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

Need to buy a computer, anyone know what specs I need for transcription? - KT

Posted: Aug 21, 2011

Ok, I have to buy a computer and I'm going to have to go tomorrow to find something because I'm starting a new job this week, so I'm down to the wire. I've been trying to find out where to buy and what to buy. It is at the point right now, I cant afford a brand new one but I want to get a used one that will be good for transcription. Can anyone tell me what to look for such as processor, processor speed, how much RAM, etc. I am desperate.

you really need to know what is compatible to do the work - firstthingsfirst

[ In Reply To ..]
I would be glad to tell you what brand and model to buy and where to rush out the door to buy it, but if you can't work because it was the wrong operating system, would you be as happy AFTER having spent several hundred dollars? There is an active discussion about this on the main page that will be just as informative.

Talk to your new MTSO/employer and find out what they need for you to buy.

oh, that was you who also posted on the main board - firstthingsfirst

[ In Reply To ..]
so, if you won't take the advice already offered on the main page, maybe someone here will help?

Okay, go to Rent-A-Center and rent whatever they have with an internet connection, don't consider the platform whatsoever. See if it works. If not, you are only out a week of rent and maybe you can get a better idea of what you need. good luck with that new job.

Why the sarcasm, just looking for help - KT

[ In Reply To ..]
Why the sarcasm. I wasnt offered the info such as specific things I need on a computer. What is it with people when you ask for a little help, you have to be so nasty? I didnt change my name or try to hide that I'm asking for this. I havent bought my own computer before and would just like to know what size of things to ask for. Is there something wrong with looking in 2 different places at once to get the info. Seriously...thats really nasty behavior for an adult.

speaking only for myself - firstthingsfirst

[ In Reply To ..]
my attitude changed tremendously when I saw what you are asking for. How in the world you got a job without passing through some sort of hardware/software screening is beyond me. And to see that you have invested nothing into this process, waiting until the last minute, and then expecting people to hand you what you want on a silver platter is also beyond me.

Now that I am beyond myself hehe I will tell you what I said the first time. You need to get back with the hiring company and ask them what is compatible with the account you will be working. If you need XP, a good place to start is a deal-a-day site like 1SaleADay Deals where you can get a refurbished XP with dual Pentium processors and some software like a current version of MS Word. However, if the company you plan to work for only supports versions of Word through 2003, then you need to look at eBay to find a copy there to intall after you get the computer, so you need to prepare yourself for that. I don't know of anyone who is selling off the shelf computers with Word 2003 preloaded.

Sometimes people don't know what they don't know and it makes it impossible to give the exact type of answer you later asked for. As for going to RAC, that was not sarcasm. I've done it before and I am using the computer I tried with them 2 years ago when my work computer died one day.

Additionally just so you are aware, there are many companies who want a report run through a program called Belarc Advisor. Once you download this jiffy little diddy, it creates a report about all the things you want to know about your computer - hardware and software. I worked for some MTSOs who required this report before hiring me to ensure my setup was compatible with their system. They didn't want to waste their time or mine if my setup wasn't compatible.

So next time, maybe, please, be a little more understanding that the information you are being given is the best around. Should you choose not to take it, well, best of luck to you :)

RAC steals your money - JoeUser

[ In Reply To ..]
I wouldn't buy anything from rent-a-center, let alone a computer. Every single item in their store is overpriced out the yang, and their computers have to be the worst of the inventory. Rent-a-center is notorious for selling people products for several times what they are actually worth. In my personal experience, buying a computer from a rent-to-own place of any kind is just a good way to get bent over a barrel.

You DO NOT need any kind of high-end computer for transcription work. Any computer you can buy at Walmart will be sufficient. The only thing you need to find out from your employer is what kind of operating system you need. If you are unable or unwilling to build your own computer there are many websites and stores that offer various configurations of hardware with various platforms of windows. Buy the cheapest one you can get.

If you want a pc with a little more oomph than what you're gonna get off the shelf somewhere, take the time to learn to build your own. Google can tell you everything you need to know regarding this endeavour.

