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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

laptop

Posted By: Kris on 2008-06-14
In Reply to: Laptop - Barb

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.


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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
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.
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. 
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!!
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