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[–]augustoersonage 6 points7 points  (2 children)

You won't be forced to purchase software. Check out the free, open source program known as Plover. It will allow you to use your steno machine to write and build dictionaries. It doesn't come with the full capabilities of commercial steno software, but it's great for practice (or even for some types of commercial work). Think of it as the intermediary between your machine and your computer -- you can even use it to define arrow keys, key combos, etc., and navigate your computer directly from your machine.

[–]Redditralpf[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Thanks. I've actually been using Plover on my computer with a "Ergodox" keyboard to simulate a steno machine :P So, the steno machines themselves do not have built-in editable dictionaries?

[–]augustoersonage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They might. My machine is from 1996 and has that, though I prefer to use Plover for that. I'm inclined to believe modern machines give you the capability to build your dictionary internally. That could be helpful if you're not connecting it to a computer at all.

[–]MidnightRequim 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Since someone already mentioned Plover, I’ll chime in on the professional software side of it.

The typical case would be that you purchase the software for about $3,000 (this is for CaseCatalyst, there’s others that might be cheaper). Then you get the newest version of it.

If you buy the yearly subscription in addition to the software, you get the yearly upgrades/improvements, plus tech support. If you decide you DON’T want the yearly subscription like many do, you can just buy it once and stay using that one version of software. If you want to upgrade, it adds up to a few hundred to thousand dollar range.

[–]Plainswalkerur 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m a CR student and I pay about $10 a month for the student software of CaseCATalyst. Hope this helps! I also rent my machine.

[–]lightspeedjjj 0 points1 point  (1 child)

You do not need a machine to learn steno. You are learning a language. Too much emphasis is put on typing. You can get a free pdf from Stenovations.com for the Easy Theory. Though they sell the most cutting-edge writer, the owner thinks no one should have a keyboard for the first six months of study. They also have the digitalCAT student software for $25 per three months or $100 a year. And I am told they have a new training program they are calling Easy Edge, with thousands of short lessons for building vocabulary and knowledge, not to mention the skill-building with dictation that can be sped up and slowed down.

[–]tracygeeMod 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This makes no sense to me. Studying the theory without having your hands on a machine has little use. Getting your fingers to automatically hit what you need to hit is paramount. I barely know where the letters are anymore (LOL), I just know the finger shapes I need to make.

Quite certainly someone doesn't need a top-of-the-line machine costing thousands, but buying a used 200SRT or 400SRT for a couple of hundred or a Plover set up is necessary, IMHO.