Medical Transcription and Computers—some advice and tips for the MT newbie and PC-phobic. MT on a Mac for the newby, choosing software, and more.

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[Getting Started] ["Breaking" your computer] [What kind of computer does an MT need?] [Macs (Apple computers) and transcription] [Buying a PC: Hardware Recommendations] [PC Buying Tips] [What kind of software to use?] [Finding software deals] [Links, books and PC products]

Since some people who are interested in medical transcription (or are MT students) claim that they still know very little about their computers, I thought I'd write a special page about PCs. I hope to give you a little information about PCs and also give you some encouragement about learning more about your computer. I also give a lot of advice on what to look for when shopping for a PC and software.

Now, don't go mistaking this page for a "The Expert Speaks on Computers" article. It isn't that. I'm merely a vaguely-competent computer user, that's all. And apparently, I'm also vain enough to think that some of you might benefit from my pontifications on computers!

This page is woefully long, but rather than break it up into several smaller pages, I've just made links to the various topics I cover on the page. (That way, in case you want to print this rambling tome out, it's easier to do so!)

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Getting started with this computer thing:

If you consider computers to be these intimidating, scary beasts that are beyond your capability to understand, get over that feeling right now. You will need to learn more about them if you want to be a medical transcriptionist. You won't need to be an expert, however.

If you think that because you are female (a high percentage of MTs are women) that somehow you don't have the "knack" for computers, get that thought out of your head immediately as well. Women are not less genetically inclined to have an aptitude for computers. It's mostly a matter of education, confidence and enthusiasm. We girls are just as capable of being computer geeks as the guys are!

There's an old saying that my dad was always chanting to my mom: "If all else fails, read the directions." (My mom is notorious for refusing to read directions.) And this saying is especially true for computers. You must have computer books at your disposal. You must learn to open these books and read them when you have a problem. A lot of the time, you'll find the information you need to solve your problem.

In my computer bookshelf, right next to my medical dictionaries and books on medical terminology, are several computer books. Books about Microsoft Windows. Books about Microsoft Word and Corel's WordPerfect. A lot of these books have friendly titles like "Word for Dummies" and "The Complete Idiot's Guide." I'm not a dummy and I'm not an idiot, but I do know how important good computer books are. I think knowing this makes me kind of smart, actually.

Most of the things I've learned about computers (not that I am claiming to know that much) I learned from my computer books and magazines. Sure, I have a few computer-savvy friends who have helped me out, but the majority of the time, I've been on my own. If I can learn how to do it, you can too. I am not special. I have no extra-special "talent" for computers. I'm just an ordinary person, like you. All I have done to become not-too-pathetically-ignorant about computers is take my time and try to educate myself. I am always consulting my computer books and I'm usually trying to learn something new. That's basically all there is to it.

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Don't worry about "breaking" your computer!

A simple truth to remember about computers: You probably didn't "break" it just because you clicked on something funny, or looked at it cross-eyed, or because the cat did something to it. (My sister claims that one of her cats "broke" her computer when the cat jumped on the keyboard.) It's really quite hard to "break" a computer, unless you start randomly deleting files in the "Windows" folder or start banging on it with a mallet. So don't do that. (But even if you did do something foolish like delete files in Windows, you probably wouldn't "break" the computer, you probably would have messed up Windows. And that can be fixed. But don't do the mallet thing. I don't think that's so easily fixed.) And if something rather trivial (like a cat on the keyboard) is threatening to "break" your computer, your computer was probably on the edge of a big problem anyway. So don't blame the cats, please!

One of the wonderful quirks about Windows-based computers is that they are always doing something weird. So don't get all freaked out and worried if your PC occasionally misbehaves (like freeze or hang or a program suddenly stopping). This doesn't necessarily mean that your computer is completely messed up. It probably doesn't mean that your computer is on the verge of failure. More often than not, it's just business as usual. It's doing what Windows does on occasion—it's being unreliable. Not that Windows is always like that, but yeah, sometimes it'll throw you a curve ball just to get your attention. This happens to everyone. Don't freak out. You probably didn't do anything to cause it. Calm down!