Just please don't buy a $1500 computer from rent-a-center that's going to be full of old tech and re-man parts when you can build four times the machine for half the cost on newegg.

have you actually shopped and purchased at - firstthingsfirst

[ In Reply To ..]
RAC? Yes, if you purchase over the long term it IS more expensive. However if you price dollar for dollar for the short term - less than 91 days - it is an affordable option. and IMHO, they do not steal any more than what you are in a position to give them. again, that is JMPO...and BTW, I never encouraged more than a one week trial...

rent to own - destinyisntfree

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, it can cost more to purchase things through rent to own, but for some people, it is the only viable option they have. Food for thought, though, too, is that if you have an IC position, you can right off your payments for the computer if it is primarily used for business purposes.

I personally used to do this on purpose when I worked locally, because I always had the most up to date technology, as I would upgrade right before paying off, so they would apply some of what I paid on the old machine to a newer one, and then I continued to have the write-off. Perfectly legal, by the way, according to my accountant.

Personally, I was very grateful for the rent to own option a few months ago, because my computer crashed...right before I had to start work. I was able to have a computer in my hands that day, in time for work, for a low amount of money out of pocket at the time, and it saved my job. I will pay maybe 200 more for my computer than I would have buying it outright somewhere, but it is warrantied and insured, and if it breaks, they will fix it or give me another one at no additional charge, so when you think in those terms, it is not so bad. I do not do business with Rent-A-Center, but do use Aaron's, which is a similar company, but much better prices and deals, and they report to the credit bureaus when you pay something off.

I was able to have the tax benefit as well - firstthingsfirst

[ In Reply To ..]
and claim the payments as a business expense. I've had the polar opposite experiences with the companies you mentioned. I detest Aaron's and would do business any time with RAC.

When my computer crashed, I hopped in my car, rented one off the shelf from RAC, loaded in my software and lost only one day pay. I was up and running the following day. When I reasearched the make and model of the computer I had rented, I found it would cost me nothing extra for having gone through RAC. As I was able to pay it off in 90 days, I paid the cash price plus about $90 in insurance. I would have paid more than the $90 if I had put it on a credit card. Since it was during the Christmas holiday season, I didn't have to worry about not buying things for family because all my money was tied up in the purchase of a computer.

I have also used RAC when I needed new living room furniture while I waited on my mom's house to sell. Because I used part of it in my office, I was able to claim a portion of that rental cost on taxes as well.

my experience - destinyisntfree

[ In Reply To ..]
My experience with RAC may very well have been due to the manager at that particular location, though. I did business with them for over 8 years before having had a negative experience. The local one got a new manager, and he was not nice, and after eight years of doing business with them, I needed to be 2 days late on a payment, when I had always been early before that, and he did not handle things properly, in my opinion. Ever since, I have been with Aaron's and they have always been willing to work with me and work around my odd pay dates to make payments. Probably has a lot to do with the people working in my store, though. I bought a washer and dryer that way, as well as a chest freezer, and some other things. It is a great resource for those of us who couldn't afford to otherwise have some nicer things because we couldn't pay for it all at once. I view it like Layaway, except I can use it while I am paying for it.

All they have told me is windows XP - KT

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for your help.

re: What kind of computer....s/m - destinyisntfree

[ In Reply To ..]
KT, to be honest, this is a question better directed to the company you are working for. Honestly, not to sound mean, but most companies will verify that you have the proper equipment prior to even making the job offer, so be very grateful you have been able to get a job so far without that.

There are too many variables between transcription platforms/delivery methods/et cetera for anyone to be able to give you a generic answer on what you need. Different pieces of software need different things to be compatible, functional, and cohesive. Also, even between different versions of the same software, there is a difference in what would be compatible. Let me give you an example:

My company works on Escription/EditScript (whichever they are calling themselves). When I first started, we had accounts that were on version 8. Version 8 is not compatible with anything but XP and 32 bit Vista, and definitely not Windows 7 or 64 bit Vista.

The accounts upgraded to the newer version, and the newest version is compatible with both the 32 and 64-bit versions of all of the above Windows operating systems.

So, the best suggestion anyone can give you would be to call your HR person from the company you are about to work at, and ask them what they want you to have as far as memory, operating system, hard disk space, as those are the basics. Good luck with your new job.

Thanks, I finally ordered one off of a guy who sells on ebay - KT

[ In Reply To ..]
I started looking on ebay and found a guy who sells and builds them. I called the number he had on the one computer that sounded like it was what I needed and he is adding a few things (good sound card)more Ram, etc and since he is only 1 state away I should have it by my start day. Thank you to those of you who are willng to help. I believe what goes around comes around, and I hope I can help you some day with one of your questions. :)

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