I wouldn't buy a laptop for ergonomic reasons...sm
Posted By: Old MT on 2005-12-04
In Reply to: inputs on buying a laptop computer to use for work - inquiring
the keyboard is very small and it's almost impossible to get it set up at the correct height. Note their keyboards seem to be set forward into the laptop also and there's no wrist rest. If you are going to be putting in 6 hours a day, you better make darn sure you have all the ergonomics in place, including a really good chair. Otherwise, your body will pay. Also don't forget, you will have to either a C-phone hooked up where-ever you are working or more likely you will be using a .wav player. So are you planning to have the footpedal and headset plugged into your laptop too along with every thing else? That ought to drain your battery in no time. If you have the picture of typing poolside on a sunny day, forget it.
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I have an ergonomic keyboard and
actually keep my left hand in place over the second row and generally my right hand on my mouse. I use the curser to follow along with speaker and can quickly click in where changes need to be made. I did the same thing on the standard keyboard before I got the ergonomic one. My hands had actually been getting numb, tingly, achy and tired by the end of the day and that is no longer happening with this keyboard.
I hope that was helpful. It seems to be the best way for me to get up speed and keep a steady pace. Let me know if this works for you or if you have a better way.
God Bless.
A dozen reasons to not hire a
17yrs s/b 17 years
quaility s/b quality
perfectionist s/b perfectionists
nor do i plan to be...what?
becuase s/b because
everyone s/b every one
Just take s/b just takes
info,then s/b info than
avoide s/b avoid
critisized s/b criticized
choose s/b chose
be home s/b be at home
rat-rabe s/b rat race
Lordy, a dozen reasons to not hire a PDCI grad!
That is one of the reasons I refuse to work set hours and ...sm
a set number of lines. I dont have to add to my husbands paycheck, but I do like to help out if I can. I had an awsome, high paying job as an office manager at a physicians office. I quit to be home with my kids and working at home allows me to do that and still earn some money. There are enough companies out there that you do not need to feel pressure to put in a zillion lines everday or sit in front of your computer hours and hours one end. When my little one is in school full time I will put in more lines and time, but right now I work at home, on my terms, doing my number of lines. My boss is great about that. She knows I will be on for a few hours and will turn in about 800-1000 lines a day. I have never had my work suffer because I have to stop and spend time with my kids. That is the GREATEST thing about working at home. The flexibilty to spend time playing, reading, having lunch, and yes even laundry during my day while working is the ideal situation. I am sorry if you cannot do that and still find time for your children. My kids do not suffer and neither does my work.
New student, are ergonomic supplies worth it?
I'm looking into ergonomic keyboards, chairs, etc. Are they worth it? Are there any items out there that you think are trash, worth the money, or "must haves"? Any other advice to a new student of M-Tec is welcome!
Thanks in advance!
Laptop ok to use?
I'm purchasing another computer system so I don't have to share with my kids. I'd like a laptop so I have some flexibility to move around (so I can work in my room when the kids are awake and dh is home, but work downstairs at night if dh is asleep).
How feasible is that? Is it comfortable? What accessories would you recommend to make it easier? Does anyone use a regular keyboard with it for comfort?
Or should I just get a desktop?
Thanks!
Dawn K.
MT on a laptop
I've been transcribing on a laptop for 5 years, and it's no different from doing anything else on a laptop. Going from desktop to laptop for all your tasks requires an adjustment period just because the keyboard is compact. The great thing is, you can take your work with you anywhere there is secure internet access. :)
Laptop
Hi,
I posted a note about laptops and thank you so much for all your help. My ? now is what exactly do you need on a laptop for Mt. What do you look for. I see on Tiger Direct they are several, someone said Lenovo xp was good. I never owned a laptop before thats why all the ?s.
Thanks you,
Barb
You want everything on a laptop that you
would want on a desk top. Most laptops know only have USB ports, no serial ports or game ports, but if you need those you can get adapters. You want a minimum of two high-speed USB connections, preferably 4. You can buy USB hubs rather cheaply if you need more than that. You want a bunch of RAM, not a Celeron processor. If you are just using for work you don't need a huge hard drive and anything you bought off the shelf would have plenty.
