This section will focus on the cables, which I found to give me the biggest headache.
I am a self-proclaimed neanderthal when it comes to technology, so I shouldn't be surprised.
First, a brief summary:
② cables
You might be thinking, "Cables? What kind of cables? Does it have ESPN?"
Well, by "cables," people typically mean the cables/cords that will connect your writer to a computer. They allow a computer program to relay the writer keystrokes into a program, and can even translate it into a readable English form!
Because writers are so often dependent on ancient serial ports...
You shall not...CONNECT
...you need some newfangled USB-serial adapters to make the connection.
This really does feel counter-intuitive to have so many writers still rely on this format if serial ports are being phased out. However, I have noticed a very new writer called the LightSpeed, which does not rely on serial ports in order to connect to the computer.
Just check out the link and prepare to be amazed.
Yes, this is what it does in its spare time.
Super-shallow keys?
USB connection?
This is the future, people! Just gazing it makes me sour a bit over my current machine. But I understand that like all things, baby-steps are vital, so there is good reason for having started with my current writer. (Plus, the $3K+ price tag on the LightSpeed would make any person hesitate.)
Still, this post is about the cables, not writers.
I'd like to explain a little bit about the trials and tribulations I had when it came to getting "hooked up"...
When you are purchasing your writer + cables + program + computer, you must make sure that they are all compatible. (Why, it's a regular rainbow of parts!)
Don't worry, this doesn't mean random trial-and-error. There are plenty of people in the steno community who are very much willing to help you figure it out. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Unfortunately, I hadn't yet discovered the treasure-trove of information online, so I had to find salvation with West Valley's instructors and IT professionals.
All of the aforementioned parts (except for the computer) were obtained through Craigslist by the same seller, so I was certain that it was all a done deal. Of course the writer would work the cables, and of course they would all hook onto my laptop without a hitch, and of course the wonderful free drill program the school provided would work perfectly.
Alas, it was not to be.
I mean this innocent-looking thing:
Yeah, I'm looking at you, blue disc of death!
Wipe off that goofy grin!
The above image makes it look like the driver and cable go hand-in-hand, are attached at the hip, like two peas in a pod! More witty idioms!
Well, for whatever reason, that driver CD refused to properly spin to life on my laptop, and the USB-serial port adapter cable ended up useless.
That was a fresh $20 out of pocket to purchase a new adapter cable, complete with handy-dandy driver CD.
But I wasn't out of the woods yet...
Next on my list of things to tackle was getting a theory program installed onto my laptop that my writer could actually connect to. The school was kind enough to hook me up with a retro-rrific theory drill program, but once everything was hooked up...it didn't work.
Thus, out came the wallet. This time, I put down a fat $100 for the Total Eclipse program. There were toll-free numbers to call, key codes to write down, and some more time spent with the steno IT guru, but it did eventually work.
I was just -$120 than when I originally started.
I know this post probably sounds like I was peeved out of my mind, but now that I'm past that point, and onto actually using the writer + cables + program + computer as intended, so I'm very happy with it!
So before you allow yourself to get all hooked up getting...hooked up, take a moment to consult with the myriad of other students and professionals in the field who have gone through the exact same thing.
Hopefully, this information can help save a student a little bit o' headache and a whole lotta cash.
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