However, if you have a problem with your PC that happens more than a few times, don't panic, but do take notice. If it gives you an "error message," copy down the message, word-for-word. Always have a notepad next to your computer to write down weird scary messages or anything that it does that perplexes you. If you have to consult a computer-savvy friend or tech support about your problem, you can specifically say what is going wrong. It will not help anyone if all you can do is say, "Well, I was just sitting there and 'poof!' it stopped working!" You must be very specific about what exactly was going on when you had the problem.

I've also solved some computer problems by copying down the error message my computer is giving me, and (first) consulting my computer books, and (second) consulting a search engine like Google. Type in the error message, word-for-word (with quotes around it) and see what Google gives you. I've found some good solutions for problems by doing this basic, simple thing.

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What kind of computer does an MT need?

I am finding that a lot of medical transcriptionists are getting away with using fairly slow computers. This is good news, because it tells me that any computer you get will have a long "shelf life" (it'll remain useful and viable longer for MT work).

This is just my ballpark guess, but I'm thinking that if you have at least a PC that has a 700 MHz processor, 256 megs of RAM, a 20 GB hard drive, Windows 2000 Professional, and a USB port, you probably will be all right for a while—at least for while you are studying transcription. (If you're not sure if your PC has a USB port, visit this page and look at their little illustration.) If you want to use broadband (high speed Internet) on your computer, you will have to have an Ethernet port. (It looks like a fat, oversized phone jack.) If you don't have Ethernet yet, it probably can be easily added to your PC.

One of the most important reasons for medical transcriptionists to have a USB port is so they can connect a WAV pedal to it. A "WAV pedal" is a special foot pedal that many MTs use to help them listen to digital dictation files. This device usually connects to the PC via the USB port. A lot of MT schools also require that their students use a WAV pedal. If you don't have a USB port, you can sometimes get a WAV pedal that connects to your "game port," but USB is more up-to-date.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about with this "MHz" and "RAM" business, I will try to tell you a little bit more about them later on. If you don't know how fast your processor is or how much RAM you have, go to the "Start" button on Windows, choose "Control Panel" and then choose "System." You should see something that looks similar to this. The top part says what "system" you are using (in my case, the "system" I am using is Windows XP). The bottom part tells you your processor type, processor speed, and how much RAM you have. To find out how much hard drive you have, go to "My Computer," right-click on the "C" drive, and choose "Properties" from the menu (it's at the bottom). There you will be given your total hard drive capacity, and also you will see a pie chart showing how much of your hard drive is filled up. Pretty nifty, huh?

If you are an MT student (or are contemplating being a student soon) and you have an old creaky computer, don't worry too much yet. You don't have to buy a new PC right away. However, brace yourself for the reality that you very likely will need to get a faster PC by the time you are ready to start hunting for an at-home medical transcription job. However, (there always seems to be a "however") some employers will provide their at-home employees with computers, or will allow their employees to "lease" a computer. If you are very reluctant to buy a new PC anytime soon, you can always wait and see if you can get a job where the PC is supplied for you.

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Mac (Apple) computers and medical transcription:

I am a big Mac fan, so until recently it was a bit dismaying to realize that because transcription is so Windows-centric, that Macs could not be used for MT work (at least not without some difficulty). This is no longer the case. With the introduction of Intel-based Macintosh systems in 2006, all new Macintoshes are able to run Windows XP (or above) "natively" (meaning that it runs pretty much the same as it runs on a PC—no being slowed down by "emulation"). I currently am using an Intel Mac Mini with Windows XP installed on one of the Mini's hard drive partitions, and it runs great.

When I don't feel like booting (switching over) into the Windows XP partition of my Mac to run my transcription applications, I can always open up one of my Windows emulation programs while I'm still in Mac OS X. My favorite is VMWare Fusion. I am able to have multiple operating systems with VMWare, including a copy of Linux, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. Another popular emulation program for Intel-based Macs is Parallels, which works very similarly to VMWare.

Interestingly enough, there is some MT software and equipment that will work straight in a Mac (no Windows emulation). You can purchase the VPedal footpedal which works great (I have one), and Stedman's has Mac versions of their popular spellchecker and medical dictionary software. It's more possible than ever for an MT to use the Mac platform for transcription if they really have a desire to do so.

