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The Best Digital Voice Recorder
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As with many Sony products I've used, the ICD-MX20's on-screen menus and its user manual can be confusing. It took me a couple of times using the recorder before I grew comfortable with it. A little of Apple's user interface elegance would be a welcome addition to the ICD-MX20.
For the best speech-to-text accuracy, you'll need to train NaturallySpeaking to recognize your voice using the Sony recorder--even if you've already trained the software to recognize your voice using your PC's microphone. That's because the Sony recorder is a different input device, with variations in sound quality and other factors. The good news: You can get by with just 15 minutes of training.
At $166 and up, the ICD-MX20 isn't the least expensive digital voice recorder on the market. Nor is it the snazziest: Sony's newICD-UX70 modelsin red, pink, and silver (each are list price $100) are far more fashion-forward and also serve as MP3 players. However, these recorders aren't designed for speech-to-text recognition.
Anyone who could benefit from dictating memos, notes, and documents away from the computer and not have to type them later should consider a Sony ICD-MX20.
The ICD-MX20 is also excellent for recording meetings and conferences. Keep in mind, however, that NaturallySpeaking isn't capable of accurately transcribing any voice other than the one it's been trained to recognize. You can't record a meeting with multiple parties and expect it to type the whole thing into text. That feature will be possible one day, Nuance has assured me, but we're not there yet.
HP recently revealed the 2133, a mini notebook designed for the education market (anyone can buy one, however). The 2133 is HP's bid to compete in the ultra compact, low-cost laptop market, which the Asus Eee PC ignited last fall. The 2133's prices start at $499. Early reviews, including PCW Senior WriterDarren Gladstone's, are mostly positive. You can read excerpts from two additional reviews--plus find out one reason you might want to wait before buying a 2133--at myTraveler 2.0.
Asia seems to always get the coolest laptops and gadgets way before other countries. Case in point: Sony's VAIO G2, a sleek notebook weighing under 2 pounds and yet featuring a full-sized keyboard and 12-inch screen. The laptop is available only in Japan, though you can buy it from Dynamism.com. Check out the G2 and nine other cool, only-available-elsewhere tools inour gallery.
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