I have been using Dragon for over 10 years starting with version 11 and version 13 and when I tried to upgrade to version 15 and import my profile to the new version, I found out that's not possible. So I have over 10 years of specific terminology and medical terms that I have to start all over to rebuild since they didn't bother to make it possible to retain the old profile. I'm sorry to have upgraded – should've stayed with version 13So far so good. I've been using the Windows Speech Recognition program that was built into Windows 7 (my current OS) but comparing Dragon to the Windows program is like comparing a Lexus to a Model T. They both do pretty much the same thing but Dragon does it FAR better. Some of the advantages of Dragon:It is intuitive, whereas the Windows program doesn't seem to be, at least not nearly as much. For instance, when dictating (for example) "the weather was fair today" Dragon anticipates the meaning based on the context and will print "fair" rather than "fare", a problem that was chronic with the Windows program with many similar-sounding words.It learns: the more you use it the better it gets. I've had mine for only a few weeks and it is already much better at transcribing what I say.The commands seem to be designed for speed. For example with the Windows program if you want to capitalize a word or phrase you need to speak the phrase, then go back and highlight the word/words you want capitalized and say "capitalize". With Dragon, just saying "cap" before the word will capitalize the word. Other commands make equal sense. Some of the commands in Dragon are similar to the ones in the Windows program (and can work interchangeably) but with the ones that are different the Dragon versions seem much speedier.The Text Box. With the Windows program there were applications that wouldn't accept dictation, in which case you'd need to open MS Word, speak your text and after it was written, cut-and-paste it into the document in your other application. With Dragon, it instantly recognizes when it cannot type into an application and will bring up a "text box" that allows you to dictate your text. When finished just use the "transfer" command and Dragon posts it into your document.Problems? The instructions with the program tend to over-complicate things, but if you've used the windows program there is enough similarity so that once you've loaded Dragon you can use it immediately. However there are enough differences so that unless you really read the instructions and understand Dragon, you won't get nearly the speed out of it that it is capable of delivering. Also, I ordered the package deal with earphones and Dragon for Dummies--but if you do this please note that at least with the package I got, the Dragon for Dummies included was for Version 12, not Version 13 (which was the version of Dragon that I got) and there seemed to be enough differences so that the book, while helpful, is not the resource that it could be if it were based on the current version. Also note that the dragon software itself comes with a set of earphones (which I didn't know), so now I have two sets of earphones for the program, neither of which I use because of the analog connections (I have a USB set that is far superior to either of the two included with my order).All in all, a very good bang for your buck and light-years ahead of the program I was using. Just be sure what is in the package youare ordering.I am typing this the old fashioned way. After spending more than 30 hours trying ideas from Nuance Customer Support, user websites and YouTube videos, changing settings and even uninstalling and reinstalling the program on 2 different computers (both running Windows 10), I still have not been able to get the software to work.The frustrating thing is the microphone is working and I can use it, but not with Dragon. I get to the microphone check, see my device in the window and can speak into it and make the bars move, but when I select it and click next I get the error message:The sound system you have selected is not responding. Try selecting a different one, or check to make sure that no other application, such as Dragon Naturally Speaking, is accessing the sound system.There must be a solution for this I haven’t found, but as I am out of patience with the whole thing I will have to take a break from it. Perhaps someone will read this and be able to help me and any others who have the same issue.Update,I finally got Dragon to work, at least on my laptop.I have a new laptop that I only use for work, but I decided to see if I could set up Windows speech recognition on it, something I wasn’t able to do on my other machines. In 2 minutes I was dictating into notepad. All 3 machines run Windows 10, what’s the difference? Could it be how they got there? One computer started out as a 7 machine, the other as an 8.1. I decided to try an experiment with my 8.1 machine.First, I installed a clean version of Windows 10 (which erases everything on your computer), then I set up speech recognition and confirmed it was working. After that I reinstalled Dragon and all my other software. Took the whole day, but it works.I am not recommending this course of action to anyone else as I am not the brightest bulb in the sign when it comes to computers. I’m sure there was an easier solution to my problem, but I went the long way around to discover if you can’t get Windows speech recognition to work, Dragon won’t work either.Anyway, I went through the Naturally Speaking tutorial, then dictated a couple pieces of my writing and got surprising accuracy. Nothing close to perfect, but far fewer mistakes than I anticipated.I originally gave this a 1 star review, but I would up it to 3 stars now.Product was the Spanish language version which had not been mentioned anywhere on the product description when purchasedStill working through this, lots to learn.I first tried DNS several years ago with the version 7 and found it to work fine, however, the user interface left much to be desired! Later, I had lots of trouble with the reinstalling after my computer crashed (not due to the speech recognition system) and I upgraded my computer and operating system. Recently, due to health reasons, I needed a replacement for my usual typing and tried the built-in speech recognition software in Windows 7. I found this extremely ineffective and so decided to try the Dragon speech recognition system once again.I purchased DNS version 13 home edition from from Amazon Canada. I simply couldn't get the installation going successfully on my Dell laptop and emailed Dragon Systems support. Within 24 hours I received an email from them asking for more details and within hours of that I received an email response for an alternative method of installation.it involved installing from the hard drive rather than the DVD. The instructions were very clear for the most part and worked like a charm!I found the new version to work a lot smoother than the earlier version 7. The software interface is vastly superior and user-friendly with excellent help files. Once set, without much training the dictation works nearly flawlessly; indeed I am using the software to dictate this! Very few errors, on some difficult words, capitalization at the beginning of sentences particularly when there is a pause in the dictation.overall I'm very happy with the performance of this extremely helpful software.One problem that I experienced, although it may have nothing to do with Dragon system software was noticed in the Virtual machine (XP) that I use on my XP Pro OS. It Would not shut down normally. I had to figure out with the help of Microsoft online help files, but once done, XP has been working nicely.I suspect that this XP mishap was independent of Dragon software.HIGHLY recommended!!this was not a new product, it was a clearly used and likely stolen and damaged version. do not buy it. if negative stars could be given, I would give them. I received a beaten up product package, with a torn off security panel area on the bottom of it, and a disk with greasy fingerprints and scratches all over it. the headset appears to be the only part actually packaged in new condition in the box. shipping could not have caused the damages incurred to the product, only use in an unbalanced disk drive AND lack of cleaning afterwards could.Much improved since the original edition. With new technology it is now possible to download interviews from WAV or MP3 files and have the program “listen” to speech and produce usuals text. The user still must ensure that words like “where” and “wear” have been accurately transcribed. I estimate as saving of approximately 500 to 700 hours compared to previous interviews used to prepare a 350 page text.