably your biggest adjustment, the rest is fairly easy and may take some trial and error to get everything worked out.
Maybe try restarting your computer? I have an external zip drive
most of my disks...had about 10, now only 2 work. They just don't seem to last long for some reason. Going to start using CDs as I have a recordable drive now. Feel like throughing my zip in the trash sometimes but I need it for my lap to in order to be able to easily transfer data from it to my desktop. Took me a half hour last night to retrieve a file I needed since it was acting up, got it eventually though...thought I'd have to resort to emailing it to myselft at one point in order to get it on my desktop. Pain in the butt.
Has anyone used an external Sound Blaster device?
I'm not sure what the name of it is, but you connect to it via USB. It costs $50.00 and says the sound quality is significantly better than standard sound cards, you can transfer cassettes and LPs to MP3 files, .... My main concern is I want an increase in sound quality of my wav files.
Just wondering if the sound quality is really that much better. I have notebook computers and the PC cards are $100.00. I was thinking this might be a substitute for the PC card.
P.S. I use an external LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse
nm
I googled for external sound and came up with Soundblaser......
I went to their site, it was not expensive, I can't remember exactly, but the box is small, very easy to install, and the sound is absolutely wonderful!
putting external keyboard with laptop question
If i am using a USB adapter for my round-plug keyboard wire, is that essentially the same as a regular USB connector, ie, don't have to turn the machine off first before plugging in? I don't want to blow my pricey ergo board by doing something wrong...
Are you planning to move the external drive to the new computer?
If so, save whatever data you want to move on the external hard drive (you should already know what the letter drive is for that one). Connect it to the new computer. Easy enough.
I use a Vista laptop with an external keyboard 100% of the time..sm
I would never buy a desktop again. I travel all over and just bring my laptop, foot pedal and external ergonomic keyboard.
I too use an external hard drive, backs up My Documents folder. sm
It only takes once to lose everything to know how important backups are.....I should know, happened to me!!
Mine works with printer and external hard drive
You just need to get the more expensive USB Hub with a power adapter if it doesn't work with your printer.
I use an external sound card and my ear phones plug into that on my Dell. I find this so much bette
of the computer and #2 because there is a volume switch in the sound card (Soundblaster about $50).
58, AHP/self-taught, trained at hospital 5 years, now with 2 of my own accounts for 10 years, employ
Also worn out 2 keyboards in 4 years. I will never retire. DH will come home some day from work and I'll be slumped over my keyboard. I put in 14 hours a day 7 days a week.
Pack years = packs smoked per day x years of smoking - sm
25 pack-years = 25 years of 1 pack a day, or 12-1/2 years of 2 packs a day.
I don't think pack-years applies to someone who smokes only cigars. But I don't know for sure.
I worked for Cbay for 3 years. I was also part of their lay off back many years ago. sm
Even though I got stuck in a lay off era, I still love the company. They paid well then. The people were nice (exception of 1 person) and if I had the opportunity I would go back again. Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how u look at it), I have a great paying job right now, so I am not looking for a change. I do know that at one time, they asked management to accept late paychecks, but never sure of the reason why. My check was never late.
I know it used to be 5-10 years back, but the laws changed within the last 2 years. They can only g
x
6 years legal then switched to medical 17+ years ago. sm
I don't mind doing legal and will do it now from time to time, but be prepared to be totally bored out of your mind.
At least that's the way I feel. I love to transcribe, learned legal in college, went on to get my paralegal degree, etc., etc., but I did temp work when the kids were younger, which was about 90% medical and I would never go back to legal except for once in a while.
Booooooring.
Only 3 years away from reaching total years for retirement
but if I had to do this and raise a family, would feel exactly like you do. The pay is terrible compared to what I used to make. I work 32 hours a week, hope to be able to continue even after full retirement age. I have worked on VR now and unless places get to where they really do not care about how their reports look, think they will need MTs. I very seldom do a report and it is 100%, just cannot remember 1 like that and most take a lot more editing. Working now because want to, not have to anymore, thank goodness!!
I dumped my ex 20 years ago, but got lucky 13 years ago
It would take me all night and pages and pages to describe what a bad person my ex-husband was. After six years of putting up with his OCD, verbal abuse and alcohol, I left him the house, took the kids (5 and 1) and didn't look back. That was 20 years ago.
I wasn't looking to get married again, but I did. After 13 years I only complain when hubby doesn't see things my way. :)
My older kids, who were 5 and 1 when I left, are married and have kids of their own now. My husband gets the Father's Day cards. Their "real" father sits alone in the perfect little house I left behind and let him have and he drinks himself into oblivion every night because nobody is "perfect" enough, including his kids and his grandkids that he never sees.
Sad, but true. So glad I smartened up and got out of there when I did.
We have been supporting other countries for years and years now.
What is the big deal. Look at your clothes, cars, items in your house. You will see mostly China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan etc., etc. We have not supported our own people like we should have for years now!!!!
Only 2 in 13 years for me. First Edix for 8 and now Webmedx for nearly 5 years. nm
.
When I trained, back years and years ago
We did not have spell checking nor the internet (Google for instantaneous help). OMG, how did we do it? We used Correcting Selectrics with the lift-off tape to correct errors- you only had dictionaries, both English and medical, to look up things so yes we did have to learn to spell all those big longgggggggggg words.
MT: 24 years. Same company: 11 years same co. after buyout.
x
Grammar Question: 9 years' ago or 9 years ago? *sm*
 I have a terrible time trying to remember this rule! HELP!
