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Dell will finance at a very reasonable rate, just bought one and my payment is $50 a month with no i

Posted By: joan on 2007-09-14
In Reply to: Question: How many of you use your own PC for work? - MTinSA5

just start charging interest. I am using my IC job to pay it off. Medquist does furnish computer, Amphion furnishes but with a monthly fee that is refunded at the end of a year's employment, I think.


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I just bought a Dell last month, had
them put 1 gig of RAM, much, much faster.  My only comment is the computer is okay, but I will never buy a Dell again.  Any problems you have (they got my order mixed up and gave me the wrong info on the computer), your call is routed to India.  They outsource big time.  All their phone people, IT, orders, followup, everything for individual customers, goes to India.  They were very hard to understand, I had to speak very slowly and enunciate for them to understand me and they did not seem to know much at all about computers.  I said I wanted a KV switch, they did not even know what that was.  Next time I am going to a company that uses Americans and does not take jobs away from my fellow citizens.
I have both a Dell Latitude Laptop and a Dell Dimension desk top PC and bought both...
off of Ebay.  The laptop I paid $300 for had Windows XP and works great.  It wasn't wireless, but they sent me a PCI card with it and it works fine.  The desktop PC has XP on it as well and I paid $250 for it.  Both have Pentium IVs.  Both work great for work.  I have no complaints and I feel like I got a great deal both times out on Ebay.
I just bought a Bissel bagless - reasonable @ $129. It gets the job done
I have a golden retriever - it picks up every hair and hair ball. So far, so good.
I don't like Dell. I bought a Dell laptop and it

was a piece of junk, so I'm not the one to ask if you should buy a Dell.   I'd get at least double that processor speed.  My computer is about 10 months old and I have 5 times that, which means that there is probably something faster out now, or soon will be.  It is more than I need for work, but I also use computer to download music/pictures, and a bunch of other stuff.   The Dell I had had 650 mHz and it was slow and that was almost 6 years ago.   You may have to customize anyway to get XP unless you buy one previously owned, which you can also buy from Dell.   It is always a good idea to buy bigger than you need currently just to allow for updates to any software or new software you may add.    You need to also think about tech support.  I know Dell has tech support in India, which can be extremely frustrating.  I don't know that other computer companies don't offshore their tech support, but that would be a question I would ask and find out if there is a locally authorized dealer to handle warranty repairs or if you need to send off the computer.    I would not recommend a Gateway computer and I would not recommend any computer that has a Celeron processor.   They tend to be in all the lower end computers. 


 


Here's how I do it. I start at a reasonable rate for my area. SM

I take of a penny a line for each of these things:


1.  Digital. 2. No printing.


Or you can start at your bottom line and add a penny for 1. Pickup 2. Printing. 3. Delivery.


That's just how I do it.


Flexible schedule and reasonable line rate, at least 11 cpl for acute care!
I am not real "needy". No benefits as IC, just need flexible schedule due to very active family, and expect a good line rate. In return, I will go above and beyond what is expected to meet TAT and quality!

