or a usb adaptor for your desktop keyboard. NM

• How many of you use a Laptop solely for work? nm - me A MT
  • I do too - pamt
    • Laptop MT - grasshopper
      • for me, takning the laptop means never having to come back, SM - anon
      • Laptop - catz
  • I do - sbMT
  • Laptop - chris
    • All you have to do is get an external - keyboard for the laptop.(NM)
      • or a usb adaptor for your desktop keyboard. NM - anon
      • laptop - chris
        • question for laptop users sm - starving artist
          • laptops - Mandy
            • I have questions too - MT
              • laptop - Mandy
              • 'thanks for your response but I think you have to be Wonder Woman to do this... - starving artist
                • Laptops and traveling - sbMT

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I never found one, but sometimes when you are told a particular software only works with a 9-pin, that isn't necessarily correct.  I had a pedal with a USB connector but bought a 9-pin to work with TSP.  Later, I used the 9-pin with software that required a USB connected pedal.  It shouldn't have worked, but it did.  Before you buy a 9-pin, I'd try the other one first . . .

the card if you have the USB adaptor.  The adaptor just plugs into an available USB port and you load the software and if there is an open WiFi signal you're in business.  Sprint and Verizon both have a wireless broadband service, but coverage is limited.   They both have an air card, but again coverage is limited.    If your friend is stopping at truck stops a lot of them have wireless and if not wireless some other type of service.  I don't know if the service is free, if it is free you don't need to get another service, you just use theirs.  They may charge a minimal fee though.  When I was traveling I tried to get dial-up in a truck stop and never could get it to work.   

You could get a data plan through your cell phone provided, but again coverage is limited.  

I need a USB foot pedal. I already have a serial adaptor. Is there such thing as an adaptor or do I have to buy a new one?

Thanks!

I use it with a Sony micro dictator/transcriber but I'm finally jumping into the 21st century.  Anyone know if I can find a USB adaptor for such a foot pedal or will I need to invest in a new foot pedal?  If so, where should I get one?  I'd like to buy one locally, or do I need to but it online?

Thanks!

If anyone knows where I can find this, please let me know.  thanks

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.  

you need on your desktop to work, you want on your laptop.   More and more laptops aren't coming with a dial-up modem and I would want that if traveling so that you have another option for connection.   Depending on how/where you travel you may never need it, but I think you always need several options for connecting.   I have used a laptop only for 5 years.   I do use an external keyboard, but it isn't wireless.   I don't know if computers have the ability to have something built-in for a wireless keyboard and/or mouse, but if not you have to have to connect something to your computer and that will just be another piece of equipment to have to keep you with. 

There are a lot of companies who advertise "internet based," but that doesn't mean necessarily that you can just download dictation and work off-line.  Many companies want you to type live into their system, so if you are going to be looking for a new position you need to be sure about the details. 

Some companies require you to use their equipment, so traveling wouldn't work well with something like that.   If you are able to use your own equipment if you had a laptop already they could load your laptop to start with. 

I've had the laptop since January 2007 and the desktop since December 2005. I have been pleased with both.  Tech support is from India but make sure you tell them you use your computer for business purposes and you'll get someone who speaks very good English.  Otherwise, you'll be repeatedly saying, "Scuse me.  Could you repeat that?"

My DH has two HP laptops and has been pleased.  Then again, my DD and her father, my ex-husband, both have Dell laptops and have been pleased.  They don't run theirs as much as I run mine though with several programs running at one time.

Get Windows XP Pro.  Don't go with Vista.  There are still some compatibity issues with MT software.

You needs at least 512 RAM, a good sound card, Ethernet/wireless card, and a dial-up modem if you plan to travel and work, so you have multiple options for obtaining work.   Any computer you buy off the shelf should have everything you would need but maybe the dial-up modem. 

If you use a foot pedal you may need to be an adapter to convert your pedal to USB, if you are using serial/game port with desktop. 

Does anyone know of any desktop search engines that will let you use a keyboard command to get to the search taskbar without opening the whole desktop program or mousing to the taskbar, other than Google Desktop? 

I can't use Google Desktop because it doesn't search all the directories in the C: drive.  It only searches the main directory. 

Which is preferred, Notebook or Desktop for working 8+ hours per day doing MT?  Any specifics you'd like to share about processor/memory would be helpful.  Upgrading my computer and deciding which would work best for me.