ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred review:5 stars (This software is absolutely unbelievable!) - I installed the software this morning and went through the tutorials to learn how to use it, and I'm writing this review with it now (or should say it is writing it for me). I can't believe how accurate it is and how easy it is to use. I've had no problems with it whatsoever, I'll never go back to typing! It's so easy I could sit here and write a review as long as a novel but I won't. All I can say is, this is the most innovative software that I've ever encountered in the last 10 years. I would recommend getting the full package with the manual and quick reference card. The headphones are rather cheap, if you have a decent quality set already I would use those instead. I would not buy the CD only version! I paid $105 for the full version with expedited shipping on June 22 and received it on June 25th.
I highly recommend it, it will completely change the way you interact with your computer.5 stars (For $99.99 you cannot go wrong!) - I LOVE THIS PRODUCT! It saves me everyday! As a student, at lectures, it is amazing! I use this product to update myself on notes I may have missed in class! With a great recorder, this product will transcribe notes onto my MP3 player in no time what so ever. It takes some time to get use to - don't get me wrong. Some of the notes are a little wonky. For example, "ice cream" instead of "I scream" but if you have any knowledge of the class you are in, this product saves lives. If it wasn't for Dragon I would have been working as tech support my whole life! My internship is at a university teaching economics! I never would have thought this possible if I didn't have Dragon to take me through my workouts, my walks to school, my transit rides, etc. It has truly gotten me through class!5 stars (Best I've seen so for.) - I've tried using previous versions of this software with little success. But this version seems to be working fine as I am using it right now to write this review as other people have done. I did not try the included microphone headset that came with the software but instead I am using the Logitech USB headset 350. The software did not have any problem setting up with the Logitech headset. So may I suggest for those that bought the software with the included headset if you are having problems try another headset as I did. It is interesting to note that the software can also be used in just about any place that you would normally type such as chat rooms, Web addresses, and other miscellaneous text fields.

Buyer beware of such software priced around the $75 range with the CD only and the serial number because the one that I bought at that price range had already been activated by enough people to make the code invalid, and you have to activate it sooner or later, therefore there was no way to activate my copy. The serial was just printed by itself on a white label stuck to the back of the CD envelope. The 2nd one I purchased for twice the price and noted by the seller to be sealed and not activated had a large white label with the serial number printed on it 3 times. If you do choose to buy software around that price make sure you install it as soon as you get it, activate the software when you run it to make sure your serial number has not been previously used. As an alternative to this you could call ScanSoft and have the operator look up your serial number as I did which is how I found out my serial number had already been used. Fortunately I will be able to get a refund from Amazon because the seller has not responded to my e-mail and has only one day left to explain why they sold a copy of the software with a bogus serial number.
ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred Features:
Computer software (programs)
Utilities
Voice Command (Recognition)
CD
Speech recognition software for dictating, editing, and controlling applications
Listen to incoming e-mail read aloud; search the Web by speaking URLs and links
Use dictation shortcuts to insert text or bitmaps with a single voice command
Dictate directly into a PC or any Scansoft-approved handheld digital recorder
Works with Corel WordPerfect and virtually all Windows-based applications

ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred is the CD-ROM version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around  169.99USD.