Sound Forge 9 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)appearantly the last reviewer doesn't understand the simplicity of what a fully featured "audio editing" program is.
as of soundforge 1.0, you could mix vocals into music, ...all you do is copy it onto the clipboard, ...and highlight the area in the audio you want to mix the vocals into, ...and move it also to the cliboard, ...then choose the "mix" setting on the clipboard, ...make any required adjustments inside the dialogue box, ....and click paste.
the cursor should still be left precisley at the point you extracted the audio segment to be mixed.
this is "not" a multi-track recorder.
this is an "audio editing program", ...mainly oriented towards sound designers, ...audio engineer "mastering" specialists. ...and people who use hardware and software samplers who want to get closer, spiritually with the essence of their samplers.
you 'can' sync to video, ...but vegas might be a better option.
soundforge 9 also excepts any VST plugins, ...an insane value if you are already into music production/recording/engineering.
not to mention "noise reduction", ...how else would you get all that vynil onto your hard drive, and capture its origional sound quality?
this editing program is by far more powerful than "ANY" editing program featured in any software multitrack recording program or DAW, ...as well as "ANY" hardware sampler.
although it is meant to "edit" with the entent of dispersing its results onto other working software/hardware applications.
don't get pissed cause you bought a high quality turntable needle, but can't be a full fledged dj without two turntables and a mixer.
the only competition is Steinberg Wavelab.
i haven't used it, ...but it costs twice as much, ...and steinberg has caught up to its features with surround sound mixing, ...video audio syncing, ...vst implementation, ...noise reduction 2.0, ....as well as CD Architect, ...what a great program to create RED BOOK STANDARD commercially professional cds?
soundforge + waves plugins? ....full fledged mastering studio for the price of a few hundred dollars? ...incredible!

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The Sound Forge® 9 professional digital audio production suite includes everything you need to quickly get from raw audio to finished master. Works with Windows® Vista™.System Requirements:Microsoft® Windows® Vista™ XP or 2000 SP4 900 MHz processor 150 MB hard-disk space for program installation 256 MB RAM Windows-compatible sound card DVD-ROM drive (for installation) Supported CD-Recordable drive (for CD burning) Microsoft DirectX® 9.0c or later (included on DVD-ROM) Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 (included on DVD-ROM) Internet Explorer 5.1 or later (included on DVD-ROM) Format: WIN 2000XPVISTA Genre:PRODUCTIVITY UPC:855309736798 Manufacturer No:SF9000