If you are interested in switching over to a Mac (just want a change, want to expand your horizons, want to use the awesome iLife suite of software, want to avoid using Vista) then there is no better time. You will give up nothing in using a Mac—you'll still be able to use all your favorite Windows-based programs, can install Linux (Linux runs natively on Macs), and will have access to all the Mac-only apps (as well as enjoy Mac's stability and virtual virus-free existence).

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General Computer Guidelines: (Current for Fall/Winter of 2007-2008)

If you are thinking about buying a new PC (or if you want to buy a reasonably new used computer), I want to give you some basic guidelines on what to look for. (Bear in mind, this is just my flea-bitten opinion, as a non-computer-expert medical transcription student.) Also bear in mind, this information I'm giving you will not stay current for long. Computers evolve constantly. What was screamingly fast one year is glacially slow the next year. However, the good news for medical transcriptionists is that MT work does not require the "bleeding edge" of computer technology. So a computer that's considered somewhat older or slower by many computer geeks is still going to be fine for the MT.

Even though I'm giving my opinion on some basic minimum guidelines for a new computer, it's always a universal truth: get as much as you can afford. If you can afford to get something faster or bigger than what I outline below, by all means, go for it!

3.0 GHz processor Pentium 4 compatible, or any Intel Core Duo (or Core Duo 2) CPU

The main processor manufacturers are Intel and AMD. You'll see mentions of Pentium 4 processors—you want to get at least this speed processor (or equivalent) or faster. There are newer "Core Duo" and "Core Duo 2" processors which have lower clock speeds (GHz number, like 1.6 or 2.0 GHz) but these processors are configured differently so they actually run faster than the older Pentium 4 CPUs. Don't go by just the GHz number alone—there is more to it these days.

If you are thinking of getting a used PC, try to get one with at least 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 CPU or faster. Some employers don't care if you have something slower than that, but a few require speeds at around 2.0 GHz.

512 megs (megabytes) of RAM (1 GB is better), or 2 GB if you have Windows Vista

Memory (RAM) is important. Having plenty of it helps Windows to run smoother and allows you to have several programs open at once. In fact, if you have a choice between getting a slightly slower processor but getting more RAM, I'd choose to get more RAM and settle for the slightly slower processor. RAM is that important.

At least 512 megs of RAM is optimum for Windows XP or Windows 2000, in my opinion. Settle for 256 megs if you are truly desperate, but never get only 128 megs. That's not even remotely enough. Windows XP is a huge memory hog, and can barely get by with 128 MBs. So just trust me on this one—get 512 MBs now and get it over with. If you can afford it, get 1 GB—that's even better! Having plenty of memory is the best way to give your PC an energy boost.

Windows Vista is still relatively new (as of this writing, in Fall of 2007) and is experiencing growing pains to be sure. Many medical transcription companies do not want to use Vista, so at this time, (and probably for at least a year or two longer) you are better off sticking with Windows XP (or even, in some cases, with Windows 2000). Avoid upgrading your current PC to Vista—it has been known to slow otherwise fast computers to a crawl. But, if you must use Vista, try to get 2 GB of RAM for at least a decent performance. Vista reaches new heights of RAM-hoggery.

80 GB hard drive (120 GB is better!) 7200 RPM, (not 5400 RPM).

I don't really think that a working MT needs a ton of hard drive space, but still, better to get more than less. The Hard Drive (aka "HD") is where everything on the computer is stored—Windows, your installed programs, your document files, your audio files, your picture files. If you collect a lot of this stuff, the space can fill up fast. Better to have too much hard drive than not enough. It's no fun having to constantly look for files to delete because you are running out of hard drive space. Think ahead, and get an ample amount of hard drive!

And while you're at it, notice the "RPM" number of the hard drive. If there is no mention of RPM on the hard drive, ask about it. It is pertaining to the speed in which the hard drive disk spins. The faster it spins, the faster your computer will be (at least in part). Get a 7200 RPM hard drive instead of a slower 5400 RPM hard drive. A 5400 rpm hard drive is only acceptable for laptops and mini computers (like the Mac Mini).

