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Digital dictating machines tend to be split up into four areas, digital
notetakers, digital dictation with push buttons technology, digital
dictation with slide (function) switch control, and digital transcription.
Olympus, Philips, Grundig and Sanyo all offer their own digital notetakers.
Basically these are for personal use. The main reason for this is that
everytime you stop and start whilst recording, a new file is started. This
means that if you downloaded these files and sent to them to a secretary,
the secretary would find it very difficult to transcribe. Additionally some
of the recorders will record in a file type that cannot be easily
transcribed using the normal digital transcription kits.
When it comes to proper digital dictaphones, then there are a number of
factors you want to be aware of. Some for example have buttons that need
pushed, which is awkward if you are used to using the analogue tape based
systems with the slider switch on the side.
Many have various folders you can use, so for example you could have folder
A for work notes, folder B for dictation, folder C for reports etc. Most
digital dictaphones will also allow you to edit the recordings before you
transfer them. For instance, how often have you ended your dictation, and
added something at the end that should have been in the second paragraph?
Well now you can insert the extra bit exactly where you want it, without
overwriting your work.
Another factor is the ease of use with the software. Will you be using your
digital recorder on a one to one basis, ie one author to one secretary? If
so then an entry level system costing under £150 per user will be fine.
If however, you will have several authors to one secretary, or many authors
to a typing pool of secretaries, then the more professional systems would be
better, these can be from around £250 per user.
Something else worth considering is the transfer of the data on the digital
dictaphone. All digital dictating machines will have USB cables that you can
attach in order to connect to the PC for transfer, however for a regular
user this can become a chore. Therefore you might need to look at docking
stations.
Docking stations have 2 advantages, firstly for the ease of transfer of the
data and secondly many of the professional dictating machines can have their
rechargeable batteries charged up whilst in the docking station. Be aware
that not all machines will charge up on docking stations, fully check the
specifications of the dictphone before you buy it if this is a feature you
require. |
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