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Aperture 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)Before I start the review I need to add a few caveats. The first is I have not really used Adobe Lightroom so I will not be comparing Aperture 3 to Lightroom. (Lightroom is the biggest competitor to Aperture and from what I have read owns the majority of the market). I have tried Lightroom 3 and I could not get past the restrictive module system and the small editing space. I thought I was going to have to slog through learning how to used Lightroom 3 when Apple surprised and delighted me by releasing Aperture 3. Also, I haven't really used iPhoto that much since I got Aperture 2. So I will only be making passing remarks about those programs. The other caveat is that this is a massive program with massive upgrades and there is no way I can cover everything so I will be covering how this program handles my workflow.
Bottom Line Up Front: Aperture 3 is an amazing Photographic Workflow System that fits all of my professional and personal needs. Apple has implemented so many amazing features into this program that it is an absolute must upgrade from Aperture 2. For anyone interested in taking their photography up from the casual (iPhoto) to enthusiast level, Aperture 3 is a great tool to help you accomplish that. For anyone using Lightroom who hates being restricted by what module you are in, Aperture 3 offers amazing new professional features especially concerning showcasing your work. (Still+Video slideshoes, GraphiSutdio, Queensberry, Leather Craftsmen, and Couture Books are just some of the outstanding new features.)
One thing you need to know up front is that Aperture 3 has some stability issues. I have been using Aperture 3 for about 16 hours and have had about 8 crashes. One thing to note is that because of how Aperture works you do not lose any work. You just need to restart the program. I am sure we will be seeing a patch released relatively quickly. Aperture 2 was always the crashiest program I own (most Apple programs never crash but Aperture 2 crashed about 1 time every 8 hours). Unfortunately it looks right now that Aperture 3 will continue that tradition. I will say that Aperture 3 plays a lot better with Snow Leopard than Aperture 2 did. For me these crashes are irritating and I hope they get worked out. However, this is still a truly amazing upgrade over Aperture 2.
My basic digital workflow is to Organize, Edit and Showcase so this is how I will structure the review.
Organize
For Aperture 3, apple has added 2 new ways to organize you photos; Faces and Places. I have read some people disregarding these features as amateurish (You can switch them off if you don't want to use them. Also, faces slows Aperture down right after import as it scans for faces). I, for one, use Aperture 3 for professional and personal purposes. So even if these features were not professionally useful, I still like them (I do find them useful professionally also). These features are nice for allowing photos to stay together in the group in which they were shot. I used to have to pull photos out, especially of people, to relocate to another folder or project. Or I would have to add the person's name as a key word. Either way it was tedious and often required a compromise. Now I can leave all of the photos from a shoot in one location and find a person. Or I don't have to remember when I was shooting at a particular location. I can go to the map and find the photos that way. I think this is awesome from an organizational standpoint. A note on the faces feature. It does a fantastic job finding even the blurriest or off angle faces in a photo. However, it is not as good at recognizing people as I think it should be as it asked me to name some in-focus straight-on shots of people I had already named. This is still a great feature just don't expect miracles.
Aperture 2 used to really bog down once your library got over 10,000 photos. For this reason, I started creating a new library every quarter of the year. I don't know if Aperture 3 has fixed this 10,000 photo slowdown but what they have done is make Library management much better. First off you can change libraries on the fly without having to restart the program. You can also merge and export libraries from inside the program. This library management was one of the biggest things on my Aperture 3 wish list. Aperture 3 is a native 64 bit program so on the newer machines with Snow Leopard I am sure the limit will be higher than 10,000. However, because of Aperture's free-form design and differences between hard drive memory and the relatively small physical memory your computer has there will still be a point where large Aperture libraries will bog your computer down.
The final thing I will talk about concerning Organize are color labels, flags and a new sort option; sort by Orientation. I was just about to go through and hand sort by orientation so this feature will save me a ton of time. You can flag a photo by clicking the top right of the photo. You assign color labels by hitting the option key and 0-7 or by right clicking and selecting the color. The flag and color labels give you more options to quickly organize your photos. As an example, I used to sort my photos according to people, scenic nature, and abstract. Now I can leave the photos in their imported projects and just assign purple to people, green to nature, and yellow to abstract. Then I can make a smart album that sorts for green or yellow, etc. Sweet. Many times I have transition photos as I am processing the photos. Those photos can get in the way. Now I can flag them. Also, externally edited photos return to Aperture as TIFFs. These files get huge (try 60 MB per photo--ouch). Unfortunately, Aperture does not have a file type converter so after I get finished with the TIFFs I export them out as JPEGs and then import them back in as JPEGs. Then I delete the TIFFs. A laborious process but the flags can be used to help me keep track of the TIFF photos so when I get to the export process I can easily find them.
Edit
There have been many many upgrades to the photo editing abilities of Aperture 3. The two major categories are Presets and Adjustments. The Presets are quick fixes, color, white balance, Black and White, and adjustments. You even have the option to create your own presets. These Presets allow you to make quick adjustments without having to fiddle with the sliders. For example if the white balance is not quite right on your photo and you know you shot in tungsten light then just pick that preset and it adjusts the white balance for you. From what I have seen so far this even works well on JPEGs. You can do similar things with exposure and other parameters.
The Adjustments section has far too much to cover here in this already lengthy review. However, the quick brushes are a powerful new feature that I will try to cover. One example of these brushes is Dodge. This used to be a plug-in in Aperture 2 now it is in the program (If you are used to this from Aperture, all of the brushes work in the same way). The reason this is significant is that all of the in Aperture edits are non-destructive. That means you can always go back to where you started. All plug-in changes, one, create a new copy and permanently change that copy and, two, are TIFFs which take up a tremendous amount of space. All of the quick brushes allow you to resize the brush, change the amount of fall off around the edges, and strength of the brush. Additionally, all of the brushes have an overlay to show you where you have applied the change. Some of the other brushes included are dodge, burn, saturate, reduce noise, sharpen, etc. This is an incredibly powerful editing tool that allows you to non-destructively enhance your photos in some dramatic ways.
I had quite a few plug-ins with Aperture 2. The good news is that they work with Aperture 3. The bad news is they are 32 bit while Aperture 3 is 64 bit. The way Aperture 3 handles this is to close and then reboot into a 32 bit mode. Slightly annoying but I am glad my plug-ins still work.
My favorite plug-ins for Aperture are the Nik Effects programs. Even the new Aperture 3 editing tools do not render those plug-ins obsolete. However, I like to layer 3 to 4 filters over a photo. Since Aperture exports the photo out to the plug-in I can only layer 1 at a time and that means more transition photographs. Aperture needs to allow plug-ins to work inside of Aperture for non-destructive edits.
Finally, Aperture needs and in-program file type converter. The export/import routine is crazy and it is made worse by the fact that you lose rating, key words, etc.
Showcase
This is another area where Aperture 3 has really made amazing improvements. When I first got Aperture 2, I had a book printed and to me it wasn't even acceptable for home use, let alone professional use. Well that has changed with Aperture 3. You can download plug-ins from GraphiSutdio, Queensberry, Leather Craftsmen, and Couture Books.(Note you need to be a partner photographer or verified business to get the Queensberry or Leather Craftsmen plug-ins). Take a look at these books and you will be astounded by the quality. (For home users, the price will probably astound you but now you can see why wedding albums cost so much.)
Aperture 3 has also added a slide show function. What is cool about this feature is the ability to use both still and video in the slide show. Many believe this hybrid style is the future of publishing. With cheap electronic paper only a short way off, the day of stills only is coming to a close. Overall, the slide show creator is very good but falls short in a few areas. The first is the limited number of...Read more›