CD-RW/DVD Drive

You'll have a hard time finding a computer that doesn't at least have a CDRW drive (or CD burner). Most drives are a combination of CD/DVD Player and CD burner. You should at least get this. For not too much more expense, you can probably get a CD-RW/DVD-RW drive (meaning it'll read and burn both CDs and DVDs).

Floppy Drive

While some PCs come with floppy drives, many computer vendors now consider the floppy optional. I still think that having a floppy drive is important, especially if your PC is having a problem and needs to run from an "Emergency Boot Disk" (which is on a floppy). A floppy drive isn't very expensive, either.

USB and Firewire.

USB is a special port (usually on the back of your computer) that you connect all sorts of goodies to (printers, digital cameras, WAV pedal, etc.). Any PC made in the last several years will have USB. USB comes in two speeds: USB 1.0 and USB 2.0. USB 1.0 is fine and it's what a lot of us still have, but USB 2.0 is newer and faster. It's very likely that your newer PC will have USB 2.0, but even if you only have USB 1.0, most USB 2.0 gadgets will work with it, (although slower).

Firewire (also sometimes known as IEEE-1394) is another kind of port that is often used for connecting CD-RW drives, external hard drives, scanners, etc. I don't know of any medical transcription gadgets (like WAV pedals) that use the Firewire port yet, but it is excellent to have for external hard drives (which are faster than USB external hard drives). An external hard drive is an good idea for backing up files, so think ahead and consider getting a Firewire port.

If you are thinking about getting a used PC that does not yet have Firewire, a Firewire card can very likely be added to it.

Fax/Modem and Ethernet (LAN or Network card)

You may need both of these if you want to telecommute with your PC. The fax/modem is just your simple dial-up modem that uses your phone lines. (Try to get the fax capability with the modem.) Dial-up modems usually come in speeds like "56 K" or "V 90."

Ethernet (aka LAN, 10/100, NIC or Network card) is a port that looks like a fat, oversized phone jack, but it is for high-speed internet. Many MTs use high-speed Internet (like DSL or cable Internet) for their MT work. Almost all PCs have an Ethernet card, but if yours does not, it is not too expensive to have one added.

Another thing you'll want to get if you are using high-speed internet: A Broadband Router. Get one with "built-in firewall." The firewall will help protect you from hackers and all sorts of nasties.

Video and Sound Card

Often low-end PCs come with "integrated" or "shared" video and sound. This is not always bad (sometimes it's quite adequate), but if you can afford to, play it safe and stay away from integrated sound or video.

A medical transcriptionist needs a sound card that is pretty decent quality—she will be listening to sound files all day, after all! I don't pretend to be an expert on sound cards (not even remotely) but two manufacturers that are supposed to be good are Soundblaster and Turtle Beach. (Other sound cards will sometimes be touted as being "Soundblaster-compatable," which I suppose is okay.)

Video cards are also nice things (not that I pretend to know a lot about them either!). If you get a PC with a separate video card (instead of "shared" or "integrated,") some good video card types are nVidia, ATI (Radeon), and Chaintech (GForce). A video card has "video RAM." I find that a 32 MB (32 megabytes of RAM) video card is probably sufficient for basic things, but today most video cards are at 64-256 MBs, or even higher.

High Quality Motherboard

A "motherboard" (sometimes called "mainboard") on a PC is kind of like the "spine" of the computer. A lot of the stuff (processor, RAM, USB card, etc.) are connected to the motherboard. When someone upgrades your computer, usually they remove something from this motherboard and put a newer part in to replace the part they took out.

It's important that the motherboard be of good quality and have room for growth. It's too complicated to explain it all here (and believe me, I am not an expert when it comes to motherboards) but you should be asking about the "upgradability" of the motherboard. How fast of a processor can it take? (My PC's motherboard can take a processor upgrade of 3 GHz, for instance.) How much RAM can be stuffed into it? (I think my PC's motherboard can take up to 2 GB of RAM, for instance.) How many "open PCI slots" are in it? (A "PCI slot" is a space on the motherboard where a new card can be added—for instance, a USB card, a Firewire card, Ethernet, etc.) Your PC's motherboard should have several open PCI slots.

