A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Which expander do you prefer? - JustPassingThrough

Posted: Sep 10, 2011

I'm thinking of switching to either Instant Text or Shorthand from the generic Bayscribe expander that I've been using. Back in the day PRD+ did everything that I needed for it to do and more.

Which expander do you prefer (doesn't have to be one of the ones mentioned above)?

Thanks in advance.

IT - tiredMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I used Shorthand for a few years and it was okay but I noticed some problems with it. Sometimes it was throwing in extra letters or omitting letters - it was kind of weird. I'm sure not everyone has that problem, but I did.

I switched to Instant Text about 3 months ago and I have really been loving it. I have had no problems with it and I like how it has the visual reminders so you don't have to memorize your abbreviations.

Both Shorthand and Instant Text offer 30 day free trials so, if I were you, I would try both before deciding, because they are a bit expensive and you want to make sure you are happy with the one you choose. Good luck.

IT - shorty

[ In Reply To ..]
I used IT, had work problems and they put shorthand on my PC. I couldn't get used to it. Maybe I didn't learn it well enough but IT is so easy. Plus you don't have to use space bar to expand which is very helpful to me.

I use one called Breevy, and work in chartscript.net. - Lots cheaper than instant text and SM

[ In Reply To ..]
why should I pay $200 for someone else's abbreviations that mean nothing to me. I've got my own for the specific accounts I have and I'd rather spend a little time entering them into the Breevy program for a much smaller price. You'd have to enter your own into instant text or hope to havoc that their conversion program will properly convert yours.

Another reason I wont buy it is that AAMT people own and/or are part of it. I

You also get tech support from the Breevy developer, and if you've got suggestions for features, he'll work on adding them that day if possible. They have a forum where you can ask question and the developer himself answers you.

I've been quite happy with it during the free trial version and after purchase.

PS: I also do not want to waste the time on instant's "learning curve." Bull roar. I need that time to work and get paid for. I'd rather use something that takes a little entry time, no learning curve and I can use right away without figuring it out, on top of tweaking it and making it do what I want instead of what the designers wanted it to do for them. Breevy works just as well as any other expander.

Many corrections to your post... Instant Text is owned and operated by - Textware Solutions not AAMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Textware Solutions is not affiliated or endorsed by any other company or organization.

You can manually add in your own abbreviations with just 2 keystrokes.

You do not have to use any of the entries that come with the program.

Instant Text also offers a free trial.

Tech support is offered directly by Textware Solutions and not a third party.

Many of the new features offered in the latest version of Instant Text is a direct result of user feedback. The "wish list" requests were submitted on the Instant Text forum.

Any new program requires some learning.

Another fan of IT - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Count me in as another fan of IT. I had previously used AutoCorrect and Dictaphone's ESP, but switched to IT a few months ago because my new company's VR platform only supports that expander and Shorthand. I love it. I don't think the adjustment/learning curve is that hard at all. I like the feature to count how many keystrokes you are saving and keep track of your improvement. Last week I was typing an average of 1.94 for every 1. Have only been using it since June, so this will just improve as I have a chance to make use of some of the more advanced features. I trialed it first for 30 days, and then decided to buy. As I mentioned, some platforms (mine is M-Modal based) won't support anything but Shorthand or IT, so if you have something else, you couldn't use it.

SH - OnlyExpander4Me

[ In Reply To ..]
I have used SH for 3 years and LOVE it. I have not had issues with it all. You can program it to show definitions for sound like words so you know you are using the correct word. You can add meds with the generics listed below. You can also program it to do commands that might normally take 4 steps into 1 step. I find it a huge benefit and will never be without it!!

Thanks, all, for your input. nm - JustPassingThrough

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

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