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Aperture 3 combines powerful performance with iPhoto simplicity to help you refine images, showcase your photography, and manage massive libraries on your Mac. With more than 200 new features and enhancements, it can help you take your photography to the next level. Now you can perfect your images with brushes. Apply adjustment presets to instantly create a custom look. And when you import your pictures from iPhoto, all name and location data is preserved.


Taking photos. Further.
Organize photos by faces and places.
Aperture 3 advances the Faces and Places technology in iPhoto. It features new ways to organize your photos by the people in them and more robust GPS tools for mapping images.
Now you can group your photos by the people in them. Even within individual projects.

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Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 3-User Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had Trend Micro PC-Cillin 2005 and thought it was great, once I managed to get a working serial number to register it, but then my employer made me install Symantec anti-virus, which I was never happy with. Finally, several months ago and one new employer later, I upgraded my old TM 2005 to TM 2008 and while I definitely feel more protected, the security comes at a price.
I have the TM 2008 loaded onto a high-end Sony Vaio that is about a year and a half old. The TM protection is great -- immediately after loading it the program caught 13 threats that the Symantec program had missed (not to mention that several internet diagnostic programs had missed them as well). TM is easy to configure -- you'll probably have to tell it not to notify you everytime it stops a potential threat, or you'll be receiving non-stop notifications. It catches viruses, spyware, adware -- pretty much everything you don't want on your computer -- without interfering or conflicting with any other programs you may be running. The protection is the best.
Now for the negatives. This baby is slow. Really slow. The lag time to connect to the internet is like connecting via dial-up. E-mail takes forever to load. Every program on my computer that requires interaction with the internet takes at least 10 times as long, although happily it doesn't interfere with other programs such as Word or non-interactive games. But it is definitely frustrating having to wait after getting used to the quick response times I normally get with a high-speed DSL connection. One other and potentially more serious problem is that when I try to update my protection the program tells me I am not connected to the internet. I sent customer service an inquiry and got a very fast response. The recommended fix worked, but you have to be fairly comfortable with Windows to do it, so if you aren't comfortable with computers, this could be a problem, one that never happened with TM 2005, nor was the 2005 version this slow. Unlike some people, however, I've never had a problem with Trend Micro's customer service as long as I use e-mail or internet chat. Phone contact is a little more difficult, but no worse than a lot of tech companies.
In short, I'm not going to replace this software anytime soon since I feel more protected with it than with anything else, but I do wish Trend Micro would work out the bugs and figure out how to make this version faster. Maybe internet threats have just gotten that much worse in 3 years, but it still seems like protecting yourself shouldn't mean having to revert to dial-up type lags.


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Trend Micro� PC-cillin� Internet Security 2007 Comprehensively safeguards your computers, your files and your identity. Email, shop, share pictures, bank, and instant message, confident you're safe from malicious attacks and time-consuming interruptions.