Is the sound or video "built-in" to the motherboard? Sometimes this can be okay (my PC has built-in sound, for instance, and it's just fine), but sometimes it can be crappy and low quality. If you can, get a motherboard with the sound and video on separate "cards." Or, if the motherboard comes with built-in (or "integrated") sound and/or video, you should be able to have a separate video or sound card added later if you want to. (Note: a lot of video cards connect to an "AGP" slot. Find out if the motherboard has this "AGP" slot. Most newer ones will, since an AGP video card is preferable to a PCI-based video card.)

The newer and better the motherboard, the more "shelf life" you'll get out of your PC.

17" (or larger) LCD Monitor

LCD monitors are the norm, but occasionally you'll see an old fashioned CRT (tube) monitor selling for a low price. Don't scrimp for a few bucks, get the LCD. They are easier on the eyes, do not emit very much heat, do not consume as much energy, have a small "footprint" (don't take up much desk space) and are just nifty as anything. But most importantly, they do not emit eeeevvviilll (it's evil, I tell you!) radiation. If you are planning on sitting in front of the PC all day, you might as well avoid the radiation. Some debate exists over whether or not older CRT monitors emit enough radiation to be really harmful, but why take the chance? If you have an LCD monitor you won't have to worry about it.

Ergonomic keyboard

Your tired wrists will thank you if you get an ergonomic keyboard (or "split" keyboard). I started using one a few months ago and I've completely gotten used to it. It's much more comfortable than the generic keyboards and very likely will help prevent ailments like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Surge Protectors and UPS

Don't assume that your surge protector will protect your PC when you are not at home or when a bad electrical storm hits. It might not be able to protect your PC from a really strong power surge. Therefore, when you leave home for a while or when a storm is coming, make sure to unplug all power cords from the wall, just to be extra careful. This means unplugging your printer's power cords, scanner's power cords—any other device or gadget that's connected to the PC. Electricity can travel in through any of these other things and still get to your PC. And, another often overlooked detail: unplug the cord that connects your modem to the phone jack in the wall. Electricity can pass through phone lines as well.

"UPS" means "Universal Power Supply," and these are "backup" emergency power sources (kind of like emergency electric generators for your PC.) I don't know much about them yet, but plan on getting one soon. Supposedly they can really save your bacon if you are working during a power failure (they keep your PC turned on long enough so that you can save your files and shut down safely).

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Computer Buying Tips:

It is a tricky proposition, to try to actually recommend a specific computer. First off, new models of computers come out all the time. Whatever I recommend now will be old news in a month. So I'm not going to do that.

I will, however, give you a few tips and pointers:

Try not to choose the cheapest of the lot. If Dell, for instance, has a "low end" budget PC, think twice before getting it. Try to get the one that's at least a little higher up the food chain. Sure, you'll pay more now, but you'll have a computer that will last you a little longer and won't make you want to tear your hair out all the time.

Don't buy into those "rebate" deals where you are stuck with MSN (or some other ISP) for a year. Don't. You end up with a crappy ISP ("Internet Service Provider") and a contract you can't get out of if you want to. Don't do it.

eBay can really be an okay place for buying computers. I have bought most of my computers off of eBay. I've had pretty good luck so far. The key is to look for vendors who have excellent feedback. Find a vendor that offers a warranty and money back guarantee as well. Ask questions of the vendor. Make sure you know it's the kind of PC you want before you bid.

For instance, I decided I wanted a "backup" PC, so I wouldn't be without a PC if my "main" PC needed service. (A "backup" PC is actually a very good idea for all MTs or anyone who makes their living on their computer.) But I wanted this backup PC to be cheap, cheap, cheap. So, for about $200, I got a very nice used Dell. Not the latest and greatest, but quite respectable. The vendor added a video card and sound card for a nominal cost. The vendor was very accommodating and helpful. Be aware, not all eBay vendors are honest or helpful, so you do make a gamble when you buy a computer off eBay. But more often than not, if the feedback is overwhelmingly good, you will have a good experience. At least I have so far, and I've bought a lot of computers off of eBay.

