My Machine, My Baby

On more than one occasion, I've heard court reporters referring to their machines as their babies. Or that it's very important to look at their write LIKE IT IS a baby. Devotion, familiarity, and care are all key to "becoming one" with your machine--and eventually, enabling you to work your CTR magic on it.

Goo-goo, motherf***ers.

When I first realized that I'd have to get my own steno equipment, I immediately jumped onto Craigslist.
Why? Because first and foremost, I'm pretty gosh darn cheap. And second, ex-steno students appear to be quite common. (I heard elsewhere that the drop-out rate for steno students is around 92%!!)
To test this theory, I just popped on Craiglist right now and BEHOLD--I found a handful of posts for students selling their old equipment. Rarely has anyone ever sold only part of a set, they're usually trying to get rid of the entire thing--writer, cables, books, etc...

I actually still have the original post where I found my current machine:
Aaw, memories.

Court reporting Steno Machine - $300 (stockton)

---

Date: 2012-12-05, 7:45PM PST

Reply to: see below

---

I am selling a used Stentura 200 SRT steno machine, Real time court reporting dictionary, and real time court reporting student CAT software. I have never used the CAT software has everything you need to get started for real time. The Stentura 200 SRT was used for a year. I changed my major, there is nothing wrong with this machine.
Asking $300 

Please call XXXXXXXXXXXXXX ask for XXX

• Location: stockton
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID:3458619059

It was thanks to this very generous seller that I was able to procure nearly all my beginning-student materials.

All of the equipment has gone along quite swimmingly, save for the matter of the cables. But I'm sure you already remember my earlier post about that.

So far, things are going well, although I am still trying to figure out how to make the keystrokes shallower. They feel quite deep right now, and I think it would be beneficial to have less pounding, more swift striking.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!