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Quicken Deluxe 2010 Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased Quicken 2010 Deluxe today from a retail store. I believe the official release date is tomorrow, but they had it in stock for sale, although it was hidden in a corner of the store with only a few copies, so not exactly a big promotion. I installed it in about 10 minutes on my Vista laptop without any issues. The installation process first removed my Quicken 2007 software, installed Quicken 2010, checked for updates over the internet, and then converted my Quicken 2007 data file. The entire process went very smoothly.
The interface in 2010 is slightly different from 2007, but mainly just different colors and slightly different graphic formats. Other than that, I've poked around just about every feature to look for something that this product does different from 2007 and could not find much of anything. The only convenient change that I have noticed so far is that when I back up my data, the data is now contained in one file, rather than having six different files associated with the same backup.
For the price,I guess it's good to know that my software is three years newer, and likely has been tested under Windows 7 so that I will be able to upgrade my operating system in the near future without any issues. However, this upgrade confirms that you really don't need to purchase a new version of Quicken every year. Once every three years was more than enough here, and unless Intuit comes up with some revolutionary new tricks for their software, I suspect the next time I will be writing about Quicken will be in 2013.

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Quicken Deluxe 2010 gives you money management and budgeting tools to help you watch your spending and increase your savings.




Set personal finance goals and save more
Shows where you're spending and helps you see where to save
Brings your accounts together all in one place and helps you set budgeting and savings goals
Helps you stay on top of bills and avoid late fees with alerts on upcoming payments
Upgrading your Quicken? See "What's New in 2010" for the latest features and benefits



Features and Benefits
Watch your savings grow We make it easy to get on--and stay on--a budget. Set suggested spending limits and savings goals based on the information you enter into Quicken day-by-day.

An intuitive "Spending Planner" summarizes your actual spending and compares it to what you planned to spend for the month. Check your progress at a glance, and quickly see where you have room to spend or need to save more.

Quicken Deluxe can also help you create customized plans to reduce/eliminate debt--and to save for a house, college, retirement or large purchase.

See where your money's going Quicken Deluxe shows you what you have coming in, going out, and most importantly, what's left over to spend or save. Check in anytime to see exactly where your personal finances are for the week, month or year.

View your accounts all in one place Organizes your finances by bringing your online accounts together--including checking, savings and credit cards. Avoid the hassle of going to multiple websites. Now you can see it all in one place with just ONE password. Access over 6,700 banks, brokerages and other financial institutions--including PayPal.

Never miss a bill See what bills have already been paid, what's coming up, and if you have enough left in your accounts to cover them--all in one convenient place. Set reminders to pay bills on time and instantly check the status of past bills.

Simplify taxes with TurboTax Quicken Starter Edition pairs perfectly with TurboTax to save you time. Easily export your data directly to TurboTax for fast and accurate tax preparation.

Enjoy free support when you buy, install or upgrade Quicken If you need help purchasing, installing or upgrading your new Quicken personal finance software, free phone support is available. For more information, visit our Help & Support site.

Save money and shop smart Our free service--Quicken Picks--seeks out the best online coupons and discount offers just for you, on the stuff you care about. You also get cash back on all your purchases, helping you save even more. You can sign up for Quicken Picks anytime within your Quicken software.

Easily import from Microsoft Money If you've been using Microsoft Money personal finance software, we can help you transfer your valuable financial information to Quicken.4 With our easy-to-use Data Converter tool, you'll be up-and-running with Quicken in practically no time.



What's New in 2010 Already using Quicken? Reasons to upgrade now:
New--See your most important info in one place The new Quicken home page puts all your most important financial information in one easy-to-understand window, so you can see how you're doing at a glance.

Improved--Find the tools you need, faster The improved menu and toolbar make it easier to find the tools you need to help organize your personal finances.

New--Getting started is a breeze It's simpler than ever to put Quicken to work for you--so you can reach your personal finance goals faster. With the new Guided Setup, you just answer a few simple questions; we'll show you how Quicken works, and what to do next. You'll see your total financial picture come into focus even sooner than you expect.

New--Avoid late fees and penalties We help you avoid overdraft fees and penalties--by showing you how much you'll have left in your account until your next paycheck.

Improved--Check for accuracy We've made it easier to review your transactions, so you can quickly spot anything that looks inaccurate or out of place. If a transaction requires follow-up, you can flag it with a reminder.

Improved--Get tips from other Quicken users With Quicken's Live Community, you can get help and advice from other Quicken users without ever leaving Quicken. If you have a question about something specific you're trying to do, just look to Live Community on the right of the Quicken screen for the answer.