Custom-built PCs made by a local computer shop can be an excellent deal. That's how I got my current PC. I went to a local shop, looked at all the parts they had, and cherry-picked what I wanted in my PC. I even had them put my PC in a purple case! I mean, that is so fabulous!

They key with getting a computer built locally is to ask around and make sure you get an honest shop that's been around for a while. If you can, go in with a more computer-savvy friend so they can ask all the more geeky questions. But, if you have to go it alone, don't be scared. Just do your research, read your computer books and go in there with at least a little knowledge of what you want, and why. Make sure you get a warranty with the locally built PC as well.

If you really want to get your PC custom-built but don't know of any shop locally, I can recommend the shop that made my PC. They will do mail order. No, I cannot 100% guarantee that you will be happy with them; all I know is that they've got a great reputation as far as I know and that I like them. So, with all those disclaimers in place, here's my personal recommendation for a shop that makes "custom-built" PCs: Hypertech Computers.

Mail order PCs: If you want to get a new computer from a "big name" PC manufacturer, I think Dell computers are a safe bet. I haven't heard very good things about Gateway or Compaq, for instance, but I keep hearing good things about Dell.

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Computer Software for MTs

There are a lot of specialty software programs out there designed for medical transcriptionists. I won't be recommending any of them here, though, because I have to plead ignorance about which I prefer. It is best to wait until you are well into your MT studies before you worry about the specialty MT software anyway. What I want to discuss here are they Operating Systems and Word processing programs that many MTs use, and also a little bit of information about Windows Utilities.

Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 (Operating Systems)

Windows Vista is Microsoft's newest operating system, and while it can be very pleasant to use and stable on some systems, it's a nightmare on others. Until all the kinks are worked out on Windows Vista, you are advised to stay away from it. Many medical transcription employers refuse to use Vista, so if you were to apply for a job with them, you would not be able to use your Vista machine. For the time being, avoid Vista.

After Windows Vista was introduced in early 2007, Windows XP is starting to look better and better. Sure, it has some issues with "phoning home" (contacting Microsoft) but it is far, far better than Vista when it comes to privacy. Windows XP comes in two flavors: XP Home and XP Professional. A "computer guru" friend of mine emphatically said I should get XP Pro. He said it was more stable. He's quite an expert on Windows-related things—and I'm paranoid anyway—so I went ahead and got XP Pro. Other computer gurus say there's very little difference and that XP Home only has a few less advanced "features" that most people don't need anyway. It's up to you to decide which you want to get. All I know is that XP Pro has been pretty stable for me.

Windows 2000 is a slightly older version of Windows, but is reported to be very good. And it also does not "phone home" in the same way that XP does. However, Windows 2000 may have trouble recognizing all the hardware gadgets you might want to use with it. You may have to download "drivers" (little programs that help the computer recognize and use the new gadget or piece of hardware you install in it). That sounds like a pain, but some people don't mind the bother and much prefer Windows 2000 over XP.

Windows 98 and Windows Me are old and crummy and should not be considered. Especially Windows Me.

One final bit of advice about Windows: Use up-to-date virus protection and UPDATE WINDOWS REGULARLY. Check Windows Update every week. Update your virus definitions regularly. You can save yourself a world of pain if you do this. Also, a main source of pain and suffering in Windows can be laid at the feet of Internet Explorer, Windows' default Internet browser. It seems to be especially vulnerable to viruses and spyware. A word to the wise: avoid using Internet Explorer. Use FireFox or Mozilla instead.

Microsoft Word and Corel's WordPerfect

I have heard that WordPerfect is sometimes preferred by MTs, but alas, it appears that MS Word is starting to take over. I have chosen to get both these programs, just to see how they work. I haven't made any final decisions about my personal preference, but since Word seems to be "it" for the future of MT, I guess I am resigned to primarily using Word. (I got a copy of Office XP, a "suite" of office programs that includes Word.)