Worked inhouse for years and years
Inhouse transcription from 1973 to approximately 1992 and we had no downtime for answering the phones and when the physicians came into the room (or others) needing some assistance, just part of the job. I did not feel bad about doing it then and I dont see why you would either. You don’t realize that probably you are making right now more than if you are outsourced, right? You have hourly salary plus incentive. Guess how many of us have that now? Probably inevitable about outsourcing so I would say just enjoy while you can. The pay our here now sinks further and further. I make, for instance, 4 cents a line for voice recognition and 8 for straight. Now, more complaining?
19 years old...married 26 years. nm
n
they've been doing this for years and years (nm)
IMHO
People have been saying that for years and years - SM
however, I am working fewer hours and making more money. I think maybe the answer here is working as an IC for a one-owner company. MTSO was an MT for many years and she knows the secret to making lots of $ is putting your MTs doing what they do best and leaving them alone.
I don't think it is the "national" part of services that hurts. I think the low wages can be gauged by the number of suits in the company. More suits = less $.
And why pay QA? Just hire people experienced/good enough to do the work correctly the first time.
I have been doing Radiology only the last two years after several years (sm)
of acute care. I love it and find it easier although not as interesting as acute care. I was told by those who hired me that a good medical Transcriptionist will be able to do Radiology even with no experience in it. There are some specialized terms but easy to learn. I would never go back to acute care unless there were very good dictators and good sound quality.
30 (!) years; OTJ (don't think there were schools 30 years ago) nm
:)
Years ago it was 7 years. Not certain as to status now.
10 years here, too, and making 8.4....same as i was 5 years ago. nm
f
Shame on me.. Am I the only one with 4+ in 2 years, but with my last one 2 years.
Lots of little "stints" in between, just trying to keep my head above water.
24 years MT, 7.5 years with the same hospital nm.
x
22 years, same company 10 years nm
nm
32 years, longest was 28 years at same co. (nm)
*
28 years, 9 years at 1 hospital..sm
9 years at one hospital, 8 years with 2 services, then went out on my own (11 years ago) and got a bunch of surgeons and I moonlight on weekends for a national (9 years with national).
If I knew what I know today, with how the MT business has gone down $$-wise for us over 20+ years, if I had my druthers and could start over again, I would have stayed with CODING/BILLING instead of MT work (though I love MT work) as billing/coding is still lucrative in this country....
just my 3 cents 
32 years, 18 years at hospital...
7 at Medquist, 7 at Spheris. Starting at Transtech Medical tomorrow.
Do you need to have 2 years full time experience or just 2 years' experience? nm
..
49 years old/self taught/daughter 20 years old/self taught. I'm a CMT, and daughter is studying t
take the test soon.
I know I'm old - 30+ years as well
but I do remember specifically being told "double". Maybe there is something to the reason being that they used to "talk good."
I'm going on 35 years of doing this
and I try to keep my goals realistic dealing with rheumatoid arthritis, etc. I don't like to see a minimum of 200 lines/hour; occasionally can reach nearly 300 lph but depends on the dictators. Seems the account I do now mostly has dictators from India, the ones I dislike the most. I love Russians, Japanese, Germans, French, etc., etc., but for some reason I find the Indian accent very difficult!!!!
I, like you, do not use expanders or "normals" etc., mostly because I'm from the old school and I type every word. I'm sure if I used some of the crutches I could easily reach 275 to 350 lines/hour, maybe more who knows! I keep telling myself one day I'll relearn how to do all that but right now, I don't care....when the time is right I'll know. Mainly I just keep trying not to stress myself out too much. I've put in my time and paid my dues and do a great job. I'm not a young chick anymore and don't expct myself to produce these huge line counts, but believe me, I know I could if that was my wish!!! Don't worry.....Be happy!
My Dad is gone now 10 years....
The last present he brought for me was an anniversary clock which I placed on my fireplace mantel in the center....Well that's Dad's spot because whenever I move that clock to any other spot it stops working, but the moment I place it in "the spot" it works immediately. My youngest daughter was almost 2 when my Dad died. After his death she would wake up and tell me "Grandpop was here last night"....I know my Dad comes around many times.
18 years.
nm
As an MT for 25+ years
I wouldn't recommend this profession in this day of voice recognition being on the horizon. Most of us who are doing MT are 40+ years old and there's a reason for that. Most community colleges and junior colleges no longer teach this skill. There's a reason for that. It's soon to be a thing of the past, whether one chooses to accept that fact or not, it is.
Second, this is a great job for awhile. But if you notice that over time people start to get nutzo when they've been out of social circulation too long and start to get a mean, angry edge to them. This is not a healthy way to live, sitting by yourself all day with no contact with the outside world except over the anonymous internet.
This is a great part-time job if you want or need to earn some extra income, but if you're thinking of going to school and have the time and means to do so, I suggest earning a bachelor's degree, which will open your options to many, many different possibilities rather than winding up limiting yourself to being a one-trick pony in a dying field.
I'm leaving this field within the next week - hopefully forever. I have accepted a position that's totally unrelated to MT and want to start building a resume in a profession that has a future. I've also completed my bachelor's degree, at age 48.
I'm not going to paint myself into a corner and wonder what hit me five years from now when this profession no longer exists. I respectfully suggest that you take that into consideration as well.
Best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do, but so allow yourself as many options as you can and don't lose touch with the outside world.
|