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Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS Locator 2011 Review

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(More customer reviews)I am Donna's husband and I got Microsoft Streets & Trips 2011 with the USB GPS receiver a few days ago. I didn't really notice any changes between the 2009 version and the 2011 version of Streets & Trips. Just newer maps. I give the software 5 stars.
The GPS receiver that comes with Streets & Trips is the "u-blox 5 GPS and GALILEO Receiver" by ublox. [...] I downloaded the "u-center GPS evaluation software" [...] and installed in on my desktop computer and my Acer netbook computer. I then plugged the USB GPS receiver into each computer and, using the u-center software, monitored the GPS receiver's performance. Here is what I found:
The GPS receiver would not lock up when plugged directly into the netbook no matter how long I left it. It would find one or two satellites but that was all. When I connected it to the netbook using the included USB extension cable, it would lock up in 5 - 10 minutes. After it got a lock, it's performance seemed about as good as the other GPS receivers that I have. When I plugged the GPS receiver into my desktop computer it took 5 - 10 minutes to lock up and again, it's performance seemed about as good as the other GPS receivers that I have. The GPS receiver does not have any type of battery or super-capacitor backup so every time it is unplugged it forgets all of the satellite almanac data and has to do a cold start each time it is plugged in.
I also have a GlobalSat BU-353 GlobalSat BU-353 Waterproof USB GPS Receiver. It is a much better GPS receiver. Because it has a super-capacitor backup, it retains the satellite almanac data and is able to do a warm start when it's plugged in. It is able to acquire a lock in less than a minute. It also works fine with the Streets & Trips software. I recommend you buy Streets & Trips WITHOUT the USB GPS receiver and get the GlobalSat BU-353 GPS receiver instead.


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Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS Locator helps you plan and map your travels in advance, make your business travel more efficient or inspire your next RV adventure. Streets & Trips helps you to tailor your trip to your personal style, such as preferred road types, multiple stops, start and stop times, and more. Streets & Trips with GPS Locator requires no Internet connection and includes 1.9 million points of interest to help you find interesting stops along the way—no Internet required. Get lost in the adventure, not trying to find it.
Get accurate driving directions to just about anywhere in the United States, Mexico and Canada.Click here for a larger image

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Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard Review

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(More customer reviews)I am an instructor for Dragon NaturallySpeaking, but I do not work for Nuance.com. I work for a healthcare software company. I primarily deal with the medical editions used by Pathologists in clinical laboratories.
Here are some pointers for those who have not used Dragon, but are thinking of purchasing.
1. Don't skimp on a headset. Visit Nuance.com. Click on Support > Hardware Compatibility List > Dragon NaturallySpeaking > Headset Microphones Current. While it is possible to use a wireless microphone, if you are just starting out, go with a wired, such as a Plantronics DSP-400 (Amazon has this headset for $[...]. It seems cheap, but it is a very good headset). If you can hook the headset up via USB instead of mic in, you will get better recognition accuracy. Additionally, you don't need an internal sound card if you are connecting via USB as the headset comes with its own external sound card.
A good wireless headset will be expensive, and they do not have as good of recognition accuracy as a wired headset.
2. Once you have your headset, connect it to the PC, and install Dragon. It is a straightforward install.
3. You will have to go through an audio and quality check, and then go into General Training. I recommend doing one of the easier readings. You can always go back through and do additional general training. My BIGGEST piece of advice here is speak with your normal voice. Some of my students seem to want to over enunciate, or speak with a different voice during general training. That is only going to set you up for a difficult time when you begin dictating.
4. After your general training, I highly recommend going through the Tutorials. You should be given an option to do this after your general training. If not, you can get to them through the Help Menu on the Dragon bar.
Note: At some point, you will be given the option of having Dragon scan your email and documents. Nuance recommends this, but I don't. You can always have it scan your documents later via the accuracy center. Additionally, I never recommend letting Dragon scan your email. What it is going to do with these actions, is to learn your writing style. Rather than letting DNS do this at setup, move a bunch of documents you have written to one folder, go to the Accuracy Center, and let DNS scan the entire folder.
4. Dragon has some shortcut keys. The number keypad + key is used to turn your mic on and off. The number keypad / key is used to put your mic to sleep, and wake it up. You can go to Tools > Options to change shortcut keys.
5. Remember that while you can do a lot with Dragon, you will find that your best usage comes with using Dragon, the keyboard and the mouse.
6. Set up some Custom Commands. Visit [...] to learn how to set up Custom Commands. There is a book by Larry V. Allen called Scripting for Dragon NaturallySpeaking that will help you out with Advanced Scripts.
7. When you begin dictating, Dragon WILL make some mistakes. It does not help if you yell at your microphone. You will have to continue to train your profile as time goes. If Dragon makes a mistake, resist the urge to delete the mistake and start over. I use this analogy with my students. Think of it as a new puppy. If a puppy makes a mistake, you don't get rid of it (at least you shouldn't), you should correct its mistake. The same goes for Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Use the command "Select That" to have DNS highlight the word, and bring up a menu of possible alternate choices. If the correct word is not there, use the command "Spell That" and then spell the word such as: a m a z o n
8. My last tip concerns the Acoustic and Language Model Optimizer. You can get to it through the Accuracy Center, or the Start Menu. Run that after about two weeks of use, and again on a monthly basis. This will fine tune your profile with all corrections and training.
Enjoy Dragon NaturallySpeaking. It is a great piece of software.