One interesting thing though—many MT employers and healthcare facilities prefer a positively ancient (by computer standards) word processing program: WordPerfect 5.1. They figure that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." So, you'll notice that this elderly program is being used quite a lot in the MT biz. In fact, so many businesses have refused to give up WP 5.1, that Corel, in a move of surprising enlightenment, has decided to create an optional "atmosphere" of WP 5.1 in their last few versions of WordPerfect. The user can get WordPerfect 11 (or 12) to "emulate" WP 5.1. They can switch in and out of this WP 5.1 "view." This is pretty good news for MTs or businesses who love their WP 5.1, but feel the need to push on to newer software. (See some screenshots and get more info on the WP 5.1 DOS "look" in WP here.)

It also needs to be pointed out—not all MTs or MT employers are using the latest and greatest versions of MS Word either. Some are happy with Word 97, Word 2000, etc. It's kind of encouraging to see that medical transcriptionists don't necessarily feel compelled to constantly upgrade to the latest versions of these word processing programs. They know the ins and outs of the version they have and are reluctant to change. I can't say I disagree with them.

Microsoft Word 2007 vs. older versions of Word:

Just like people are avoiding Windows Vista (for now), they are avoiding Microsoft Word 2007. Many employers prefer Word 2003 or below (some specify that employees must use Word 2003) but will not work with Word 2007. When Microsoft introduced Office 2007, they made some serious changes to this favorite office suite's interface, which upset many. There are other issues as well, which make it advisable to avoid Office 2007 for a while.

Microsoft Works

I have been warned by other MTs—don't use MS Works for your medical transcription work. Apparently it's "not ready for prime-time." Even if the version of MS Works has Word included, I've been told by other MTs (whose opinion I trust) that that it still won't work very well. Since you can get such a good deal on MS Word or WordPerfect, there really is no need to settle for Works.

Windows Utilities and AntiVirus Software

I don't really have any personal recommendations at this time, but I do want to emphasize that you will need utilities and anti-virus software for your computer. Especially anti-virus software. Norton seems to be a popular brand, but McAfee is fine too. I use Norton Utilities with Anti-Virus, and so far, so good. And, allow me repeat this warning again: avoid using Internet Explorer. Use FireFox or Mozilla instead.

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Buying inexpensive copies of MS Office, Word or WordPerfect:

One word: OEM. "OEM" (I have no idea what it stands for) is a cheaper version of these big name pieces of software. OEM means that it is supposed to be sold with hardware (sometimes, but not always, a computer). It's exactly the same software as the non-OEM versions, it's just a lot cheaper. OEM also means that it's just meant for the computer it came with, or the primary computer that you intend to use it on. (In fact, I think the Office XP and Word 2002 make you register the software in such a way that it knows what computer it "belongs" to.) I have been able to transfer my OEM copy of Office 2002 to my new computer, but I hear that starting with Office 2003, the OEM version will not install on more than one computer. This is how it is with OEM versions of Windows XP as well. Just one computer—that's it. There are no workarounds.

You can find OEM versions of these word processors on various places on the Internet. Be careful, you don't want to get scammed. Either buy from a vendor you trust, or buy from an eBay seller with a longstanding reputation and lots of good feedback. And there's always Amazon.com's "marketplace" sellers. (See my links below.) Amazon stands behind and guarantees these vendors; I've always felt safe buying from them and have had no trouble so far.

If you can afford it, go ahead and get full-priced versions of your word processing software. They come with full technical support and are upgradable. (I think that many OEM versions of software are upgradable too, but it's best to double check and make sure.)

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Links, Books, and PC products

• Newegg - Cheap computer parts and OEM software. I've always done well with Newegg.
• Dell.com - Probably the only "big name" PC maker that I'd feel comfortable recommending.
• Hypertech Computers - This is where I had my PC built. They also have a good price on OEM WordPerfect.
• eBay - If you watch your P's and Q's (and make sure to look for good feedback) you can get some great deals on computers and software off of eBay.
• Windows Help - Go to the source. Go to Microsoft's support area to get technical help.
• Annoyances.org - From the people who make the "Annoyances" books (technical help books on computer issues). Check out their message boards and browse around.