I'm just starting out and am researching Word Expander programs. Instant Text and Stedmans's Smartype are the two I'm considering. I'd love any and all feedback b/4 making a purchase.

Thanks in advance.

Hi jfa,

Here is a link on this site where this very subject was discussed--I think you will find some helpful info there!

http://www.mtgab.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?/topic/5/306.html

Thanks kkb! The link was very helpful. Now, I just need to make up my feeble mind. :p

jfa,

From what I've seen, the big 3 are Instant Text, PC Shorthand, and Smartype. I think Smartype has improved since it first came out for Windows--I remember one friend who had it for DOS told me that the Windows version had some problems, but that was quite a few years ago, so they've probably fixed it.

PC Shorthand is half the price, but you have to remember the abbreviations, whereas IT prompts you, as does Smartype. I have heard good things about it also.

I'm using a really old expander now but I can get 50% increased productivity with it and I don't think it has all the power features that these programs have.

Just for the record, the current version of PC Shorthand does have a feature that prompts for the shortcuts. I don't think it's quite as efficient as Instant Text's though, and I don't use it because I find it's just too much clutter on the screen (I don't know if I'd be able to tolerate the prompts for IT or ST either). If you have a good system for MAKING your abbreviations (and you definitely need to have one), they just sort of fall off your fingers, even the ones you don't use much.

You can find discussions of expanders and systems here:

http://www.productivitytalk.com/forums/index.php

HTH

I use Smartype and I'm very happy with it. I previously used PRD + (with WP 5.1), and then I used used Word's autocorrect feature for a very long time. But Smartype has been very easy to learn and it was my very unscientific conclusion that it had more users than Instant Text, and so I figured if I needed help from those in the MT community I'd have better odds of getting help.

Also, when I purchased Smartype, I went to the Stedman's website and joined (free) and I got a pretty good discount on my purchase (I think it was 25%).