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Turn talk into text with speech recognition software!Product InformationWith Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard you can talk to your computer and watch your spoken words instantly appear in documents email and instant messages. You can even surf the Web just by speaking! Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 turns your voice into text three times faster than most people type - with up to 99% accuracy. It learns to recognize your voice instantly and continually improves the more you use it! Just use your voice to dictate and edit in virtually any Windows application including Microsoft Word Internet Explorer Mozilla Firefox and AOL. This revolutionary and easy-to-use product gives you everything you need to get started including a high-quality headset. Faster and more accurate than typingE-mail IM and and surf the Web - all by voicePerfect for use at homePerfect for the whole family from busy parents to kids just learning to type.Product FeaturesAccurate speech recognition for PC applications - Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Standard offers unprecedented speech recognition with unrivaled accuracy levels: it's up to 20% more accurate than Version 9 with up to 50% more accurate results than the product delivered just five years ago. Users gain the added benefit of avoiding spelling errors and typing mistakes. In fact the product actually learns from corrections over time.Works with the applications users already have - Dictate directly into Microsoft Word and most other Microsoft Office applications running on Microsoft Windows XP Windows 2000 and Windows Vista. Dragon also supports popular programs such as Corel WordPerfect Microsoft Internet Explorer Mozilla Firefox and AOL. Navigate the desktop by voice: launch or switch applications save or print documents and more – even control menus and dialog boxes.With the automatic punctuation option users can omit spoken periods and commas during dictation – Dragon Naturally

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Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 64-bit for System Builders - 1 pack Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First off, this is an OEM software. That means it is intended to be installed on a new computer build NOT upgrade an existing copy of Windows. It is possible to install it on an existing computer by formatting an existing or new hard drive, but that would violate the license for this particular incarnation of Vista. If you want to install it on an existing computer, buy a full retail copy, or an upgrade copy.
I love Vista 64-bit. It is fast, easy to use, and the best Windows to date. Anyone who is still ripping Vista at this point doesn't own Vista, or is an inexperienced computer user, or a Mac fan that just wants to pour oil on a fire. Vista, the much belated and maligned 6th incarnation of the Windows operating system had real problems a year ago. Almost all of those problems have been fixed. Some of what users describe as problems are in fact less a problem with Vista than they are with computer buyer's perceptions and expectations.
So why is Vista beat up all the time? The most frequent complaint I hear is that it is a 'memory hog.' Honestly, this is a perception, not a reality. Vista does require more ran than XP, as XP required more than the previous windows, etc., etc. The reality is that RAM has gotten remarkably cheap, and using RAM liberally is a GOOD THING. The bottle neck in computing has been 4GB of ram on all 32-bit systems, but even with 4GB (3-3.5GB accessible to the system) almost no one will use all of the ram. With the 64-bit version, it is possible to run 8Gb of ram on a decent motherboard, and it is also possible to buy 8gb of RAM for $150! Why, in these days of super inexpensive RAM, don't those who feel Vista is too slow, just buy more? Honestly?
Another complaint is that drivers don't work or are not available for a particular software or hardware. There was a lot of truth to that a year ago. Now, after service pack 1, and over months of running Vista 64-bit exclusively, I can say that I have zero, yes zero, driver issues. Everything runs like a champ. I should note that I have a high end gaming computer, and have a lot of software installed. To not have a single driver issue is amazing, and something I could not say about XP one year into it's release.
If you know about computers, and are ready to make the switch to Vista, there has never been a better time. Most of the kinks are worked out, and while I can't promise you won't have any issues with drivers, it's getting less likely by the day. Programmers are catching on that Vista is not just going to disappear and everyone go back to XP, and that waiting for the next Windows will not put any money in their wallets, and have started to produce software written for Vista. Hardware manufacturers are also getting a clue and releasing solid Vista and Vista 64-bit drivers for their devices.
Frankly, this is the most powerful windows yet. 64-bit computing is hitting it's stride, and in another year or so, we'll all be looking back at 32-bit with the same derision as when the transition was made from 16 to 32 bit computers. 32 bit's days are numbered. It's time to move on.