I bought it last month...
It actually costs you $40 to buy the modem you need, but that includes the first year of service, and then it is $19.95 a year thereafter. You can prepay for the first 2 years at $64.85. I am not having any problems with it, am turning off my regular phone this weekend when I move anyway. The only thing, it only works if your PC is turned on and if you have internet and power. You can program it to forward to another phone though for times you don't have internet/power.
Ugh, we bought a new Dell in December. First off...
the thing sounds like a meat grinder the entire time it is on.  Makes so much noise I think I'm on the tarmac at the airport.  Secondly, we installed a new video card and then somehow disabled it and needed tech support to sort it out.  Yep, got "Jimmie" from Calcutta or Bombay or some other such place (who do they think they're kidding?), who walked us through a process which we thought was going to reset the video card, and he had us RETURN TO FACTORY SETTINGS!   Just as I hit the last button, I realized what he had me doing.  I lost all kinds of documents, taxes, you name it.  I was livid!  Not happy.
I just bought a new computer through Dell and they had a few
new ones without Vista so I got a new one with XP. If you know a computer whiz, they can take Vista off and load XP--I had a friend who said he would do that for me if I couldn't buy one with XP. Just have to call the company, if getting a new one, and ask.
I bought a new laptop at dell.com yesterday with XP
The deal they were running was that you can buy certai new computers and have them preloaded with XP. You also get the Vista CD so if you ever want to upgrade you alread have it. It cost an extra $150 but worth it to me. Also they do a free upgrade in memory to 2 GB.Check it out. I think the deal is limited time only. My is set to ship on 08/04/08. I am SOOO excited.
Just bought a new Dell computer, needing XP
and knowing that Dell at 1 time did not offer XP anymore, only Vista. Am wondering if I bought XP how much is that as opposed to what Dell charges to put XP on now.
I bought a Dell because I got a better deal than buying locally.
I got the computer, Windows XP, WordPerfect, other software, a photo printer and a digital camera shipped to my door for $398.  However, I worked as a computer technician for several years, so I know I can add components, fix it, or upgrade as needed.  I don't like the fact that Dell offshores so many jobs, because they totally forced technical pay rates down, laid off thousands of American workers, and forced computer prices down.  However, I figured they'd be losing money on this deal if I just bought their basic system on sale with nothing added.  Some guy from India called wanting to sell me an extended warranty and service plan.  I told him NO because I can do all of that myself, as well as working any job at their company.  I didn't want to buy locally because most of the local computer stores are staffed by idiots.  There's a high rate of bankruptcy and computer stores going out of business here, then they won't honor their warranties.
I bought a dell computer and financed it at their site

Getting my ducks in a row for my big job search. I just bought a Dell laptop for X-mas. SM

It was used when I bought it and I want to make sure that I have everything I need to work from home on it.  The PC I'm on now will be going back to the hospital.  It is a Dell Latitude.  It has a Pentium IV processor, 512 mg of RAM, 40 gig hard drive, wireless internet plus ethernet card, Windows 2000.  Will that laptop suffice for working from home?  I assume it will, but I just want to make sure before I starting applying places.


Thanks!   


Anyone that bought a Dell computer are you happy with it and what happened if you needed anything

fixed under warranty. I guess you Fed Ex it back and wait on it. Can you tell me how this went please.


I bought a new one from Dell almost a year ago and talked with the CS person. She told me the
models they still had available with XP. If you buy a new one though with Vista you can always remove it and reload with XP.
Update..bought computer today and Dell and found out it couldnt get here as fast as I needed it so I
Got the same computer for like $400 less and they'll ship it out tomorrow. Should be here in 4 days..Same everything including warranty. Try Ebay.!!!
I have to disagree with you. Banks will finance
trailers. I know, because I had a trailer several years ago and it was financed through a bank.
When I click on Taxes/Finance I'm taken to

I agree. I used to finance mobile homes.
However, they had to be on a permanent foundation with the wheels removed, and the interest rate was scary.
We won't sell it from under them. Never. If they want to do a owner finance kind of thing, they w
nm
I pay $35/month through Vonage for unlimited LD. Local phone co. charges $50/month. NM
x
Company provides a Dell for work, I have a Dell for personal use, too.
x
Dell customer service is overseas. I have had a Dell, a
Toshiba Satellite, and an HP.   The Dell was a piece of junk from day 1.  The HP hard drive crashed after 4 to 5 years, but otherwise no problems.   I bought a Toshiba about 6 months ago and it is okay, nothing special.  I was looking at the Sony Viao and the salesman said that some laptops are made to be portable, but that the Sony was not one of them, but the Toshiba was.   My keyboard also has a numerical pad on it, but it throws the other keys off a bit, so when I'm in a portable mode and don't have room for an external keyboard it really slows me down.  I have a Duo Core processor and notice no difference whatsoever in speed, the number of programs I can have open, etc.   I have also noticed that even when I am not on battery power that every so often the battery is charging.  I don't know if this is a defect or something that is supposed to happen, but I need to investigate it. 
I've had two dell laptops and 5 Dell PCs. Here's the thing...