You want XP and not Vista.
laptop
I just bought one. It has Vista. The company I work for is compatable with Vista. If you are working for someone now ask them if it will work with Vista.
laptop
You may also want to find out from your employer what specifications are necessary to get the job done correctly. A lot of companies do not want Vista, MS Works or Word. I just bought a new desktop for my new job, and had to take off a lot of the softward that came with the computer becuase it was not compatible with the employer's software package. It may depend on a lot of things. Just ask for a list of specifications needed for a computer, and you may not have to pay as much if you can leave off certain software and packages off the computer.
Why wouldn't one
do anything they could to get the upper hand??? Everyone is complaining about finding jobs.
In this economy, with all the competition, it is necessary to set yourself apart from the others.
Nobody is saying that you need to take a test to prove anything to yourself.
"Most don't care as long as you do the job and do it well"....how will they know if they haven't hired you yet?
My point is that if you don't have a job at the moment, and you obtain the CMT, it may set you apart and get YOU the job before someone else.
I'm not saying that getting a CMT is necessary. Only that it can only be more beneficial, especially in this job market if you are looking for a job.
Dawn, regarding a laptop...
there has been a lot of discussion on the main board about laptops, if you do a search there you will find helpful information I'm sure.
I use a laptop for travel and it works for me. I use a wireless keyboard and mouse as I could never make any $$ using a laptop keyboard.
As for reference books and carrying them to different places in your home, I have all my reference books on CD and have them installed on both my desktop and my laptop. I very rarely use an actual book for reference anymore. Even the BOS II is on CD and, for me, it is much easier and faster to reference than paging through a book.
BUT, if you are an IC, for IRS purposes, you would have to have a designated office. If you are an employee, then it probably wouldn't matter except maybe to your company (some hospitals want to make sure an employee has an ergonomically correct work space and a hospital I once worked for went to the employee's home to check it out).
Good luck to you - where ever you end up working! 
laptop/Escription
I bought an old Toshiba Tecra 8100 from ebay for around $300 and had to purchase Word (got 2000 for $70). My foot pedal($15 Ebay) works fine as this is an old laptop and has the 9 pin serial port. Sometimes you have to buy the old stuff to get things to work. Everything now is Windows Vista and until our software catches up I am saving my money for the better equipment, maybe a year from now.
Transcribing on a laptop
Has anyone transcribed on a lap? Is it better or worse than desktop?
Thanks for your reply!
tt
working from laptop
You can either tether from your cell phone or get a wireless card that goes into your computer. This is secure. If you use the hotel wireless it might not be. The teathering is about 60 dollars a month and it is monthly. The lap top card is the same price but it requires a 2 year contract, at least that was the last time I checked. Tethering actually works the best for me. You can actually use it riding in a car at 80 miles per hour if you are in range of cell coverage whereas the laptop card drops the signal.
you wouldn't consider it an insult if...sm
you saw the number of resumes I get when I post a job. You are missing the point. If you are looking for work for 6 months and no job, then better some lines at 3 cents than no lines at 6 cents. You can be insulted if you like but you still have bills to pay.
I wouldn't panic (sm)
Especially since it's only been a few days. I was hired by a company as an IC, signed the contract, and didn't hear anything about work for 2 weeks, maybe more. This was a few years ago. Finally, I did hear back and I'm still with this company today. I know you're anxious to get started, and probably worried about whether they changed their mind or something, but I think it's pretty common for these delays in getting started. Don't let it discourage you. If it drags on for quite a few more days, you might try to find how to contact them by telephone, but at this point, I really wouldn't worry too much.
I had an interview where they wouldn't
tell me what they would pay me until they offered me the job. They did at least know the hours...........
I wouldn't say Spheris is better.
I wouldn't recommend going FT with MT currently.
If you can do both for a while do that and then it will give you a chance to see if you like MT without having to give up the other job. You can get an idea of what your income would be as an MT and see if you could leave on that income alone. By working the 2 jobs you could also save some money or pay off bills so that if you did go MT full-time you would be in better shape when the lean times came around.
I take my laptop and work as I travel. nm
nm
What kind of Laptop is good to buy
Looking at a laptop on E-bay. What is the best choice?
Thanks,
Barb
Ideal laptop for transcribing?
Hi everyone,
I'm about to graduate and would like to get a laptop for transcribing. Does anyone know of a particular brand/make that would be good for a transcriptionist?