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Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVDPrimary InformationOperating System:Windows Vista UltimateHeader / Localization:EnglishOS Provided / Media:DVD-ROMUNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code:43233004Product IDUPC:882224352574Manufacturer Part:66R-00838

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Windows 7 Ultimate 32 Bit System Builder 1pk Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this version because it was the best price and was in stock. The OEM version was easy to install.The 32 bit I feel was the best for drivers. It runs better than XP. Boots faster and is alot smarter. The learning curve has not been too bad not having seen Vista (glad I didn't) I would recommend it for Vista users to convert. Once the companies upgrade there software to better Accomodate Window 7, it will be even better. Vista driver seem to work well, as do some of the XP drivers. I ran the Beta (free) version before I made this decision.

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Upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate. Windows 7 Ultimate is the most versatile and powerful edition of Windows 7. It combines remarkable ease-of-use with the entertainment features of Home Premium and the business capabilities of Professional, including the ability to run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode. For added security, you can encrypt your data with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. And for extra flexibility, you can work in any of 35 languages. Get it all with Windows 7 Ultimate.


Upgrade to Windows 7 All editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista qualify you to upgrade.
1. Choose your edition of Windows 7 Explore key features and choose the edition that's best for you. Be sure to check the expanded list of extended features in Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate. System requirements vary for each edition of Windows 7 because some features might require special hardware.

2. See if your PC has what it takes to run Windows 7 In general, if your PC can run Windows Vista it can run Windows 7. To make sure, download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to do a quick check. If you want certain features, such as HomeGroup or Windows Media Center, check to see if your PC has the hardware that's needed.

3. Check which operating system your PC is currently running How you make the move to Windows 7 depends on your current operating system.

Windows Vista The transition to Windows 7 should be pretty smooth, although you may need to update your system to the latest service pack first.
Windows XP (or any other operating system) We recommend that you experience Windows 7 on a new PC. While we don't recommend it, you can opt to upgrade your current PC from Windows XP or another operating system to Windows 7. We recommend that you get help with this process from your local computer service provider. You'll need to back up your current files and settings, perform a custom (clean) installation, and then reinstall your files, settings, and programs.

Designed for people who want it all
Easiest Windows to use ever

Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
Easy to network (with or without a server).
Back up your complete system over a network.
Help protect data on your PC or portable storage device against loss or theft with BitLocker.

Faster and more flexible

Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.
Windows XP Mode gives you the business flexibility you need.
Switch between any of 35 languages.

Best PC entertainment experience

Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Blu-ray read/write support for data files.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.

Simplifies Everyday Tasks
Simple to use
Windows® Taskbar Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.

Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.

Jump Lists Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar.

Snap Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.

Aero® Peek Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.

Windows Search Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.

Easy to connect
Wireless setup With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.

HomeGroup Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.

Easy to browse the web
Windows® Internet Explorer 8 Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.

Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.

Easy to communicate and share
Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.

Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.

Windows Live Family Safety Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.

Works The Way You Want
Faster and More Reliable
Resume from sleep We designed Windows 7 to help PCs sleep and resume from sleep more quickly by improving the way Windows 7 manages drivers, programs, and power.

Faster and more reliable We reduced the amount of memory your PC needs for open windows and to execute commands to help it be more responsive to commands.

Fewer clicks and less interruptions

Makes New Things Possible
Media on your terms
Windows Media Center Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.

Windows Media Center Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.

DirectX 11 DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.

New ways to engage
Windows Touch Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.

Media on your terms
Windows Media® Player More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.

You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.

Work anywhere
Location Aware Printing Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.

