Ideal laptop for transcribing?
Posted By: Jessica on 2008-10-31
In Reply to:
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!!
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Transcribing on a laptop
Has anyone transcribed on a lap? Is it better or worse than desktop?
Thanks for your reply!
tt
The ideal way but not always possible (sm)
is to have someone listen to it, tell you what it is, and then listen again - you'll probably hear it yourself then. I know this is not always possible, though. If not, sometimes going through the whole report, leaving blanks, and then going back and listening again. Usually that helps.
Word's line count is not ideal to use. sm
Word does not always count certain things, like headers, footers, tables, etc., from what I've heard, and I've never found it to be very accurate on the whole. For one document, it might be higher than my line counting software, whereas for another document, it might yield a lower count.
If you use specific software to count lines, you will get a higher count with actual (or gross) lines. Do a Google search for Sylvan's Sylcount software (and there are probably other free downloads, like maybe PractiCount and Abacus). You can download a free trial and then you can set it up to run actual lines versus 65-char line. Sylcount has 2 different options for counting gross lines, one being just a standard count-all-lines command and another being a line equals at least 1 character, and each may give different counts.
I still have a couple accounts that pay actual lines and it has always worked out to be significantly higher. In fact, it proves very challenging for me to find work at 65-char because it's not worth my while in comparison. Love the actual lines!!
EMR and STILL transcribing
I find it interesting that MTs think that EMR is a death sentence to transcription. There are so many types of EMR. Yes, some will completely replace the Transcriptionist with its "click and plug" variety of reporting. I speak from experience, as the first company I worked for lost a huge account due to one of those types of EMR.
The company I currently work for has used an EMR system for well over a year now, and the transcriptionists still transcribe a dictated report. The only difference is that the report is uploaded to the clinic's EMR system. We have the best of both worlds. The docs/clinics have their electronic records that they can access 24/7 from any computer within their network, and the transcriptionist still does the same job as before.
There are MT companies out there who anticipated such changes and are in place to adapt and even grow because of the technologic changes facing MT.
Does anyone know anything about transcribing for Cardiology?
Just wondering if it is a specialty you can jump into as a newbie. Easy or hard?
Verbatim Transcribing
I'd like to verify that sometimes it is necessary to add/edit information dictated (even if its a verbatim account) if that is what makes the dictation sound correct and is in keeping with grammar and client format rules. Is this correct? I've had trouble understanding this actual concept, and just want to be sure I now have it right. Earlier today, I transcribed for a dictator in my MT internship who gave punctuation instructions that just didn't make sense and was clearly not in keeping with the style of the company. I consulted my AAMT BOS and punctuated as directed there rather than per the dictator. My QA didn't say anything about it. Generally, she lets me know in a hurry if I am wrong. Is this the right way to think about transcribing verbatim accounts?
Of course.....even after 15 years of transcribing I would need to look up a word or two.
nm
i have been transcribing for 15 years and am NOT a CMT nor do I chose to be.
I can get a job with a telephone interview and not have to take a test. Do not be pulled into that "i got to spend money to make money" motto. That's bull. being a CMT means something to those who are members ONLY!!!!!.
General question regarding transcribing
I have been doing a lot of tests lately trying to land myself a steady job. At the moment I only do overflow and fill in and haven't worked in over a week. I have noticed that when given a test file you are not told if it is a H&P, Discharge, Consult, etc. How do you know how to set it up? What I have been doing is just typing until I can tell what it is and then setting it up with headings and such. If I land a job than doing it this way would be time consuming. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Thanks! I have been transcribing for Solu-Medrol
ten years, but I am trying to get a friend of mine into it and I want her to go the right direction. I have heard good things about Andrews School, I will also check out this other one. Thanks again!
This is a tough field to be in - I have been transcribing for 12 yrs (sm)
I understand your frustration - the best advice I can offer is to try to find a small MTSO to work for - an individual who has maybe 20 or less employees, so that you can develop a good relationship with that person (you have to look around, they are not all great!) That has worked the best for me. I work close to full time now, but when I was part-time (also because of my children) I once worked for a company who gave me a terrible account...no one wanted to type this guy...after a while I had learned that he repeated many phrases again and again and I worked hard to make hundreds of abbreviations for him. I got to the point that I could do his work very quickly and he was very happy with me doing his work so the MTSO kept giving his dictation to me. One day, I did a 30 minute tape from him in an hour and a half....I sent my work in...my boss called and told me that I could not have possibly done that tape that fast. I told her that I had made tons of abbreviations for the doc and that I had actually done the whole thing in an hour and a half. I told her that I liked doing his work now because I had gotten very used to him, being given him every day. Guess what? She never gave me his work again. I guess she kept it for herself? But she wouldn't let me have it back? Why? I don't know but I know that if you try to pick and choose they will almost never let you because someone else might want the same account. I guess what I am saying is you have to play it smart...don't directly ask for an account. There are a lot of small-time supervisors in this world who are power hungry and want to flex what little muscles they have over anyone they get the chance to do so with. I hate having to play the game and wish everyone could just be open and direct and honest, but they aren't. And in this field it really can be very dog eat dog.
Your experience transcribing reports in school
does not count as the type of experience they are looking for. The only way you are going to get a job is to keep testing, and ACE those tests. Eventually someone will offer you a position. That is what I did when I finished school to become an MT. But, you cannot list your *school* experience transcribing as experience when applying for companies because they will not accept that. We were all newbies once and it is a hard field to break in to. Keep applying, sending out your resume, and testing. That's the only way to do it other than trying to get a job at a hospital, clinic, etc. working outside the home.
Transcribing a family member's report
and finding out something no one in the family knows.
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.
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.
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.
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
I wouldn't buy a laptop for ergonomic reasons...sm
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.
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.
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 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
You have not been transcribing 10 years. Your resume reflects about 4 years tops. I am going to put
very little MT experience and now you're pushing software that posters can get for free. There is a problem with that. You need to search YOUR heart ands ask yourself just how helpful you are really trying to be to new MTs or if your lining your own pocketbook because you don't know how to transcribe yourself.
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