Make sure you get the extended warranty, again, MAKE SURE YOU GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. And, here is why.


My first laptop went out on my, though it was a couple of years old.  Because I had the extended warranty, a service tech came to my house, replaced motherboard, hard drive, heat sink, and keyboard.  He was able to back up everything first and restored it once all the new stuff was in place. 


One of my PCs kept giving some weird blue screen error and I couldn't get to go even in safe mode. I called up Dell, told them the problem, they looked up my extended warranty and they sent someone out to repair it.


Overall, I have been happy with Dell products.  The only drag is that everything Dell sells regarding accessories is proprietary and you have to order it through Dell.  No generic accessories will work.  My suggestion is if you decide to buy a Dell laptop, make sure you get the car power supply and you might even get a 2nd regular power supply because I have been known to leave town and forget the power supply at the house.  Now, I have everything in my laptop bag for when I go out of town and can just throw my laptop in the bag and know everything is there.


Lastly, some Dell laptops require a special aircard to connect to the internet.  I ended up getting a 2 cabled USB air card and I'm glad I did because 2 USB plug ins give better reception than one.


If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. I'm happy to help.


I bought a wedge at Michael's for about 59 cents. Bought one for my SM
Lanier station so I could see the display and one for my keyboard.
Buy a Dell!! You can't go wrong with a Dell but
I bought an Emachines and had trouble with it from day one. I returned it, as the store I bought it from a six month return policy, so I returned it after about five months. I bought a Dell two years ago and have had no problems since!! Buy a Dell, you won't be sorry!! :)
I am not a Dell lover. My Dell has been
a lemon.  I just replaced mine with a Toshiba Satellite and I have seen a few others here recommend this.  Dell's customer service is in India.   The only thing I dislike about my Toshiba is that because it also has a number keypad the shift key is in a different position than I'm used to and I end up deleting and retyping when I use the laptop keyboard.  I normally use an external keyboard, but I travel a lot and try to work on the road and just don't have space for an external keyboard.    
Where did you hear that everything you buy for a Dell has to be from Dell?

I have LOTS of peripherals on both my laptop and desktop Dells and they certainly didn't come from Dell. You've been misinformed.


I love my Dells.


I think $15/hr reasonable!!....sm
I cannot figure out the hourly because I get paid by the line and that varies from hour to hour.  DocQScribe is the platform.  I just did 180 LPH for my first hour of the day which comes to $16.40 for that hour but again, that varies from hour to hour. 
Yes, probably reasonable
Radiology often has a lot of normal reports, so with normal macros from each doc its quite doable.  Also there are many repetitive phrases they all use so you can make your own macros and speed production that way.  As a newbie I'm not sure you could get up to speed that fast, it really depends on how many normals are already in place and how easy the docs are.  A seasoned MT would try to bring her macros with her, but as she already knows their lingo and can anticipate what's going to be said, its pretty much the same stuff on each type of report.
that sounds reasonable
That sounds like a fair assessment, what confuses me are the ones that say they can get 500 lines an hour...... In 15 years the best I ever did was around 325 per hour.
Her tone was not reasonable.
Believe me, she couldn't afford me anyway if all she's getting is newbies applying.
Another reasonable post!! Thanks!
x
sounds reasonable to me
but as an employee the company can dictate your hours. As an IC I work a split usually and do better this way. However, as an IC, the company cannot dictate your hours according to the IRS. Companies now days promise too short of a TAT for the MT, IMO. What happened to the 24-hour TAT for H&Ps, consults, etc. and longer for discharge summaries? Not to mention the # of reports at the end of the month when doctors who haven't dictated decide they should dictate rather than be put on suspension or not allowed in the OR until they get their act together.
What is the best reasonable VR program available?