Product Comparison

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Windows 7 PRO 64 Bit System Builder 1pk Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This isn't a review of Windows 7 itself, but of the Windows 7 Professional 64 bit System Builder pack as sold here.
Since I build all my PCs, I have to supply an OS for them and many of them need to be running Windows. Microsoft's pricing for the retail versions is simply horrid and gouging, especially when you consider that companies like Dell and EMachines pay much less than $100 per installation for any desktop version of Windows.
For the PC builder on a tight budget, they often think that they only have a choice of being raped on the price or installing a pirated copy of Windows. Since pirating is illegal, immoral and dangerous (most of the copies, activation cracks and keygens on the internet are infected with malware) to do it right means paying too much money.
This also applies to a home user (or even an office one) who wants to upgrade an existing Windows machine to the latest. Even Microsoft's retail prices for the upgrades are horrendously expensive.
This distribution is intended for those who build Windows PCs much as I did in my computer store throughout the late 80s and 90s. The ONLY differences between it and a retail copy of Windows 7 Professional are:
1. Price
2. No fancy box
3. No extra flyers, leaflets and junk
4. No support from Microsoft as the builder is supposed to support the customer
The box and flyers go in the trash anyway. In 20 some years of using Windows I've only called Microsoft once, and that was their "store" to order an "anytime upgrade" as their website was down. So #4 doesn't mean a thing to me.
Where this SKU shines is the price as you get the full "Professional Version" for less than the "Home Premium" version.
As I've stated in previous reviews, "Home Premium" is a waste of time for anyone need more than basic Windows functionality as Microsoft disabled too many features. With "Home Premium" the only way to network your computer to ANY prior version of Windows, Mac, Linux and a number of networkable devices is to edit the Windows registry. This eliminates probably 90% (or more) home users.
Also missing is the ability to have a relative or friend who is your "computer guru" use Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol to take over your computer and help you through a problem. Home users likely will never use that feature, but those who support them DO need it. The alternative is to install a 3rd party program that accomplishes the same thing, often at a cost of security and price.
For those two reasons alone, I feel that Windows 7 Professional 64 bit System Builder is a wise choice for your next upgrade or fresh installation.
*Please note that I do not disparage or discourage use of LogMeIn, TeamViewer or GoToMyPC, etc. as I DO make use of the first two.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Windows 7 PRO 64 Bit System Builder 1pk

Upgrade to Windows 7 Professional. With Windows 7 Professional, fewer walls stand between you and your success. You can run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode and recover data easily with automatic backups to your home or business network. You can also connect to company networks effortlessly and more securely with Domain Join. With all the exciting entertainment features of Windows Home Premium, it's a great choice for home and for business. Need to use multiple languages on your PC or help protect your data with enhanced BitLocker security? Get Windows 7 Ultimate.


Upgrade to Windows 7 All editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista qualify you to upgrade.
1. Choose your edition of Windows 7 Explore key features and choose the edition that's best for you. Be sure to check the expanded list of extended features in Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate. System requirements vary for each edition of Windows 7 because some features might require special hardware.

2. See if your PC has what it takes to run Windows 7 In general, if your PC can run Windows Vista it can run Windows 7. To make sure, download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to do a quick check. If you want certain features, such as HomeGroup or Windows Media Center, check to see if your PC has the hardware that's needed.

3. Check which operating system your PC is currently running How you make the move to Windows 7 depends on your current operating system.

Windows Vista The transition to Windows 7 should be pretty smooth, although you may need to update your system to the latest service pack first.
Windows XP (or any other operating system) We recommend that you experience Windows 7 on a new PC. While we don't recommend it, you can opt to upgrade your current PC from Windows XP or another operating system to Windows 7. We recommend that you get help with this process from your local computer service provider. You'll need to back up your current files and settings, perform a custom (clean) installation, and then reinstall your files, settings, and programs.

Everything you need for work and home
Easiest Windows to use ever

Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
Easy to network (with or without a server).
Back up your complete system over a network.

Faster and more flexible

Windows XP Mode gives you the business flexibility you need.
Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.

Best PC entertainment experience

Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
Blu-ray read/write support for data files.
Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.
`
Simplifies Everyday Tasks
Simple to use
Windows® Taskbar Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.

Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.

Jump Lists Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar.

Snap Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.

Aero® Peek Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.

Windows Search Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.

Easy to connect
Wireless setup With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.

HomeGroup Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.

Easy to browse the web
Windows® Internet Explorer 8 Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.

Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.

Easy to communicate and share
Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.

Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.

Windows Live Family Safety Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.

Works The Way You Want
Faster and More Reliable
Resume from sleep We designed Windows 7 to help PCs sleep and resume from sleep more quickly by improving the way Windows 7 manages drivers, programs, and power.

Faster and more reliable We reduced the amount of memory your PC needs for open windows and to execute commands to help it be more responsive to commands.

Fewer clicks and less interruptions

Makes New Things Possible
Media on your terms
Windows Media Center Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.

Windows Media Center Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.

DirectX 11 DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.

New ways to engage
Windows Touch Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.

Media on your terms
Windows Media® Player More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.

You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.

Work anywhere
Location Aware Printing Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.

Product Comparison

Get 5% OFF

Click here for more information about Windows 7 PRO 64 Bit System Builder 1pk

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