Thanks!!
They should supply something so specific to the VR job. I wouldn't buy it. 6 cpl is about the ex
s
I'm thinking if I was selling something I wouldn't
point out the bad things about it.
I wouldn't let it rest til I got my money!
That is what the scammers want you to do, so they can get away with it and keep cheating other people. She is asking an honest question that pertains to her problem, while at the same time keeping it in people's minds to look out for people like this.
I wouldn't recommend MT for you based on your
situation, but if you have no previous MT experience/training you would need to take a course, either by correspondance or at a local community college. Training can take 9 to 18 months, or less depending on how much time you have to put into it, but if you are working FT you're probably looking at a year. Then you need to either get hired by a company that will hire newbies and pay them next to nothing, or do an internship, which you may or may not get paid for and may have to pay to do.
Everyone has their preference. I wouldn't spend
much for your first pair. USB earphones are better than the others usually.
I have worked exclusively on a laptop for nearly 6 years.
I have traveled through 34 states and Mexico and worked the whole time. I have sat by the pool many days while my children swam. I have sat out on my deck on a pretty day. When space allows I use an external keyboard, but it only takes me a few minutes to readjust to the laptop keyboard when needed. I obviously use a wav player for my work. I have a bus card, a foot pedal, my earphones plugged in and sometimes my keyboard and I don't notice a significant difference in the drain on my battery whether I have these attached or not. If your battery is running low that quickly you need a new battery. I do not have an external mouse but use a touch pad. I find that a mouse is necessary if you are using an external keyboard, becauase your computer will be elevated and it will create a strain on your wrist to use the touch pad.
No, dear. I wouldn't dream of commenting
on your "typo". It's more fun just to let it sit there and speak for itself.
Besides, you're just not worth the effort.
You should use them. You'd be using them in your work day, wouldn't ya? Good luck. nm
s
Never heard of them, probably wouldn't hire a student from them.
Best advice I can give: Invest in an education that gives a recruiter warm fuzzies, and be on top/near the top of that class.
Would you want your surgeon to graduate from a cheap university on a remote island?
inputs on buying a laptop computer to use for work
I am a newbie and looking into buying a laptop computer to use for work. I would like to know if that is okay. The reason that I wanted a laptop computer for work is because I wanted to be still working wherever I maybe even if I am not at home. Is that possible? If it's okay, what laptop computers do you recommend?
Put the money towards good education, not an unnecessary laptop.
It should tell you something that a school offers a "free" laptop to get students to sign up. List how many good things and how many bad things you have heard about Andrews and M-TEC. Then make the same list for Allied and TRS. There's your answer.
I make good money at it, wouldn't quit for anything.
This particular board has a lot of "the sky is falling" mentality but in reality, there are many, many MT jobs.
I make about $30.00 per hour, well worth my time.
Paying money to take the test wouldn't be bettering myself.
I am an excellent MT and everyone I've ever worked for knows that. I don't need to line someone else's pockets and take their test to prove I know my stuff, I prove it every day. It all depends on where you work, some places want a CMT, but most don't care as long as you do the job and do it well.
I wouldn't work for a company that outsourcing offshore and then lies about it.
absolute definitive proof of this. Be wary.
I absolutely agree. I have 4 years' experience, but wouldn't try to enter the field now. nm
nm
I just bought a laptop Dell E1505. Your biggest obstacle is the foot pedal as it's a 9-pin serial
port and NO newer computers have them anymore, especially laptops. Also, Escription is not compatible with Windows Vista which also most newer computers come with. I needed a laptop with Windows XP so I went onto Dell and they can "customize" one for you with the XP on it or you can do what I did and 400 dollars cheaper and get it from Ebay. The only thing I noticed was that the new one I got on ebay didnt have Word on it and I had to purchase Word 2003 for that as Word 2007 also is not compatible. Over the last 3 years, I have tried multiple adapters to get the foot pedal to work and finally used one that Escription recommends ..the Dynex DB9 model. I also got it on Ebay for $10 or they can be bought at like Best Buy but they are around $35 I think. There are a few obstacles with Escription and laptops etc.but since I like to travel, I finally got it worked out. I also plug in another keyboard as the laptop one is hard to type on and I like my ergonometer one. Good luck
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