I am an IC and considering buying a VR program, but I would like to know which is the most accurate, and also cost is a factor too.  Does anyone have any recommendations, good or bad?  I hear a lot about Dragon, but I am hesitant because I have heard it takes a long time to train it to your voice.   


Thanks for any and all advice. 


 


Define reasonable
I've gotten all of my equipment from Transcriptiongear.com and have never had problems with the quality.  Reasonable depends on your definition, though.  I never thought their prices were outrageous.
No payment
Would her name be Nina? If so, I can help with contact information. Please e-mail me at ellen1@mindspring.com with MT no payment in the subject line
One payment

Look at your 1040 and you will see that your taxes owed include SS and Federal.  So when you make your estimates it is only one check. 


 


 


non payment

infovision software, Kolkata, is not paying my dues (salary + others), resigned during Feb, now it April, Can any good fellow suggest anything?  Not only me there are at least 50 MTs i know , who are also not paid after working with them.


payment for VR
So the account I work on has just purchased a voice recognition software.  I see that a lot of the VR is paying about 4.5 to 5 ( and higher ) cents per line.  Does this include the whole line or just the editing corrections you actually do for them?  Please tell me that it is all the lines on the page.  How could it be calculated any other way?  I actually don't know yet if I will even be getting the installation as there are a lot of MTs working on this account & don't see how there could possibly be enough room for all of us.  I might just have to work in another part-time job.  Thanks.
Payment

Just wondering what alternatives there are when you don't get paid for work that was done and it's been months!!!!  Two people (individual MTs) owe me money from back in February and I can't get them to respond, etc.  HELP!!


 


HE** YEAH IT SOUNDS REASONABLE!!! sm
do the math. Supposedly we are supposed to be able to complete 12-14 minutes of voice in one hour. But realistically, we complete more than that an hour. So for instance, take 14 minutes and multiply by $1.14. That is almost $16/hour.
Her instructions are perfectly reasonable
If she doesn't want resumes submitted as attachments, that's her business and the applicants should just follow the instructions. Whether you think she should ask for pasted resumes instead of attachments is irrelevant. If you don't want to apply, then don't. But if you're going to apply, just follow the instructions. If you cannot or will not follow the instructions, that tells her pretty much everything she needs to know about you.
Reasonable cpl to expect for newbie MT?

What would be a reasonable cpl to expect as full-time employee (not IC) with a national if you have no experience but do have MT education from one of the AAMT-approved schools?


Mac she asked reasonable questions

For once can you ditch the negativity, try having a positive attitude and be a little gracious??


One blank is not reasonable, what if it is a horrible ESL - sm
that you can only understand 1 word in 10? I have had those. Years ago worked for a company that only allowed about 1 blank every 10 reports or so, which was crazy especially since it was acute care and nothing but ESLs. If you went over your daily allotment you would be reamed via email. I understand trying to keep the blanks down but some are just unavoidable.
Hi, any IC's that are paid on salary? or is this a reasonable pay I should ask for?

My docs have now switched to a new platform, which does not utilize counting lines, which is how I am paid now.  They suggested paying by time, but that would be irritating for me to have to keep track and multiply and do all sorts of other stuff by hand (rather than having software to do it).


I have thought about asking them to pay me on salary.  I have been with them for 7 years with no raise.  NO RAISE EVER.  Seven years this September, and I have made between 25 and 28 thousand dollars each year with them.


I am thinking of asking for $36,000 a year and was wondering how reasonable that is.  I get absolutely no benefits from them and in turn, have to pay my own health insurance, retirement, taxes, etc. (so really it would be about 24K a year).


Any advice?   thanks so much


 


15 sounds reasonable for a large
15 is too high unless you are on the west coast.  Here on the east, 14 is about as high as anyone can get on a clinic account.  Acute care goes for about 15-16. 
15 sounds reasonable for a large

The doctor I transcribe for said the company charges 15. Of course we do not make anywhere near that, so I think that is reasonable.
M-TEC has a Basic program (12 month) and a Premier program (18 month). To WAH, you should take the P
:)